Educational Insights MathShark Electronic Math Game for Kids Ages 6+, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division, Fractions & More, Classroom Supply, Multi-color

Thanks to the others who took the time to review this product, I decided to purchase it last November for a grandchild who was having difficulty with math facts and had been scoring very low on her weekly timed tests. The other reviewers indicated that the children's scores soared when using this toy. This is the amazing effect that I am now seeing happen for my grandchild. As soon as she started using the Math Shark, her tests jumped up to A's, completing all in the time allowed, whereas formerly she would only get half done with many errors. She forgot about it for awhile and her scores dropped back down. After starting to use it again, her scores are back up to A's. The Math Shark is a great investment for helping children succeed in school! I have just ordered another one for another grandchild. The price is also good for this kind of an item. The screen? Yes, it is dim for Grandma with aging eyes, but the children don't seem to have a problem with that at all. Update, June, 2008: I have just ordered a third Math Shark for another grandchild who has just completed first grade and needs much help with his math skills. The first 2 grandchildren have enjoyed using it and have both claimed that it helped them tremendously. A wonderful educational tool!

My precocious 1st Grader has a very active mind and is always looking for a challenge. We've chosen not to have video games at home at this time but I saw this and thought this might be something fun for him to do during downtime, car rides, etc. He has really taken up the challenge with the Math Shark and enjoys playing the games and moving up to new levels. He has also begun to teach himself multiplication as the games are helping him understand the patterns and concepts. So far the Math Shark has been a great way for him to engage his brain and learn new things!

So far I'm very pleased with this product. My 6 year old loves it and wants to play all the time--that alone is worth the money, regardless of the durability. And durability is why I give it 4 stars--I've read the reviews and am less than hopeful on its longetivity. However, when I first got it out of the box, I had the same problem as many reviewers--it came on but wouldn't work. When I opened the battery compartment I saw that the batteries were slightly buckled, I replaced them flat and voila, the MathShark worked. It seems like the battery compartment is just the tiniest bit too small for the batteries; if you're having a problem, try repositioning them. The screen is small and not that easy to read, but it doesn't seem to bother my child at all. It's basically like reading a calculator. But other than that, it's great. I think my 9 year old will enjoy it too if he ever gets a chance and I love the fact that it has percentage/decimal options as well. We also have MathSlam which is very sturdy but didn't interest my older child, plus it's so noisy I couldn't stand it. This toy is very quiet. MathSlam is also only good for add/sub whereas this is a toy that can grow with your child's emerging math skills...if it lasts that long. All in all, I"m pleased with this purchase. Even if it breaks tomorrow, I feel my child has gotten enough out of it to make it worthwhile.

This device seems like a better version of the Multiplication Master. My older child is ASD and this is a lot easier on him. He likes having volume on his "games" but not too loud. This game checks that box. He also can not do games with timer components. The Multiplication Master device has a timer countdown that I can't turn off and he gets riled up from the anxiety. This Math Shark game let's him go at his own pace. It is also a bonus that it has a variety of drills so he can practice in sequential order or random. There are settings so that my younger son can practice his addition and subtraction. I highly recommend this if you have a kid that needs some practice. The repetition helps the math facts stick. The only slightly negative thing I'd say about it is the numbers feel a little too solid. They require a bit more pressure than other devices to push but it does lend to the feeling they won't break easy.

Great for a kid that reads but a bit more difficult for K-1st graders. Works great for the younger kids if an adult or older sibling can help in between quizzes and to get it started. The screen can be hard to see but its nice to have a dedicated math game that can't be switched out to angry birds :). I know my son is practicing if he has this in hand. Wish they would fix the screen or allow for voice prompting, but it does exactly what it says in the description-quizzes math facts.

This came highly recommended, and it was not that expensive, so it was worth a try. And to be fair, it was recommended because it got results (non-specific) with someone else's child, though somewhat younger than my 9 year old. The LCD display is ancient, segments far apart, on a dull gray background. Sound effects, equally old, remind me of a Radio Shack electronics hobby kit from 1980. Younger kids are more tolerant of old technology and they can get things to work for them. At 9, mine is borderline, and she didn't reject it outright, but I may have missed the age where it might have held the most appeal. And after all, this is supposed to be fun or what is the point? There are plenty of other ways to do drills. Next thing I don't care for is the level of difficulty setting, and the way the device selects problems. I will admit I have not spent a great deal of time with it but there seems to be little variety in the questions. Example, division problems at mid-level difficulty - every problem was divide by 10. So I can't recommend it. It's bright colors and quirky LED/beeping feedback made a good first impression but they wore off fast. But it could work for your child.

Great device for helping with Math Facts. This device uses flashing light and sounds to reinforce correct answers and gently prod the user to try again if the wrong answer is chosen. If the wrong answer is selected the device displays the correct answer and adds the problem back into the practice set currently being worked. The unt dsiplays the time it took to complete the problems (10) so a student can practice and watch the time required to decrease. Many students won't let go of the device until they can improve their time. No teacher or parent involvement is usually required during practice. When the student sees that they have achieved a targeted time they can make a note and move on to the next level of difficulty. Their efforts can be verified at a later time by demonstrating that they can achieve the desired time. No pretending when it's so easy top verify the student's claim. I've used this with students for many years and find that it helps students stay focused. I had one of the devices quit working, but the manufacturer replaced it without charge very quickly.

I home school my 10 year old daughter and I hate the "drill and kill" methods of teaching, so I am always looking for ways that make learning fun. Much of what I come up with or have purchased, my daughter finds boring. Not so with this math game! She actually expected to find this game dull, but she is hooked. She literally came to understand decimals much better just by playing with this "toy" for less than half an hour, and she enjoys trying to beat her previous timing. It comes with a booklet that shows HOW to perform the various math operations if the child does not yet know how, then the game is used for practicing. Once they are comfortable with a level, they can advance to the next hardest level. This is the first math learning anything I've found that she finds entertaining, and it really does improve her math skills, so I'm happy, too! It teaches several skills including adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, fractions, percents, decimals, and it can be used as a calculator, too. My daugher said to give it 5 stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