Mathematics Resources
Teaching mathematics in a correctional setting presents unique challenges—from limited technology access to the need for highly relevant, real-world applications. This page is designed to bridge those gaps through collaboration and curated content.
What You Will Find Here:
Contextualized Lesson Plans: Math curricula that focus on life skills, vocational training, and financial literacy to help students prepare for successful reentry.
Low-Tech Worksheets: A library of downloadable, printable resources that don’t require internet access, perfect for the restricted classroom environment.
Differentiation Strategies: Tools to help you manage multi-level classrooms, where students may range from basic numeracy to GED or college-level calculus.
Collaborative Best Practices: A forum to share “what works” with fellow correctional educators—exchanging tips on classroom management and student engagement within the facility.
Aligned Textbooks: Resources mapped to CCRS (College and Career Readiness Standards) and high school equivalency exams (GED/HiSET).
Websites: List of external platforms that are particularly effective for correctional education
Websites with free printable worksheets, lessons, and videos
- BBC Skillswise: A fantastic resource for “functional” math. It breaks down topics like “Calculating Percentages” or “Reading Graphs” into very small, adult-friendly chunks with videos and worksheets.
- CollectEdNY: This is an incredible site where adult education teachers peer-review resources. They have a dedicated “Math” section with reviews of the best free tools, explaining exactly how to use them with adult learners.
- GED.com: The official site for GED prep. It offers “Item Samplers” and “High Impact Indicators” that tell you exactly what math skills students need to pass.
- Get the Math: This site shows how math is used in careers like video game design, music production, and fashion. It includes videos and interactive challenges that make “When will I ever use this?” an easy question to answer.
- Khan Academy: While often used online, teachers can download specific videos and exercises. It is widely used in “Blended Learning” environments in facilities with restricted LANs.
- Math Worksheets Land: This site provides a wide array of free worksheets organized by grade level (up to high school equivalent topics like algebra and geometry) that can be valuable for adult learners covering foundational concepts.
- OER Commons (Adult Education): A massive library where you can search specifically for “Adult Basic Education” math. You can find full textbooks that are legal to print and distribute.
Aligned Textbooks
- Achieving TABE Success (McGraw Hill): If your goal is to pass a specific entrance or placement exam, this series is the industry standard. It is organized into levels that match the TABE test’s own difficulty ratings.
- Breakthrough to Math (New Readers Press): This series is highly recommended for students who struggle with math anxiety. It uses a very gradual, three-step approach to each concept: seeing the concept, doing the work, and checking for mastery. It is designed for adults with a reading level between grades 3 and 5.
- EMPower Plus (Adult Numeracy): The EMPower Plus series is a popular choice in adult education classrooms because it focuses on contextualized math—teaching math through real-world scenarios. The books are known for their distinct color covers.
- Math Sense (New Readers Press): A complete set of our three-book Math Sense series, which provides instruction and practice for the range of math skills that adults need to succeed in life, at work, and on high school equivalency tests.
- Number Power: The Number Power books employ traditional math instruction to target particular sets of math skills. They contain straightforward explanations; easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions featuring real-life examples; and extensive reinforcement exercises.
- Simple Math Workbook for Adults: A broad resource that goes beyond basic operations to include practical life skills like telling time, using a calendar, and counting money
- Steck-Vaughn GED Mathematics: Famous for its “Skill Book” approach. These books break math down into very small, manageable steps with plenty of white space on the page, which helps reduce “math anxiety” in adult learners.
- The NROC Project (Open Developmental Math): NROC provides a complete, high-quality math textbook that is open-source. It covers everything from arithmetic to college prep. It is available in both English and Spanish.
Collaboration Hub
- Adult Education Collaboration Hub : To provide an inclusive, resource-rich environment that demystifies correctional education through peer support, shared discovery, and interdisciplinary application.