Thursday, May 05, 2011

Math Blaster Review and Giveaway: An Engaging Way to Learn Math Facts!


It's May! It is so hard to believe that spring will soon melt into summer. Now is the time to be making firm plans for summer learning for your children while you are scrambling around to secure day care arrangements.  If I had to do last summer all over again, I would have done it differently. I would have incorporated some math reinforcement into our educational activities.

My 10 year old, who was among the first to pass all of her times tables, lost that knowledge over the summer. "What?" was my reaction when I realized that last September she couldn't tell me what 7x6 was when I knew she had it down cold the previous school year. I'd spent so much time focusing on summer reading that I'd let something as easy as math fact reinforcement fall by the way side.

A site like Mathblaster would fit the bill. This virtual world is geared toward kids 6-12, and my 6 year old loves it. One of the math games that he enjoys is Hyper Blast. In this game, he chooses which math sums he would like to do (for him, he chooses sums to 8) and then he blasts barriers until he gets to an octopus looking space alien.

Shown:  Multiplication.  Do you know which claw to click?
There, he has to click on the claw holding the correct answer for the addition sum presented. He goes through 10 sums and then he can move on to blast some more. The goal is to put the alien to sleep by clicking the correct answer (its eyeball even edges closer to closed with each correct answer) until defeated after 10 correct sums. Then, it's off to blast some more until you meet the next alien. He races through the sums because he wants to blast. This is good because he's learned these sums and doesn't have to stop to think or count on his fingers.


A nice motivator is that you earn points for completing games, which all add up to increase your rank. Who doesn't want a promotion? Rank does have privileges. He was excited to move from 2 to a 3 because that meant cooler things to ride in the racing game he likes to play.

Overall, I liked the program. We are fans of JumpStart products in our house and I feel 100% safe in logging him in to play while I do other things. I don't feel the need to babysit him, though I would recommend that parents be available to give guidance if their child chooses a game that is above their learning level. For instance, one game required matching fractions (1/2, 1/3, etc.) with pictures showing these fractions (triangles, circles, etc. divided and shaded appropriately). Once I explained that the picture showed 1 out of 5 shaded and that it matched with 1/5 because the top number is the amount shaded and the bottom number is the total the picture is divided into, he got it.

I really liked that Math Blaster grows with your child... they can easily move on to more complex tasks.  In addition, you can add multiple profiles to your account so that all of your kids can play under their own avatar.

One thing I did notice was that some of the games took a few moments to load, though not overlong. This could have been my connection or the site, I'm not sure.  In any event, there was a slight lag time for some games, but not more than perhaps 45 seconds to a minute. 


Win it!

One lucky Making Ends Meet reader will win a 3 month subscription to Math Blaster/JumpStart.com.

 MANDATORY ENTRY
Mandatory Entry:  Visit Math Blaster's Facebook page and then come back and tell me something new you learned from their page!  Leave your email (or let me know that your email is on your Blogger profile) in this comment.
EXTRA ENTRIES
Get extra entries by completing any or all of the following actions, each worth one entry (leave separate comment for each action (if you already follow, Liked, etc. just leave a comment noting that):
Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook
Be my Google Friend (right side bar)
Subscribe to Making Ends Meet via email (right side bar) --- be sure to click to confirm your email (an email to confirm subscription is sent to your inbox). 
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet out this giveaway -- you can use:  Math Blaster makes math fun!  Enter to win a 3 month subscription at Making Ends Meet! http://ow.ly/4O7Dt #giveaway
Share this giveaway by linking it up on a giveaway linky, giveaway site or sharing with your friends on Facebook!  Leave me a link to where you shared.  (Can do once)
Follow any or all of the Blog Pop Blogs via GFC (listed conveniently on right side bar) for an extra entry for each blog followed.  Leave comment for each blog you follow (ex: "I'm following Confessions of an Over-Worked Mom on GFC.)  If you already follow them, it counts! Just let me know.

This giveaway will run until 5/20/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern.  Winner will be chosen on or about 5/21/2011 via Random.org.  Entrants must live in the US and be 18 or older.  Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or I must choose a different winner.  

Disclosure:  I was provided a trial membership for the purposes of review and I will receive a subscription for posting this review.  The opinions expressed in this review are either my own or are derived from my family's experience with this product. 


