10 Free Math Apps for Students that Teachers Swear By
In an age when attention spans of student is diminishing rapidly and gadgets play a major role in their lives, forward-thinking teachers are trying to find new ways to help their students learn better – and keep them interested in their studies.
‘Math’ is a subject which has undeservedly garnered a bad name for being a difficult and boring subject since centuries. Hence, teachers are now using following apps to break this myth and help their students acquire the required mathematical skills easily while having fun with numbers:
1. Prodigy Game
Meant for students of grades 1-8, Prodigy Game is available for free on iOS, Android and web platforms. Teachers love this game-based learning program because it allows them to use games in classroom and for homework assessment projects and make learning a fun activity.
The app offers built-in diagnostic test which generates real-time reports on students' progress and helps teachers identify their strengths and weaknesses.
2. Math Training for Kids
Meant for students of ages 3 and up, this Android-based app helps students to pick up four basic concepts of Math - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division - quite easily. You will find several interesting exercises and games to give kids ample practice.
3. CK12
A free app, available on Android, iPhone or iPad, Windows 8 or 10 and web platforms, CK-12 pairs high-quality content with latest technology. The interactive learning activities it offers include adaptive practice, PLIX, and simulations.
High School students would love its BrainGenie section while those who specifically want to develop their Algebra Proficiency and Higher Mathematics skills should delve into its FlexMath section.
Teachers love the app because it is easily accessible anytime, anywhere; and include workbooks, quizzes and tests too.
4. Colorado’s PhET
Colorado's University PhET simulations project is quite popular as a classroom tool in progressive Maths and Science teachers. The animated illustrations can easily be incorporated into lectures as well as homework assignments to help students understand certain concepts easily.
While PhET app is available for $0.99 for Android and iPhone/iPad users, K-12 students can access its PhET simulations online for free to study mathematical concepts like Projectile Motion, Calculus Grapher, and Arithmetic.
5. Photomath
Available for free on both Android and iOS platforms, Photomath allows you to snap a picture of the math problem and get its step-by-step solution! From basic arithmetic to fractions to trigonometry to linear and quadratic equations, it can help you with a lot of Math problems quite easily.
While a good teacher will certainly never allow you to use this app in a classroom, teachers do recommend it as a study support too that students can use at home.
Other similar free apps that you might want to try are Mathway and Socratic.
6. Khan Academy
Salman Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, uploaded videos on Algebra on YouTube with a purpose to provide remote tutoring to his cousin. The videos got more views than he expected and today Khan Academy offers free video lessons to all students through its apps and website.
One can learn anything here - from counting to calculus. There is a dashboard which allows students, parents, and teachers to track the progress of students too.
7. GeometryPad
Free for Android and iOS, the app is loved by teachers for making the understanding of geometric concepts easier and ensures better student engagement in class. Teachers can also give assignments for home using it, in which students can practice taking measurements and using the compass, experiment with different geometric shapes, and create complex geometric sketches too.
8. BuzzMath
Primarily a web-based app, it offers over 3,000 problems that are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Teachers love it because it is accessible from any device, offers a variety of input styles, allows students to try again and again, and of course, detailed reporting tools (in paid versions only).
9. Brainscape Flashcards
Available on both iOS and Android based platforms, this app is unique because it gathers inputs from a student and then, creates a study plan tailored to him or her.
Math tutors love it for its flashcard function, which is quite useful when it comes to helping high school students learn their formulas. Flashcard repetitions in the app are timed according to the individual’s cognitive requirements and have been scientifically proven to help you learn better in half the time.
10. Singapore Maths
We all know how proficient Singaporean students are in Math. It's because of their special teaching method where abstract mathematical concepts are explained easily to students using concrete objects. The method is fully compatible with CCSS.
The app includes over 500 learning games and educational videos. There is a free trial available but after the trial period, one will have to subscribe to the app to be able to access its content.
Author Bio: Monica Gill, a writer, who currently maintains a home tutoring resource in Singapore. She is passionate about writing and collecting new books. She believes in hard work and it is her persistence that keeps her doing better. She is a perfectionist and doesn’t let go off things that don’t appear perfect to her. She loves traveling whenever she needs time off of her busy schedule. Her favorite holiday destination is Hawaii.