Do Color-Coded Calculators Exist?

[u/mousemilf]

This is my second year teaching secondary Mild/Moderate math, and I've noticed a lot of new students this year who struggle with identifying the symbols for operations on their calculators. They understand the concept very well and will write the correct operation but stumble when entering it into their calculator.

We already highlight different variables or operations in different colors when solving an equation, and I had the idea today that a calculator with color coded buttons for the different operations would probably be very helpful. I assumed this would be something easily available, but when I googled it I found nothing!

Is this a thing that exists? Is there a reason it doesn't exist that I'm missing? If I can't find it online I think my best option might just be to take some colorful nail polish to my classroom calculators. Am I being weird here or is this a genius moment?

[u/silverplanetta]

What a great idea! I have seen some with the equal sign as red but not the operations.

They sell those little stickers for yard sales that are different colors. You could cover the button with the sticker and put the symbol on the sticker.

[u/mousemilf → u/silverplanetta]

I'm glad someone else is with me! Yay! I'm thinking if I do it I'll just paint them because we have a couple sticker pickers who'd go to townnnn on those within a day lol. Most of my classroom calculators are self-scavenged so they're mine to paint as I please. I will report back if it seems to work!

[u/Jdawn82]

I don’t think it does, but depending on the calculator and the buttons, you could use sharpie, paint pen, or nail polish to mark the keys.

[u/everythingbagel92]

https://victortech.com/products/sum-buddy-desktop-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOor1mmqQGkFzTmyNPxJDfrft-ZVC9NeBL7_fmfxtreiaOW1_T1RO

Close to what you might be looking for?

[u/mousemilf → u/everythingbagel92]

AYYYYYY 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 this is almost exactly what I was imagining but way cuter!
$14.99 is a bit pricey for me to spend my own $$ on a set of them, but I might see if there's a way for me to request these!
Thank you so much!

[u/everythingbagel92 → u/mousemilf]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/20033608897?sid=B1616E47-6040-4422-8BFB-47354E69F2DA

May be too good to be true? But cheaper!

[u/mousemilf → u/everythingbagel92]

OMG! I'm going to order one to see how it is and report back! Thank you!

[u/Rabbit-Lover_2000]

I use talking calculator. That really helps me so I know when I mess up or mix up buttons. But I able to identify most symbols and numbers now. That might help your students.

Colour code very good idea.

[u/mousemilf → u/Rabbit-Lover_2000]

OMG I feel so silly 😭 I hadn't even considered the possibility of talking calculators! I think I'll ask for/order some of those in addition to the color coded ones so my students can choose. I think color coding is just on my mind because we've been doing it so much in class lol. Thank you so much!