Quantcast Guaranteach Blog

A Better Way to Learn Math

The Guaranteach Blog for Students, Parents, and Teachers

 

February Teacher of the Month

by Michelle Bauer on Mar 01, 2010

 

He's been a surfer, a pirate, an archaeologist and a constant reminder that math shouldn't be scary or boring. But he's really one of Guaranteach's most skilled, beloved and productive teachers. Meet Joe Baxter.

Joe Baxter is a Baltimore native with a degree in education and mathematics. He is also, in his own words, “a nut when it comes to teaching.” Other Guaranteach teachers agree.
 
“I remember coming into the office one day and seeing Joe hanging the vine he used in his 'Pitfall Harry' videos from the ceiling,” says fellow teacher Craig Coletta. “I found that after I had finished laughing, I had ideas for about 5 new videos of my own. Joe's creativity is infectious.”
 
There is a method to Joe's madness, though. “Math is only hard if you THINK it's hard,” he says. “That's why I remind younger learners that they shouldn't get scared or intimidated but take it easy. Older students can join in the silliness of my characters and pick up the math almost without realizing it. Some kids do best with a teacher who's not 'by the book.'”
 
With just over 1400 of his videos available at Guaranteach, those kids won't have to look too hard to find Joe.
 


Read More

 

Friday Fun Post #3

by on Aug 03, 2009

 

Friday Fun PostAnother Friday, another flash game. Today’s game is called Kakuro, and it’s a little more complex. It’s played like a number-crossword. A Crossnumber, if you will. The point is to fill every blank space with 1 through 9 so there are no repeats in a line and they all add up to the number above or to the left in triangles.


Read More

 

Friday Fun Post #4

by on Aug 03, 2009

Friday Fun Post #4 Time for another Friday Fun post! This week’s game is another great one that can help students keep their math skills sharp over the summer. It is called, appropriately, the Multiplication Game. Think of it as a sort of “Connect Four” type game that exercises your multiplication muscles.

In this game you and the computer opponent take turns moving the slider arrows above and below the numbers one through nine. When both sliders are picked, the number that those make multiplied together is taken on the board. Then the game continues with each player moving one of the two sliders every turn. The first person to line up four of the answers anywhere on the board wins.

Enjoy!


Read More