Teacher Desmos
Teacher Desmos, also known as just Desmos, is a free math program. The mission of Desmos is for every student to learn math, and to enjoy learning math. Desmos is geared toward older students but would be a great extension activity for older elementary students who need more of a challenge.
One of the great things about Desmos is that you can see students’ answers in real-time and provide additional support where needed. Something else that is cool is that you don’t need to set up a class. Each activity has a code that you give students to use when they go to the Desmos site.
- Log-in to Teacher Desmos by creating an account or simply using your Google ID.
- Search for the specific math activity that you want to use.
3. Create your own activity for your classroom.
4. Click on class code to create a code, or click on the site link for students.
5. Allow students to access the problem by using the code or the link.
6. Have students access the website and enter the code.
Alignment with the iTECH Model
- Inspire: Introduce Desmos by highlighting its ability to make math interactive and fun. Showcase how real-time feedback can enhance understanding. Discuss the importance of challenging oneself in math and how Desmos can cater to advanced learners.
- Try: Get students started on Desmos with a basic activity suited to their level. Guide them on how to use activity codes to access specific exercises. Encourage initial exploration and attempting simple problems to get a feel for the platform.
- Expand: Introduce more complex activities and challenges on Desmos, focusing on areas such as area and perimeter, which are suitable for higher elementary grades. Use Desmos to demonstrate math concepts in an interactive way, allowing students to visually grasp more abstract ideas.
- Create: Assign Desmos activities as independent practice for advanced students or as part of small group work. Challenge students to create their own problems or explorations using Desmos as a tool to demonstrate their understanding of a concept.
- Huddle: Use Desmos activities as a basis for whole-class discussion, solving problems together, and encouraging peer-to-peer teaching. Review and discuss answers provided in Desmos, focusing on problem-solving methods and reasoning.
Math Independent Practice
If you are pulling small math groups, Desmos would be a great challenge for higher-level students. You could print the activity checklist and answer sheet, then go over the answers with students in a small group, or have them discuss the solutions amongst themselves.
Whole-Class Problem
You could use one of the activities/problems as whole group instruction. Students could all work together to solve the problem as a class. There are some area and perimeter problems that would work well for third and fourth-grade students.
Tips for Effective Implementation
- Differentiation: Use Desmos to provide differentiated instruction, offering more challenging content for advanced learners while supporting others at their level.
- Integration with Curriculum: Ensure Desmos activities align with your math curriculum, enhancing and extending the concepts taught in class.
- Monitor Progress: Utilize Desmos’ feature of viewing student answers in real time to monitor progress and provide immediate feedback or assistance.
Role of Educators
Educators can guide students in navigating Desmos, ensuring it enhances their mathematical understanding. Support students in exploring advanced concepts and encourage collaborative learning and discussion.
Teacher Desmos offers an engaging and adaptable platform for enhancing math education, particularly for students who need additional challenges. By integrating Teacher Desmos with the iTECH Model, educators can facilitate a more interactive and individualized learning experience, catering to the diverse needs and abilities of students. Whether for individual practice, small group work, or whole-class activities, Desmos is a valuable tool for enriching math education in the elementary classroom.
Click here for a presentation you can use with your staff. It is completely editable so feel free to make any changes you need.