In praise of mathletics

Anything that makes younger children actually want to do their homework is a good thing in my book.  My junior school aged son is fine when it comes to science – particularly if it involves live action experiments – or anything arty that demands a bit of ‘mod rock’ or much cardboard, paint and tape but getting him to do the basics can be more than challenging.  So bring on Mathletics, which has just been upgraded: I heart you.  Never has learning times tables for the nth time been so easy to make fun.

We’ve been rocking, rapping and mixing to times tables cartoon music videos (‘Times Table Toons’ no less), in the rainforest learning  algebra and decking out his avatar in the latest garb via credits he’s earned doing his math.  Ok, the last one isn’t quite learning maths.  The best thing however is playing live mathletics against other students his age from around the globe.  It’s all I can do to stop myself shouting out the answers as you see three or four kids doing mental maths in real time and racing against each other and the clock live on screen.  So simple, but such cool tech.  Love it.