When we start learning high school maths, we quickly realise it's a new level of difficulty. Teachers explain even more difficult topics, using intricate words and writing complex formulas on boards.
Unlike primary school maths curriculum mainly focused on the basic arithmetics operations, high school maths covers a set of ever more advanced topics, including calculus, equations, logarithms, trigonometry and many others.
Understanding maths books is a pretty difficult task for students. This is a very different learning environment. Entertaining games are over and things get quite serious.
However, you shouldn't worry too much because it's a maths teacher's job to guide students through all the difficulties. They give helpful examples and offer helpful learning activities, problem-solving tools and strategies in the classroom.
Already during the first year of high school, students can discover a whole set of new maths concepts. As mathematics can only be learnt progressively, it is crucial for them to be serious about their books and other educational resources.
The tools set out by the teacher must be considered with due diligence by students. Only then can they complete their school year successfully.
An important moment when preparing for new classes is back-to-school shopping. At school, students need to get used to a large number of science classes. The education program in high school is substantially different from primary and secondary school, as other things play a role.
Find out more about school math equipment in our article.
For a huge number of classes, students will need different education resources to master the topic. For example, equipment for an art class may include pencils, easels, paints and even canvas boards. In the same way, new supplies may be needed for learning maths.
That change may mean a number of things. Students need to coordinate themselves better to make this an exciting learning experience. For that, shopping for the right supplies should be one of the top priorities.
Find out more about maths tutoring online.
What kind of maths equipment is useful in high school
High school maths classes always require a good set of materials from students. Some lucky students may even get a school supplies list of maths materials from their teachers at the beginning of the year.
Let’s find out what education resources such a list may include on top of traditional books:
- Calculators may be very helpful in your maths classes when it comes to some huge numbers. It will help students calculate the answer to every problem from basic algebraic equations to intricate functions, fractions and logarithms in a blink of an eye.
- Graph paper is a particular type of paper with pattern blocks of squares. It is very suitable for maths and it makes sense to buy notebooks with graph paper. In the notebooks, they will note down formulas and solve problems. They can also purchase some loose graph paper sheets for assignments.
- A pair of compasses is a V-shaped instrument resembling a medieval object. It is used in the maths classroom to draw circles. One of its legs has a sharp point and the other one holds a pencil. It's a crucial element in any set of geometry items and can be used outside mathematics, in areas, such as technical drawing or science.
- All rulers can be useful supplies, but a 30 cm-long ruler is ideal for a number of reasons. First, you can use it to draw a line on an A4 sheet of paper without having to move it. Second, it's still small enough and easy to transport. Finally, 30-cm rulers tend to be less expensive than longer ones, as the latter is mainly used by professionals.
- Protractors are learnt in secondary school and largely used in high school. It may come in the form of a circle or a semi-circle. The purpose of that tool is to measure the degree of angles. It is extremely important in high school math classes and may often be included in a set of rulers when you buy your supplies.
- Triangular rulers are used to measuring lengths and draw straight lines as well as angles. You can use it along with your ruler when working on drawing triangles in the maths or science classroom.
- Finally, maths also requires the basic classroom supplies, including pens (gel or ballpoint pens are fine), pencils (including coloured ones for some games and activities), highlighters, index cards, erasers, pencil sharpeners, paper clips, dice for the probability theory, textbooks, pencil cases and backpacks.
Discover our tips to select the best calculator for you.
How to choose the right calculator for your maths lessons
It is often thought that calculators may prevent students from learning maths. That is not totally true, because the calculator can only give you the answer if you ask the right question.
Choosing a good calculator for their maths classes is crucial for a student's future success as a mathematician or in science. In high school, a basic calculator may not be enough for all operations in class and problems. Some of the operations that can be done by more advanced calculators include:
- Exponents,
- Square roots,
- Natural logarithms,
- Sine functions,
- Matrix calculations,
- Inequalities,
- Fractions,
- Trigonometric functions,
- Multivariate statistics.
The calculator is one of the most useful tools in your set of supplies that can be used in all branches of mathematics. If your calculator misses an important function, you will have to buy a new machine at a good price, so making the right choice is crucial.
There are a lot of tools to help kids learn maths.
The type of calculator that is needed at high school is called a "graphing calculator" or "scientific calculator". A student can easily recognise them because they have a bigger number of different buttons and are often much thicker than the basic calculator that may have been part of your set of supplies at primary school.
There is a huge choice of calculators and their prices and options may vary a lot. As with all things the more powerful the calculator is, the more expensive it will be.
An important detail to look at by the student is the battery. Some machines have rechargeable batteries and others work on disposable ones.
Calculators can also have screens of different sizes. When it's large, working with the machine is more comfortable. The student can also choose the colour of their calculator.
Most students will be ready to face any challenge in class, from logarithms to fractions, after they buy a scientific calculator. What's especially good about new scientific calculators, is that they allow the "examination mode", which makes them perfectly suitable for tests and exams.
Where to do your back-to-school shopping?
To study maths comfortably, a student may need a protractor, a calculator, a pencil, a set of rulers and even dice. There are plenty of shops where you can buy those and many other items, including books at a good price. Once you've set a budget for your education supplies and resources, you can pick one place or another.
Find Maths tutor Brisbane on Superprof.
In some places, it is even possible to obtain your maths supplies for free.
Maths tools have been used by generations of math learners, so a lot of people may have a set of rulers or an eraser around the house.
- You can start by asking people around you if they have a spare set of maths supplies. They are very likely to have one and lend it to you for some time.
- Some people offer to gift their maths supplies on the internet when they don't need them anymore. You can get in touch with them and get all you need for a small payment or not.
A lot of shops offer cheap school supplies for students.
- There is a number of charity shops across Australia that sells school supplies during the summer. They can even provide you with maths games to play, flashcards and other resources to learn mathematics that can play a role.
- You can visit a second-hand shop in your area where everything costs much less than the original retail prices.
Buy your supplies at a good price.
- On the internet, you can purchase all the supplies you need for learning mathematics and have them delivered to your door. Many websites specialise in selling maths games, calculators, textbooks, notebooks and many other tools and resources.
- The advantage of buying online is that you can look for the best price of the supplies before buying them. The negative aspect is that you won't see them before they are delivered. This can sometimes lead to unpleasant surprises. You can always return any school tool that doesn't meet your expectations, depending on the seller.
- Visit stationery shops in your city to buy the supplies you need directly, well in advance to dodge those seasonally marked-up prices.
- The last option is to look for maths materials at your school. Some schools may have a school stationery shop that offers calculators and other maths supplies at a good price.
To succeed in a difficult task like learning mathematics, we have to be prepared. We should get all the necessary tools in advance or at the beginning of the school year so we can focus on our learning and have fun when we play math games or do other engaging activities.
To make the most of our high school maths career, we need to buy the right tools.
Once your knowledge of the subject has improved, you will see that maths classes and revision can be fun.
Don’t forget that your mind is the most important tool for learning mathematics. Be serious and diligent during your maths lessons and you will soon see results in class.
Find a helpful Maths tutor here on Superprof.
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