"THE FINE PRINT: All entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Please read each giveaway's directions carefully as entry methods differ, and giveaways may be open to different world areas. Please make sure you leave a way (valid email address) with your entries to be contacted if you win. Please note that Making Ends Meet, Blog POP! or the Blog POP! bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner we will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. We will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor please notify the blog you won a prize from within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you."

31 comments:

Mi5zons said...

I went to their facebook and was pleased to see you can use Mathblaster on ipads, iphones and ipod touch.

Mi3zons1@yahoo.com
Kristy

Mi5zons said...

I liked Mathblaster on Facebook.

Mi3zons1@yahoo.com
Kristy

Mi5zons said...

Already follow your blog and receive emails.

Mi3zons1@yahoo.com
Kristy

Mi5zons said...

I already like you on facebook too!

Kristy
mi3zons1@yahoo.com

FreeIndeed said...

founded in 1987. annatiffany@yahoo.com

FreeIndeed said...

gfc follower. annatiffany@yahoo.com

Krystal Larson said...

I liked how even 12th graders could play this and the game may be played on ipads/iphones/etc...

Krystal Larson said...

email subscriber edysicecreamlover18@gmail.com

Krystal Larson said...

liked sponsor on fb

Krystal Larson said...

left link on blog http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway_09.html?showComment=1304958722034#c9099536108478613185

Krystal Larson said...

Blogs!






Confessions of an Overworked Mom








Dad of Divas








The Socialite's Closet








Stash Mama








Momma Told Me








Still Blonde After All These Years








My life with rats and more








Turning the Clock Back








Quick Tattletails
Follow via GFC or twitter as Krystal Larson and/or Icecream1891

Krystal Larson said...

Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Dad of Divas
The Socialite's Closet
Stash Mama
Momma Told Me
Still Blonde After All These Years
My life with rats and more
Turning the Clock Back
Quick Tattletails
Follow via GFC or twitter as Krystal Larson and/or Icecream1891

Krystal Larson said...

Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Dad of Divas
The Socialite's Closet
Stash Mama
Momma Told Me
Still Blonde After All These Years
My life with rats and more
Turning the Clock Back
Quick Tattletails
Follow via GFC or twitter as Krystal Larson and/or Icecream1891

Krystal Larson said...

Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Dad of Divas
The Socialite's Closet
Stash Mama
Momma Told Me
Still Blonde After All These Years
My life with rats and more
Turning the Clock Back
Quick Tattletails
Follow via GFC or twitter as Krystal Larson and/or Icecream1891

The Teacher said...

I follow Math Blaster on FB
jessicajhennings@gmail.com

The Teacher said...

Math Blasters have been around since 1988

The Teacher said...

Like Making Ends Meet FB

The Teacher said...

GFC Network

April said...

Scheduled to launch in early 2011, MathBlaster.com will be a futuristic online adventure packed with wacky aliens, high-tech gadgets and, of course, math!

April said...

follwing mathblaster on facebook

kylie8cake said...

I learned that usa today did an article on math blaster


kylie8cake (at) gmail (dot) com

kylie8cake said...

liked them on facebook (kate dunn)

kylie8cake (at) gmail (dot) com

AEKZ2 said...

I learned that MathBlaster was released in January 2011

annettekz2@yahoo.com

AEKZ2 said...

Like MathBlaster on FB (Annette E)

AEKZ2 said...

Like you on FB (Annette E)

AEKZ2 said...

GFC follower

AEKZ2 said...

Email subscriber

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.cplouisvuittonoutlet.us/]louis vuitton handbags[/url] vwluf [url=http://www.toplouboutinsale.us/]louboutin[/url] jtrlb [url=http://www.monclerusatdeal.us/]moncler jacket[/url] fnbqq [url=http://www.sdcuggsale.us/]ugg[/url] nzdmm [url=http://www.monclerusatdeal.us/]http://www.monclerusatdeal.us/[/url] iirmb

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.touggxboots.co.uk/]http://www.touggxboots.co.uk/[/url] plwbh [url=http://www.monclerusatdealuk.co.uk/]http://www.monclerusatdealuk.co.uk/[/url] kgcex [url=http://www.touggxboots.co.uk/]ugg[/url] hbjse [url=http://www.monclerusatdealuk.co.uk/]moncler[/url] rkhil

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.