Just over a year ago, in a half term report about Elizabeth’s schooling, I revealed her excitement at being ‘allowed’ to do homework.
I thought it would be a novelty that would wear off, but she is still as enthusiastic today about doing her homework as she was when she first got it. And although she is only seven, she does get homework every day.
But the other day, when she was supposed to be doing her homework, I discovered her playing games on her mother’s laptop computer!
Like any concerned father, I immediately started un-strapping my leather belt. But as I approached her to administer my tried and trusted mediaeval correctional treatment, I noticed this on the PC screen….
Seems she was on a website called Mathletics and she WAS doing her homework!
Mathletics is a website where kids can login to their own account, create their own avatar and do maths problems. It’s very interactive, for example, when they get a question right, a car drives across the screen. They get points for correct answers and can see their own running total. They get rewarded certificates for reaching certain levels.
It’s not free, we pay around $20 “contribution” to the school per year for access. Elizabeth’s teacher also has access and she can amend the skills levels to suit each student.
We believe its Australia wide, judging by the website it may be even further. Scrolling through the top 50 world listings, I’ve seen entries from Canada, Ireland, Macau, America and South Africa. But nothing from the UK.
It’s been a long while since I went to school, so I really don’t know. So does the UK have anything like it?
You can see the site at mathletics.com.au and have a look around. But you won’t be able to login, not without paying your 20 bucks. But don’t let that stop you visiting, there are plenty of pages you can look at and it does make for interesting reading.
I asked Elizabeth what she thought of it. She said “Yes daddy, it’s much more fun than being beaten with a leather belt.”
That’s my girl!
do homework.
I thought it would be a novelty that would wear off, but she is still as enthusiastic today about doing her homework as
she was when she first got it. And although she is only seven, she does get homework every day.
But the other day, when she was supposed to be doing her homework, I discovered her playing games on her mother’s laptop
computer! Like any concerned father, I immediately started un-strapping my leather belt. But as I approached her to
administer my tried and trusted correctional mediaeval treatment, I noticed this on the PC screen….
Pic
Seems she was on a website called Mathletics and she WAS doing her homework!
Mathletics is a website where kids can login to their own account, create their own avatar and do maths problems. It’s
very interactive, for example, when they get a question right, a car drives across the screen. They get points for
correct answers and can see their own running total. They get rewarded certificates for reaching certain levels.
It’s not free, we pay around $20 “contribution” to the school per year for access. Elizabeth’s teacher also has access
and she can amend the skills levels to suit each student.
We believe its Australia wide, judging by the website it may be even further. Scrolling through the top 50 world
listings, I’ve seen entries from Canada, Ireland, Macau, America and South Africa. But nothing from the UK.
It’s been a long while since I went to school, so I really don’t know. So does the UK have anything like it?
You can see the site at mathletics.com.au and have a look around. But you won’t be able to login, not without paying
your 20 bucks. But don’t let that stop you visiting, there are plenty of pages you can look at and it does make for
interesting reading.
I asked Elizabeth what she thought of it. She said “Yes daddy, it’s much more fun than being beaten with a leather
belt.”
That’s my girl!
Hi,
Have a go at the live competition stuff. I managed to come 2nd out of 4 in a speed addition test! Either these kids are fast or maybe more parents are taking part – my excuse anyway 😉
Simon
Yes Simon, I’m inclined to agree with you. I looked at some of the mega scores and thought the same. Some parents are giving a rather hefty helping hand.
Hi Bob. Yes we do have it in the UK. My children have been registered on Mathletics for 3 or 4 years I think. They start it for them at about the same age as Elizabeth, and they carry on using it at high school at least to age 13. They love seeing how many nationalities they can play against at once, and there’s huge kudos for playing against a child with a nationality that they haven’t been against before. Try to make sure she has a go on it on ‘world maths day’ (yes, it really does exist) because they try to see how many children they can get on it in one day.
Keep it up and Elizabeth will soon be doing your tax returns for you.
Hi Ruth
Trouble is, these computers are too smart these days. I typed in Mathletics.co.uk and it took me to Mathletics.com.au. If I search Google for Mathletics UK, I can clearly see the site exists, but when I click on it I am again taken to Mathletics.com.au. So, it seems, there is no way for me to look at it unless I move back to England. And that isn’t going to happen!
So thanks for confirming it’s there.
But I’m not surprised it is, I suspect it’s everywhere. More fun than my old slide rule. Thanks
Bob