Millie's Math House: Educational Software Review

Student's Perspective: From a child's perspective (age range 4-5), I believe I would find Millie's Math House to be quite engaging and entertaining. There are a range of activities that are fun, and filled with neat characters to guide me through the different activities. I would enjoy the voices and sound effects, but I think I may also be a little confused or lost if I did not have an adult to guide me, particulary in the early learning stages. I would need someone to help me get from activity to activity, because this transition is somewhat unclear. It would be fun to play with the different characters at each activity, but I may get bored quickly, and move on to another activity. It would be fun to make cookies with jelly beans, and create my own creatures, and learn some fun math concepts at the same time.

Teachers's Perspective: I would likely incorporate this game into a junior/senior kindergarten classroom. Although it could be used at a grade one level, I believe that most students would be beyond these basic math concepts by that point, and may find the game somewhat unengaging. I think this is a good game for building basic math concepts at a kindergarten level, and to promote the use of thinking skills. Millie's Math House will introduce students to basic math concepts, such as counting to 30, recognizing and reading number sentences (such as simple addition an subtraction), recognizing shapes, and differentiating between sizes, quantities. It also provides basic patterning and sequencing practice at level appropriate for this age group.

Millies Math House would be a good addition to any classroom environment in kindergarten. However, this game would require teacher assistance until the child learns the game, to ensure the student can operate the game and benefit from the instuctional value. It would also be appropriate for ESL students, or other special needs students, as no reading is required, although the students would need to be able to recognize numbers. I do believer, however, that many students would become quickly bored with these activities once the basic concepts are mastered. There could, perhaps, be more current, engaging and interactive games available in today's educational technology market.

Here is a link to a review of Millie's Math House....take it for what it's worth!!!! http://mathequity.terc.edu/gw/html/MillieReview.html