The best maths apps and games that will challenge your child (in a fun, engaging way!)
Far from being gaming dressed up as school work, there are a lot of useful maths apps and games out there that offer the opportunity to improve kids’ mathematics skills in Singapore. In fact they can offer things that can’t be found in a classroom, like problem-solving being rewarded with creation or a visual result of the thinking process, and the ability to track progress. But what are the best maths apps for kids and how are they used at schools in Singapore? We checked in with teachers-in-the-know at Australian International School to get all the answers. Thanks to Luc McKay, a dedicated Maths Coordinator for the Lower Elementary School at AIS & Darren Campbell, Elementary School ICT Coordinator, here are the top picks when it comes to maths games and apps.
For visible thinking – to help explain the “but whys?”
Explain Everything and Doodlecast Pro are both presentation platforms where your child can draw and hypothesise to work through problems. It captures the thinking behind problem-solving so teachers can see where a child is at. While not a maths app in itself, it very much supports an inquiry-based learning style favoured by many international schools – meaning it’s not just about getting the right answer, but explaining how to get it.
For practice – once they’re all over the reasoning side of things
Once the understanding is there, Mathletics and IXL provide opportunities for students to master their newfound knowledge. Both are closely tied to school curricula – Mathletics has a plethora of modules that mirror the syllabus of schools in many countries and within that kids can test themselves in different areas as well as complete in real-time competitions worldwide. IXL is aligned to the Singapore curriculum and is big on reporting so you know exactly how your child is tracking against peers. Teachers can select specific topics or problem areas for children to pursue.
For engagement – to make maths fun and interesting
By playing up the game and visual aspect some younger kids (3-7) can grasp maths concepts more easily and be primed to deal with more difficult ones later on. Montessori Numbers takes the Montessori idea of sensory learning and allows kids to move objects around in order to learn addition and subtraction. Futaba Classroom Games ranks as a fave because of its unique premise of allowing several students to play against each other.
For staying one step ahead – to challenge and measure progress
To really promote independent problem solving, and provide more than just number recognition, adding and subtraction, Skoolbo is a great choice. The spiralling algorithm that the app is based on means that Skoolbo can continue to formulate harder questions as students get more answers correct. Similarly, the levels in the award winning Math Doodles can be set to suit your child’s ability, so it’s something scaleable and ongoing that they can learn from.
Australian International School, 1 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556818, Enquiries: 6653 2956