5 great tools to help your child with math this summer

During the summer following a global pandemic, many families are concerned about learning loss. And with good reason. For some of us, school has been remote for nearly a year and a half.

While students shouldn’t have too much trouble catching up in subjects like science and social studies (which generally start with new units), math learning loss presents a particular problem, as it requires students to master one concept before moving on to the next.

At Modulo, our team of teachers and tutors reviewed hundreds of math apps and offline curriculum for accuracy and effectiveness. We selected a few dozen that use a mastery-based approach and then tested them with a group of 400 PreK-12th grade students. Our kids were cut-throat, refusing to use any apps or curriculum that didn’t immediately engage them. They quickly dismissed the ones that were hard to use or boring. Once they’d picked their favorite, they’d beg to do math every day, seeing it as a special treat or reward. Even kids who started out with low-confidence in math changed their attitude almost overnight once they found a tool that was fun for them.

We’re happy today to share their favorites with you.

As we had the chance to observe the children using these tools, we also got a good sense of which tools work better for individual types of learners.

All of these tools are easy for kids to use independently or with the support of a parent/caregiver 20 minutes a day.

Here are our favorites.
Note: Generally PreK students can start with a Kindergarten program.

1. If we had to pick a favorite, it would be Right Start Math (PreK-12th). For hands-on learning that gets children really understanding math concepts deeply, we love Right Start Math. It’s easy to use, fun and engaging. Make sure to get the materials to support your child’s learning. This curriculum is loved by families with gifted children and is also a great choice for kids with ADHD, dyscalculia or dysgraphia. The website is a little confusing: they don’t go by grades, so you’ll want to take their placement test to figure out which level to purchase. Visit Right Start. Offline. $100–300/year.
2. If you can’t get your kid to stop playing video games, they’ll love Prodigy Game (K-8th). For a fun, free on-line game that’s aligned with all state standards, we recommend Prodigy. Several of our students play this game every day at Mastery Learning Hour and have jumped 3–4 grade levels in math over the course of the year. While designed as a supplement to classroom instruction, we find it stands very well on its own if kids watch the videos and use the hints. It’s adaptive, so kids will only move ahead once they’ve mastered a concept. If your kids love video games, this is a no brainer. They will beg you to do math every day. Visit Prodigy. Online. Free.
3. For an outstanding, nature-based curriculum, choose Wild Math (K-5th). We recently fell in love with this nature-based math curriculum for K-5th graders, designed by a mom and teacher. With quarantine coming to a close, there’s no better excuse to get you and your children outside and learning math. If you want to minimize screen time, this is an excellent choice. It’s very well designed and beloved by families. Visit Wild Math. Offline. $20–30/year
4. If your child is on the spectrum (or loves comic books), Beast Academy (2nd-5th) is a great choice. This online math game is also a comic book series and includes lots of really fun puzzles and games. Every child who has tried this finds it very entertaining. While not specifically designed for children on the spectrum, we’ve found that autistic children do particularly well with this tool. Visit Beast Academy. Online or Offline. $15/month or $150 for complete year-long bundle.
5. If your child is dyslexic, Math-U-See (K-12th) is another great, mastery-based program with games and puzzles, offline and online options. It’s not specifically designed for children with dyslexia, but the approach seems to work well for them. Visit Math-U-See. Online or offline. $45 for digital pack.

Some other programs we love include Khan Academy for K-12th, Khan Academy Kids for K-2nd, Math Tango for K-3rd, Singapore Math for K-8th, Homer for PreK, Math Antics for 3rd-8th, Dragon Box Algebra and Numberblocks for PreK-1st.

Feel free to reach out at modulo.app if you have questions about this curriculum or learning from home.