Math Games in the Classroom

What is Math Bingo?

Math Bingo is an app that can help students to improve their math skills.  Math Bingo is an app that can keep track of multiple players scores.  Each player gets to write their name, and pick a character for their profile.  Once a student creates their profile they get to play bingo by answering math questions.  The students get to choice between working on: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a mix of all of them.  After a student picks what they would like to work on, they get to choose what level they need work on.  There are three different levels, all of which get harder and more complicated problems.  When playing the game the students get timed, so they can see how fast they can get the correct answers and get bingo.  For every correct answer a student gets, they get a Bingo Bug.  If a student does not guess the correct number a Bingo Bug does not show up.  Students get a few incorrect scores until the game is over, or they get bingo.  Students earn more Bingo Bugs the more they play the game.

After a student gets Bingo, they have the chance to play three other different games: Bingo Bug Bungee, Math Stack or Math Fling.  Bingo Bug Bungee is a game where student have to collect as many coins as they can.  The students have to pull the cord down and launch a Bingo Bug to collect the coins.  The students only get to launch as many Bingo Bugs as they have earned by playing bingo.  Math Stack is another options that students get to play.  For Math Stack the students' objective is to stop the blocks from stacking up to the top of the screen.  They have to choose the solution to the math problem to get rid of the block.  Students can tilt the device to change where the blocks will land.  If a student chooses the incorrect block, then the number disappears and more blocks will continue to stack on the block.  This game ends when the blocks reach the top, and no more blocks can fall.  The last little game that the students can play once they complete bingo is Math Fling.

Math Bingo Features

This app can be extremely helpful for math students in elementary school.  Since the app has three different levels for all types of math problems.  The math and subtraction is good for the younger students.  The other students can work on their multiplication, as well as on their divisions skills.  The option for students to work on all of skills together keeps the students thinking.  Math Bingo would be very helpful for students to learn and master their math skills in elementary school.  The elementary school students can use this app to learn, review, and test their math skills in, and out, of the classroom.  This app can be useful to middle school students as well.  For middle school students, this app would be useful to review previously learned content.  This app would not be as useful in high school.  This app caters more towards the lower grades because of the types of bugs that can be earned, as well as the presentation of the app. This app gives students many different ways to play games that involve them solving math problems.  The different activities on the app allow students to use their skills in a multitude of ways.  Many families have reviewed this app and discussed how it is beneficial to their children.

One of the downfalls to this game is that it does not explain why students get answers wrong.  The game tells the students when they pick the wrong answer, but it does not show or explain why the answer they choose was wrong, or how to get the right answer.  The game gives the students a small amount of incorrect answers until they are done with the game.  The game does not discourage the students, just simply tells them that they got too many wrong.

How Math Bingo can be used in a classroom

This app can be used for many activities and lessons in an elementary school classroom.  Teachers can use this app to teach their students fluency in math problems.  The students can practice on this app in between lessons, and during free time.  Math Bingo can be used to test the students on their fluency, problem solving skills, time management, as well as a whole list of other things.  Math Bingo can get students enthused about math problems, as well as improve their math skills.  Once students learn the basic math skills they can practice Math Bingo on their own.  The app will tell the students when they are wrong, and reward them with a Bingo Bug when they answer correctly.  This reward system will give the students a boost and make them want to learn math.  Students get excited to learn when they realize that they get to play games while doing it.

Math Bingo can be played on an app on a tablet, or online.  Since the app can be used on computers, teachers can project the game and have students answer the questions.  The app can be used as an individual activity, or as a classroom activity.  Since Math Bingo can be accessed on a mobile tablet, or on a computer, then students can practice their math skills almost anywhere they are.

What do I think?

I think that Math Bingo is an excellent tool for students, and teachers alike.  This app is helpful for students because it gives them the opportunity to practice.  The app allows students to work without instruction from their teachers, allowing the teacher to focus on the students that need the most help.  This app is good for teachers because the students that don't need much instruction or help understanding math problems can work on their own, at their own pace, while the students that need help can work with the teacher.  Math Bingo is an excellent way to practice math skills.  The app will not teach the students, but it helps get them involved, and excited in learning math.

References

"Math Bingo - App Review." Math Bingo App Review. Retrieved September 9, 2016 from
ABCya.com, n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2016.https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/math-bingo#

Math Bingo [online image]. Retrieved September 9, 2016 from http://www.popsugar.com/moms/photo-gallery/30962755/image/30962765/Math-Bingo

Math Bingo Home Page [online image]. Retrieved September 9, 2016 from
 http://www.bestkidsapps.com/ages-0-4/math-bingo/