4th Grade Math: Splash Math Worksheets - Review

 

 

Bottom Line: It's not cheap, but it's very well-done and an entire fourth grade math curriculum in one app.

 

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If you would like to purchase 4th Grade Math: Splash Math Worksheets App please use the links provided. Thanks for your support!

iPad ($9.99)                 iPhone (lite with in-apps)

     

 

 

In 4th Grade Splash Math, players (or parents/teachers) select a mission from 10 different chapters: place value, number sense, algebra, multiplication I, multiplication II, division, fractions, decimals, measurement, and geometry.

Once a chapter is selected, a section, or worksheet, for that chapter must be chosen. For example, after selecting place value, the user must select from numbers up to a million basic, medium, and advanced. Place value has the least number of subsections (3) and multiplication I has the most (26).

There are more than 140 sections/worksheets total, each with approximately 20 multiple-choice questions that are randomized, meaning the tests are different each time, and the description says the app adjusts after each question based on the competency of the player. Really nice stuff. 

I tested the app with both E and Ryan and both were very engaged with the presentation and interaction. (It's a space theme.) I'm not sure if it's an app they would return to on their own, but they didn't complain about it either, which is impressive since it's mostly a testing app. 

Parents can assign specific units as homework and track their performance in the Control Room. The app can also be configured to send a parent email reports. Splash Math adheres to Common Core standards.

The interface is simple and easy and the app presents the correct answer when a question is answered incorrectly. Six different profiles can be saved, each with a different name and avatar. Some pages even have a "scratchpad" for writing out solutions. 

My only real problem with the app (other than the price) is that there's a lot of wasted space in the presentation. The questions at the top of the page and the buttons at the bottom are just too small. 

Also, the congratulations the player gets could be varied more. For example, on the level I was playing with E, every time he got a right answer his avatar flies in on a spaceship and says "Awesome." The word changes for each test, but after 20 questions "awesome" gets a bit 80s-surfer-movie monotonous.

Overall, this is a seriously nice app, especially since there are very few good apps for older kids, with the only significant drawback being the price. I see 4th Grade Math: Splash Math Worksheets, by developer StudyPad, as much like an app from the TeachMe series, which is high praise from me indeed...but the TeachMe apps are just 99 cents.

I'm hesitant to make the app a Top Pick because of the the price, but I plan to use it a great deal going forward with my kids so I've got to highly recommend it for yours. 

 

This review was written by by Ron Engel, who, at one point in his life, had Star Wars memorized. smartappsforkids.com was paid a priority-review fee to complete this review in an expedited manner.