It may come as a surprise to some, but the iPhone and the iPod Touch are amazing resources for math students of all ages and capabilities. There are animated video tutorials, colorful drill pages, engaging math games, calculators and reference sources. How is this possible?
For those new to the mobile world, the word to know is apps, an abbreviation for applications. Apps can be found on your mobile device by going to the App Store and searching the App database, just as you would search on Safari or Google. The nice thing about this store is that not everything costs money. Though there are many useful math applications that you can purchase, there are many wonderful free apps available.
Like the internet, apps will never replace classroom instruction, but they can be a very useful supplement to learning and can provide opportunities suited to different learning styles. There are applications with colorful themes, such as fashion dolls and asteroids, which make drill more engaging. There are apps that strive to help younger learners make sense of what can be abstract math concepts such as telling time or fractions.
For older students, there are apps with detailed solutions to more complicated math problems like adding mixed numbers and percentage problems. No matter what level, apps offer immediate feedback that can motivate the student to keep working. Your iPod Touch might be the tool that encourages your child to take control of his/her learning. Use the following list as a starting point and then continue building your own app library. Learn how much fun being successful in math can be!
Young Mathematicians
Kids in kindergarten through 2nd grade will love these apps.
- MathTappers: Find Sums: Users find pairs of numbers that make up a larger number. This app that teaches the concept of adding.
- Math Games: Users practice basic addition and subtraction with fun games that are loaded with animation like shooting asteroids. A flashcard based game is also available.
- Fashion Math: Kids solve simple addition facts to earn prizes to dress a fashion doll. Users can even take a picture of their creation!
- Razor Smart Lite: Solve math addition problems with underwater creatures!
- Pop Math Lite: This app features floating bubbles with equations written on them. Touch an equation and match it with its answer.
- Shapes: This is a simple geometry app for those just learning their basic shapes.
- MathTappers: ClockMaster and Kids Clock: Practice telling time.
- Counting Coins and Coin Math Free: Kids learn to recognize, count and make change.
- Dot to dot Number Whiz Lite: Great app for the student working on sequences skills.
Multiplication and/or Division
Students have tools available to them 24-7 to help them master these two critical skills. The following apps do it all, add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Pick the one your child likes the most or try them all to keep drill as new and fresh as possible. These apps are useful for all skill levels.
- MathTrappers: Multiples: This app helps learners make sense of multiplication and division.
- Math Drills Lite: Users visually learn how to solve math problems with number lines, blocks and more.
- Time Tables Free: Several learning tools are available, including a talking grid, a variety of flash cards, and a handwriting application. Users can also generate printable worksheets.
- Flash to Pass Free: This is a very simple, but effective drill app that may appeal to the older student.
- Math Tutor Lite: There are six levels of difficulty for each skill, and students are given instant feedback on how well they have done. The games can be played with a timer for an extra challenge, or without.
- Long Multiplication Drills: Solve long multiplication problems step-by-step, just as on a sheet of paper!
Fractions, Decimals and Percent
Assistance with helping your child learn fractions is readily available. These apps provide fun, animated videos for the student beginning his/her study of fractions and drills with detailed solutions available to the older elementary student as well.
- envisionMATH fractions: This app features an entertaining and interactive video is a great introduction to fractions that kids will enjoy.
- Fraction Drills Free: Solve assortment of fraction problems and solutions.
- Estimate Fractions- Practice visualizing and manipulating fractions.
- Percent Problems: Practice problems and solutions with video explanations.
- Number Line: Players have to order fractions, percents, and decimals.
- Pearl Diver and Lobster Dive: Created by the National Council of Teacher [NCTM], players use number line skills in a game to get pearls or lobsters.
- Fractions Calculator: Useful homework checker.
- Decimals and Fractions: this app converts decimals to fractions and vice versa.
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