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[quote=asnmdirteha][quote=Anonymous][quote=asnmdirteha][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kid learn this in first grade as she spent every waking hour after school working through IXL through 4th grade.[/quote]

That's a lot of screen time.  Ixl is also multiple choice so there is no way to know if she truly understands the concept.[/quote]

I would have to agree that IXL due to the multiple choice, timer, and also the drill format does in some instances seem like it is testing for your ability to answer questions quickly. My daughter did not really enjoy these drill practices (it was like an upgraded Kumon to her) and she started resenting math. I finally found a few other supplemental websites to try out with her and the one that has stuck around is Beestar. She really enjoys working through the worksheets, being able to feel accomplished (very important to her learning style), and I am also able to track her progress for free and when we are traveling during vacations. [/quote]

Have you actually used IXL?  It has very few multiple choice questions, and while there is a timer that keeps track of how long you've working, the problems themselves are untimed.

Having said that, IXL is definitely drill.  As a teacher, I use it when a kid needs to practice a specific concept that they somehow missed in an earlier grade.  So, if my class is working on a estimating totals, and I find out that one of my kids can't round, I'll briefly teach that skill, and then assign them to practice that skill on IXL till they get to 100, and then hopefully the next day they can rejoin the group.

On the other hand, using IXL as a primary tool for enrichment doesn't make much sense to me.  The problems are too basic.  The kids don't get a chance to extend or apply what they've learned, and to become flexible in their mathematical thinking.

If I have a 4th grader who can do math like a 2nd grader, IXL is a hugely helpful tool in getting them to grade level.  But for a 2nd grader who does math like a 4th grader needs something different, they need a chance to apply their 4th grade skills to complex situations, and then to move onto a 5th grade curriculum that is rich and varied.  IXL might play a role if you have kid who is self teaching math and gets everything except exponents or something like that, and needs a quick tutorial, but it should be a very small part. [/quote]

Thank you for sharing your insight. Although the problems are not timed, my students are still bothered by the ticking timer there. Some of my kids felt pressured from the timed learning. IXL is helpful to teach them time management for their upcoming standardized tests. However, it is not the most ideal website to use for my active learners. My smart students tend to find the it restrictive and tedious. My students enjoy the wide variety of problems in Beestar better. Some problems even induce interesting discussions and inspire the students to learn more.[/quote]

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