Tom Sextro's Algebra Toolbox

I’ve spent over 30 years in education as both a middle and high school math teacher and a technology director. I began my career teaching math and computer science, then spent many years helping schools use technology in practical, meaningful ways. After retiring from my technology director role, I returned to the classroom to teach Algebra 1. That experience gave me a fresh look at what today’s teachers and students really need. For years, I had hoped that 1:1 classrooms would lead to more day-to-day, unit-specific technology use. But when I got back into the classroom, I realized that many of the quick, simple, focused apps I wanted for my own lessons just were not there. My resources are built from that mix of classroom experience and technology background. I focus on creating practical, engaging digital activities that are easy for teachers to use, helpful for students, and realistic for real classrooms. Teachers do not always need a huge platform. Sometimes they need one practical activity that fits exactly with the skill they are teaching that day. My goal is to create tools that help students see the math step by step, while giving teachers something they can use right away without extra setup, logins, or complicated directions. I also want the activities to feel engaging for students — almost like a simple math game — with levels, instant feedback, and a clear guided-to-independent practice structure.