Math Apps

Math apps that are available and updated are constantly changing; it's practically impossible to keep an up-to-date list of the best ones. Therefore, we wanted to explain our criteria for choosing a good math app and then list just a few suites of apps that we think are particularly well-designed.

Tracy Zager, one of our favorite math educators, wrote this blog post about math apps. We highly recommend reading the whole post. She has three criteria that she always looks for when evaluating an app:

• Does it avoid time pressure?
  • Many apps create a "game" feel by having a timer that is counting down. While some kids do enjoy the feeling of a race, there is a lot of research that time pressure can contribute to math anxiety, or just make it difficult for kids to access what they know. It also can send the message that "faster is smarter;" we look for apps that give kids time to think.
• Does it help build conceptual understanding?
  • We look for apps that provide a visual model that helps students understand the operation (number lines, ten frames, arrays, pictures of groups-- anything that helps the child visualize what is happening and see relationships between problems is key). Math should make sense, so we are looking for apps that don't rely solely on memorization but give children tools to make sense of number and reason through a problem.
• How does the app respond to mistakes?
  • The first thing we do when looking at a new app is put in a wrong answer. Does the app give a useful hint? Give the child the chance to think through the problem again? We work to have students see mistakes as crucial to learning; so we look for apps that frame mistakes in a positive way and give children the opportunity to revise their thinking and learn from that mistake.
• If you happen to find an app that fits all three of these criteria, please do share it with us! We are always on the lookout for new, thoughtfully-designed apps!

Here are a few apps that fit the above criteria that we recommend:

• Dreambox: Our favorite math app, it helps build conceptual understanding with thoughtful visuals. This app is more than just a game for fact practice; it teaches/reviews many different math concepts.
• Math Learning Center: These free apps are virtual math manipulatives. They can be used to help solve problems and are also great for open "sandbox" exploration, especially the Pattern Shapes and Geoboard apps.
• DragonBox: Also not free, but Dragon Box apps excel at building up number and algebraic understanding through engaging puzzle atmospheres.
• Duck Duck Moose: We especially recommend the free app Pet Bingo for fact practice; it provides repeated practice in a game format without time pressure, and provides thoughtful visual hints if you tap on the question mark.