Freckle Education
Accessibility: iPad & Web based Cost: Free for teachers- the Teacher's Edition allows you to set up a class. (The site claims that the Teacher Edition will always remain free.) Once a few classes are using the program, there is an option to set up a School Edition which provides students consistent flow from year to year. Schools need to request a quote for the cost of the School Edition. Why We Like It: This program has it all and would be a great basis to begin implementing blended learning into your classroom. The program provides a diagnostic assessment for each student before beginning learning in a specific domain. This gives you a baseline and provides the program with information to differentiate instruction according to individual skill level. The program allows the teacher to assign specific objectives to one, or all, of their students. It also allows the teacher to generate personalized worksheets for learning objectives. There is a Math Fact practice section where your students can practice the basic Numeracy facts. The teacher is provided with detailed assessment reports on their dashboard. There even is a section that provides students with inquiry based lessons where students discover Math concepts through real-world scenarios. The program also has a video feature that the students can click on if they are struggling. This provides them with access to short instructional videos. How It Benefits Students: There are a lot of learning activities to choose from. For example: students love to collect coins each day for their work. They use the coins to purchase items to dress up an animal of their choice. The different assignments can be housed in one program (assignments, fact practice, inquiry projects) making it easier for students to find their work. The program also provides an audio option which is beneficial for those students who have difficulty with text. Live link: https://www.freckle.com/ For more information open freckle_education_app.pdf |
Khan Academy
Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: Free Khan Academy’s mission is to provide free world class education for everyone. Why We Like It: We chose Khan Academy as a must have for our classrooms when beginning blended learning due to their teacher training videos and free access. The program has extensive teacher training videos on how to set up a classroom and choose assignments to help personalize instruction for your students. The program is flexible as it allows you to choose assignments from various concept areas and different grade levels when needed if certain prerequisite skills are not grasped. The program provides the teacher with detailed assignment reports on individual students. As a teacher becomes comfortable using Khan Academy for Math they can then begin using the program for other subjects. Khan Academy allows a teacher to set up assignments in various subjects. How It Benefits Students: Students are able to learn Math skills and progress at their own pace. Students can practice targeted skills in an engaging way. Students can also sign in at home to practice their Math skills, allowing parents to see what areas they are working on. Students are provided with feedback through a progress tracker as they complete exercises (problem sets). They can watch videos for help and review when working on problems as well as receive hints on how to complete a problem. Live Link: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/early-math For more information open khan_academy.pdf |
Mathletics
Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: The minimum purchase amount is $550.00, which would get you 25 licenses. It works out to $22.00 per student. However the price per student becomes less when you have more than one class in your school using the program. Why We Like It: We chose Mathletics as a must have for our classrooms. If your school has the finances, it is engaging and it aligns with the new BC curriculum. As a teacher, you are provided with ongoing support including a downloadable curriculum guide. There are also printable Math resources including number lines, thermometers, fraction walls for students to use to help develop numeracy skills. Mathletics also provides students with opportunities to solve open-ended tasks that allow for multiple solutions. The program also provides the teacher with suggestions for specified target curriculum activities to help address any areas of weakness that the assessment highlighted. Mathletics is also compliant with FIPPA laws in BC. There is even an app that allows students to use the program when they are offline without an internet connection. Data is stored on tablet and then synced once internet connection is available. How It Benefits Students: Students are practicing Math skills at their targeted level. The program provides students with immediate feedback on how they are doing through colour coding their assignments; green demonstrates that they fully understand a concept, yellow means that they are getting better at a topic and red means that they need to review and keep practicing the topic. There are videos that provide students with review on topics where they require extra support. Mathletics provides students with a range of open-ended tasks that have multiple possible outcomes for success. These tasks allow students to explore concepts and develop their problem solving and reasoning skills. Students enjoy playing games on live Mathletics to practice their Mathematical skills. They compete in 60 second online learning fluency races to improve their Mathematical skills. Live Link: http://ca.mathletics.com/canada For more information open mathletics.pdf |
Prodigy
Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: Free (limited version), Premium version is $59.88 for a family for the year. Class cost: $12 per student. The free version has enough content to work with as teachers begin to initially blend their classrooms. Why We Like It: We chose Prodigy as a must have for our classrooms as it is engaging. Students are motivated using the game based learning and the curriculum links are awesome. We see it as a great addition to a Math program and as a bonus it is very easy for teachers to use and track student's progress. The program provides teachers with information on what to focus on during small group instruction. Students can also log in at home to continue to practice their mathematical skills at home. Parents have expressed pleasure at having their children choose to play a computer game that is rooted in Math that we are working on in school. How It Benefits Students: Students are practicing Math skills that a teacher has released as an assignment to the group. Students can be working on the same skills as they are learning in a face-to-face classroom. Students can work from home or at school. It is amazing to see the curricular tie in’s and see our students get excited to learn Math at home. Students enjoy trying to level up and gain power in this game based program. Live Link: https://www.prodigygame.com For more information open prodigy.pdf |
