Make Math Fun: 3 Sites You Should Try

Teaching math can often lean towards drill and kill. I know this because our current program, Saxon Math, spirals the teaching of math facts throughout 2nd and 3rd grades. The truth of the matter is that kids need to know their math facts. The annoying part is finding a great substitute for piles of worksheets. So taking action as inspired by TeachPaperless here are some sites that are great alternatives to worksheet overkill:

• XtraMath: A simple site that allows your students to quickly practice facts. It is timed. It tracks results and emails you their progress. A breakdown of mastered facts is an essential part of the program. Kids can access anywhere, and log in is a breeze.
• Sumdog: A game based site that allows students to complete challenges and competitions created by their teacher. Kids can play against other classmates, students worldwide, or against the computer. A variety of games and topics gives kids a challenge and keeps their interest.
• Sokikom: This site is still in "beta" and my class in the middle of being a pilot for the creator. From what I have seen so far, this site is full potential. It takes students on missions to complete solo or cooperatively. As quoted from the site, "Sokikom has designed the games using the principles of guided, discovery-based and situated learning. Our games contain learning objectives derived from the latest National Council of Teachers of Mathematics curriculum focal points with activities aligned to the new Common Core State Standards." More to come on this.....