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For some kids, the transition from basic math functions to algebraic expressions and equations is like learning another language. Every year I hear my students exclaim, "What are these letters doing in here?", "This is math class, not English!", "How am I supposed to know what x is?" They become frustrated, closed off, and decide they hate or are bad at math. When students use a calculator, it simplifies the arithmetic, allowing them to focus more on the new algebraic concepts. In my experience, helping them focus on only a few concepts at a time helps reduce their frustrations with math as a whole. Using personal devices in a middle school classroom presents an obvious problem: it quickly becomes more about their phones & tablets than about the calculator. Technology today puts a calculator on every device available, therefore, having a classroom calculator available will eliminate the temptation to use one’s personal device for non-classroom activities. I am asking for basic four-function calculators so students can preform arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately, but the calculator cannot do all the work. Today, kids can find fraction calculators, algebraic problem calculators, apps that take a picture of a problem and immediately provide the answer, and the list goes on. By avoiding advanced calculators and apps, I can ensure that students understand their solutions while still giving them some reprieve from tedious operations.
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