Middle school parents/math teachers...talk to me about graphing calculators

[Barb D]

The middle school supply lists suggest that we buy a TI83+ or TI84+ calculator. I found the TI83+ at Amazon for about - gasp - $90 and the TI84+ for - double gasp - about $107. Do my 6th and 8th graders REALLY need such expensive calculators? How much could they actually use them to justify that expense? (BTW, my 8th grader will be taking Algebra, but my 6th grader will be taking regular 6th grade math.)

If I do get one of these calculators, can I expect it to be the most they'll need to get through college, or should I bite the bullet and get an even better one now? DS wants to be an engineer.

Here's the TI83+: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t..._7/002-4406211-5126460?v=glance&s=electronics

And here's the TI84+: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t..._3/002-4406211-5126460?v=glance&s=electronics

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm not a parent but I'll try to help. I took Algebra in 8th grade and never used a graphing calculator. I bought one before Algebra II, but never used it then either. Used it more for chemistry than anything. Is there a way you can talk to the teachers and see if they actually need one? I've never heard of needing a graphing calculator in middle school. The majority of the kids in my high school don't even have them, and those of us that do don't know how to use them.
If they don't need a graphing one look into this calculator.Here is the calculator I personally use It's about the best out there, haven't found a function I can't do on it yet. If they don't really need a graphing calculator but need something, this one is excellent and will get them through high school math easily as well.

 

[BrerMom]

The way that Algebra is taught in our district, a graphing calculator is essential. If your DS doesn't have one, he'll need to make sure he has time to visit his teacher outside of school hours to use one. If he owns his own, he's more likely just to play around with it. The more comfortable they feel with it, the easier it will be to use in class.

I haven't played with a TI-84+ yet. My DD has a TI-83+ and it's been fine. As far as how much good will he get out of it, it depends on how much the technology changes in the next five years. At this point in time, our calculus teacher says the TI-83+ does everything he needs and he doesn't see recommending a calculator anytime soon.

If you live near a college, sometimes students will sell their calculators when the semester is over and their math requirement is complete.

PLEASE make sure, if he takes it to school, that you have his name engraved on the calc AND the calc lid. Record the serial numbers, too. Some parents have the calc available at home, but won't let it come to school except on test days. Not ideal, but I understand.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have a TI83 because I needed it for my college Algebra! My son is heading into 6th grade. Thank goodness they just need one to cover pre-algebra. There's no way he'd be taking mine, and I sure wouldn't be spending that price on another one for a child! I'd be battling with the teacher instead.

 

[CookieGVB]

I know last year the school recommended a TI calculator model for 7th grade, but I don't remember which one it is. I bought one for this year, but I didn't spend nearly that much, so it's probably the wrong model.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

This is the way I see it. At first you can get away with the cheaper multi-function calculator, I think it is the TI 43 Plus???

But -- eventually either in Jr. High or High School you will HAVE to buy that TI 83 or 84 plus. So the way I see it, you might as well buy it now and give the "If you break it or lose it, I will kill you" speech and hope for the best.

You might want to check Staples, they usually have very good prices.

 

[browneyes]

My dd is in the 6th grade this year. I asked her accererlated math teacher if she needed to use my TI-83 or she needed another calculator. She said she recommended a TI-30 for her 6-8 accelerated math students. They're like 15 bucks.

 

[hipporina]

BUY IT! I got a TI-82 when I took Algebra in 8th grade in '93 and used it all the way through high school and into college. I was a Chemical Engineering major and ended up upgrading to the TI-89 for the extra functions and abilities.

I think it is essential that kids learn to use these powerful calculators from the beginning, especially if they are going into a math intensive field like engineering. When he hits college he will be expected to be able to use them well. I do not understand these middle and high school teachers that don't allow calculators. Once you get to college you will often have profs tell you "just plug this equation into your calculator and youll get..."

However, do not expect the calculator you buy now to cut it in another 6-8 years. Technology changes too fast and they will be able to do things then that we don't even think of now. Expecially if he sticks with engineering, he will probably be need something newer at that time. I would just buy one good enough to get through high school if possible.

 

[tar heel]

My son is a junior in college in a math-intensive program, and he still uses the one from high school. We did buy a couple levels higher than what was actually needed for that class. He says it's fine except that it doesn't play games! If I were buying one now, I would make sure to get one that does NOT play games, even if it meant going lots of places.

 

[Patch'sD]

There was an article in the local paper here, LI, NY. The article showed how Hoftstra Univiersity was showing the a districts teachers on how to teach with the TI-83 +. I would recommend getting the exact calculator as lesson plans may be developed around the calculator, my sons Math A course was. When these units first came out they were well over $200. We are now on our fourth one. One broken and one lost. My daughter going in to seventh grade will use my son's who is starting college.

 

[danacara]

He'll get years of use out of the thing, I used my TI-85 from ninth grade through senior year of undergraduate engineering. Spend the money and then read him the riot act - DON'T LOSE IT!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm a high school math teacher and have been asked this question by LOTS of parents. Since your children are so young, I'd suggest getting a less expensive calculator now-I have a TI-36, that's all I've used for Algebra 1 and Geometry. If you buy a more expensive one now, there are several possibilities: 1. The calculator could get lost or stolen, 2. DS may change his mind about being an Engineer and he may never need a graphing calculator 3. Technology changes so fast that some other calculator may be the "in" thing in a few years, making the TI-83 obsolete. Isn't that what happened with the TI-81? Seems that was the big thing for a very short while.

 

[Sandy V.]

My daughter is a junior this year and used the TI-83 in both her freshman and sophomore years (Geometry, Algebra II, and Trig). She also used it for Chemistry class as well. I just bought one for my son who will start his freshman year in high school. He used a much less expensive calculator with less functions in middle school and had no problems.

I don't mean to scare you, but if you buy one for your child, make sure it is ALWAYS with them. My daugther went to THE CHALKBOARD at the front of the class to work a problem in Chemistry, and her first TI-83 was GONE when she returned to her desk! Make it as readily identifiable as you can! Painful lesson learned. They are a very popular item for theft at high schools and colleges because of their high price.

I have now threatened my teens with bodily harm if theirs are lost or stolen because they were careless!

Best of luck.

 

[ennazus]

If you do end up having to purchase one, check out eBay...

you might get one for 1/2 the retail price

http://search.ebay.com/TI83-TI84_W0QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQfromZR8QQsatitleZQ28TI83Q2CQ20TI84Q29

 

[bjgrazi]

Just had to purchase one for my daughter for HS, mandatory. They do use them. The T84 comes with the cable, which she needed to hook up to the computer to print out graphs. The cable when I looked it up was $25 alone. So it made sense to get the T84 over T83. The cheapest I found everything was at Walmart. I almost brought one used on Amazon, but was afraid there would be problems, since I knew she'd use it I brought it new.

 

[my3kids]

For Algebra, we did get the calculator. First time I looked, it was onsale at circuitcity.com for $49! The math teacher didn't even believe it was possible. I got mine, a few in the class did, then after a few days it was back up to around $100. Look for a sale, they do happen.

It will be used through calculus senior year. Only problem is you can download games that are online and he has junked the thing up so badly with &^(* I'd be surprised it can add single digits!