Free Apps for fluency
Nov. 28, 2016 A few minutes with a good book before bedtime is a great way to wind down each day and strengthen skills. Parents searching for a mathematical equivalent might look into loading a few free apps onto their child’s new device before wrapping it up this holiday.
“There are a lot of great free apps out there to help kids build their math fluency,” says Heather Kreger, Fort Zumwalt’s Curriculum Coordinator for Elementary Math. She explains that math fluency is more than the rapid-fire memorization of flashcards. Fluency is about how numbers work together and how understanding those relationships empowers students by giving them an arsenal of math strategies. “We’re looking for students who are flexible and efficient in their use of strategies,” Kreger says. “Students who are flexible in their thinking will be able to use various ways to accurately solve a problem and explain to you how they did it. Students who are efficient understand which strategies work best for them and are able to apply those strategies to solve several different kinds of problems.” Kreger suggests these free apps to help you and your child work toward these fluency goals: Sushi Monster; Kakooma; KenKen Classic; Ten Frame Mania