App Review

App Review by Ashlee Elliott

Standard 

1 ) Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 x 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. [3-OA1]

Example: Describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 x 7.

XtraMath

XtraMath is an app and website that allows students to practice their fact fluency. The app costs a one time price of $4.99 per device. The app can be set to addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. Because any of these mathematical operations can be practiced, this app can be used for students as young as Kindergarten up to sixth grade. This app can be used on iOS devices, Chromebooks, Android devices, Kindle Fire, or a computer.  The following journal article was a great review of XtraMath and how the app collects data that can be helpful for teachers and parents to pinpoint areas of struggle. This article was written in 2014 so it only discusses the website, but since then the app has been created. https://thejournal.com/Articles/2015/04/01/Big-Data-Is-Not-Bad-Data.aspx?Page=1 

SeeSaw

SeeSaw is an app and website that allows students, teachers, co-teachers, and parents to communicate. This app is FREE, which makes it an even better option for education! It is designed to be used for any school aged children. In addition to the communication tool, the app has recently added activities that teachers can assign to individual students or a group of students. There are many math related activities that can be assigned to students, including multiplication fact practice activities. Another incredible feature that has been added to the app is the ability to add a co-teacher to a SeeSaw classroom. Being in a departmentalized classroom can make communication a little more challenging, but this feature has made it so much easier for the team teachers to communicate with all parents. This app can be used on iOS devices, Chromebooks, Android devices, Kindle Fire, or a computer. The review I was able to find was very credible in my opinion due to the fact it was a review from an educator who has used it in his own classroom. He also gave specific examples of why the app was beneficial to his learners. https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/seesaw-the-learning-journal-teacher-review/4671865

Prodigy Math Game

Prodigy is an app and website created to engage students in a fantasy world game, while requiring them to solve math problems to achieve points to cast spells. This app allows the teacher or parent to select a grade level of 1st-8th grade (ages 6-13). The questions are designed to support math skills on the selected grade level. Supported platforms are as follows: Androids 5.0 and higher and Apple iOS 9.0 and higher. There are two Android devices that are not supportive of this app and those are Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 and Tab E. I found a professional review on this app that I loved reading because it discussed how the teacher used the article and her thoughts on it. It is credible due to the website it was found on. It is also a review from an educator who has used it and provided specific feedback. https://www.commonsense.org/education/website/prodigy-teacher-review/5034748

All of the following apps are incredible, but I would have to say the app I would suggest the most is SeeSaw. It provides so many features that allow students to be more successful at school. One of the first steps in students being successful at school is communication with their family, which is made possible through SeeSaw. I use this app each and every day in my classroom. Students get excited about their learning, because they know they get to share their work with their family and I! The fact that it is a free app is also another reason I would say this is my favorite!