Too Much Pressure (but it did make me better)
If you ever ask me whether I like XtraMath, this is what I would say: On one hand, it helped me remember facts I forgot because of lack of practice. It also helped me keep an momentum when practicing facts. On the other side, it is really frustrating that I need to use the keypad to click the answer. It would be nice if you can have a choice where you could write it. Plus, you should add more activities to practice. Some that you don’t get timed, so it could be more relaxing and be a nice break. It gives me pressure when I have to do one race after another. Mr. C (I think that’s the name of the red-shirt guy who is also bald that users see before and after activities) can also give more advice, such as writing the facts down on paper to help memorize. All in all, Xtra Math is a great resource but has space to improve.
Show more
An anxiety inducing nightmare.
I grew up using this and felt pressured to get every question correct and get them all right in time. From my memory, this program was used first for my class in either first or second grade, and then again in 4th. The emphasis on time made me panic, trying to put in the right answer as quickly as possible, before moving onto the next one an repeating the process. And when I got a question wrong?
I felt dumb. Like I had failed this test, and that I wasn’t doing good enough. I eventually got a specific play my hand would be in, as to answer as fast as possible, while also being correct. After all, that was the only way I’d succeed. That’s the only way I’d get those green smiles instead of thumbs down or neutral faces.
The fact the creators smile never leaves doesn’t help either.
This app may have even worsened my ability to take my time on tests, which has messed with me in the past. Heck, it might have even made a afraid of math as a subject, thinking if I try it on my own I’ll do something unacceptable and fail.
My mom used to have me use this at home to, back when we first had to. Until she watched me use this program, that is.
Also, please be aware I instilled the ‘Failure = bad’ into myself, and my parents never contributed to that.
So all in all, please don’t have your child or school use this.
Why my school did is beyond me, considering the reviews.
I felt dumb. Like I had failed this test, and that I wasn’t doing good enough. I eventually got a specific play my hand would be in, as to answer as fast as possible, while also being correct. After all, that was the only way I’d succeed. That’s the only way I’d get those green smiles instead of thumbs down or neutral faces.
The fact the creators smile never leaves doesn’t help either.
This app may have even worsened my ability to take my time on tests, which has messed with me in the past. Heck, it might have even made a afraid of math as a subject, thinking if I try it on my own I’ll do something unacceptable and fail.
My mom used to have me use this at home to, back when we first had to. Until she watched me use this program, that is.
Also, please be aware I instilled the ‘Failure = bad’ into myself, and my parents never contributed to that.
So all in all, please don’t have your child or school use this.
Why my school did is beyond me, considering the reviews.
Show more
Updated review
I go back and forth between hating and loving this app, but now my mind is made up. My daughter passed her addition and subtraction facts with this app, which I thought was great and I thought meant she knew her math facts. Then, we switched from Rod and Staff math to Singapore Dimensions and my daughter definitely does not know all of her addition math facts! And when I say she doesn’t know all, I really mean she pretty much doesn’t know any of them without counting. So, she pretty much wasted her time on an app she hated anyways and from which she learned very little. We’ll just stick to flash cards and speed drills from now on, and skip Xtramath. Definitely frequently assess your child to make sure she/he is actually learning her/his facts and able to solve addition problems presented to her/him in various ways if you plan on using this app or any math program that focuses on drill and rote learning. Unfortunately, this app only presents the problems in one way, so if your child is later confronted with an addition problem written in a different way, she may not understand how to solve it, which I didn’t think about until we started Singapore math, which wonderfully does present problems in multiple ways and expects children to actually think about the problems (I’ve learned that this is important for solving novel and unfamiliar problems!). And now I’m kicking myself for being lazy and leaving my daughter’s math facts learning to an app.
Show more
Response from developer
Hi, I'm sorry to hear about problems you've run into with your daughter deleting her account. Making changes to a student account is only possible through a parent or teacher account. Most likely your parent sign-in is "remembered" on your device, which means you (or she) can sign into your parent account without your password. If you have questions (or need us to restore a recently removed student account) we are most happy to help! You can reach us at erika@xtramath.org.
A great app for kids to become comfortable with basic arithmetic
Xtra Math has helped my children excel at mathematics. If you want this app to be effective you have to encourage your kids to use it as often as possible, preferably daily. If you do this, it should be impossible for your child not to grow. This app does not teach the concepts, it is exactly what the name suggests: “extra” practice. Your child should already have learned the concepts before sitting them down with this app.
I like this app for my kids because it’s no nonsense, no fluff, just straight up timed addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. With reading, we expect our children to move on from sounding out each word to “sight reading”; this app basically does same thing but for mathematics. My kids are no longer calculating each answer in their heads, they now sight read the problem and spit out the answer super fast.
At first, it was a bit of a grind trying to get the kids into the habit of using the app but after awhile they started to enjoy it and loved that they would receive a score at the end of each session and would use that to challenge themselves and each other. Often they would proudly tell me how many happy faces they were awarded at a time.
This app gets results and I highly recommend it.
I like this app for my kids because it’s no nonsense, no fluff, just straight up timed addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. With reading, we expect our children to move on from sounding out each word to “sight reading”; this app basically does same thing but for mathematics. My kids are no longer calculating each answer in their heads, they now sight read the problem and spit out the answer super fast.
At first, it was a bit of a grind trying to get the kids into the habit of using the app but after awhile they started to enjoy it and loved that they would receive a score at the end of each session and would use that to challenge themselves and each other. Often they would proudly tell me how many happy faces they were awarded at a time.
This app gets results and I highly recommend it.
Show more
Another way to do flashcards
Just started homeschooling and had my first and third grader start this program to help with math facts after having them do assessments for other math programs.
I was a little surprised by their initial assessments and realized I could help if I was more consistent with flashcards for repetition.
A few things to note:
1. It is not a curriculum
2. It is a tool to help with memorization.
3. It tracks progress and gives a weekly summary with it of your individual students.
4. You have the ability to remove the teacher during when it quizzes you or races.. I admit that my third grader didn’t like that, but I framed it for him to say that I wanted him to crush the teacher and it didn’t require seeing the teacher visibly. There’s a function that takes the visible teachers body language away so it’s just the flashcards.
It’s been super helpful and to see him triple their accuracy rate and has given me time to help my newborn when they tackle it as flashcards at a consistent time. I really really enjoyed telling them that they have a numerical value with their progress that they can understand their improvements with memorization.
I also remind them that they are in different grades so trophies come and go based on them as individuals. It has helped tremendously.
I was a little surprised by their initial assessments and realized I could help if I was more consistent with flashcards for repetition.
A few things to note:
1. It is not a curriculum
2. It is a tool to help with memorization.
3. It tracks progress and gives a weekly summary with it of your individual students.
4. You have the ability to remove the teacher during when it quizzes you or races.. I admit that my third grader didn’t like that, but I framed it for him to say that I wanted him to crush the teacher and it didn’t require seeing the teacher visibly. There’s a function that takes the visible teachers body language away so it’s just the flashcards.
It’s been super helpful and to see him triple their accuracy rate and has given me time to help my newborn when they tackle it as flashcards at a consistent time. I really really enjoyed telling them that they have a numerical value with their progress that they can understand their improvements with memorization.
I also remind them that they are in different grades so trophies come and go based on them as individuals. It has helped tremendously.
Show more
