Here’s top quality edutainment: Math Galaxy is a personal online tutor that rewards students with great games. The different products cover everything from whole numbers to algebra in a clear step-by-step fashion, and the game rewards include the super-popular Labyrinth as well as Bridging the Swamp and various riddles and word games.
The Math Galaxy website says, ‘Our goal is to provide students a foundation for analytical thinking in the modern world and for higher-level math and science.’ The aim is not rote drill, but actual thinking through multi-step problems. This is a lofty goal, to be sure, but it doesn’t mean Math Galaxy is boring. On the contrary, my kids eagerly do math problems in order to access the games.
Here’s what Math Galaxy offers:
The ‘Fun’ Programs: Whole Numbers Fun; Fractions Fun; Decimals, Proportions, % Fun; Word Problem Fun; Pre-Algebra Fun; and Algebra Fun.
These are teaching programs, and for every problem a child completes, he gets access to a game. Not all games are available at all levels, but each level has something fun. Of course, it’s not all about the games. (Shhhh! Don’t tell my little girls!) Serious math skills are taught along the way. A child can choose which math concept to learn, and can choose either step-by-step mode, or answers-only mode. In the step-by-step mode, each step is clearly shown so that the child can learn.
Word Problem Fun has a slightly different format than the rest of the Fun Series, making it useful for students of all levels and competencies. The screen includes a calculator to help with the arithmetic, since the focus is on understanding the word problem. The game is slightly different, too, as you can see on the website order page.
The Worksheet Generators with Riddles: Whole Numbers; Fractions; Decimals, Proportions, %; and Algebra.
The Worksheet Generators can be used either with or without riddles. Either way, they provide unlimited practice, with answer keys. Since each concept can be drilled over and over with different numbers, and since there are 500 riddles, the Worksheet Generators are a great investment for a family that loves worksheets.
The first time I looked through the riddles, I laughed so much that the children kept running over to see what the joke was. I wouldn’t let them see the answers, though, because I wanted them to have the fun of doing the riddle sheets. OK, some of the jokes were lame, and a few I just didn’t get, but most were either cute or funny. The riddles are repeated at different levels, and the Worksheet Generators come with a handy printable page on which to note which riddles you’ve already used. Note that most of the Fun series of programs also have riddles.
The eBooks: Whole Numbers Riddles eBook and Fractions Riddles eBook.
If you get the Worksheet Generators, you do not need the eBooks. The eBooks drill the same concepts and use the same riddles but are not as flexible as the Worksheet Generators. Another difficulty is that the answer page is right behind each work page. What child will be able to resist taking a peek?
Our Opinions
Miss 7, working on Whole Numbers Fun says, “It is a lot of fun, except for the math.” (Smile.) The genius of the program is that there’s no way to enjoy the fun except by doing the math first.
Miss 9 doesn’t say anything but just rushes off to do Math Galaxy whenever she has a spare moment and the computer is free. She quickly earns a few robots and then plays Labyrinth for a long time. In the process she has learned how to multiply fractions and is learning how to divide them. She also really enjoys the game that comes with Word Problem Fun.
Miss 12 found both Pre-Algebra Fun and Algebra Fun boring because she does not like computer games. For a student like her, this is just another math program. She did, however, learn a few things.
Mr 14 tried various topics in Algebra and enjoyed playing Labyrinth as a reward.
I think that the Math Galaxy Fun Series can be a great learning resource if children are not permitted to play games but have to concentrate on the math. On the other hand, that removes all the motivation. If parents encourage children to learn new material while earning robots, then children can enjoy the best of both worlds. The time spent on fun and games far outweighs time spent on learning, though.
The Fun Series is great edutainment, but it may not be the most effective learning tool. On the other hand, it is great to use as a reward or as holiday ‘school’ for a child who loves computer games. Once you own one of the Fun Series, you may find your children waking up early to do math!
The Worksheet Generators provide endless drill where ever it is needed and can really help a struggling learner. I do not think that the Riddle eBooks are a good value in comparison.
To make up your own mind, you can try out many aspects of Math Galaxy on the website homepage. To see what exactly is included in each level, including screenshots, please visit the website order page. For the opinions of other Crew Members, please visit the Homeschool Crew blog.
To Purchase
All of these resources are available from the Math Galaxy website. The Fun series of programs are $29.95 US each, the Worksheet Generators are $29.95 US each, and the eBooks are $14.95 US each.
Disclosure Policy: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received free downloads of the Math Galaxy Products in exchange for our family’s honest opinions.
So far, so good! 🙂 The visual looks really nice on there.