This is a Chromebook School post, about a few math-related web apps that we are using, hope to try, or just find intriguing.
- MathSeeds, (AUD 60/yr, ages 3+), from the same company as Reading Eggs, has proven a great introduction to math. Our almost-five-year-old is well into the “first-grade” portion of the program, which has a nice progression and a variety of games and exercises. I recommend it. Downsides include the fact that it’s quite scripted rather than adaptive, and their early introduction of “number words” assumes some early-reading ability, an assumption that seems unnecessary and un-helpful.
- XtraMath.org (free) is a completely-free site to help kids review and build fluency with math facts. It’s not flashy, but seems effective. It adapts to a child’s particular needs.
- Reflex math (USD 35/yr, grades 3+) also works to build math-fact fluency, along with some helpful teaching methods. It involves a number of fun games, with extra “hazards” thrown in besides the solving of math problems. Our 4-year-old daughter, who has a high aversion to failure, found some of these challenges too challenging–and it also requires keyboard input, which was a barrier for her. For the intended grade-2+ market, I’m guessing it’s likely to be a hit. (The site uses Flash, though I believe they intend to transition away in the next year or so.)
- Redbird Math (USD 80/quarter, K-12) at GiftedAndTalented.com looks amazing, though we haven’t yet tried it out. It’s an adaptive curriculum, based on Stanford University’s research into methods of educating gifted students–which they’ve found actually benefit students across the spectrum. It weaves in a lot of STEM video content, connections with real-life, digital manipulatives, digital projects, coding-related content…wow. As noted, we haven’t tried it yet…but I suspect it will be hard to resist the pull.
- DragonBox Math (USD 5-8 for several apps, Android/iOS) looks like a lot of fun. I discovered it through The Homeschool Scientist, who recommends their app–which purports to teach algebra to kids from age 5 on! In addition to “Algebra 5+”, they have a number of other apps for building number sense, or learning geometry and going to higher-level algebra. (Later, after having my daughter play the first few levels: great mechanics, horrid aesthetics! Use at your own preference.)
For future reference
I’ve come across a few sites that I’m guessing will be useful a few years from now. No experience with them yet, except for the wonderful Khan Academy.
- ExploreLearning Gizmos covers grade 3 to college, with online math and physics simulations.
- Uzinggo.com looks interesting for math and science from grades 5-12.
- Maths-Whizz (K-8? GBP 99/yr) looks interesting, an adaptive curriculum.
- Khan Academy (free), of course, has a collection of good video explanations–along with practice problems, a content map, and a brilliant spaced-repetition system to review at just the right time.
- Beast Academy takes an interesting comics-based approach to math in their print version, and promises an online version in 2018.
Offline
I can’t resist tossing in a few offline options:
- We plan to use Math Mammoth. (We’re now in the very earliest stages.) Inexpensive, conceptual, mastery-oriented but with good review. Purchasable as PDF.
- Judging RightStart Math by a video I just saw from someone associated with it, I’m intrigued!
- We’re dabbling in Miquon Math, which uses Cuisenaire rods and a fairly discovery-oriented approach. (Available in PDF from CurrClick.)
- We’re planning to try out MathTacular–haven’t done so yet, but it looks like an intriguing supplement.
- …and finally, I love the idea of “literature-based math” that drives Life of Fred. Some people love it. I’m not completely sure, based on samples, about whether I–or, more importantly, my daughters–will love it as well.
Do you have other great resources to share? Add them in comments.
Known Unknowns 