Monster Math
Product by Makkajai Edu Tech Private Limited
Facts checked: Not yet checked
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating). This label applies to learning-science judgments throughout this overview.
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating)
While The Learning Standard has not yet evaluated Monster Math, its use of the Concrete-Representational-Abstract model aligns with established cognitive science for building foundational number sense. The game-based mechanics effectively replace rote drills with strategic problem-solving, though excessive gamification can sometimes distract from core learning objectives.
Pros
- Utilizes the Concrete-Representational-Abstract model to scaffold math comprehension.
- Replaces timed rote memorization with strategic arithmetic techniques like making ten and near doubles.
- Features a low-stimulation interface that minimizes cognitive overload for neurodivergent learners.
- Provides detailed progress reports so educators and parents can track specific skill mastery.
Cons
- Not yet evaluated by The Learning Standard to verify its long-term learning outcomes.
- Story-driven elements may introduce unnecessary cognitive load that distracts from mathematical practice.
- Relies heavily on gamification which can decrease intrinsic motivation for mathematics over time.
What Do We Know About Monster Math?
Monster Math is a promising tool for building early elementary math fluency, though its definitive effectiveness remains pending evaluation by The Learning Standard. The app focuses on foundational arithmetic for students in kindergarten through third grade. Your child will practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through a structured storyline involving a monster named Maxx. Instead of forcing your child to memorize flashcards, the software encourages flexible number strategies like breaking apart numbers or using near doubles. This approach strongly aligns with modern learning science regarding how children develop lasting number sense. The interface is intentionally designed to be calm and completely ad-free, which drastically reduces distractions and supports focused retrieval practice. Parents receive a dedicated digital dashboard to monitor which specific math standards their child has mastered and where they continue to struggle. While the game mechanics make math highly approachable, you should actively monitor your child to ensure they are engaging deeply with the mathematical concepts rather than simply clicking rapidly through the narrative story.
How Does Monster Math Work?
Monster Math uses a game-based, mastery-learning progression to teach foundational arithmetic. The application embeds math problems within a continuous storyline where learners must solve equations to progress through different levels and rescue characters. Under the hood, the system systematically applies the Concrete-Representational-Abstract framework. It initially presents math problems using visual manipulatives before gradually transitioning to standard numerical equations. As your child answers correctly, the software algorithm adapts the difficulty to keep them precisely in their zone of proximal development. If your child struggles with a concept, the app prompts them to use specific mental math strategies rather than simply providing the correct answer outright. This requirement for active engagement encourages necessary retrieval practice, a proven cognitive method for transferring new knowledge from short-term working memory into long-term retention.
Strengths and tradeoffs of Monster Math
The biggest strength of Monster Math is its application of the Concrete-Representational-Abstract model, while its biggest potential weakness is the risk of gamification overshadowing the underlying math. Strengths: The program significantly excels at teaching number flexibility. By actively prompting early learners to use specific strategies like 'Make 10', the app successfully builds genuine mathematical comprehension rather than relying heavily on rote memorization. Additionally, the calm, ad-free environment successfully minimizes extraneous cognitive load, allowing a child's working memory to focus entirely on the mathematical problem-solving process. Weaknesses: Because The Learning Standard has not yet thoroughly evaluated the app, we cannot verify if the adaptive algorithm effectively spaces practice over time to prevent forgetting. Furthermore, highly story-driven educational games often suffer from the 'chocolate-covered broccoli' effect. In these scenarios, learners frequently rush through the essential educational content merely to access the interactive game rewards. This behavior inevitably leads to shallow cognitive processing rather than the deep mathematical retention required for long-term academic success.
Who Might Benefit From Monster Math?
Monster Math is best for elementary students in grades K-3 who experience math anxiety and need a low-pressure environment to build fact fluency. The intentionally calm interface and complete lack of restrictive timers make it an highly appropriate choice for neurodivergent learners or children easily overwhelmed by traditional drill-and-practice methods. It serves exceptionally well as a supplemental practice tool for home use or as a dedicated independent math station activity in early elementary classrooms. Parents looking to replace mindless entertainment with productive screen time will find this application particularly useful.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
Monster Math does not meet our data transparency standard. Its privacy policy does not document basic protections, including a statement that it does not sell data and limits on sharing children's data.
16 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated September 2026
Privacy Policy →Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Not documented: a statement that it does not sell data, limits on sharing children's data
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Not documented: data export, a data retention timeline, self-service deletion
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access5/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
“We collect the following data from parents who register for an account when using our Monster Maths 1 app.”
Can parents view their child's data?
“If you are a parent or guardian and would like to review, access or have your child’s information deleted, please contact us at support@makkajai.com”
Can parents modify their child's data?
The policy lets parents review, access or delete their child's information, but does not say they can correct or change it.
Can parents delete their child's account?
