Some math teachers find themselves confronted by students who ask, "Why do we have to learn this?" or "When am I going to use it?" These are vexing questions for sure, and one suggestion might be to incorporate the history and development of the field of mathematics into the formal study of the subject. That is exactly what a dedicated team of individuals at the Mathematical Association of...

The Mathematical Association of America has teamed up the National Science Foundation to create an online collection of digital classroom resources. One of their more recent creations is this multimedia feature that teaches students about Napier's Bones. Created by Michael Caulfield and Wayne Anderson of Gannon University, this feature will introduce students to the work of John Napier, a 16th...

To some the word Illuminations may bring to mind Walter Benjamin’s classic work, and still others may imagine those manuscripts that were a product of the medieval intellect and imagination. In this case, the illuminations in question are a set of mathematical teaching and learning tools designed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Their website was redesigned in early 2006, and is...

The creator of this site is one Gisele Glosser, who happens to be the "Mrs. Glosser" referenced throughout the site. She is also an experienced math teacher who has worked in New York and New Jersey. In an effort to assist her fellow educators, she has created this delightful collection of math lessons. Visitors will want to look over the lessons, which are listed in full here. While some of the...

Located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education is primarily interested in creating resources for educators working on these topics. First-time visitors should definitely start by looking through the "Resources" area, as they will find classroom tested exercises that cover basic topics in algebra, trigonometry, and a number...

This website is an excellent resource for math teachers teaching any age and level of students. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), "support[s] teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students through vision, leadership, professional development and research." Visitors interested in making math fun will certainly want to read the lead...

This website from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides information on the metric system and useful conversions to know when cooking. A printer-friendly version of the website can serve as a poster with handy conversions to keep in your kitchen. The Capsule History section provides an overview of America's metric history and the slow process of "metrication." Also...

Weights and measures may not be the first thing that most people wake up in the morning thinking about, but such matters are terribly important. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created this site to provide information to concerned stakeholders about the work of their Office of Weights and Measures. The mission of the Office is to promote "uniformity in U.S. weights...

PBS has developed a number of websites for educators, and their PBS Teachers site has received a number of accolades and high praise from diverse quarters. First-time visitors to the site may wish to first use the drop-down menus here to select a grade range and a topic that interests them. After doing so, a set of relevant materials will be offered to them, organized by topic and intended grade...

For people of a certain age, the phrase "math worksheet" may conjure images of pieces of paper with wet purple ink, freshly mimeographed. For others, they might just say: "What's a mimeograph?" Both groups will find things to like about this website, which brings together a number of math worksheets for general use. The site is maintained by Scott Bryce, and while some of the materials require a...