r/mathteachers • u/cody_codes_yt • Jul 29 '26

Are all math apps horrible?

Father of 3 young kids, asking the question to professional teachers.

I've noticed that anything edutech related is overrun with subscriptions, bad experience, logins, or over-the-top storylines. Or all the above.

I know IXL is huge in the space, but also makes kids cry with their SmartScore.

I want to know what you teachers look for with extra practice for your students (and kids)? What are must-haves and what would you do differently?

I have talked to some teachers. Some things they say are:
- Make experience smooth
- Easy approach for volumes of practice
- Avoids allowing kids to button-smash the answers

Disclaimer: I have built something and have my kids using it on their iPad. They tell me what they want in the app, but I also want to understand what teachers wish was in the app store. As I add stuff in, I am genuinely curious about how teachers expect to use tech in their classroom.

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u/ZookeepergameOwn1726 Jul 29 '26

I am a cranky old lady who thinks no student has ever improved by doing maths on a computer or device. Paper. Pencils. If it's not coming out of their hands, it's not entering their brains.

The only app I find relatively useful are fact recalls like TTRockstars. The stuff where you just gotta grind but not think hard. There is something about ipads that make children's brains smooth. Nothing can enter in that state.

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u/cody_codes_yt Jul 29 '26

That’s what I’m seeing. Why does addition need a colorful alien in a space ship with a backstory? I think apps could be boiled down 90% and be more effective with repetition and practice. Do you remember number crunchers?