Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2014
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Dexteria Dots 2 - Fine Motor Skills and Math Concepts

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Interactive game uses visual approach to help kids meet primary CCSS

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • Math
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
K–3
Common Sense says (See details)
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Not yet reviewed
Price:  $2.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Take a look inside

5 images
Kids choose from two main options, Make Equal Dots or Compare Dots.
Four levels of difficulty challenge kids.
Kids are rewarded with fun animations and sounds.
By observing dots of different sizes and colors, kids learn through visualization.
Straightforward activity log tracks kids' progress.

Pros: Kids learn through direct gameplay in this engaging, highly visual, interactive game.

Cons: Some kids may struggle with this less traditional method of using visualization to teach math concepts.

Bottom Line: Seamlessly combines fun with learning in a highly visual platform that promotes math fluency and builds fine motor skills.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

The game is a fun way for kids to work on fundamental math concepts while improving their visual and motor skills. Choose a level of difficulty that best suits kids' abilities and have them complete the level individually. Challenge kids to work fast to build fluency, but remind them to be as accurate as possible. Have kids share their scores and create a class leaderboard. Return to the same level until most kids earn a score of at least 80%, and then move on to the next level. You could differentiate instruction by allowing kids to advance levels on their own and track their progress using the app's built-in activity log. 

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Standards:

The game is easy to navigate and has voice-over instructions to guide kids through different stages of gameplay. Kids start by choosing either Make Equal Dots or Compare Dots. Each option includes four levels, from beginner to expert. As kids start to play, a voice command tells them what value to make, and the timer begins. Kids have to manipulate dots to complete the challenge, and are rewarded with fun animations and sounds. If they're fast enough, kids can earn bonus dots. Each challenge is scored and timed, and data is easily cleared for repeated play. 

Kids boost math and critical-thinking skills in a game that addresses several Common Core math standards. As they solve problems, kids learn about comparing numbers, counting, addition, and subtraction. Two main options are offered: Make Equal Dots and Compare Dots. In Make Equal Dots, kids are given several dots ranging in size and color, and have to drag and combine dots to make equal sets of dots. In Compare Dots, kids are given two sets of dots, one on each side of the screen. They combine dots to visualize, compare, and determine which set represents the larger value. At the beginner levels, dots include four attributes: numerals, smaller mini-dots, color, and size. These attributes help kids determine the value of the dots. For example, a yellow 4-dot is smaller than the 5-dot, and includes the numeral 4 and four mini-dots on its face. Younger kids can count dots to add or subtract, eventually figuring out that larger dots represent larger values and smaller dots represent smaller values. As the difficulty level increases, attributes are removed from the dots. At the Expert level, only colors are given. Older kids can use more advanced addition and subtraction strategies, along with speed, to earn bonus dots. Dexteria Dots 2 is an excellent tool for building math fluency and fine motor skills. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Fun sounds and animations, lots of interactivity, open-ended solutions, and optional bonus dots engage and delight kids.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Highly visual approach and multiple learning levels help kids with a wide range of abilities build essential math and fine motor skills. 

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Instruction screen summarizes the goal of the game and provides visual guidance for gameplay. 

Common Sense Reviewer
Debbie Gorrell
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Counting And Cardinality

  • K.CC.6

    Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.1

  • K.CC.7

    Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

  • K.CC.4

    Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.

  • K.CC.4.a

    When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.

  • K.CC.4.b

    Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted.

  • K.CC.4.c

    Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.

  • K.CC.5

    Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.

  • K.CC.1

    Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

  • K.CC.2

    Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).

  • K.CC.3

    Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).

Operations And Algebraic Thinking

  • 1.OA.5

    Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).

  • 2.OA.2

    Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies.2 By end of Grade 2, know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers.

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