Thinking Blocks is an interactive multimedia program that teaches children in grades 3 - 5 how to model and solve math word problems.
Wellesley, MA (PRWEB) September 13, 2006 -- Math Advantage, a leading provider of online and classroom math education, announces the launch of ThinkingBlocks.com, a free educational resource designed to help students in grades 3 - 5 model and solve word problems.
Thinking Blocks shows students how models can be used to represent mathematical situations for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Students master these concepts through a combination of worked examples and video supported practice sets. The program gives immediate and specific feedback that guides students through the model building process.
“The research clearly suggests that the key to mathematical problem solving is the ability to identify and model specific problem situations,” says Colleen King, Director of Curriculum Development at Math Advantage. “Good problem solvers do not simply rely on key words and phrases. Instead, they look for relationships among the elements in the word problem and construct a visual model that leads to the correct solution.”
Each Thinking Blocks program contains six guided practice sets and three assessment tests. The addition and subtraction program features models that represent part-whole, comparison, and change situations. The multiplication and division program introduces equal parts, comparisons, and interpreting remainders.
Product features include:
- Self paced, guided instruction that shows students how to correctly model math word problems
- Independent practice sets that challenge students to apply what they’ve learned
- Interactive blocks that engage students in the problem solving process
- Randomized problem sets that create a different learning experience each time the program is accessed
- Video tutorials which help students transition from building physical models to sketching models on paper
- Printable certificates that allow students to keep a record of the work they have completed
"Thinking Blocks teaches students to look beyond the surface of word problems to the underlying mathematical contexts upon which they are built," says Tom Whelan, CEO of Math Advantage. "It provides students with an effective tool for problem solving and helps build a conceptual foundation in math that is invaluable."
Programs in development include ratios, fractions, percentages, and algebra.
About Math Advantage
Headquartered in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Math Advantage provides math enrichment, test prep and online math activities for K - 12 students. Their award winning site, MathPlayground.com is visited by more than 300,000 students and teachers each month.
Contact: Tom Whelan, CEO of Math Advantage, 1-781-237-0899 for more information on Thinking Blocks
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