Website review by Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Education | Updated May 2020
Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun
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Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun

Solid collection of learning activities on a wide variety of topics

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Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
Community rating
Based on 5 reviews
Privacy rating
46%| Warning Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
Pre-K–5 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Critical Thinking
Great for
Lesson Planning, Differentiation
Price:  Free An ad-free, premium version of the site is also available for $1 per student per year.
Platforms:  Website
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Take a look inside

5 images
Content is organized on the landing site by topic.
Subtopics are varied and often well represented.
Fractions game in which kids are timed as they bring each portion of a sand dollar to its corresponding fraction
Reading passages include multiple-choice comprehension checks.
Kids can explore geography with interactive maps.

Pros: Extensive site offers a wealth of information on lots of topics.

Cons: Ads can be distracting. Games and activities have little constructive help or feedback.

Bottom Line: Games and activities are fine for reinforcement and practice but don't offer built-in feedback or progress tracking.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun is best used as guided practice and drills to supplement concepts covered in the classroom. Teachers can assign activities in the computer lab or as homework, or use some of the games on an interactive whiteboard for group demonstrations. Kids can print out their certificates to show how well they did in each game.

The history, geography, and science sections can be used a bit more freely, as they're rich with informational text and comprehension quizzes. Teachers can direct their students, for example, to the history section to research the causes of the Revolutionary War. When kids are done reading, they can play some games or take quizzes to test what they've learned. Teachers can also take advantage of the many printable activity sheets and some lesson plan suggestions to bring learning offline. The premium version allows teachers many ways to customize their students' experiences with the site and to set up challenge competitions among students.

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Standards:

Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun offers a wide-ranging collection of activities that shine most for mid to late elementary school-age kids who can take full advantage of all the reading material. Activities are organized first by topic (math, science, language arts, history, geography, USA, people, holidays, and other), subtopic (e.g., addition, angles, phonics, endangered species), and then by age group, format (game, online activity, printables), activity type, and Common Core standards.

The math section is the most comprehensive: Topics range from geometry and fractions to telling time and dealing with money. Language arts is next, with activities mostly relating to reading comprehension and editing (using correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation). Other topics have decent coverage but are a bit more limited in their focus. Using Mr. Nussbaum! is free, but paying for the premium version, MrN365, gives you an ad-free experience and more tracking, printable resources, customizable options, quizzes, and opportunities to set up competitions among students.

There's no shortage of activities or learning topics on Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun, and that's one of its most valuable assets. Kids will find nice coverage of less commonly represented topics, such as historical events. For instance, kids can read about women during the Civil War and complete some reading comprehension activities. And there are multimedia animal units, so kids can do things like read basic facts about the mountain lion, explore an interactive map to learn about its habitat, and watch a video to see it in action.

Though many games include instructional videos, the games tend to be very simple and lack fancy features, including in-game help (hints and feedback are mostly limited to notification of wrong answers). Kids sometimes get positive feedback by earning certificates for completing games, but they don't have a way to track progress over time. And though some games have basic leveling, they don't adapt based on previous performance. Also, ads and a busy layout can be distracting to kids left to explore the site freely. Overall, it's a nice collection of free, interactive activities that, with good guidance, can be a fun way to learn about and reinforce a wide variety of topics.

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

With so many entertaining and interactive elements, kids are bound to find something engaging. However, the layout is a bit busy, and flashing ads are a big distraction.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

There are lots of games and opportunities for drill practice, and many have solid potential for reinforcing learning. However, kids don't take much of an active role in shaping their experiences or learning from their mistakes.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

A wealth of content ensures there's something for everyone. Many games have instructional videos, but once in the game, there's little help. Tracking progress through the site is limited to certificates for completing some games.

Common Sense reviewer
Mieke VanderBorght Researcher
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Key Standards Supported

Measurement And Data

  • 1.MD.3

    Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.

  • 2.MD.7

    Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.

  • 2.MD.8

    Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

Number And Operations In Base Ten

  • 1.NBT.4

    Add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used. Understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a ten.

  • 4.NBT.3

    Use place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place.

  • 4.NBT.4

    Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.

  • 5.NBT.7

    Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.

Number And Operations—Fractions

  • 5.NF.1

    Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

Operations And Algebraic Thinking

  • 1.OA.6

    Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 – 4 = 13 – 3 – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 – 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

  • 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.

  • 3.OA.8

    Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.3

  • 3.OA.9

    Identify arithmetic patterns (including patterns in the addition table or multiplication table), and explain them using properties of operations. For example, observe that 4 times a number is always even, and explain why 4 times a number can be decomposed into two equal addends.

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Key Standards Supported

Language

  • L.1.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.2.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.3.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.4.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.5.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.1.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.2.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.3.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.4.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.5.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

Reading Informational Text

  • RI.2.4

    Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.

  • RI.3.1

    Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Reading Literature

  • RL.1.1

    Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

  • RL.3.1

    Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

  • RL.4.1

    Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

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Community Rating

(See all 5 reviews) (5 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Mary F. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Stevenson Elementary School
Chicago, United States
My students love this website!! It is fantastic. Great tool for practicing for standardized tests
I think that this website is very useful in a computer lab environment. Teachers and students can choose lessons that will help them master a specific skill or content. The only thing that I don't like is the huge amount of advertising, but I understand the reason for it!
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Data Safety
How safe is this product?
Users can interact with trusted users and/or students.
Personal information is displayed publicly.
Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
Data Rights
What rights do I have to the data?
Users can create or upload content.
Processes to access and review user data are available.
Unclear whether this product provides processes to modify inaccurate data.
Ads & Tracking
Are there advertisements or tracking?
Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
Behavioral or targeted advertising is not displayed.

Continue reading about this tool's privacy practices, including data collection, sharing, and security.

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