5 Powerful Student Created Math Tools

Have you ever wondered what math tools elementary students should be using? Ready to learn about 5 powerful, essential student-created math tools?

There are plenty of items you may have already purchased like rulers, fraction tiles, manipulatives, and clocks. You’ve also probably organized, labeled and stored these where students can access them when it’s time. Interestingly, there is a category of Math Tools that students can create anytime, anywhere that can be essential in solving problems and supporting their math development.   

  

Before we get started with the nitty-gritty teacher talk, if you are working on transforming your math classroom into a space where students actively engage in their learning to practice fluency and math concepts, grab my 10 Free Math Activities.

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Why Do Students Need Math Tools?

We wouldn’t ask students to write an essay or story without providing them with paper and pencils at the very least. We may even throw in an eraser, a writing template, colored pencils for editing, a word list, and a dictionary. We can even give students different tools based on the specific support they need. All students might get a writing checklist, but maybe a few students need a brainstorming template and one student needs sentence stems. These tools ensure that students can access the activity and make progress in their skill acquisition and conceptual understanding. 

We want to do the same thing with math tools. Yes, we will provide the worksheet, the paper, and perhaps manipulatives to those students who still need the visual model to make connections. Interestingly there are tools students can make on-the-spot that will create independence, and support students in their math learning journey. 

Wait, Did You Say Math Independence?

You bet I did! We should always be moving out students to independent thinking, reasoning and accomplishing in math. When you hear students say “I don’t know how to do this” right after passing out an activity, you know that the student has not developed independence and is relying on the teacher to get them started. They are passively approaching math instead of moving into math with an active, curious, problem-solving stance. 

Being able to create tools they need for specific reasons puts students into the “driver’s seat” when it comes to math. Independence builds confidence, which builds more independence. 

What Are These Student Created Tools?

Tool #1

The Right Angle Finder is a simple tool to help students determine whether an angle measures 90 degrees, which would make it a right angle. As nine and ten-year-olds begin classifying angles to determine whether they are obtuse, acute or right angles, they often need a lot of practice to recognize whether angles are, indeed, right angles. Using a Right Angle Finder can tell them in an instant whether they are dealing with a 90-degree angle. 

I introduce this tool when we begin our geometry unit. It is simply a matter of folding an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper in half, then fold it in half again. Students slide the right angle of any corner of the tool into any angle and it will show them right away if the angle measures more than, equal to, or less than 90 degrees. Students can keep their Right Angle Finder in their desk to use over and over. 

Tool #2

Another simple, useful tool is the Multiplication Matrix. If a student has a hard time with certain facts, they can take a minute to complete a simple matrix like the one below. They start out by skip-counting by 7s. Above they number them off. 

Having students complete a multiplication matrix is different from handing a student a multiplication table. This targets the facts students need and it requires them to practice skip counting, which leads to memorization. This can be done quickly, anywhere and anytime whether it be for completing a homework assignment or taking a test. Another bonus to using this tool is that students are self-aware of exactly which facts they need the most. They self-identify what they need and independently create the tool to gain their independence.

 

Tool #3

I found the Problem Board invaluable to teach students how to organize their work while solving problems. For multi-step problems, students can become easily lost when their work meanders all over the page. The Problem Board can be created in seconds and the progression of problem solving is easy to see. 

The Problem Board helps students organize their work and makes it easier for them to pull out the numbers they need. As a teacher, it is much easier to see what strategies they are using when it is laid out methodically.

Another unexpected benefit I found with the Problem Board is how easy it is for students to compare their work with each other. After some challenging performance tasks in a third-grade classroom, I noticed students curious to know how other students solved it and what answers they got. By having a way to organize their work, it helped other students identify the strategies and answers of multi-step problem solving.  

Tool #4

 

For students in upper elementary, I love to have them create their own Fraction Number Lines for adding and subtracting fractions. This takes a long piece of paper. We start with our line, section it into same-length sections. Since we are working with denominators of 2 and 4, we divide our number line into halves and fourths. 

Once we have our Fraction Number Line ready, students can add or subtract halves and fourths pretty easily without having to convert fractions into like denominators. They add or subtract the whole number first, then continue to add or subtract the fractional amount. After a short time of using this visual model, many students will be able to solve these problems mentally. 

Tool #5

Students can easily create and use a Rounding Reminder to help them round numbers accurately. They create a simple number line counting by 5s. As they find the number they are trying to round, they have a visual model of which multiple of ten the number is closer to. Students can also create a Rounding Reminder for rounding to the nearest 100.

One More Advantage of Student Created Math Tools

One major advantage of these student created math tools that I haven’t mentioned already is that they are completely student created. What this means is that students can create them anytime, anywhere. If they are in the middle of a test and need some help with 8 x 7, they can quickly create a multiplication matrix. Subtracting fractions and need a way to double check their work? Easy, create a fraction number line.

 

In creating these tools, students are actively moving themselves in independent problem solving. After using these tools for a while, they begin to look around the room and think about what other things can I create to help me become more efficient at math? 

How To Introduce Student Created Math Tools

When planning a basic lesson outline for a unit of math, think about what supports students might need. For example, in third grade, it is not uncommon to begin the year with reviewing addition and subtraction. Watching students add and subtract will give you heaps of insight about the strategies they are relying on. 

If students are using the traditional algorithm, or method, and making computational errors because they are having a difficult time lining numbers up, offer them boxed paper and model how to set up the problem using boxes. Then tell them where you will keep it so they can grab it when they need it. 

Decimal charts in fourth grade can be very helpful to support students in visualizing the value of a decimal. Again, either have the student keep it in their desk or make sure they know where to find them. 

The Key Word is “Need”

Let students decide what they need, and especially what they don’t need anymore. Students will want to hang onto tools for a long time, or quickly decide they no longer need them. 

Giving students the green light to use math tools they need at the moment, teaches them to be self-aware and independent in their learning journey. Think about the power of differentiation if every student in your class has what they need to access the learning!

More Ideas for Student Math Tools

Need more ideas about math tools for younger students? Check out Susan Jones  Top 10 Math Tools and Manipulatives for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade . Thinking about creating a math toolbox? You may want to read Victoria’s Bog Hands-On Math Tool Box in the Classroom for ideas.

Start Today

The sooner students can become active learners and guide their own learning, the more independent they will be. By choosing the tools they need to help them be successful and feel accomplished, the more they will begin to guide their own learning, which will benefit them and encourage them to be lifelong, successful learners. 

More Resources

For more information about using a number line for fractions, visit my post  Fractions on the Numberline. Need a creative way to practice multiplication facts? Check out Multiplication Dab Its .