Video Library 

This page is a video library of resources that can be used in a high school special education algebra classroom. The titles for each video link to more resources where possible.

Translating Math to Word Statements

Many of my students are language-exempt, meaning they do not have to take a foreign language course. They are always surprised when I talk about the language of math. Translating is difficult for many of them, and this video tries to liven this topic up a little. The video is created by MuchoMath and is part of a series on their YouTube Channel.

Graphing Stories - Elevation vs. Time

Dan Meyer is a rock star in the math world. He has created a series of videos in which he acts out some type of movement. Students are then asked to graph that movement on a grid. Each video shows the action in real time with a second counter recording the time. The action is repeated in slow motion. The graph is shown, and then the movement is graphed on the grid. Teachers can pause these videos in between the sections to allow for discussions and predictions.

Finding the Domain and Range from a Graph

Domain and range are abstract concepts that my students have a hard time figuring out. Sometimes it helps to see a different person work through the math. This video uses a lot of the same language I use, including talking about infinity with Buzz Lightyear, allowing my students to make connections between his presentation and my own.

Pixar - The Math Behind the Movies

My students see little value in the math they are learning, and I am constantly asked, "When am I ever going to use this?". I love showing clips about the abundance of math in areas that interest them. Who knows? Maybe one of these videos will inspire one of my students to pursue a career in the field. This TEDEd video includes follow-up questions, additional resources and both guided and open discussion questions. This page is linked to the title above.

Math by Design - Cake Designer

Many of my students attend the BOCES Vocational Technical Training Culinary program their last two years of high school. This video is a great example of why math is important in a career area they are interested in and can relate to.

Folding Paper Can Get You to the Moon

Exponential growth is another difficult abstract concept that my students are required to learn about. This video encourages discussion and prediction. No student predictions ever come close to the correct answer! The TEDEd website offers a link to follow-up questions, five multiple choice and three open-answer. There is also additional resources provided for further exploration. This page is linked to the title above.

The Adventures of Slope Dude

I use this video with all my students, either as a review of slope or as an introduction. After watching it we create a foldable to glue in our notebooks as a study aide. They all think it is hokey, but I catch them all the time muttering phrases like "puff puff positive"  or "zero fun" while working on problems, so they are definitely getting something out of it.

Three Act Graphing Stories - Act 1

Dan Meyers has created a series of three-act math tasks for teachers to use in their classrooms. The first act introduces the story with as few words as possible. The second act is the same activity but slowed down, allowing discussion about what students need to know to solve the problem. The third act is the resolution. This is a great way to tie math to real life situations and always invokes great discussions about solutions and predictions. I love how much these videos make my students think about the way math relates to the world. If you liked this video, here is Act 2, and Act 3. His blog post explaining the concept behind these videos is here. The spreadsheet of his math tasks is here.

Multiplying Square Roots

My school is a GAFE school, and we use Google Classroom district-wide. I upload copies of our classwork and assignments daily. Homework uploads are accompanied by short video clips such as this one. They work well because they are short, concise and match the lesson being practiced in the homework. Students can watch the video, pausing and restarting as needed. All videos are narrated to prevent issues with readability.

Solving for X

Bill Nye, the Science Guy, does math! This video does a nice job showing how we can create algebra from real-life situations, and then figure out the answer to our original question. The title links to the Disney Educational Productions page and includes teaching tips and activities.

Math Class Needs a Makeover

This video is for the teachers. Dan Meyers is a former high school math teacher who has become a strong advocate for changing the way math is taught in the classroom. I had the pleasure of attending the New York State 2015 Fall Math Conference where he was the keynote speaker and also led a couple of sessions. His blog can be found here.

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