Free Math Educational Resources And Professional Development Materials From Buildmathmindscom

Introduction

BuildMathMinds.com offers a variety of free educational resources for mathematics educators, parents, and students. The platform provides access to teaching materials, professional development opportunities, and educational tools designed to support the development of number sense and mathematical understanding. This article explores the free resources available through BuildMathMinds.com, including downloadable materials, online trainings, and professional development summits.

Types of Free Resources Available

Downloadable Educational Materials

BuildMathMinds.com offers several downloadable resources that educators can use in their classrooms or parents can use at home to support mathematical learning:

1. Number Sense E-book: A free e-book focused on developing number sense skills, particularly beneficial for students with special needs. According to feedback from educators, this resource is valuable for teachers and paraprofessionals working with students who have disabilities, as these students often need specific support in developing number sense skills.

2. Savvy Subitizing Cards: These cards contain numbers 1-10 with multiple representations for each number, including:

   • Numerals
   • Finger patterns
   • Ten frames
   • Rekenrek patterns
   • Tally marks
   • Dot patterns These cards help students develop subitizing skills, which is the ability to instantly recognize quantities without counting.

3. Missing Part Cards: These cards are designed to develop Part-Part-Whole relationships, a fundamental concept in early mathematics education. They help students understand how numbers can be broken down into components and reassembled.

Online Training Resources

The website provides access to numerous free training videos and educational content:

1. Free Trainings from Build Math Minds: The platform offers trainings that were originally part of the Build Math Minds vlog or Virtual Math Summit sessions. These trainings are typically only available to members of the Build Math Minds PD site, but are made freely accessible to the public.

2. Content Accessibility: These trainings can be watched immediately without requiring users to provide their email address, making them easily shareable with parents, colleagues, or other interested parties.

3. Topic Appropriateness: The trainings cover topics appropriate for various educational settings, including classroom teaching and home learning environments. They are designed to be useful regardless of whether educators are planning for in-person instruction or supporting remote learning.

How to Access Free Resources

Download Process

To access the downloadable resources from BuildMathMinds.com, users need to follow a specific process:

1. Form Completion: Users must complete a form specifying the grade level for which they wish to access resources.

2. Resource Selection: After submitting the form, users are taken to a screen where they can select specific downloads they would like to access.

3. Email Delivery: The selected resources are then delivered via email to the provided address.

Email Considerations

Due to email filtering and security measures in many school districts, BuildMathMinds.com recommends using personal email addresses rather than school email addresses to ensure receipt of resources. The platform acknowledges that school email systems may block messages from outside sources, and they cannot guarantee delivery to school addresses.

Confirmation Process

First-time requesters may receive a confirmation email asking them to verify their request. This measure is implemented to prevent spam and ensure that only genuinely interested individuals receive the resources. The confirmation email will come from a @buildmathminds.com address.

Troubleshooting Non-Delivery

If resources are not received within 15 minutes, users are advised to: 1. Check their spam folder 2. Contact their school's IT department to determine if the email was blocked 3. Search their email for 'buildmathminds' to locate the message

Professional Development Opportunities

Virtual Math Summit

BuildMathMinds.com hosts an annual Virtual Math Summit, which offers professional development opportunities for mathematics educators:

1. Free Access: The summit offers free registration that provides access to current year's sessions for 10 days.

2. VIP Access: For educators who want extended access, VIP options are available that grant access to current sessions through the end of March.

3. Membership Access: Full membership to the Build Math Minds PD site provides access to all summit sessions from the past seven years, creating a comprehensive library of professional development resources.

Specialized Topics

The summit features sessions on specialized topics in mathematics education, including:

1. Math for English Language Learners (ELLs): One notable session presented by Dr. Jim Ewing focuses on teaching mathematics to students who are English language learners, addressing the unique challenges these students face in mathematical contexts.

2. Inclusive Education: The summit includes content relevant to various educational settings, including special education, as evidenced by the positive feedback from special education directors who have implemented the number sense resources with their students.

Community Engagement

Beyond the summit, BuildMathMinds.com fosters a community of mathematics educators through:

1. Facebook Group: The platform hosts a free Facebook group called "Build Math Minds" where educators can ask questions about PreK-5 mathematics and connect with like-minded professionals.

2. Ongoing Support: The community provides ongoing support for educators implementing the resources and strategies promoted through the platform.

Additional Free Educational Resources

While BuildMathMinds.com focuses on mathematics education, there are other platforms offering free educational resources that complement mathematics learning:

1. Lexile Math Skills Database: Provides targeted, free resources matched to students by Quantile measure and math content.

2. MrNussbaum.com: Offers dozens of interactive games designed to enhance elementary mathematics concepts through interactivity.

3. Turtle Diary: Provides learning games and activities for various age groups, complementing classroom mathematics instruction.

4. Visnos Interactive Math: Features free interactive math activities covering topics like addition and subtraction facts, angles, measurement, telling time, multiplication, and division.

5. ABCya: Offers free educational computer games and activities for elementary students, with all content created or approved by certified school teachers.

Conclusion

BuildMathMinds.com provides a comprehensive collection of free resources for mathematics educators, parents, and students. From downloadable materials like number sense e-books and specialized cards to online trainings and professional development summits, the platform offers valuable tools to support mathematical learning at various levels. The resources are designed to be accessible and practical, with clear processes for access and considerations for different educational environments. By providing these materials free of charge, BuildMathMinds.com supports the development of mathematical understanding and number sense skills among students while also supporting educators through professional development opportunities and community engagement.

Sources

1. Virtual Math Summit Preview: Teaching Math with Newcomers in Mind
2. Confirmation Page
3. Free Download Page
4. Episode 54: Free Resources
5. Educational Websites
6. Free Math Resources