This is a comprehensive math app to practice second grade knowledge and enables adults to monitor progress of multiple students by content area. The app has some cute graphics but they are not well integrated and insufficient to make the app feel really fun. Students can practice in nine broad categories without a timer, test their numerical fluency on all four operations in the timed section, compete on fluency with up to four players on a single iPad, or play games with their earned rewards in the circus. The training section has a total of 81 different topics for students to choose. Students answer untimed questions, typically multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank, with the option to use the built-in scratch pad. The variety of questions within topics can be good to develop flexible math thinking skills, but it may cause discomfort for less confident math students who do better with repetition. Parents will need to set expectations for the number of expected problems per sitting, since the problems just keep coming until a child quits. In the timed section, students choose the operation, the level, and the length of practice time from 30 seconds to three minutes. In both areas, students earn badges and rewards that can be used to play in the circus. Students receive feedback after every answer, but they are not shown correct answers to learn from mistakes, and adults will not be able to track specific problem types that are causing difficulty, only accuracy by category. Overall, this app provides solid practice of second grade level math and an indication of where a child might be struggling, but it will not provide the instruction some young students need.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
• Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Has a free or trial version
• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
• Multiple users can save a profile
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can play without sound and not distract others
• Students can save work between sessions
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Abstract Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Word problems assume additional knowledge (conversion factors, formulas, symbols, etc.)
• Anxiety
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
• Attention
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Flexible Thinking
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Numerical Fluency
• Student will need to copy or write multi-digit math problems
• Word problems assume additional knowledge (conversion factors, formulas, symbols, etc.)
• Organization
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Working Memory
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Student will need to copy or write multi-digit math problems

Mathseeds apps are a great way for young students to practice and master all the essential math skills. Written for the Common Core Standards, students can access a huge range of activities that make learning math fun, motivating and very rewarding!

Grade 2 includes:
Training – 81 question sets that cover the 9 big topics of Grade 2 Math. Includes a scratch board for working out problems, along with a Dictionary of terms.
Multiplayer – up to 4 players can play against each other in this game of speed and fun.
Timed – Increase your speed in essential addition, subtraction, word and mixed mathematics.
Badges – Earn more than 220 badges.
Games – Earn tokens to spend on fun games in the Circus area.

With the ability to make multiple accounts, each child’s individual progress is tracked and recorded.

The Mathseeds apps are created by the same team behind the very popular Mathseeds and Reading Eggs websites, bringing together all we know about how children learn math with the powerful interactivity and motivation provided by the iPad. The irresistible combination of engagement and learning will switch on all students, even those who don’t think they are good at math!