A Resource Guide Made by Teachers With Learners & Parents In Mind
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Tenzi Dice Game
Why We Love It: TENZI helps kids develop rapid and confident number recognition while being extremely fun and simple to play and there are so many colorful dice, adding to the fun!
Recommended by: Lee (Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: Early Elementary thru 5th Grade
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BAKAM Penguin Balance
Why We Love It: This balance scale does an amazing job of laying the foundation of equations with addition and subtraction at young ages. It also can be a wonderful tool when teaching pre-algebra students how to balance equations.
Recommended by: Sara (K-6 Math Teacher & Consultant)
Age Level: 3-6 Years
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ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic Jam
Why We Love It: I love this game because it allows students to engage in problem-solving and logical reasoning while having fun. This game is great for kids of all ages because they have different levels included.
Recommended by: Sara (K-6 Math Teacher & Consultant)
Age Level: 8 and up
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Math Foam Blocks
Why We Love It: These foam blocks are great for helping kids understand basic addition. The numbers are sized perfectly to stack on top of each other. When added together the numbers will be the same height as the sum number.
Recommended by: Rachel (Upper Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: 3 and up
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Great Books for Reluctant Readers
Why We Love These: These are GREAT books for elementary kiddos, sure to break to “I don’t feel like reading” stance.
For Lower Elementary, check out authors Jon Sciesca, Dav Pilkey and Jeff Kinney
For Upper Elementary check out Gordon Korman’s Masterminds, Linda Mullaly Hunt Fish in a Tree and anything by Alan Gratz (+5th)
Recommended by: Lee (Elementary Teacher)
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Adsumudi Math Game
Why We Love It: This board game is great for practicing basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Recommended by: Rachel (Upper Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: 8 and up
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Magnetic Blocks
Why We Love These: Fun puzzle and magnetic block game that will keep kids entertained for hours, trying to piece together patterns and creative shapes.
Recommended by: Liz (Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: Elementary
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Wooden Hexagon Puzzle
Why We Love It: This puzzle is great for all ages, helping develop problem-solving skills, spark thinking, improve sorting and information processing potential, and kids' spatial reasoning. Not just for kids, exercise your brain with this puzzle!
Recommended by: Liz (Elementary Teacher)
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Wooden Math Multiplication Board
Why We Love It: Multiplication practice. Helps students understand a multiplication chart.
Recommended by: Rachel (Upper Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: 8 and up
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Mastermind Game
Why We Love It: Mastermind is a great logic game for older kids. Incorporates coding and strategy.
Recommended by: Rachel (Upper Elementary Teacher)
Age Level: 8 and up
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Magoosh SAT Prep
Why We Love It: This SAT prep package seems to give the most for the money. If I was buying an online prep for my child I would pick this one.
Recommended by: Paul (Middle and High school Math Teacher)
Age Level: High School
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Cards Against Anxiety
Why We Love It: I love the strategies in this book. It also comes with a deck of strategy cards that kids can keep in a bag in case they need to use one at school.
Recommended by: Kate (Middle and High School Counselor
Age Level: Middle School and Up
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3 Minute Gratitude Journal For Kids
Why We Love It: This is great for kids because it helps them pause and reflect on the positives in their lives. Often they get caught up in the negatives and this really recenters them and teaches mindfulness.
Recommended by: Kate (Middle and High School Counselor
Age Level: 5 and up
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How To Get Unstuck From The Negative Muck
Why We Love It: This is another great book for practicing mindfulness and shifting to positive thinking.
Recommended by: Kate (Middle and High School Counselor
Age Level: 8 and up
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Scholastic Scope
Why We Love It: Scope is a wonderful resource that provides reading practice for middle school students.
Recommended by: Janine (Middle School ELA teacher)
Age Level: Middle School
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The Fidget Game
Why We Love It: This game is wonderful for emerging readers. It is a way for kids to master their sight words while playing with a fidget toy.
Recommended by: Patti (Lower Elementary teacher)
Age Level: Pre-K - 3rd Grade
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Lego Gadget Book
Why We Love It: This lego gadget book is a great resource for building visual discrimination and executive functioning. Kids follow step-by-step instructions to build cool gadgets.
Recommended by: Patti (Lower Elementary teacher)
Age Level: 8 and up
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Tower of Hanoi Wooden Puzzle
Why We Love It: This brain teaser is good for middle and high school students. The Tower of Hanoi has an interesting history and ultimate challenge. There are many hidden rules in rebuilding the Tower that the student hopefully will discover.
Recommended by: Steve (Middle & High School Math Teacher)
Age Level: Middle School and up
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Simple Steps Gift Card
Why We Love It: This is a great way to give the gift of individualized learning support, skills coaching or enrichment with the help of one of our AMAZING Simple Steps Staff!
Recommended by: All of our teachers
Age Level: Grades K-12