MARCH 2021 VOL.

MATH BLAST
The official newsletter of Mrs. Jones-Lewis's fourth-grade Math Block

IN THIS ISSUE Word On the Street:

"Strategic use of I Declare Calculator
calculators strengthens
learning." -NCTM Warfare!
page 2
The controversy over calculator use in the
Everything has its pros classroom, especially in grade school, will
and cons! likely never be settled. There are those who
page 3
believe the classroom is no place for a

Calculators In the Classroom calculator. While others seem to think

page 4 "mental math" is no longer necessary. This
months Math Blast will explain the position of
Use Your Calculator to the National Council of Teachers of
Impress Your Friends!
Mathematics (NCTM) on the use of
page 4
technology in teaching and learning
I Spy a Calculator In mathematics, the pros and cons of using
Your Future! calculators to strengthen math concepts,
page 6 things you never knew your calculator could
do, and using calculators in the classroom to
build on math concepts.
MARCH 2021 page 2 VOL. 7

If Used Strategically,
What's the Problem?

Many families have questions about when or

if their child should use a calculator. If used
strategically, the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) argues
that using calculators in the classroom
strengthens conceptual understanding;
mathematical ideas, patterns, and
procedures. However, "strategic use does
not imply continuous use" (2015).
Calculators are tools that should be used to
build on mathematics education instead of
being used as a crutch.

According to the NCTM, when utilized deliberately, calculator use can support
students in investigating and recognizing numerical ideas and connections that
assist students with critical thinking, problem-solving skills, reason, and
justifying (2015). "the use of calculators does not supplant the need for
students to develop proficiency with efficient, accurate methods of mental and
pencil-and-paper calculation and in making reasonable estimations...[however],
When used effectively to support problem-solving, calculators enable students
to engage with cognitively rich problems that address exploration of patterns
and relationships" (2015).

"Calculators can only calculate -

they cannot do mathematics."
~ John A. Van de Walle
 MARCH 2021 page 3 VOL. 7

Everything Has Its

Pros and Cons!
Allowing the use of calculators in the
classroom is a tricky conundrum! No
teacher wants their students to depend Pros
exclusively on technology to the point
their skills diminish and they become Life skills
complacent. For students, knowing when Technological advances
to use a calculator and when not to use Quick and accurate
one is a tough thing to balance. With Eliminate anxiety
everything, there are pros and cons.
Make learning enjoyable
Let's be honest - we live in a society that
is continually changing on account of
technological advances. Calculators are
something students will use throughout
their lifetimes to complete tasks such as
budgeting, taxes, cooking, etc.

Although calculators are likely to become

apart of students' daily lives as they enter
Cons into adulthood, they should still know how
to do math long-hand. Otherwise, they'll
never fully develop their math skills. The
Complacency quickness and accuracy of using a
Cheating calculator can promote complacency.
False sense of confidence
Dependence Offering a variety of arithmetical
operations, calculators can give students a
false sense of confidence about their math
ability because they do not fully
understand the conceptual connection.
 MARCH 2021 page 4 VOL. 7

Calculators In the Classroom

I believe calculators promote higher-order thinking by promoting enthusiasm and
confidence. They encourage a student's mathematical curiosity by eliminating anxiety and
building on conceptual understanding. Which is why I'm declaring a calculator warfare!
Calculators should be used for exploring and visualizing number patterns and mathematical
relationships. Fourth grade standards allow limited calculator use, however, getting students
to understand these limitations can be challenging. While state assessments may restrict the
use of calculators, students will be allowed to use calculators outside these standards in the
classroom with the understanding that they should attempt as well as reach a point where
they will not need to rely on calculators to produce. The goal is that students will pride
themselves on being able to produce without assistance! I have witnessed calculators build
confidence, eliminate anxiety, and promote enthusiasm. In our classroom, calculators will be
used as aids in advancing conceptual understanding, not just for checking answers.

Use Your Calculator to Which SOL objectives allow

Impress Your Friends!
This trick works only in the US with 7-
digit phone numbers. Make sure you hit
enter/equal between each step.
Can I get your phone number, please?
Type in the first 3 digits of your phone
number (not your area code) (So you
would type in 759 if your number was
801-759-1234)
Multiply that number by 80 (759 x 80 =
60,720)
Add 1 (60,720 + 1 = 60,721)
Multiply by 250 (60,721 x 250 =
15,180,250)
Add last four digits of your phone
number (15,180,250 + 1234 = 15,181,484)
Add last four digits of your phone
number again (15,181,484 + 1234 =
15,182,718)
Subtract 250 (15,182,718 - 250 =
15,182,468)
Divide number by 2. (15,182,468 ÷ 2 =
7,591,234 -- which is your phone
number!)
calculator usage?
4.4d The student will create and solve single-
step and multistep practical problems
involving addition, subtraction, and
multiplication, and single-step practical
problems involving division with whole
numbers.
4.5a The student will determine common
multiples and factors, including least common
multiple and greatest common factor.
4.5c The student will solve single-step
practical problems involving addition and
subtraction with fractions and mixed
numbers.
4.6b The student will solve single-step and
multistep practical problems involving
addition and subtraction with decimals.
4.7 The student will solve practical problems
that involve determining perimeter and area
in U.S. Customary and metric units
 MARCH 2021 REFERENCES VOL. 7

Calculator Use In Elementary Grades - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2015, July).
Retrieved from https://www.nctm.org/Standards-and-Positions/Position-Statements/Calculator-
Use-in-Elementary-Grades/

Hodgkins, K. (2020, February 07). Use Your iPhone to Impress Your Friends With These Cool
Calculator Tricks. Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/2013-11-12-use-your-iphone-to-
impress-your-friends-with-these-cool-calculat.html

Klutch, R. (1991, September 29). The Calculator Crutch. Retrieved from

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/opinion/the-calculator-crutch.html

Robson, D. (n.d.). Free printable calculator word riddles for kids. Retrieved from
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/03/free-printable-calculator-word-riddles-for-kids.html

Strategic Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning Mathematics: A Position of the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2015, July). Retrieved from
https://www.nctm.org/uploadedFiles/Standards_and_Positions/Position_Statements/Strategic
%20Use%20of%20Technology%20July%202015.pdf