“If you are a parent or guardian and would like to review, access or have your child’s information deleted, please contact us at support@makkajai.com”
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“Children’s data - We Comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
“Our website and mobile applications comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).”
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
The policy does not mention FERPA.
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
The policy does not say parental consent is required to create child accounts; parents only opt in to things like push notifications.
Data Portability1/5
Can users access their personal data?
“The User has the right to demand access to their own data, rectification of deficient personal data and deletion of unnecessary personal data by writing to us at support@makkajai.com.”
Can users download/export their data?
The policy does not offer a way to download or export data.
Is there a self-service data access tool?
The policy only offers access by emailing support, not through a self-service tool.
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy does not name any export format.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not mention an API for getting data.
Data Minimization3/6
Is data collection itemized?
“We collect the following data from teachers who register for an account when using our Monster Math 1 app. - Teacher’s first name - School Email address - Teaching Grade”
Can the app be used without a real name?
The policy says it collects a student's first name and last initial.
Can the app be used without an email?
“Teachers add students by providing a student’s first name, last name initial and grade only.”
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
“We collect minimal personally identifiable information from parents on our website or our apps, only if they volunteer.”
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy does not say IP addresses are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy does not address location tracking.
Third-Party Protection4/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
The policy only says it does not disclose personal information for third parties' direct marketing; it does not say it does not sell data.
Are third-party providers named?
“Mixpanel for analytics, so we can continue to refine and improve our apps.”
Are providers contractually restricted?
“We only work with companies that follow this privacy policy and agree not to use your information for any other purposes.”
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
“Data is not used to contact or build a profile of the child or used for behavioral advertising.”
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
The policy does not address AI or machine learning.
Child-specific sharing restriction?
The policy has no sharing restriction specific to children; its sharing limits apply to all users.
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“Most browsers allow you to disable cookies or set your browser to alert you when cookies are being sent to your computer.”
Deletion & Retention1/5
Can users delete their account?
“If you are a parent or guardian and would like to review, access or have your child’s information deleted, please contact us at support@makkajai.com”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
The policy only offers deletion by emailing support.
Specific data retention timeline?
The policy says data is kept as long as necessary or while the account is active, with no specific time period.
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy does not describe automatic deletion of inactive accounts.
Post-deletion handling described?
The policy does not describe what happens to data after deletion, such as removal from backups.
Advertising2/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
“We do not show any third party advertisements, contextual or otherwise.”
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy says it shows no third-party ads, but it also says users who pass an age-gate may see links to third-party partner apps marked as ads.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
“Data is not used to contact or build a profile of the child or used for behavioral advertising.”
Ad-free option available?
The policy describes partner-app ads for users who pass an age-gate and offers no ad-free option.
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Privacy Policy against 35 policy-disclosure questions, including questions adapted from the Common Sense Privacy Program's published evaluation questions. TLS is not affiliated with Common Sense Media, and this is not a Common Sense rating. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe what the policy documents, not the company's actual practices. Privacy policies can change: this review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how Monster Math works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monster Math
Is Monster Math free?
Monster Math is entirely free for teachers and schools to use in the classroom. For home use, it costs $60 annually and includes a one-week free trial before the subscription begins.
Is Monster Math good for kindergarteners?
Yes, Monster Math is designed specifically for children in kindergarten through third grade. It uses visual representations of numbers to help early learners grasp basic arithmetic concepts before moving on to complex abstract equations.
What does Monster Math teach?
Monster Math teaches foundational math fact fluency, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It emphasizes mental math strategies like breaking apart numbers and making ten to build strong mathematical reasoning instead of rote memorization.
How does Monster Math compare to Prodigy Math?
While Prodigy operates as an expansive role-playing game with intense gamification, Monster Math offers a much calmer, less stimulating interface. Monster Math focuses strictly on fact fluency and mental math strategies, whereas Prodigy covers a broader range of curriculum standards.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated Monster Math?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well Monster Math teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and does not yet document the basic protections (Level 1).
Is Monster Math COPPA compliant?
The reviewed privacy policy references COPPA. A policy reference alone does not establish COPPA compliance. Policy review note: The policy says it complies with COPPA.
Is Monster Math FERPA compliant?
A FERPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with FERPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention FERPA.
Does Monster Math have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: The policy has its own headed section on children's data and COPPA.
Does Monster Math sell student data?
A statement ruling out data selling was not found in the reviewed policy. This does not establish that the app sells student data. Policy review note: The policy only says it does not disclose personal information for third parties' direct marketing; it does not say it does not sell data.
Can you delete your data from Monster Math?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: The child's information can be deleted on request.
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- Pricing
- Home usage - $60 yearly with one week free trial School usage - Entirely free for teachers and educators
- Platforms
- Web Browser, iOS (Apple mobile), iPadOS (Apple tablet), Android (Google mobile), Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), Chrome OS (Google)
- Grade Levels
- Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
- Website
- Visit site