Math Apps That Add Up
Practice is key to mastering math facts — but it doesn’t have to be boring. These fun skill-building apps will keep your kids tapping, sliding, and learning.
Many children with ADHD struggle to master math. Researchers have found that drill-and-skill computerized math instruction helps them achieve that. Here are three helpful apps that will make numbers your kids’ friends.
Math Vs Zombies
(iOS; itunes.apple.com; Android; play.google.com; $4.99)
This app is so much fun, you will have trouble getting your kid to take an ice cream break. The world is overrun with zombies and only you can send them packing, by using your math skills. The app asks players to quickly solve math equations to transform an approaching zombie horde back into happy kids. In the process, kids have to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The game has four worlds, each with 21 levels. After a week of learning to manhandle zombies, most kids develop sharper math skills to boot.
Sushi Monster
iOS; itunes.apple.com; free)
Sushi Monster, from Scholastic, is a great app for younger learners. The game covers addition to begin with, then moves on to multiplication. Numbers appear on sushi plates and are fed to a “sushi monster.” Players are given a series of sums and products. They must “feed” the correct combination of sushi plates (numbers) to the monster to reach each target sum or product.
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Game play is designed to improve proficiency and speed. Players are graded based on correct answers, as well as how many equations they complete and how fast they complete them. A child can earn points, stars, and trophies, and achieve personal bests to challenge themselves and unlock new levels.
Motion Math: Zoom
(iOS; itunes.apple.com; $2.99)
If your child is having trouble understanding decimals and place value, as many kids do, this app will get him up to speed. The app features a zoomable, stretchable number line, on which abstract numbers are represented by dinosaurs, amoebas, and a zoo full of animals. Some of the numbers are missing, and players have to put numbers and moves into negatives and decimals. Research suggests that understanding the number line helps a child develop his math ability.
– Randy Kulman, founder of learningworksforkids.com
