Calculators
IN THE CLASSROOM
PARENTS/GUARDIANS!
As students are growing their
knowledge of many different math
concepts it is time to introduce
calculators into our classroom.
Many students have most likely
used a calculator in their previous
classroom. However this will be
our first time in fifth grade
working with calculators as a tool
in our classroom.
PROS OF USING
CALCULATORS
Something students will
always use.
Can make math more
enjoyable.
They are quick and typically
accurate.
Students can become
comfortable with the
technology.
Allows students to focus on
bigger math concepts.
CONS OF USING
CALCULATORS
Over time students number
sense and fluency decline
overtime with dependence on
calculators.
Keep students from discovering
mathematical concepts.
They don’t support conceptual
understanding.
NCTM
VIEWPOINT
The NCTM believes that
technology in the classroom is
only as helpful as the person
putting information in. They
also believe that technology
does not replace the book
students learn from in a sense.
Rather technology such as
calculator can help enhance
students learning.
 Calculators
IN THE CLASSROOM CONT.
PERSONAL VIEWS
Personally I believe that calculators
are a tool students can use once they
have begun to master a concept. I
believe that once students have
mastered a concept calculators can do
more good than bad for students. I
also believe that as long as students
continue to work on their number
sense in the classroom daily that this
can help keep the decline calculators
tend to cause from happening.
AT HOME
There are a few activity’s students
can do at home to work on their
calculator skills. Below is a list of
resources that students can use.
Math Playground Resource
Students can use this input
output game to practice finding
the function
Beat the calculator
This game can be played at
home and requires two people.
The students should be the
calculator and try to get the
answer before the other person.
STANDARD OF
FOCUS
For this unit we will be focusing on
the standard.
5.18 The student will identify,
describe, create, express, and
extend number patterns found in
objects, pictures, numbers, and
tables
The use of these at home
activities will allow students to
build confidence in both their
calculator use. As well as, their
number sense knowledge.
With the hopes that when
solving simple equations they
will not need to rely on the
calculator to help them solve
the equation. The more
practice students have with
using a calculator the easier it
will be for them to use it in the
classroom.
 SOURCES
5 fun calculator games and quick math games for your math classroom. (n.d.).
https://topnotchteaching.com/lesson-ideas/calculator-games/

Anselmo, M. (2015, October 5). The cons of using calculators when learning math.
https://www.mathnasium.com/math-centers/sananselmo/news/the-cons-of-using-
calculators-when-learning-math-2055371856

Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics Teaching . Artificial Intelligence and

mathematics teaching - national council of teachers of mathematics. (n.d.).
https://www.nctm.org/Standards-and-Positions/Position-Statements/Artificial-
Intelligence-and-Mathematics-Teaching/

Calculators in math class: Pros and cons. Resilient Educator. (2018, October 19).
https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/pros-and-cons-of-allowing-kids-
to-use-calculators-in-math-class/

Function machine. Math Playground. (n.d.).

https://www.mathplayground.com/functionmachine.html

Jonr. (2018, July 26). The Benefits of Using a Calculator: In and out of the
Classroom. CalcuNation. https://www.calcunation.com/blogs.php/the-benefits-of-
using-a-calculator-in-and-out-of-the-classroom/

Should calculators be allowed in math class?. Room to Discover. (2022, May 8).
https://roomtodiscover.com/should-calculators-be-allowed-in-math-
class/#:~:text=Students%20can%20develop%20fluency%20and,math%2C%20and%2
0problem%20solving%20abilities.&text=When%20students%20become%20reliant
%20on,sense%20actually%20decline%20over%20time.