Parents

The Math Gym 1-D game system provides a non-threatening learning environment for your child to learn mathematics while having fun. The competitive instincts of children (even for play money) can keep them actively engaged with doing math for long periods of time. (Fifth graders and above can play with total intensity for at least an hour, younger children, 30 minutes.)

Besides directly teaching how positive and negative numbers work, the game introduces and uses variables as "wild cards". This use of variables is so obvious and natural that second graders have no problem understanding how to work with them.

While playing the game, the children constantly review and practice working with powers, doing mental math, constructing and evaluating arithmetic expressions, and doing lot and lots of word problems.

Self-confidence is the critical obstacle to learning mathematics. This game provides a valuable tool to help children gain and improve this confidence.