Kopfrechnen
A mental maths app that reads problems aloud: what to look for
Many parents search for a maths app that reads the problems aloud. Two quite different things hide behind that wish, and it helps to know which one your child needs.
Read-aloud helper or dictation?
Read-aloud helper
The problem is shown on the screen and read aloud. This helps children who cannot yet read well, or who have dyslexia, to understand the task. They can still see the digits and work with them visually. Many general learning apps offer this.
Dictation (true mental arithmetic)
The problem is only spoken and not shown. The child must hold the numbers in mind while calculating, exactly like when a teacher dictates mental arithmetic in class. This trains working memory and mental strategies, not reading digits.
Where Kopfrechnen Trainer fits
Kopfrechnen Trainer is a dictation app for primary school. Each problem is spoken in German and does not appear as digits while the child calculates. The child can replay it, open a short strategy hint or show the answer, and there is no timer. Seven levels cover addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, from numbers up to 20 to numbers up to 10,000.
There are other apps that only speak problems, for example Mathemakustik, Klangrechnen and Audio Maths, but they are built for adults preparing for aptitude tests. To our knowledge, Kopfrechnen Trainer is the only app that speaks problems only and is made for primary school children. If we have missed one, please tell us.
Language matters
Kopfrechnen Trainer speaks German. That is right for children who learn maths in German, because the number words match what they hear in class. A child who learns maths in English should practise with English number words; for them an English app is the better choice.
More: Kopfrechnen Trainer in English · the same topic in German, with a list of apps
Frequently asked questions
Is there a maths app that reads problems aloud without showing them?
Yes. Kopfrechnen Trainer speaks each problem in German and does not show the digits while the child calculates. It is made for children aged about 7 to 10.
Does a read-aloud app help children with dyslexia?
A read-aloud helper can help with understanding the task. Kopfrechnen Trainer goes further: the child does not need to read the problem at all. Menus and help texts are still text.
Which language does Kopfrechnen Trainer use?
German only. It suits children who learn maths in German.
Transparency: this page is written by the makers of Kopfrechnen Trainer. Corrections and questions: [email protected].