Splash Math
Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: The basic computer and app programs are free. You can purchase individual Grade (K-5) apps for $9.99 as well as school computer subscriptions for $240 a year for 30 students. Why We Like It: Splash Math provides personalized, self-paced practice and is a great way for all students to work on Math skills at their individual level. It allows students to practice their skills in an engaging interactive manner and move at their own pace and provides explanations for wrong answers. It also provides voice reading of questions which is important for the very young student and the student with limited reading skills, Weekly updates are emailed to the teacher to keep them informed of student progress as well as teachers have access to a class progress summary dashboard. How it Benefits Students: In this game based program students are practicing Math skills that they are ready for and they can move up when they have mastered a skill. It allows students to move from grade to grade as they are ready. Splash Math provides a parent letter with the student's username and password so they can also practice and move forward at home. Live Link: https://www.splashmath.com For more information open splash_math.pdf |
Math Buzz (K-8)
Accessibility: iPad & Web based Cost: Free. Why We Like It: Students are able to practice their math skills while playing a game. More skills are added as students enter a grade they are in. The skill bank choices in Kindergarten are addition and subtraction but in Grade 3 the skill bank choices are addition, subtraction, fractions, properties, multiplication, division, equations, estimation and algebra. Each skill choice has a picture icon as well as text to help young learner decide which skill to practice. There is also the option to erase data that the app collects so the game can be reset. As a teacher you can set up an account for each student. How It Benefits Students: Students choose their grade level and select the skill they want to practice. They use their math skills to protect the queen and collect pollen as they travel through 5 worlds. Along the way they rescue trapped bees to help them on their travels. When they answer correctly their bee will either rescue a friend, pollinate a flower or defend the queen. If they answer incorrectly they lose a bee. Live Link: https://www.mathgames.com/play/mathbuzz.html Moose Math (PreK-1) Accessibility: iPad & Android Cost: Free Why We Like It: Teaches basic Math concepts of counting to 100, addition and subtraction to 20, geometric shapes and linear measurement. Teachers have access to an assessment section where they can see how each child is doing. How It Benefits Students: Engaging as they have 5 different activities to choose from. They get to earn rewards and use these rewards to build a city and decorate their buildings. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/moose-math-by-duck-duck-moose/id660345152?mt=8 Park Math (Pre K - 1) Accessibility: iPad Cost: Free Why We Like It: Early Pre-K - 1 Seven games to choose from with three levels in each game for differentiation. Skills covered are small to large, patterns and sequences, counting numbers to 100, greater than/ less than, addition and subtraction. How It Benefits Students: Students get to go through a park playing seven different games. They can interact with the characters/objects on the screen. By swiping or tapping the screen they can make the characters move. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/park-math-by-duck-duck-moose/id391407836?mt=8 Sumdog (K-5) Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: APP is free and the Games part of the program is free. The free version is great to supplement your classroom Math activities. There is a paid version that gives teachers tools like a tracker and real time progress updates. They’ll provide you with an American-based curriculum guide that you can choose activities and games you want your students to focus on. Why We Like it: Free Portion It is motivational for students to practice math skills during game based learning. Students compete against other players with similar abilities. The program adjust to meet learning needs, if a student provides correct answers very quickly, Sumdog will begin to pose more difficult questions and also decrease the allotted time for answers. I would use this app as a choice activity for students to use during centers or during the game station in a station rotation approach. How It Benefits Students: The games are very motivational. Students like the competition and the 25 free math games they can play. They can change their avatar and character online. Students earn coins with each correct answer and can spend the coins in the Sumdog store. Live Link: https://www.sumdog.com/ Todo Math (K-3) Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: Free for a portion of every game. If you like the games you can upgrade for a yearly subscription. Teachers and schools can ask for a quote if wanting the full version. A one year subscription for a parent is $62.99 Why We Like It: Free portion: The program is designed for early Math learners Pre K to Grade 2. There are an abundance of free choice games that 28+ kids can play. Games are organized under the following skills: counting and cardinality, number operations, mathematical reasoning, time and money and geometry. Each game has numerous levels that progress as students skills improve. Paid version: Gives access to all the games with their various levels, 60+ missions, daily practice exercises and challenges and a teacher dashboard that allows you to track student progress. There are also multiple input modes for learners (write, tap and drag numbers, left handed options). How It Benefits Students: They have a lot of choice in games to play with a variety of levels. This self choice also allows them to advance to higher levels when they are ready. Live Link: http://todomath.com/ |
Math Fight (2 player game) (1-5)
