The iPhone Mom

KosmicMathHD Family is an updated version of the iPhone app Kosmic Math, specifically designed in HD for the iPad. I really like the look of the app on the iPad and the game play works very well on this device. I’ll give you some highlights:

-KosmicMath is designed around a space theme. It features planets, astronauts, space ships and aliens. Much of the app is played as if you are looking out the front of a space ship, the Math problems framed by instruments, buttons and dials. The graphics are well done, I especially like the way the planets look out your space ship window.

-Players can choose to work on Math drills or embark on a Math mission. A mission will have them traveling to the different planets in the solar system, solving math problems. When they complete the problems they’ll see an astronaut plant a flag on the planet. They’ll also receive a piece to an alien puzzle.

-The difficulty level for the Mission questions can be adjusted. The app works with levels Pre-K to 4th grade. The app allows for multiple players and each one can have their own difficulty level. Information about how players are doing, including their scores and percentages, is easily available within the app.

-In Drill mode players will be given Math problems to answer. You can choose how many problems will be on each test as well as the number range you’d like your child to work with. Problems can be given in addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.

-When you are entering in your answers to a drill problem you must input the answer from right to left, just like you would if you were solving the problem on paper. For example, if you are solving the problem 14+3 you must tap in 7 and then 1, making 17. Think of it as you’d see it written out on a paper. First you add the 4+3 to get 7. Then you ad the 1+0 and now you’ve got 17. It took me several tries to get used to answering the problems in this way. These were Math facts that I’ve memorized so I wanted to quickly input the answer. I had to think of it as a child would if they were actually working out the problem. Once I got that I could appreciate the way the drills enforce the learning and practice of math skills.

-You can connect to Mission Control at www.kosmicmath.com. Here you can check in for more detailed information and statistics about your progress throughout the app.

KosmicMath has transitioned nicely to the iPad. The larger screen adds much to the app and I think it’s easier to navigate and use on the iPad. If you’re looking for a detailed, thorough app to help reinforce math skills this will have you covered.

Price when Reviewed: $4.99

See the app in iTunes

Seller: SlothMedia, LLC

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

*A note about the name of apps – you’ll notice that many apps have very similar names. In some cases the different apps are only distinguished by spaces. There might be an app called Mom’s Favorite Chocolate and another named MomsFavoriteChocolate. Two totally different apps with very similar names. KosmicMathHD Family is a good example of this. I use the app names as they are shown in iTunes so if you’re looking up an app that I’ve featured you’ll want to type it in exactly as I have. Even better you can always click on the link “See the app in iTunes”. This takes you directly to the app in the iTunes store.

Stacks Pro is a smooth looking, easy to use flashcard app that comes loaded with several flashcard sets but also gives you the ability to add in yo ur own or to purchase additional sets. I didn’t count them all but according to the App Store description Stacks comes with “over 15,000″ flashcards. There are several different categories, everything from Trivia (Chick Flicks, 1980s Music) to Geography to Study (GRE, Drivers Exam, Periodic Table) to Terms and Phrases (Pirate, Klingon). All you have to do is tap on the name of the “stack” that you want to open and then swipe your way through the flashcards. When you want to check your answer you swipe up to flip the card over. When you’re ready to move on to the next card swipe to the left.

It took me a few taps to figure this out but by tapping at the bottom right or left of the screen you can bring up a view that lets you “Get More Stacks”. From here you can make a purchase and buy more flashcards from the developer. Or you can follow the instructions and visit their website to create your own. On the website all you’ll need to do is fill out a few fields to name your Stack, create a description and then copy and paste in your flashcards. You’ll be given an ID number and this is what you enter in the app to upload your flashcards. You can also share this ID number with friends and they can upload it into their Stacks too.

Where were these tools when I was in high school and college? An app like Stacks would have been so helpful! I went to school in the days of 3×5 notecards that you held together with a rubber band. My kids who have grown up surrounded by tech are shocked every time I tell them that email didn’t really exist until I was halfway through college and I went to a computer lab to use a computer. Dark ages. I think it’s fantastic that devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch can be turned into study aids. Stacks is a study aid that’s extremely easy to use and I’m very pleased that it allows you to add in your own flashcards.

*I review many apps that are geared towards Preschool and Elementary aged students. Although you could certainly add in your own flashcards for that age, the cards that come with Stacks are geared towards older students and adults. If you fit in that demographic and could use this app please leave me a comment. I have six promo codes that I can give away.

Price when Reviewed: $4.99

Seller: -d- Dustin Kirk

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

123 World HD – Geography Coloring Book features the world maps that are available for purchase within the 123 Color HD iPad app. In this app they are the only pictures available to color. The coloring process is the same as it is in 123 Color (read how it works here) but there are a few twists to the maps.

You can choose from eight world maps with an additional two maps to be added in an update next week. When you successfully color in a section of the map a flag pin will appear marking the country or state’s capital city. If you tap on this pin you’ll be taken to a Google map. I loved seeing the real map take the place of the drawing. 123 World HD has the same great customizable settings as 123 Color HD. You can also turn on background music that comes from around the world.

