Boston Elementary School K-6

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Technology News
October 2017

Letter from the

Teacher
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I would like to share with you some exciting new
technology tools that will be implemented this
year into your childs learning. We will be
utilizing two enhancing and engaging programs:
Motion Math Zoom and National Library of
Virtual Manipulatives. Your child will have the
opportunity to expand their practice in math by
having access to modern advanced activities that
are both visual and interactive. The purpose of
this newsletter is to further inform you on the
functions and benefits of these programs so that
you will acquire a better sense of what exactly
your child will be working with. I also encourage
If there are further questions
you to expose yourself to the programs by
or concerns, please contact
making it available at home so that you and your
me
child may learn together. I am also willing to open
up my classroom to those who may have trouble
Email: leeagg@bc.edu
obtaining access at home. We are so excited to
Phone ext.: #77777
share with you our learning experiences!
Ms. Lee

More inside!
 Students must locate numbers (i.e.
1.01) on the number line.
Students may either zoom in or zoom out
of the screen to find the location. Note
that the length of a one is represented
by the length of a frog, but the length of
a tenth is represented by the length of
a smaller animal, a bee. In addition, the
length of 10 bees or 10 tenths is
displayed to be equivalent to the length
of 1 frog or 1 one.
Students may then touch the number to
drop it into its respective location.
Motion Math Zoom
Motion Math Zoom is a 1st to 3rd grade
mathematics program on the iPad that allows
students to have a blast with an interactive number
line. As students use this number line, they gain a
deeper, more conceptual understanding of place
values and the number system because of how this
number line provides a clearer representation of our
base-ten system. This applet includes a variety of
levels to allow our students to begin with basic
numbers and then advance to negative numbers and
decimals with multiple place values. It is essential
for our students to gain a full understanding of place
values in order to learn future mathematical
concepts. Mastery of place values allows students to
develop the ability to make mathematical
computations and quantitative judgment.
One of the reasons why it is difficult for students to
conceptually understand the relationship between
the number line and the number system is because
of how length measures are poorly presented.
However, with this app, students will be able to see
the number line that accurately represents length
and value. The number line not only is precise in
length, but also visually supports values of numbers
by different sized animals.
Motion Math Zoom is a wonderful way for students to
enhance their conceptual understanding of numbers
because of how it allows them to manipulate a
number line that is created to visually support our
number system. Additional features of this app that
also supports students learning is the helper
character that gives hints when a student may be
stuck and the freedom to go back and redo a level.
2
 National Library of Virtual NLVM: Place Value
Manipulatives Number Line
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
(NLVM) is a web-based program that offers a wide
variety of interactive, virtual manipulatives and
tutorials for teaching mathematics in grades K-12.
It is important for you to know that Java must be
installed on your computer system in order to run
this project. The NLVM was established in order to
effectively teach students mathematics. Creators of
this program believe that in order to truly learn
and understand math, students must experience
math by engaging in the use of manipulatives and
visuals that allow them to identify relationships and
applications. The use of interactive technology for
mathematics is beneficial for both teachers and
students because it provides a more exciting
approach. Whats amazing about the NLVM is that
it provides students to interact with models that
support their learning in numerous areas of math:
Numbers & Operations, Algebra, Geometry,
Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability.
The one we will be focusing on in class with be in
Numbers & Operations. Relevant to our
curriculum, we will take advantage of the applet,
Place Value Number Line. It begins by displaying a Additional Features
number line from 0 to a bigger number, Includes different place value
options (tens, hundreds,
depending on which place value a student decides
thousands, millions, billions,
to work with. In this problem shown, a student is and decimals)
working with the hundreds place value and must Number of dots to be located
locate 170. The student must estimate where the (1, 2, or 3)
number falls between and then use his or her Mode options (Explore,
judgment where to zoom in or out of the number Practice, and Test)
line to drag the number to the correct tick mark.
Also, because there are so many additional
features, students have the freedom to work on
their own pace whether they would like to begin
with the basics or challenge themselves with
additional requirements. It also includes a great
form of self-assessment.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_1.html