My biggest request on this site recently has been resources for math distance learning. My most popular post for months has been Math Games to Play On Zoom. I haven’t put up more specifically on this topic (though most of my subject posts include some online activities) because my experience has been with very hands on teaching. I have been fortunate to be able to continue to do that throughout the pandemic . However, what makes this site unique among other math education sites is that I don’t just share my own resources and experiences, but I search out and share the best content available for free online. Just like we tell our students, the key to success is being able to find out what you don’t know!
This post will focus on elementary math as most of my site does. However, if you came looking for high school math I have two great resources for you. These are: Great Math Activities During Distance Learning from Rethink Math and Interactive Digital Math Activities from Scaffolded Math.
If you are looking for resources for elementary math distance learning, here are the best free ones I have found! (Also be sure to see my general posts Free Resources for Teaching Math, Math Websites For Kids , and Virtual Math Field Trips, all of which have many helpful links for distance learning)
How To Be the Effective Online Math Teacher You Need To Be.
Click the link in the heading for this excellent post from a math coach. He takes Nicole Piper‘s video Virtual Best Practices and tweaks her virtual lesson format to make it most effective for math. He starts each lesson with a “you do” to allow productive struggle, uses virtual manipulatives to teach, and then has engaging opportunities for student practice. His post also includes a video tutorial on using virtual manipulatives as you teach online. By signing up for his free newsletter you can get a Google Slides template for online math lessons. (He also sells ready made Google Slide resources/interactive digital notebooks for math, science, and social studies.)
Since posting this article, Two Boys and a Dad has added many specific posts for teaching elementary math online. These include teaching multiplication virtually, teaching place value virtually, increasing student engagement in distance learning, and much more. Here is his distance learning archives
If you want another option for some free high quality Google Slides that are already done, Kristin Kennedy at Technology Enhanced Teaching has this Interactive Google Slide freebie (available for primary or upper elementary) featuring five colorful, interactive math centers with moveable pieces.
Resources Compiled By School Districts
Several large public school districts have put together great lists of resources for teachers to use during distance learning.
Glenpool Public Schools put together these PDFs of multiple resources to assign fact practice to students:
The California Department of Education published a huge list of Free Educational Resources for Distance Learning
Fairfax County has this list of elementary math resources for distance learning
Other High Quality Resource Lists
Elementary Math Distance Learning Suggestions from Academic Success for All (including a suggested schedule, activity suggestions, and how to deal with unfinished work)
How To Make Remote or Hybrid Math and Science Instruction Engaging from Edutopia
If you have any other favorites you have found helpful, please add them in the comments below!
