Encourage Intuitive Math Skills with the New Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App!

As many of our readers already know, we are champions of the integrated and intentional use of educational technology for Kindergarten kids at home or in the classroom. Purposeful use of creative and intentional educational technology in Kindergarten can be FUN for kids while also encouraging important critical thinking skills. We are pleased to partner with the creators of  Zap Zap Kindergarten Math to offer you, our valued colleagues, readers, and fans, a look at the new Zap Zap Math App designed just for Kindergartners.

NEW Release:  Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App

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The newly released Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App invites young kids to use intuitive math skills to solve basic problems through a series of FUN math puzzles. Each piece of the puzzle is acquired by successfully completing modules within the digital ecosystem that are aligned with national Common Core standards for Kindergarten. Kids begin play by choosing their own character and a space ship to guide them as they complete various math modules within the app. The modules “level up” with more challenging content as kids gain math skills to complete each one.

What you’ll find within the Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App:

• One-to-One Correspondence
• Number Words
• Number Bonds
• More Than/Less Than/Equal To
• Basic Addition and Subtraction
• Differentiating Shapes and Objects
• Subitizing/Visual Scans
• Identifying Basic Shapes
• Building Basic Shapes
• Sorting Shapes by Attributes
• Sorting Shapes by Names
• Identifying 2D and 3D Shapes
• Comparing Size
• Comparing Lengths
• Comparing Volume
• Comparing Weight
• Comparing Height
• and SO MUCH MORE!

What we Like about the Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App:

As educators (and parents) we are bombarded with offers of digital tools to utilize at home or in our classrooms. With each new digital tool, we must evaluate the tool by asking the following questions:

• Can the tool be easily integrated into what our kids are already learning? As educators, we must be intentional in our use of all tools (including all digital tools).
• Does the app accommodate the needs of different learners and abilities?
• Will our kids have FUN with the digital tool while also building important skills?
• How usable is the app or tool?
• Does the digital tool provide assessment for measuring growth and documenting progress for our students?
• What is the company’s privacy policy? How much personal information does it ask for in order for our students to participate?

Zap Zap Kindergarten Math is easily integrated into Kindergarten math curriculum as it is already aligned with the U.S. Kindergarten Common Core standards. Each module builds math skills starting with basic skill levels then advancing to more complex learning. Kindergarten learners with various starting skill levels can progress at their own pace throughout the app and revisit skills that need more attention. Zap Zap Kindergarten Math encourages and guides the kids toward critical thinking and intuitive math skills development as students progress through various learning modules. Directions within the app are given visually, verbally, and in written format for ease of navigation. The app utilizes basic touch screen skills throughout the modules and most kids can navigate the app independently. All progress within the app is documented with a graph that indicates successes or where additional practice is helpful. As educators, we deeply appreciate the company’s privacy policy and confidentiality. The entire privacy policy can be found here.

Things we would like to suggest for future updates to the app:

We highly value Zap Zap Kindergarten Math’s  contribution to Kindergarten digital tools and will recommend the app to colleagues as a great app to support math explorations at home or in the classroom. We are educators and have a few minor suggestions for any future updates to the app:

• We’d love to see the app thoroughly explore number words for each number 1-10 within its own level. Currently, number words (1-19) are randomly grouped together. We’d like our Kindergarten kids to have success with the number words for 1-10 before moving on to teen numbers.
• We’d love to see more 5 and 10-frame play. The app does offer some, but we’d like to see more. When kids recognize that 5 and 10 are anchor numbers, important math connections are made. The app does a good job of utilizing a ten-frame in one level, we’d just like to see MORE of it.
• We’d also like to see more practice with shapes that extend beyond triangles, squares, rectangles, and circles (there are a few instances where hexagons or other shapes are given, we’d just like to see more within the app for learners that already have a good grasp on basic shapes.
• Just 2 levels require touch screen skills that are a little advanced for Kindergartners. On the whole, the app requires very basic touch screen skills (click, drag and drop, and scroll), but 2 levels were a bit too challenging for our K’s to figure out on their own. With a little tech instruction, the given activities were developmentally appropriate and fun to play.

Zap Zap Kindergarten Math is available on iTunes  and at the Google Play Store.

Tips for Using the Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App in the Kindergarten Classroom or at Home:

• Kids can practice and play with the math app independently, as a math center choice, or to accompany and enhance math curriculum when classroom or homeschool work is completed. The app is easy to navigate and even kids with limited tech skills will learn quickly.
• Use the app daily to accompany math lessons and playful learning as skills are introduced at home or in the classroom.
• Kindergartners will love the game-style challenges to level up. Keep track of classroom progress on a rocket ship bulletin board for math.
• Try a classroom graph or coordinate efforts with another Kindergarten class or homeschool. The friendly competition is FUN for kids and will challenge them to learn and practice math skills.
• Invite parents to download the app for extra practice at home or to help kids stay current on skills over summer and holiday breaks.

The Zap Zap Kindergarten Math app is comprehensive in scope and builds important math skills while inviting kids to think math in a FUN digital ecosystem. For a brief introduction to the Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App, see below: