ALGEBRA AND BEYOND
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Types of Resources
    • Resource Library Information
    • Resource Library - Members Area
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Distance Learning
    • Ideas & Tips
    • Instructional Videos

CONNECTING KNOWLEDGE
with UNDERSTANDING 
{ONE LESSON AT A TIME}

CALCULATORS ARE AS SMART AS THE USER

1/14/2017

9 Comments

 
Teach students how to use a graphing calculator with step-by-step reference sheets Pin it
The TI-84 calculator can be an amazing and useful tool for students, IF they know how to use it.
​
  
​Eight years ago, when I first starting teaching high school math, I would verbally tell my students step-by-step what to do on the graphing calculator. Oh, the misery of repeating myself 100 times! Then, I tried writing the steps on the board, so they could write them down for future use. It’s actually quite tricky to write the calculator steps down because of the different keys you can use, students not knowing how to use specific keys, such as the “2nd” key, and not having visuals of what should be on their calculator screen. We managed as best we could for a few years.
​
Then, about five years ago, my school purchased the TI-Smartview software for me. This helped a lot! The students were easily able to follow along one keystroke at a time. It was great, I thought I found a solution to my problem. Unfortunately, more often than not, when my students came back the next day, they forgot the steps they used with me in class. Of course, they did. Ugh, it was back to the drawing board.
 
The other issue I was running into, was after we spent the majority of the class period learning everything algebraically, most students didn’t want to spend any more time with instruction. They didn’t care that their graphing calculator could confirm the answer they found algebraically. Nope, they just wanted to start their homework as soon as possible.
 
ME: But wait, let me show you how to do it on the calculator. It can confirm or deny about 90% of the all the work you do in this class. Don’t you want to be sure everything you do is correct, especially on quizzes or tests?
 
STUDENTS: Ugh, no, we just want to start our homework.
 
This not wanting or knowing how to use the calculator to their advantage kept bothering me. Then, one day, I had had enough. It happened last year, I had a student that could play Tetris on the TI-84 calculator (or some other crazy game I’ve never seen on the calculator before), BUT he didn’t know how to graph a linear equation in Y= editor. My mind was blown. I had the most difficult time with this student trying to get him to understand and navigate the graphing calculator for MATH. In lieu of all of this, I became determined to create graphing calculator reference sheets.
 
No more students forgetting steps.
No more writing steps on the board.
No more taking up extra class time to learn the keystrokes.
No more excuses. Period.


The graphing calculator reference sheets have been awesome this year! My students have the steps and visuals right there in front of them. And if we don't have time in class to go through it together, no problem. The steps are so clear, they can do it all on their own. Even my Calculus students love using them, because they forget steps too! 

Introduce the TI-84 calculator with these reference sheets.
Pin it
What has been even more exciting is I am learning more of what the TI-84 is capable of as well. For example, you can graph a piecewise function?! I had no idea.
​
I began creating the sheets with about 10-15 in mind. Then, I realized it’s going to be closer to 20. Now, I’m thinking over 30. But who knows, there really is so much you can do with graphing calculators!


Are you in desperate need of a calculator solution like I was? Check out some of the sheets below. If you don't see what you are looking for, check out my store for more!
25+ graphing calculator reference sheets!

Would you like them all?
​You can get them here.

If you have a request for a specific reference sheet, email me here. 

Yes, add me!
​For more teaching ideas and instant access to the Algebra and Beyond Resource Library, join the the mailing list!
Pin it
9 Comments
    Picture

    Hello there,
    ​I'm TYRA!

    Mother, Wife, Teacher, & Curriculum Designer


    Looking for something specific?


    FIND ME HERE


    Categories

    All
    Favorite Classroom Things
    Free Stuff
    Graphing Calculator
    Math Activities
    Math Projects
    Math Warm Ups
    Real World Math
    Teacher Tips

    Archives

    November 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    May 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    RSS Feed


    FOLLOW ME

    Picture

    RESOURCES


    Subscribe to Algebra and Beyond
    Want to discover new ideas, receive updates, and gain INSTANT ACCESS to the Algebra and Beyond Resource Library with over 25 free resources?!?!
    Picture
    Picture
    Students battle using their math skills to attack their opponents ships. Correct space and solution = a sunken ship. Algebra fun at it's best!

    TEACHER: And that is how you find the MIN/MAX on your calculator. *BOOM* Drop the mic! STUDENT: What do I put in Y1? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ No more of this! Give your students a great reference sheet to put in their notebook and NEVER ask you the keystrokes again!
    Parent Function Graphic Organizers - domain, range, continuity, intervals of increase/decrease, min/max, end behavior, intercepts, and the graph
    Graphic Organizer: domain, range, intercepts, asymptotes, intervals of inc/decrease, max/min, and end behavior.
    Students will create a roller coaster that demonstrates their knowledge and understanding of the following skills: • Graph a continuous function that represents a roller coaster using parent functions. • Write a piecewise-defined function to represent the entire roller coaster. • Attributes of functions: Domain/Range, Min/Max, and Intervals of Inc/Dec
COPYRIGHT ALGEBRA AND BEYOND 2016-2023
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Types of Resources
    • Resource Library Information
    • Resource Library - Members Area
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Distance Learning
    • Ideas & Tips
    • Instructional Videos