Math Word Problems app review: addition and subtraction

Introduction

Math Word Problems - Addition and Subtraction for Kindergarten is an iPad game for kids to practice their word problems. This can be a difficult skill for children as they practice looking for clues, and this is a fun way for them to learn.

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Two Levels

The free version of Math Word Problems - Addition and Subtraction for Kindergarten comes with level one, which goes up to 10. Level two goes up to 20, and includes more difficult questions. Each question has five areas on the screen: a drawing space, a ten frame, a number path, an equation spot, and a sentence answer spot. This enables the student to figure out the problem using the tools that they are most familiar with, or the tools that suit the question the best. In the screen shots, you can see that I completed each section, but if you only need to do 7-3=4 or 5+4=9, then go ahead. It is important to remember that while this app can be used for older children, it is aimed at Kindergarten children who may need the variety of tools.

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Spoken Questions

Math Word Problems also has spoken portions. There is a speaker button at the top right under the score out of 10, as well as a speaker button at the bottom left to read your answer. If you accidentally hit the answer speaker before you’ve solved the question, then it will give you the answer. Sometimes this is helpful so that you can get your student to work towards the answer.

I also tell my students that they don’t have to draw detailed ducks, or weird looking squiggles. They can draw D’s and cross them out to subtract, or they can draw a P for the pencils, or just use a tick. Teaching kids how to tally with four ticks and a cross to close off groups of five is a very effective way of keeping track. It is an important life skill to be able to track points for various scoring.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free
• Helps kids learn to look for clue words such as how many left and how many now
• Provides five different areas to help kids calculate visually, using a number line, and more

Cons

• You can’t go back to the previous question to see how you have done

Final Thoughts

Math Word Problems - Addition and Subtraction for Kindergarten is a great learning tool to help kids learn to look for key words in word problems on the iPad. I love how there are five different areas on the screen to help your child figure out the answer, and also that there is a sentence area. Many kids don’t want to write the sentence, but it is a nice clear place to present your answer. It is also important for students to present their work so that teachers can go back and look at the work to find the errors to help students with corrections. By teaching them to show their work through the five different areas, they have this covered! Overall, this is a great app, and I would like to see them develop apps for higher grade levels too.