Did you know graphing calculator help teens do better in math!
Math was definitely one of my favorite subjects… I know! I am geek. I saw math as a cool puzzle to solve and part of solving puzzles is having a strategy and also having the right tools. Today the graphing calculators seem to be a super must-have for acing algebra or calculus. What was interesting is the amount of research that shows that teens with graphing calculators do better in math! (You can see those research studies posted in my next entry.) And when I talk to the young women who have these calculators and are loving math, I am convinced that this is every parent’s essential tool to give their daughters and sons. (My secret mission is to show at least one young girl that she can be pretty and smart- If I can do that, its been a good life!)

What I like about the Texas Instrument TI-84 Plus Silver Edition is that it’s highly recommended by teachers, proven to help students increase achievement in math and allowed for use on almost all of the major college entrance exams and most statewide achievement tests. Obviously you will need to learn the math, even with the calculator- i.e., it is not going pop out an answer if you don’t what to put in… you know the old saying, “Garbage in, Garbage out.” But because this graphing calculator comes pre-loaded with 1,000 college entrance exam test prep questions –if you spend the time, practice and learn the math, this could not be a better tool to give kids an extra edge when practicing for the SAT and ACT exams. (Yes, I said practice… How did I get good at Math? One- I had great, patient teachers and then I would spend all day Saturday practicing completing the square, graphing, — math is like anything else- you can’t get a washboard stomach by doing one sit-up. The analogy here is you won’t be a math wiz if you don’t practice the process and learn the rules… Math is a game. If you think about it like that, it is really fun.)

And what is great about the TI calculator is that you can use on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Physics and AP Statistics exams. It has more than 20 preloaded software applications, including, software for Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, math and science tools and educational games. And no worries about storage space- you can storage up to 94 software applications and it is electronically upgradeable to have the most up-to-date functionality and software applications. The built-in USB port and cable allows you to transfer data to or from a computer or other handhelds. And it connects with TI’s presentation tools to share work and collaborate with other students.

Best of all it comes in 14 cool colors (like hot pink! – they must have made that one just for me ?) And TI has decals as well as customizable stickers that you can print and pop on your calculator… So you could have a sticker with your dog, your cat, your family or your favorite band! For more on the removable stickers, go to http://www.education.ti.com