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Free Quality Math Apps

I am always looking for quality apps to install on my teachers' iPads. Recently I put on a great FREE app called: Number Line.

This is an open-ended educational tool that you could use as a math center to help students visualize number sequences and model strategies for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

First students should choose the type of number line they wish to use:


Then they could use flashcards or some sort of prepared equations to solve using this app. One way to solve is simply using the pen tool to write and draw the jumps on their number line:

Students can also type in their equation:

I love the colored jump tool that shows how many numbers were jumped either forwards or backwards. They can be manipulated my pinching or expanding you thumb and index finger on the small gray boxes:


If you want your students to show you their work, simply have them write or type their name somewhere in the white space and take a screen shot of their work by pressing the power button and the home button at the same time. You can retrieve their work by going into the Camera Roll to see how they solved their problems. These pictures can be pulled off of the iPad by putting them into DropBox or Google Drive.

Another FREE app that is a great tool for checking math work is yHomework.
This app will solve math problems by showing step-by-step solutions, not just THE answer! Basic computation problems through advanced algebra problems can be solved using this one app...it's pretty awesome. Check it out:






Have students solve their problems independently and then use the iPads to check their work! This is also great for you parents at home to get your child to check their math homework at night (might save Y-O-U some time..yahoooo!)

An app you might be familiar with is Virtual Manipulatives.
This app is GREAT for assisting with fractions, decimals and percents. Basically it is a virtual work mat:



As you can see in the settings above, fractions can be represented as tiles or circles. This app could be used across grade levels. I have used it with kindergartners for basic fractions and with fifth graders for comparing, adding and subtracting fractions, percents and decimals. If you want to hold your students accountable for their work, have them save their work mat to the Camera Roll by pressing the Save button. They could then upload their creation into the FREE app, Screenchomp
Screenchomp records as students explain their work and annotate as they talk. The recording turns into a movie and then produces a link that you can send home to parents to view at home! (Note: when Screenchomp prompts you to enter a birthdate when the app is opened for the first time, be sure to put YOUR birthday, not a student's birthday. It will not produce links for those who are not adults). Here is an example of a 1st grader talking about her fractions:

Maya's Fractions from Julie on Vimeo.


Those are just a few math apps that some of my teachers are really enjoying. What is one of your favorite open-ended apps you like to use in your classroom?