App Review

 EIM 505 App Review

iReady App (Math)

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/i-ready 

ALEX 2nd Grade Standard: MA19.2.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

iReady is an app that can be used as a supplemental program or it can be used with the iReady program. The app requires students to take a diagnostic when they first log on. This diagnostic is used to assess strengths and weaknesses students may have in math and creates a learning math individualized for that student. The program cost approximately $13.00 per student. The full pricing and quotes can be found at; chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.curriculumassociates.com/-/media/mainsite/files/thinkup/qrf-texas.pdf. This program is intended for students in k-8th grade. This app is compatible with tablets/iPads as well as Chromebooks. The app is available in Clever as well to help students easily access the app. The review site I chose is commonsense.org. I chose this site because they are very reliable with educational reviews. There are a mix of positive and negative reviews but I feel this is an issue that every app has. 

Reflex App (Math)

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/reflex 

ALEX 2nd Grade Standard: MA19.2.2 Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies such as counting on, making ten, decomposing a number leading to ten, using the relationship between addition and subtraction, and creating equivalent but easier or known sums AND MA19.2.2a State automatically all sums of two one-digit numbers.

Reflex is an app that I currently use in my classroom. The app is meant for students to practice their fact fluency. For my students (2nd grade) they are working on adding one digit numbers with sums within 20. The app assesses students ability and allows students to play games that work on their fluency. Students have to earn their ‘green light’ in order to go to the store. They achieve a green light by completing their facts. This feature helps teachers know that students are not spending their entire time in the store. The app also opens new games for students after 3 days of use. My students are highly motivated to use this app because of the additional games they get to access. Reflex offers educators a chance to apply for a grant to receive a year of Reflex subscriptions at https://web.explorelearning.com/math-grants/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=math_grants_2024&utm_term=reflex%20math&utm_content=search&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6oi4BhD1ARIsAL6pox2hSIU8cSOth8bCA4pCM83RpfUgwFF1s6N0U-3-jFRPx4yEaROYGigaAvKfEALw_wcB. The price of the app varies depending on the use. If the entire school is accessing the app then the price is approximately $3,295, one teacher use is $35 for a one year subscription. Of course you can contact the company and ask for a more specific quote. This program is great for students grades 2nd to 6th grade. It is compatible with tablet/iPads and Chromebooks. The app can also be found on Clever. I chose commonsense.org because of their credibility. Also, most apps have pros and cons and this site seems to give different personal perspectives of the app. 

Happy Numbers

https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/happy-numbers

ALEX 2nd Grade Standard: MA19.2.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem AND MA19.2.12 Add and subtract within 1000 using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method.

Happy Numbers is another app that I use very frequently in my classroom. This app creates lessons for students to work on based on their ability levels. As they complete lessons they are able to level up. I like this app in my classroom because students can manipulate tools such as rulers, base ten blocks, and numbers lines. I think this is very helpful because students have to use these same tools on ACAP (state testing). This app is focused on k-5th grade students and it is compatible with tablets/iPads, and Chromebooks. The cost of this app is a yearly subscription starting at $2,900 for a school wide purchase or classroom license that starts at $145 for ten students and $14.50 for each additional student within the class. There are options to get additional quotes as well as a custom district quote. Like I addressed with my other app reviews, I feel like commonsense.org is very reliable and gives different views of educators with each app. This app did receive four out of five stars.

I do use and really enjoy all of these apps but I really like iReady math the most. The app offers so much that educators can use for their students. The program is designed to adapt to the students needs and their growth as they complete lessons. There are also features that the teacher can access such as the teacher toolbox, lesson assignments, and data. The teacher can pull data from students' individual lessons as well as from the diagnostic test and create printable parent letters with the student’s data listed. Along with this the teacher can print support or enrichment lessons for students inside the teacher toolbox. All around this app provides a lot of information, instruction, and support for students’ math growth.