Best Math Apps for 2nd and 3rd Grade
We just had parent teacher conferences a month or so ago, and now it’s time to shore up areas of weaknesses as the school year winds to a close in less than 30 school days, or so my kids eagerly tell me as they count down. My mom friend Liz had asked me for iPhone and iPad math apps for her two girls in 2nd and 3rd grade. She wants to work on math facts with her girls. Then another mom friend Julie asked for a list for her 2nd grade daughter. It seems we were all seeking fun math apps to make practicing math facts fun — addition, subtraction for sure, but a little multiplication and division as well.
I researched lists that I had compiled. Top 6 iPhone math apps yielded a few apps. Like a Tutor or Really Fun Math Apps was helpful to. Math Ninja remains a favorite of ours. I sent my mom friends the list and a month later, I ran into Liz at a Creative Arts and Sciences meeting where we were previewing the Museum of Science presentation on rocks and minerals. Like two naughty kids, we slipped notes back and forth. She wanted to give me the list of math apps that her girls ended up trying out and was happy to rate them for me. They rate it by *. The more **, the more they liked the app.
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch app, Pop Math, continues to be the favorite math app of everyone I know. There is just something enticing about popping bubbles that kids can not resist. This app also covers the basic math facts for addition, subtraction, division and multiplication so you can use it for several years of elementary school, from as early as first grade all the way through fifth grade really!
Math Ninja also rates high because the gaming aspect makes kids want to play on it a long time, earning weapons like throwing stars in exchange for solving math facts. It’s a fair exchange I think. It’s like a parent saying, “You can have screen time for every minute you work on math.” Only, we don’t have to monitor it.
Liz also tested out math logic apps like Tangrams and Rush Hour. I think it’s a nice, portable option to take games as apps. She also is prone to letting kids play on her iPhone while waiting at a restaurant. While these apps don’t cover Common Core Standards math requirements, they support the logical reasoning needed for math and make it relevant.
It’s interesting with the recent article on the importance of teaching girls that math is a SKILL not a gift that the girl centered MathGirl apps did not work for her either. While the app appeals to girls, it was too easy. Perhaps it works better for preschool through 1st grade.
What are your favorite math apps or math websites? What skills do you feel need to be reinforced at home? What are your kids’ reactions towards learning math? Thanks for sharing.
Click on icon to view at iTunes. There are also Android versions available.
Rush Hour **
The popular logic sliding block Traffic Jam puzzle from ThinkFun is now an app.
Tangrams *
Use these virtual wooden tangrams to make animal shapes.
Pop Math ***
What is not to love about solving math fact problems — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division — by popping balloons? This is their favorite math app!
Math Ninja **
They also give Math Ninja a thumbs up. You earn weapons by solving math facts. You then use your weapons (throwing stars and more) to kill the animal bots.
MathBlaster combines the fun of arcade style blasting gameplay with math equations to provide a new educational experience. Work out the sum and blast away at the answer…but watch out for the missile heading straight for you. Swerve, slide and twist to evade your enemy.
MathGirl Addition House* (too easy)
A math app designed to appeal to girls. This would be more appropriate for first grade or for precocious Kindergarten girls.
Math Rider website
My mom friend Liz likes this free site a lot!
“Finally, a math game that really works! Help your child master the core foundation of math – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.”
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Bookmarking this page – great list!
Ann recently posted…Red Star Balloon
Twitter: DoodlesandJots
Thanks for posting! I’m going on a flight soon with my rising kindergartner and third grader and these apps will be a fun use of their time!
Posted by Kay Doyle
From my LinkedIn Group Bostonian Professional Moms
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Best Math Apps from My Mom Friend Liz for 2nd/3rd grade
Glad you found it helpful. If you are going to get just one app, my choice would be Pop Math. If two, I’d get Math Ninja next.
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Best Math Apps from My Mom Friend Liz for 2nd/3rd grade
This is a great list! We love Pop Math.
Craftwhack recently posted…Do a Conference the Right Way
Twitter: artchootwit
To Craftwhack,
My kids like Pop Math a lot too, but my son’s favorite is Math Ninja. He’s a gamer! What can I say?!
Thank you we are always looking for innovative/creative ways to educate the kids.
Posted by Monique Valdez
From my LinkedIn Group UCLA Anderson Alumni Network
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4th Grade Book Club: Savvy and GIVEAWAY
Thank you so much Monique! Bubble Math is our favorite one so far!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4th Grade Book Club: Savvy and GIVEAWAY
We have Splash Math series for Grade 1-5 Math apps which are aligned to common core curriculum.
Splash Math is also used by Teachers in over 350 classrooms and over 5 million sessions have been played on it already.
Would love to know how you like it.
Thanks.
Mayank Jain recently posted…Education apps – fostering young minds
Hi Mayank,
Thanks so much for letting me know about Splash Math!
Tremendous issues here. I am very happy to peer your post. Thank you a lot and I’m looking forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
math games recently posted…1
Hi Math Games,
My email is on my blog. Please feel free to email me.
There is a great website for apps, http://www.educationalappstore.com, which specialises in educational apps for young kids, parents, students and teachers. It is the one I always use when I want to find an educational app, and also the main store for my friends to buy good apps for their kids.
Hi Adriana,
Thanks so much for the educational app website recommendation! There are so many apps that it’s hard to know which ones are good. Glad to know there’s an easy place that screens them! I’ll go and check it out! Thanks again!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Top 10: Holiday Road Trip Toys and Games for Kids
No problem at all!! I hope you find the educationalappstore useful! From my point of view, it is the best of that kind around.