Accessibility: iPad & Android Cost: Free Why We Like It: Another way for students to practice their math computation skills in a game. This game is an option for partner work where they compete against each other. There are four levels for students to choose from. Students can choose what skill to work on. How It Benefits Students: Enjoy playing a game with a partner. They get to race against their friends in a friendly competition. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/math-fight-2-player-math-game/id738947827?mt=8 Math vs Zombies(K-5) Accessibility: iPad & Android Cost: $4.99 Why We Like It: Game based app that allows students to practice their basic facts. It helps improve students recall of their basic Math facts. This app has some variety with 7 different play world covering; counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, comparison of numbers and mixed addition and subtraction. Each world has 21 levels. How It Benefits Students: Just a fun way to reinforce learning their basic facts. Zombies are trying to attack their house and they need to answer the question before the zombie reaches them. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-vs-zombies-math-games-grade-k-5/id470896560?mt=8 XtraMath(1-5) Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: Website is free but the app cost 6.99 per iPad. Why We Like It: XtraMath allows the students to master the basic arithmetic facts. The website allows the teacher to customize each students program. XtraMath provides the teacher with a weekly report on how each student is progressing. The practice is short with a typical lesson completed in under 10 minutes. Students can practice their math facts a home on a laptop once they have their code. How It Benefits Students: Students practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts during timed practice. The goal is for students to have instant recall of their facts. After finishing an activity XtraMath shows students their progress and adjusts as students questions to harder facts. Once a student has learned an operation they receive a certificate of completion and are then ready to learn a different operation. Live Link: https://xtramath.org/#/home/index |
Math Central
Accessibility: Web based Cost: Free Website Why We Like It: It is a great Canadian mathematical resource maintained by the faculty and students of the University of Regina. A teacher resource that shows how math is applied in the real world. There are numerous resources available to teachers including links to "Aboriginal Perspectives". How It Benefits Students: They can ask questions and receive answers by either searching or asking directly by email. It helps to interest kids in mathematics through presenting them with photos and biographies of male and female mathematicians. Live Link: http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/ NRICH: Primary (Website. There is also an early primary site: NRICH: Early Primary) Accessibility: Web based Cost: Free Website Not available as an App. Why We Like It: A great problem based site. I would use the site as a Math warm up to get us thinking about or practicing a new concept. There are teacher resources, suggestions for use and an ideas bank that are worth perusing. Some of these problems could be given to kids offline. How It Benefits Students: Problems are presented in a variety of ways, print and video. Students can explore new concepts using some online manipulatives like peg boards and Cuisenaire rods. Students like working together and seeing the various ways of solving the problem. Live link: nrich.maths.org/teacher-primary Number Pieces by The Math Learning Center Accessibility: iPad, Android & Web based Cost: Free Why We Like It: It is a virtual set of blocks that you can use to teach concepts on the whiteboard using your iPad. It has some extra measurement and annotation tools to use. Blocks can be snapped together at edge which is helpful when making groups of 10 or 100. It is important to note that there is an early primary version called Number Pieces Basic. How It Benefits Students: It is easy to select a whole group of blocks by drawing your finger around them. The hand drawing tool and equation editor help students explain how they solved a problem to their peers. It is convenient as you don't have to go and get physical blocks. Live Link: itunes.apple.com/us/app/id605433778?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 The Math Learning Center also has a variety of other virtual manipulative APPS (Geoboard; Fractions, Number Frames, Pattern Shapes, Number Line). For more details visit www.mathlearningcenter.org/resources/apps ShowMe Accessibility: iPad & Android Cost: Free Why We Like It: It is an interactive whiteboard app that can be projected and allows the teacher to demonstrate/explain an assignment or concept using audiovisual. You can use drawing, text, images and voice overs to create a step by step audiovisual assignment. How It Benefits Students: They can play the recording to review what they are suppose to do at an independent work station. It allows them to have some independence and be responsible for their learning. Students also like to use it to explain how they solved a problem with the whole group. This app helps students develop good presentation skills. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id445066279?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Subitize Tree Accessibility: iPad, Cost: $1.39 Why We Like It: Teaches students to subitize. Subitize means that students recognize the number of items presented without counting. Students learn the various ways numbers are presented. There are 3 levels. Each game is a set of randomly generated numbers. Use as a warm up in the early grades by having children show you the number with their fingers. How It Benefits Students: A fun game based activity. Student get to free a variety of animals in the Subitize tree while learning their numbers. They can choose their own level to play. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/subitize-tree-hd/id634880139?mt=8 Ten Frame Fill Accessibility: iPad Cost: Free Why We Like It: Young children need to be able to see fact families that add to ten. This app provides students with practice filling a ten frame to determine an answer. You have the option of seeing the number sentence created from the counters used. How It Benefits Students: Provides young students with manipulatives to solve problems. They can choose the contrasting colour chips to solve the answer. Live Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/10-frame-fill/id418083871?mt=8 |