EDSE 770
Internet Resources
Michael Burrack

Hello there, and welcome to my internet resource page! I am incorporating embedded and inline Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) scripting into my page as a way of learning CSS.

Teaching in Middle School is quite a challenge, and I find it very rewarding. My doctoral studies focus on the practical realities of teaching students with learning disabilities in Mathematics and Science.

If you are interested, a review of KIDSPIRATION® learning software for use in my class is available. Just click the link to read my review.

The links below represent a selection of Web Resources that I find useful as a Mathematics teacher in Middle School.

The Math Forum at Drexel
A great place to start is just by talking to other teachers. It offers a perspective on what and how others do what we do. The (online) Math Forum at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA is such a place. I recommend the "Middle School Teachers" forum, especially the "Teacher to Teacher" (T2T) discussion; check out the pencil vs. pen discussion - it gave me pause to think!.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
The site that represents our (should be yours as well) collective "voice" as teachers. Standards and publications are available as well as research articles. It is well worth the membership fee. I found that the secondary-level publication "Mathematics Teacher" featured activities too advanced for the MS classroom, so I am changing my membership status this year to receive " Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School ."

Texas Instruments
Perhaps the foremost site for calculator information, tutorials and training. My students participated in a modified TI Explorations Activity, using it with solid state (real) Geoboards to study area and perimeter. Many students like the "Freebies" game downloads and the "Tutorials" including DERIVE 5.

my SCschools.com
The South Carolina Department of Education site, featuring PACT information and teacher links (Teachers>Lesson Plans) to the South Carolina Teaching and Learning Connection (SCTLC) that lists (among other things) an interactive comparison of mean and median on the NCTM site.

Brain Pop
A great site if you have the technology to display the video clips of math subjects. Check if you school has a subscription already, otherwise you must have a $135 membership to see them. You will need a lab environment with headsets or a projector with an audio system, but it is effective as an attention getter or preview for a lesson.