We don’t know about you, but math was never our strongest subject in school and it would take extra hours at home going through a textbook to try to get our heads around a certain concept.
Nowadays, there are more engaging and efficient ways to keep improving your math skills and continue your learning outside the classroom.
One of these ways is through math apps for smartphones and other smart devices, one of which is the Prodigy Math Game App. It allows students to practice and learn new math skills and concepts through fun and interactive fantasy games.
If you’re a parent who has children who could do with some new fun ways to practice their math, or you’re a teacher looking to integrate some new ways of learning in your classroom, then check out our Prodigy Math Game app review below to see if it’s for you.
Age Suitability
The app has challenges and topics that target children between grades 1 through 8, however, there is some infrequent mild cartoon/fantasy violence involved in periods of the game, which parents will want to be aware of before allowing their child to use it.
However, this ‘mild violence’ that the developers of the app declare within app stores is nothing to be concerned about and there are thousands of satisfied and happy parents and children who use the app.
When you download the app and start it up for the first time, you can take an in-game assessment which will allocate you to the correct grade based on your results so you’ll be working at the necessary level.
So if your child is struggling with their math and is slightly behind the rest of their classmates, they can revisit work from lower grades so they become more confident using key concepts and can then progress onto more advanced work.
What Math Concepts Are Covered?
Prodigy’s education content is fully aligned with key curricula in math for most regions of the world, so regardless of where you’re from, the content should fit whatever grade you’re in. As we stated above, you’ll take an in-game assessment to be put into the correct grade when you first try out the app.
Below are the main math concepts you can expect to learn in each grade on the app.
Grade 1: Addition and subtraction to 20, counting, comparing numbers, 2D shapes, mixed operations, data relationships, addition and subtraction to 100, place value, reading and ordering numbers, fractions, telling the time, number patterns, and rounding.
Grade 2: Addition and subtraction to 100, addition and subtraction to 1000, mixed operations, data relationships, counting, money, reading and comparing numbers, 2D shapes, addition and subtraction to 20, place value, conversion, time, basic geometry, rounding, and composing numbers.
Grade 3: Number patterns, multiplication, division, multiplication facts, fractions, data relationships, equivalent, 2D shapes, division facts, measurements, mixed operations, addition and subtraction to 1000, area, time, rounding, and conversion.
Grade 4: Addition and subtraction to 1,000,000, number patterns, conversion, multiplications, division, place value, fractions, data relationships, 2D shapes, decimals, multiplying fractions, money, addition and subtraction to 100, angles, representing fractions, and time.
Grade 5: Equations and expressions, Adding decimals, 3-digit division, adding and subtracting fractions, multiplying fractions, multiplication, multiplying decimals, 2D shapes, data relationships, mixed operations, sides vertices and angles, comparing fractions, place value, 3D shapes, volume and other measurements, and unit conversions.
Grade 6: Data relationships, expressions and equations, adding decimals, variables, geometry, 3D shapes, rational numbers, subtracting decimals, ratios, reciprocals, multiplying decimals, unit rates, division, multiplication, mixed operations with key math concepts.
Grade 7: Linear expressions, 2D shapes, data relationships, adding and subtracting rational numbers, unit rates, expressions, variables, 3D shapes, geometry, and integers.
Grade 8: 2D & 3D shapes, statistics, scientific notation, linear expressions, irrational numbers, Pythagorean theorem, evaluating exponents, functions, angles, unit rates, expressions and equations, and radicals.
Each grade will also revisit certain math concepts that you have learned previously to help you remember them and allow you to build upon these skills.
The app should only be used as an additional learning tool and resource for children and not a substitute for traditional learning whether that be in a conventional classroom environment or home-schooling.
Is It Good For Teachers To Use?
Yes, Prodigy is used by many teachers in classrooms across the US as it helps teachers assign different assignments to individual students for specific needs and levels.
Teachers will be able to assign certain topics and tasks to students using the Planner Tool on the app, which is great for setting homework and assignments for students to work on in a more fun and interactive way.
It’s a good way to inspire unmotivated students to practice their math and develop core skills.
Ease Of Use
The app is easy to use for even the youngest of students and once a child has played a few times, they’ll be able to use it independently without additional help from a parent.
Initial download and setup should be initiated by a parent or guardian and supervision may be needed for younger children who are not confident with using a smartphone or tablet device.
Education Value
Despite having fun interactive gameplay, the Prodigy Math Game app has lots of educational value and can teach children some of the most basic to more complex key math concepts.
Many parents of students who use the app, comment upon how fast their children have made progress with math using the app and also how often and long they spend playing and using the app.
Some parents even quote that their child has spent 3+ hours in one session practicing their math skills, whereas this would be unheard of for a child to be doing traditional math homework from a textbook or worksheet.
Progression Tracking
Parents will be able to monitor and track their child’s progress on the app so they know what math they are currently working on. It will also give you a greater insight into your child’s understanding of a topic so you’ll be able to give them additional help so they can become more confident.
Using the parent account, you can also set goals for the student and then give rewards through the app to encourage them to practice their math more.
There is 24/7 reporting within the app, which will notify the parent/teacher account every time the student works on Prodigy math, so you can keep track of how much students are working on their math skills outside of the classroom and also provide them with extra support if necessary.
How Engaging Is The App?
The Prodigy math app feels very much like a conventional video game except it is also educational. Children will find it very engaging and enjoy personalizing their character as they win rewards through mastering their math skills.
The user interface is bright, colorful, and musical and will keep children entertained for hours and also entice them to want to continuously practice their math.
Is It Free To Use?
The app is completely free to download from the App Store, the Android app store, and the Google play store and provides access to core gameplay features, all in-game math content, core items, and preliminary pet features only.
The free version comes with the free parent dashboard, standard reporting, and classroom insights.
Parents have the option to upgrade to two paid versions, either the Prodigy Level Up membership ($9.95 a month) or the Prodigy Ultimate membership ($14.95 a month).
Premium memberships allow exclusive access to gear and items to personalize their character, allows them to evolve additional pets, access exclusive areas of the game, and provides them with curated video lessons to help your children learn more difficult concepts.
The basic and free version will be more than another to be an effective math learning tool for children as it provides complete access to all the in-game math content.
There is quite a bit of advertising and suggestions to upgrade or buy premium membership items within the app, but you cannot do this from within the app, and parents will only be able to upgrade or buy items directly through the Prodigy website.
Pros:
- Free access to all in-game math content
- Parents can monitor and track a child’s progression
- Teachers can monitor their class’s progress
- Fun and engaging way to learn
- In-game assessment to assort into the correct grade
- Lots of levels to complete so children stay interested
Cons:
- Lots of advertisements to upgrade to premium memberships
Is Prodigy: Kids Math Game Worth It?
Yes, Prodigy is worth it for any child regardless of their math level. It’ll encourage students to learn in a more fun interactive way and may also improve children’s math skills than what they usually would in a traditional classroom environment.
Prodigy is recommended by parents, students, and teachers for learning key math concepts, so whether your child is struggling or you're a teacher who wants to inspire their students, then it’s an app worth checking out.
