Bottom Line: A math app that truly does what no other apps out there can do: make sense out of word problems. Designed for kids ages 6-14, Math Shake walks users through the process of converting a word problem into an equation, and even allows them to record their thinking as they work through it. A must-have for kids struggling with word problems.
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In-app purchases for access to all levels of difficulty. External links present behind a parent lock that my second grader could not decipher.
What's free: the "confident" level, designed for 8-9 year olds
What's not free: the remaining five levels, which are available for $1.99 each, or all for $4.99
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Math is hard, y'all. My second grader sometimes brings home stuff that frustrates her to no end, and a lot of her difficulty lies with word problems. Yes, that nemesis you remember from your own school days is still plaguing kids today. Sure, I can help her, but she has to do the work herself. And let's face it, if I work with her for too long, I end up frustrated too, because she's having such a hard time grasping it and I can't seem to help. It's a lose/lose situation all the way around.
That's where Math Shake by developer Glen Storey comes in. What I wouldn't have given to have this app available to me when I was in second grade. This is the first app I've seen that helps kids convert word problems to equations, and actually manages to make it fun and engaging. Every word problem contains clues and trigger words that help in converting it to an equation, and this app was able to help my daughter recognize and use those clues. And the best part is that the app will grow with her through four more levels of difficulty.
Math Shake includes six levels (my daughter is on Level 2), and you can choose the right level for your little mathmetician based on some really detailed information on what each level covers. The initial free download comes with the "confident" level, designed for 8-9 year olds. If you want a level above or below that, check out the info provided and decide which one you want for $1.99. If your child is 8 or younger, just shell out the $4.99 for all six levels — you're going to be glad you did as your child ages and the app ages with her.
Once you choose a level, you get a word problem, along with a hip animated pencil to guide you through the process of figuring out which numbers go where in the equation, and which words in the problem are clues as to the operation that should be used to solve it. Mr. Pencil talks you through an example, and then leads you to a white board, where you can show your work, and even record a little audio reminder to yourself so you'll remember later how you solved a particular problem. The white board contains a bunch of tools for kids to use to figure out each problem: number lines, pie charts, and matrices will let them work it out on their own before taking them back to the problem and a chance to fill in the right answer. There's no penalty for a wrong answer — just a little head-shake of the screen and a chance to try again.
For my daughter, the big struggle is in deciphering the language of word problems. How do I know if I'm supposed to add or subtract? Mulitply or divide? Let Mr. Pencil help you figure out which words mean what. Does the problem ask for how many "altogether?" Does it say "how many are left now?" This app has done a better job than the teachers in helping my child understand the clues in these words.
The white board is full of helpful hints on how to use it, and there's even a way to access it without asking the app for a problem to solve. That means your kiddo can use it to do her homework if she finds it useful.
There is a school version of this app available that includes all the problems and sections with no in-app purchases. It's only $4.99, which is the same as if you bought the Everything Pack through in-app purchase in the regular version. But for teachers who can't get reimbursed for in-apps, the school version is a better bet.
I like that this app forces my daughter to use her critical thinking skills, and that it's helping her see how math and the real world intersect. Word problems aren't ever going to be welcome at our house, I'm guessing, but Math Shake sure makes them more palatable.
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If Emilie goes to bed at 11 and gets up at 6, and is kept awake by the neighbor's barking dog for a total of 3 hours, how much sleep did she get? Not enough. SmartAppsForKids.com was paid a priority review fee to complete this review in an expedited manner.
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