8 FREE Math Apps!

McGraw Hill is offering eight free Everyday Math apps until April 16th. Just search for "McGraw Math" in the app store, or click on the links below.

Divisibility Dash

Tric-Trac

Equivalent Fractions	Name That Number
Addition Top-It	Baseball Multiplication

Monster Squeeze	Beat the Computer

App Review: Brain Quest Blast Off

Brain Quest Blast Off:
Grade 2, $2.99 (iTunes link)

We purchased both the Grade 2 and Grade 3 versions.  This game is based on the flashcards that many teachers have in their classrooms.  I have always used the flashcards as an educational class game to fill a few minutes of down time between lessons.  This app allows students to work at their own pace to prove what they know and learn what they don't.  The app boasts 2000 questions, geared toward the grade level's curriculum in the core subject areas.  The only disadvantage is that the app was created by American teachers.  There are some questions that require students to know about the imperial system and American geography.  As well, there are some math concepts in the Grade 2 app, such as time, that we do not cover until Grade 3. Over all, this is an engaging app that provides instant feedback, combined with the opportunity to earn points and virtual trophies for completing levels.  Unlike most other apps, this app provides hours of play.  I can see it being used on the way to a field trip.  In my classroom, the students worked in partners for a few minutes as a reward for working hard on their paper and pencil tasks.  The app saves their progress for the next time they play!

Please post a comment to share how you are using Brain Quest Blast Off in your classroom!

App Review: Make a Word

Make a Word, $0.99 (iTunes link)

Make a Word is suitable for students in Kindergarten and Grade 1.  Students choose the beginning letter sound for the picture and drag it into the box to spell a short or long vowel word.  Words are separated into Word Families, such as "en" and "an."

We initially purchased the free version of this app, but after K1 teacher Tamara tried it out with her students, we decided to buy the full version.

Please post a comment to share how you are using Make a Word in your classroom.

App Review: Alphabet Tracing

This app is suitable for Preschool and Kindergarten students, who are learning to form their letters and numbers correctly. Watch the train, truck, or worm show you the proper way to print. Then, trace with your finger. If you forget which way to form a letter or number, have the truck, train, or worm show you again.

Kindergarten students in Ellen and Tamara's classes loved this app!

Alphabet Tracing, FREE (iTunes link)

Please post a comment to share how you are using Alphabet Tracing in your classroom.

App Review: Math Girl Addition House / Math Girl Number Garden

Math Girl Addition House, $1.99 (iTines link)

Math Girl Addition House is geared toward girls in Kindergarten to Grade 2.  This app is a fun alternative to flash cards for learning the basic addition facts. It helps students to think in patterns, rather than adding with their fingers.

Students create an account using their first name.  Multiple accounts can be saved on the same iPad.  Students add up the flowers and tap on the correct answer to earn points.  Each level gets progressively more difficult. Points can be used to "buy" exterior decorations for a virtual house.

Math Girl Number Garden, $1.99 (iTunes link)

Preschool and Kindergarten students will also enjoy Math Girl Counting Garden, which has the same feel as Math Girl Addition House. This app focuses on counting skills. Points can be used to "buy" flowers for a virtual garden. 

Please post a comment to share how you are using Math Girl Addition House and Math Girl Number Garden in your classroom.

App Review: Word BINGO

Word BINGO, $0.99 (iTunes link)

Word BINGO is geared toward students in kindergarten to grade 3, who are learning to read sight words.  There are five levels, from Pre-Primer to Third Grade, as well as a noun list.  

In Word Bingo, the student taps on the word s/he hears.  The quicker you are, the better your score. Students earn a BINGO bug when they beat their score.

In Spelling Practice, the student drags the letters to spell the word s/he hears.  Spell ten words to earn a bonus game.

In Word Fling, the student taps the word s/he hears and a BINGO bug appears. Fling and bounce the BINGO bug.  The game ends when the student misses three words.

In Word It Up, the student attempts to stop the word blocks from stacking up to the top of the screen.  The student taps the word s/he hears to get rid of the block.  

What a fun alternative to Dolch Word flash cards!

Please post a comment to share how you are using Word BINGO in your classroom.

Other great apps by ACBya.com:

Math BINGO, $0.99 (iTunes link)

App Review: Multiplication Simplified

Multiplication Simplified, $0.99 (iTunes link)

Multiplication Simplified is geared toward grade 3 students, or anyone else who wants to memorize his or her multiplication facts.  

This app introduces the multiplication facts visually by displaying  apples on a tree.  Students should complete a level with the "hint"  (apples) on and then repeat it with the "hint" off. When the child is ready to complete a level with the hint off, the teacher can choose a time and accuracy rate.    The student will keep practicing until s/he reaches the goal time and accuracy rate.  The child will receive a checkmark indicating successful completion of a level.  There are also mixed level questions for students who have completed the previous levels.

This app reinforces the necessary task of learning the multiplication tables in a manner that is way more fun than flash card drill and practice!  

Please post a comment to share how you are using Multiplication Simplified in your classroom.

App Review: A Math Regrouping App

A Math Regrouping App, $1.99 (iTunes link)

A Math Regrouping App has the same feel as A+ Math Success in 30 Days.  Students choose their response from three answers. The standard setting allows for ten two-digit questions per drill, with a maximum of fifty seconds per question.  The settings can be adjusted to allow for anywhere from five to thirty questions per drill with ten to 120 seconds per question and two or three-digit questions or mixed questions.  The same day they were introduced to 2-digit addition with regrouping, my Grade 2 students had no problem completing a drill with the standard settings in place.

The best feature of this app is that it allows the student to work out the answer, using their finger to write the numbers.  The work space is laid out in such a manner that students will not forget to "carry" or "borrow" digits.

This app is appropriate for Grade 2 and Grade 3.

Please post a comment to share how you are using A Math Regrouping App in your classroom.

App Review: Fashion Math

Fashion Math, FREE (iTunes link)

Fashion Math endeavours to make math fun for girls.  This app provides Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division drills.  The settings can be adjusted to allow equations with answers to five all the way up to 99.  Students can choose between Practice Mode or Credit Mode. Practice mode is flash-card style, without stars.  Credit Mode allows students to earn stars that be used to "purchase" clothing and accessories for a virtual fashion model. Students can also save a photo of their fashion model to the iPad's photo library.

Fashion Math is a fun way for Kindergarten to Grade 3 girls to practice math facts. My grade 2 students particularly enjoy the incentive of choosing accessories for their virtual model!

Pet Peeve: There is a spelling error in the Settings section. 

Please post a comment to share how you are using Fashion Math in your classroom.

App Review: A+ Math Success in 30 Days

A+ Math Success in 30 Days, $0.99 (iTunes link)

A+ Math Success in 30 Days is based on the premise that continuity of practice is the key to success.  This app provides thirty sets of Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division mental math drills.  The idea is for students to complete one drill per day, but the lessons are so short that the app can sustain a child's attention for at least a few drills.  Students tap on the correct answer in order to move onto the next question.  Students have a maximum of five minutes to complete a timed drill of thirty questions.

A+ Math Success in 30 Days is a fun way to practice the basic math facts.  This app is a great addition to any Kindergarten - Grade 3 classroom teacher's repertoire.  The best part is that it takes up just a few minutes of class time!

Please post a comment to share how you are using A+ Math Success in 30 Days in your classroom.