Math Software for Students with Writing Challenges

Math can be a double hurdle for students with dysgraphia or other writing difficulties: not only do they need to understand the concepts, but they also need to show their work in neat, structured ways. That’s where math software comes in. These tools can take the pressure off handwriting and let students focus on thinking, problem-solving, and learning.

We asked families and educators in our community about their experiences with different programs—Equatio, Efofex, KiwiWrite, and ModMath. Here’s what they shared.

Equatio: Opening Doors for Advanced Math

Equatio was the top rated program across our survey and was particularly used in advanced math. We heard that Equatio was a “game-changer” for one student.

“It worked very well for AP Physics, Calculus, Linear Algebra, and even Multivariable Calculus.”

Families described Equatio as easy to learn and surprisingly powerful, but that there wasn't a lot of support within schools:

“Thank goodness for all the YouTube videos”

and

“It was more of an uphill climb bureaucratically to get approval for our student to use it… some math teachers were initially resistant.”

Bottom line: Equatio shines when students are ready for higher-level math, though families may need to advocate to get it recognized in schools.

Efofex: Powerful but Complex

Efofex earned respect for its depth and range. One family noted:

“It allows use with secondary and post-secondary math and math-based sciences.”

But it wasn’t always easy to jump into:

“It has a hard learning curve.”

That combination—lots of power but a steeper path to learning—means Efofex might be better for older students or those who have strong tech support around them.

ModMath: Accessible for Younger Learners

For younger students, ModMath came up as a favorite. Parents told us it gave their children an accessible entry point into math without the stress of handwriting:

“It was easy for younger students to use.”

However, technology limits were a problem:

“At the time, it only worked on iPads.”

Families thought it was excellent for elementary school but then needed to be replaced for higher level math work. There is a new version which incorporates more complex math and some additional laptop compatibility (Chromebook and MacBook) but none of our respondents had tried the new version.

Other Options to Explore

KiwiWrite didn’t get much feedback in our survey, but we know it’s designed to help students set up math problems digitally. With more testing and family experiences, we’ll learn whether it can fill some of the gaps left by other programs.

Additional programs that were mentioned positively were Times Tales for learning multiplication tables (which is a program we have also recommended in the past for this purpose) and Zearn for learning via math video instruction.

What We Learned

No single program is perfect. Each has its strengths—and challenges.

• Equatio: Excellent for higher-level math, but schools may resist adopting it.

• Efofex: Powerful, but requires patience to learn.

• ModMath: Great for younger students, but limited by device restrictions.

• KiwiWrite: Promising, but needs more community input.

The real message from families is clear: these tools can make math possible for students with writing difficulties. They shift the focus back to learning concepts instead of struggling with handwriting.

As one parent put it:

“The right software gave my child a way to show what they know. That’s everything.”

Do you have feedback on these programs? Take the survey and share your thoughts.