I was already a big fan of the 123 Color apps and I think 123 World HD is another fantastic addition. I love the way Geography has been combined with coloring and number and letter recognition. This is a terrific all-around educational app.

Price when Reviewed: $1.99 (Sale Price)

See the app in the App Store

Seller: KidCalc

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

Jungle Time is a cute app that’s designed to help your child learn how to tell time. The app’s screen is made of a large clock with an animal’s face in the middle. The clock’s hands sit on top of the animal’s nose, telling you what time it is. The app has two learning parts to it – “Tell Time” and “Set time”. In Tell Time the clock hands move and you’ve got to figure out what time the clock says it is. In “Set Time” you’re given a time and  you need to tap the screen and move the clock hands so they match that time.  Watch the animal’s faces, they will react to your correct and incorrect answers.

Jungle Time lets you choose the animal that you’d like to see on  your clock. Your choices are panda, hippo, elephant, tiger and lion. You can change the animal at any point in the game. The app’s score screen displays the number of correct and incorrect answers you’ve entered. Here you can also turn on or off “Easy Times”. When the easy times are turned on you’ll only be given times that are :00, :15, :30 or :45. This is a great feature for beginning time tellers. There’s also a section of the app called “Learn”. This section gives you an explanation and demonstration of how to tell the hours and minutes on a clock.

Jungle Time is a cute app. The clocks are easy to read and use and they make it fun to tell time.

Price when Reviewed: $.99

Seller: Andrew Short

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

ABC Chinese is a flashcard app that’s designed to help your child learn Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Cantonese and English. Choose the language and category of words you’d like to learn. The flashcards will show a picture and the name of the picture underneath it. If you’ve turned on the app’s sound you’ll hear the name as well.  You can shuffle the flashcards and also turn on a feature called “Word Builder”. When this feature is on the flashcard shows only the name of the word. Tap the screen and the picture appears above it. This is a good way to test yourself once you’ve learned the basics. The app’s pictures are bold and bright and engaging.

ABC Chinese contains plenty of words to keep your child learning for quite some time and it’s nice to see an app that focuses on this language.

*A free version of ABC Chinese is also available. It contains sixteen words and thirty-two pictures.

Price when Reviewed: $1.99

Seller: Why You

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

It’s been well documented on this site that I struggle with Mathematics. Today I am going on record and admitting that I struggle with Musical concepts too. When I was in college I had to take a music course for Elementary Education and it was torture (mixed with much embarrassment) because I just couldn’t get it.  I can’t carry a tune (ask my kids) and I have a very basic understanding of how to read music. My eldest daughter plays the violin in her 5th grade orchestra and also takes fiddle lessons. I’m amazed at her ability to read music and then translate that into finger positions and actual music. It’s a skill she definitely got from her father and not from me.

DoReMemory is an app that I could have used back when I was struggling to pretend that I had a clue about musical notes. The app shows you the treble or bass clef staffs. To switch between the two you touch the treble or bass clef symbol at the bottom of the screen.  At the bottom of the screen you’ll see the name of a musical note and you are supposed to touch the spot on the staff where the note belongs. If you’re wrong the note shows up in the correct spot with an arrow beside it. Then you go on to the next note and try again. There’s no time limit and no scorekeeping, this app is all about practice.  When I was playing around with it I got less than five correct. I’m not going to tell you the exact number, saying less than five is sad enough.

DoReMemory was created by a mom who is also a piano teacher. It’s a simple app but it does a good job giving you practice learning and placing musical notes on the staff. If you have a musical beginner in your house this app would be a nice supplement to their lessons.

Price when Reviewed: $.99

Seller: Stacey Jett

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

The Word Chase is an easy to learn game that lets you play with words. The game gives you three different words and several letters in a column on the side of the screen. You need to take one letter from the column and use it to replace a letter in a word, which then creates a new word. You continue to do this until you’ve used up all the letters. Points are scored as you create the new words.

The game gives you three levels of difficulty and the ability to lengthen or shorten the size of the words. I really enjoyed The Word Chase. It’s one of those games where you need to think but your brain isn’t going to hurt after you finish playing. There’s no time limit so you can play without pressure. My older children also liked the game. It was fun seeing which words they came up with. This is a great app with broad appeal that the entire family can play.

The Word Chase Free is also available. It has two levels of play, the full version features seven.

Price when Reviewed: $1.99

Seller: Ryan & Brian Entertainment

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

Kosmic Math-Family is a space exploration game that will have your family practicing their math skills. You set out on a mission to explore the planets and along the way you need to complete math problems. With enough correct answers you can place your flag on the planet and move on, earning a higher rank as you go. As you move through the grade levels there are twenty levels of difficulty in the game. From what I’ve seen this app is much, much more than a set off flashcards for practicing drills. It works with you and adapts the problems you’re given based on how well you’re doing. If you’re struggling and having trouble it will adjust the problems to fit your skill level.

