Playing Algebra (Really)

Last week I read a review of the Dragon Box app and was skeptical. I admit it, I doubted. It’s an app that “secretly teaches Algebra to your children!” and lets you “share the joy of learning Algebra!” I’m a math nerd and like Algebra, but this sounded like quite a stretch.

I’ve bought math apps for my phone and tablet in the past, and they are rarely played. It’s hard to take learning things like math facts and make it anything other than a chore. I want them to see the beauty of math as a language, and the fun of solving puzzles that’s there on the page. (Don’t judge….I was a mathlete…I love math…it’s fun for me.)

I read the reviews of Dragon Box, and saw the awards it had won, but that doesn’t mean squat in real life. It can win every award from grown ups, but it doesn’t count for diddly if the kids won’t play it. I decided to try it anyway, it’s $4.99 and I’ve spent way more than that on stuff that didn’t work. What’s another $5 down the rabbit hole?

Except it did work! And they did love it! And the most common question in my house is “Can I play Dragon Box?” And even my first grader is solving the math that’s cleverly disguised as something not-math! And my 9th grader understood something in math class because of it! He told his teacher “Yeah, I learned this on Dragon Box.” I know because she emailed me to ask about it, and now she’s recommending it to everyone, and so am I!

And I love it. And they love it. And I’ll admit that I’m impressed.

**Dragon Box has not compensated me in any way for this review. They don’t even know I’m out here writing this. I’m telling you because I love it, and you might too.