On-line Maths programmes

[toomuchicecream]

I'm trying to put together a list of all the on-line Maths programmes as I need to buy one for the pupils at my school to use, and I don't want to miss something good!

So far I've got:

Mathletics
Komodo Maths
IXL
Sumdog
Maths Whizz
My Maths

Maths Factor is too expensive - we can't afford anything like the £9.99 per child per month they quote, even if they give us 50% discount.

Please let me know if your favourite isn't yet on my list. Thank you.

Our school use RM Easimaths. My boys both enjoy it. Once they have done a 15min session they then get to play a game of fling-a-ball which teaches angles/forces etc as they have to fling a ball by catapault to hit things. Topics they struggle with are highlighted in red to the teacher.

Thank you. I've used the old RM Maths in the past, but didn't realise they'd updated it. Another email has been sent!

Conquer Maths

Our school has just started with My Maths. Dh did ds's homework with him using it once then said "if you work hard at school son, one day you'll be able to design a database a thousand times better than this pile of crap".

Clunky and unclear would be my analysis of it. So not recommended by us.

Strikeout fail

Our sons' school uses MyMaths. It's SO dull! But he has spent many many hours playing Dragonbox Algebra and DragonboxElements (Geometry) on Ipad/Iphone.

Thank you all - reviews of the various packages also welcome! For the past year we've had Maths Whizz, which is fine (perhaps a little old fashioned, but mathematically sound). It's a substantial sum of money for us to commit so I need to be sure we've got the best offer out there.

My current feeling is that the longer a child has access to a package, the less likely they are to use it. Whereas if we change each year, we'll get the novelty value of it being new which will lead to a spike in use. What do you think?

Off to look at Conquer Maths now as it's one I hadn't heard of...

My use Sumdog. It varies a bit in that a lot. If the games seem a bit complicated but they do seem quite fun.

My main issue with it is that it runs on flash so it won't work on iPad or on android tablets (which is surely what most kids have access to these days!). There is an iPad app, but it's limited compared to the main site and there isn't really a hack to use it successfully with android.

So other than that we quote like it!

One real benefit of private schools is that a large number of children are not educated by the state - ie it saves the state a large amount of money. Many schools especially in London are already overfull with children not being allocated places each year.
I think I'd agree with that. I'd certainly say that everytime the RM Easimaths has an upgrade it spurs the boys back into using it - e.g. over the summer holidays they changed the way that they display how well they are doing, showing little messages as they go along that they have mastered a particular skill. That has engaged them again, where it was maybe getting stale after a years use.

Hmm not sure where my computer copied that from! Was trying to copy your comment about trying out new software each year .

toomuchicecream:

schools info for Mathsfactor is hidden - but the £9.99 quote is for private individuals (as I pay): schools info here: www.themathsfactor.com/schools/

£4.99 a month per child - they're quoting - but when this first rolled out to schools there were subscriptions for schools based on number of pupils - so may just be worth giving them a ring. Certainly on paper looks cheaper than Mathswhizz.

Our school used MyMaths - but really didn't take much advantage of the great video games. As a parent can I just say that yes, assign a lesson/ homework on MyMaths - but now and then - just assign an appropriate video game for practice.

HTH

Khan academy is free.
My DD (home schooled) loves ConquerMaths. Very comprehensive, good tutorials and it goes to A-level.