The Family version gives you up to five user profiles. Problems for the grade levels Pre-Kindergarten through 4th Grade are represented. While you are playing you can manually adjust the difficulty of the problems. You can also change the amount of time you have to answer a problem and the amount of time you have on each planet. You can view a report that gives your statistics and shows how you’re doing on the current planet as well as how you’ve done on others.

Kosmic Math-Family gives you the option of enabling data synching. To do this you’ll need to provide your email and set up an account. The App Store description says the account is included in the license for a year. Once you’ve done that you can login to the Kosmic Math website and view the statistics for everyone who has a user profile in the app. Their progress and statistics will be easy to track. When they finish a drill you’ll also receive an email showing how they did.  If you have two iPhones or iPod Touches you can install the app on both devices. By enabling data synching on the second phone (use the same email to register) you’ll allow the data from one phone to be synched up with the other. This means your child can play on mom’s phone and then pick up right where they left off on dad’s phone. Plus, the progress from both phones will be synched up with the website data. You don’t have a limit to how many devices you can sync together, you’ve just got to use the same email to register them and they’ll all have the same users.

My one suggestion for Kosmic Math is to adjust the narration on the screen where you adjust the difficulty, time, etc. The instructions are helpful but they go on and I found them a little distracting after awhile. Perhaps there’s a way for them to play the first time you view the screen but not again after that.

I really like the fact that Kosmic Math adjusts to your abilities. My kids have all gotten frustrated at one time or another over flashcards. It’s nice to know that this app will keep things within their skill level so they can have some success. This is one of the more expensive math apps that I’ve seen but you do get five user profiles and it covers a wide range of math skills. It’s definitely something different than a flashcard card app that gives you random problems. It works with you and adapts the problems you’re given based on how well you’re doing. If you’re struggling and having trouble it will adjust the problems to fit your skill level. I like the fact that each user has their own setup, this means all of my kids can use the same app. Plus, being able to play on my phone and my husband’s is a nice feature. It’s only fair that his phone get used by the kids as much as mine does.

There is also a free version of Kosmic Math available in the App Store. It allows you to have profiles for up to four players. Kosmic Math-Educator is another option. It’s licensed for one player and is designed for use by tutors, teachers and schools. This version would allow teacher’s to track their classes progress in the game and see how they’re doing individually. It would also allow a child to play at school and then continue at home on mom or dad’s device for extra practice.  How fantastic would that be to get an iPod Touch to use in math class? My kids would be in heaven!

Price when Reviewed: $7.99

Seller: Sloth Media, LLC

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

Alien Equation is a math app that really works your brain. Once I figured out how to play it I actually enjoyed it (math, me??) but it took me a little bit to realize what I was supposed to do. I like this app but if I’ve got one suggestion it’s to include some instructions on the main menu. I ended up going to the website, watching a video and then light bulb went on.

The app gives you a grid of numbers and operators (that’s the fancy way of saying the addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and equals signs.) You need to arrange these tiles into equations and when you do they disappear and you earn points. When you’ve earned enough points you’ll move on to the next round. In order to make your equations you’ll need to move the numbers and operators around the grid. To do this you swipe along the rows and columns until you’ve got things lined up. Once you’ve got the hang of it you’ll see that you can rearrange things to get them right where you want them. This is definitely a game for elementary schoolers and older. I’d suggest that it’s best for those who know their math facts fairly well.

Alien Equation allows you to have different player profiles and it remembers where everyone was in their games. There is a practice mode where you can work with only addition or subtraction, etc. The app also gives you the ability to access your iPod and turn on your own music. I liked that feature. The graphics and game play are very smooth and the game moves quickly (once you’ve got the hang of things).

This app had a learning curve for me but I have a feeling if I’d given it to my kids first they would have figured out how to play much faster than I did. Isn’t that the way things go? But in spite of myself I think this is a great game for math practice and your kids won’t even realize they’re doing more than just playing a game.

Price when Reviewed: $.99

Seller: Funner Labs

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.

Maddition turns addition and multiplication practice into a game. Bubbles with numbers on them float around the iPhone’s screen. At the bottom of the screen are buttons showing the numbers 1-9.  You have to tap on two numbers that add up to one of the bubble numbers on the screen. When you get it right the bubble pops and you move on to another one. If you get it wrong the bubbles grow bigger and bigger until they pop. When you begin playing you’re only allowed to have three bubbles pop before the game is over but as you do well you’ll earn bonus bubbles. If you want to make the game tougher you can switch to multiplication mode. Then you’ll have to tap two numbers that multiply together to make the bubble numbers. You can adjust both the level of difficulty and the number of bubbles that appear on the screen.  Lastly, there is a practice mode to the game that you can turn on or off.

Maddition is a change of pace from regular flashcards. It would be nice to see a subtraction mode in future updates.

I’ve been given five promo codes for Maddition to give away. If you’ve got a child who could use some math practice leave me a comment. The first five comments win a code. (Promo codes will only work in the U.S. App Store)

Price when Reviewed: $.99

Seller: thrum

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.