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 were 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.
Best Math Apps for 2nd and 3rd Grade
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.
Math Blaster *
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!
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
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.
This is a great list! We love Pop Math.
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
Thank you so much Monique! Bubble Math is our favorite one so far!
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.
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?
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!
No problem at all!! I hope you find the educationalappstore useful! From my point of view, it is the best of that kind around.
Fantastic list, Mia. Thank you so much for sharing with us on the linkup. I know this will be useful to lots of parents. It is invaluable for me!
Hi Lisa,
My thanks to my mom friend Liz! I love kid and mom tested apps. They are well screened that way!
These apps are wonderful for kids. Not only are they entertaining but it is also for educational purposes as well. The children will definitely enjoy these games especially Math Ninja.
Hi Bryan,
My son seems to love Math Ninja the most. You remind me that I need to find apps for multiplication and division for him! He’s working on that now.
Great list of apps and I would like to add our own award winning geometry game – The Land of Venn – Geometric Defense. Teach kids geometry without them even realizing it by playing a real strategy/tower defense style game.Here is a review by a teacher –
“Students are drawn into this game, and ask to play repeatedly. I love that the gamification of geometry has increased student vocabulary and is teaching them without them really even knowing it. They’re connecting bad guys, with hilarious mustaches, and hearing “strait line” or “open shape” over and over again. The adaptive ability of The Land of Venn is also incredible. The game actually adjusts to your student’s speed and ability level. Highly recommended for engaging, interactive geometry lessons.” – Meghan Z.
Olsen Elementary School
Port Aransas, TX
Thanks so much for the heads up Eyal! The Land of Venn sounds great!
Thank you for making this list! I’m on the search to fill the iPad for my girls for summer!
Hi AnnaMarie,
I hoe your girls like them!