Elite 100

Strategies for success:

I use IXL for whole-class instruction. I forgo the textbook work and use IXL in its place. The instant feedback makes it a much better tool for classwork and instruction. Each student has his or her own desktop and they do their classwork on IXL with their individual passwords.

Favorite teacher tools:

The instant feedback is the best! The students know right away if they are on the right track and they can use the tutorial to correct their mistakes.

Strategies for success:

IXL is a tremendous part of my classroom instruction. I implement the math component each morning and I also use the program for student differentiation. As the class completes other morning work, I assign students specific IXL math skills to complete. This works well as a daily spiral review of topics learned throughout the school year, as well as a way to focus on topics posing difficulties for particular students. These quick daily assignments allow me to get almost all students on IXL every day. I also assign "Daily Language Arts sessions" to groups of students, particularly during silent sustained reading times. Additionally, I love the fact that I can quickly assign specific sections in both subject areas in class as tests. Since teachers can access student reports and see the results of each student, my time is saved in grading. Over the past several years, I have given my students weekly IXL math homework assignments to improve their math skills. I wholeheartedly believe that using IXL in my classroom has played a vital role in the many student success stories that I have seen each year.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love that the program provides immediate feedback for my students when they enter an incorrect answer. It allows the students to get help while the teacher is occupied with other duties. The detailed reports that teachers can access are also extremely beneficial. This is my favorite math resource in class by far! Whenever I am presented with the opportunity to spread the word of this great program to new people, I do!

Strategies for success:

I use IXL for whole-class instruction, but differentiate based on the student's needs. For example, if I am teaching writing expressions, I will put a list on the board like 4th G.1, 5th U.1, and so on. I then monitor my students' progress almost up to the minute with the IXL reports.

Favorite teacher tools:

My favorite feature of IXL is having access to math concepts across grade levels that allow me to differentiate teaching mathematics with ease, both for under- and over-achieving students. Since using IXL over the last few years, my students have seen considerable growth on the NWEA assessment.

Strategies for success:

We have healthy classroom competitions. Every Monday morning, I share with the entire class the reports on the progress that has been made by everyone. The students are so eager to see these reports—they are front and center, looking for their name, and feeling proud of their efforts. They look forward to seeing these weekly reports and sharing the results with everyone. I feel that this motivates the students to work hard and do their very best.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love the fact that students are able to view reports on IXL. It is important for students to understand what they are doing and for them to be given valuable information regarding their learning. They don't have to take my word for it; they can see for themselves. These reports are also a great tool for parents. I use them during my parent/teacher conferences and the parents can take home evidence of their child's progress.

Making it fun:

My entire classroom takes part in IXL. As a fifth grade team, we enjoy some friendly classroom competition. We post the IXL certificates of achievement on the bulletin board in the hallway for the students and rest of the school to admire. The students feel good about their accomplishments. We will begin using the program more extensively as we begin our IXL lab. We are truly excited about this!

Strategies for success:

Every week, I give my 5th graders a goal of doing IXL homework practice for 1.5 hours, including the weekends. On Monday mornings, I pull the prior week's report to see who has reached that goal. I assign their work by writing one skill number on the board and telling them that I want to see them get a gold medal on that skill. This skill is always a reinforcement of what we have been learning in math class. After they receive a gold medal, they are allowed to choose their own skills to work on for the rest of the week. Additionally, I also give my students a goal to do at least 5 hours of IXL over the summer. One of the biggest reasons we've had such success with IXL in our urban school is because we provide many opportunities for students who do not have access to a computer or the Internet. We open our classrooms before and after school for any child who would like to use the school's computers to achieve their IXL goal. At the end of each day, we let students who are waiting for the bus use the laptops in the library for IXL practice. We also open our school one morning per week in the summer for students who wish to do IXL.

Favorite teacher tools:

I use the usage ranking report feature the most. I pull this report every Monday morning to see who achieved their goal for the previous week. I love how it ranks the students by time. I can quickly see who has achieved the 1.5 hours of work I assigned and who did not. The students love to know who was at the top of the list each week. This motivates many of the students to spend more time on IXL, as they all want to be in one of the top slots. I also find the IXL site in general to be extremely easy to align to the units of study that I am teaching in math. The way the skills are broken down and described makes it simple to quickly select the skills I want my students to practice. I write the corresponding letter and number on my whiteboard for all to see.

Making it fun:

Each week, I let my students know if they've reached their assigned goal on IXL. Students who've reached the goal are given a small reward, like a pencil, an eraser, or a classroom privilege. For those who do not meet the goal, I conference with them to find out how I can help them achieve it for the following week. Our school also does IXL recognition at the end of each month and trimester. The students who complete all of their summer work, which includes 5 hours on IXL, can participate in a back-to-school reward (this past year was a school dance). Most importantly, I have high expectations and let students know how much I think practice on IXL can benefit their learning. This has made all the difference in my classroom.

Strategies for success:

We have an hour of technology time each day at school and students spend about 20-30 minutes of that time on their IXL assignment. They also work on it at home. Their IXL assignments are linked to each chapter of our current curriculum. I pick 10 skills that go with each chapter, and the students have about 2 weeks to complete them all. Each student needs to earn 80-100 points on each skill. Their IXL grade is an average of their points, and IXL makes up a third of my students' entire math grade. In the spring, before testing, I have students work at their own pace on 3 different IXL assignments that I have prepared. I think this really helps them do their best on the tests.

Favorite teacher tools:

All of the features are great! However, I utilize the performance feature the most. It gives me everything I want to know.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL for homework. I have my students work on the concepts we are currently applying in the classroom. I also allow them to navigate the grade levels on their own and choose the skills that they would like to work on. This way they can still have direction from me, but they can also feel more empowered in their learning.

Strategies for success:

I teach an inclusive math class to fifth graders. After I teach a math lesson, I assign a corresponding IXL lesson for classwork and homework. My fifth graders are required to complete each IXL assignment within 7 days. I use the SmartScore as a math grade. If the students score 90% on the assignment, then they receive a 100 on their grade. If my students choose to work to achieve a 100% SmartScore, they receive a piece of candy to eat in math class. I purchased approximately $400 of candy last year as rewards! Nothing like eating candy during math class!

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in my math stations. Every student does the IXL station for 12-15 minutes a day. I assign a skill and they work to get it to 80%. Some of my special education students work to get it to 60%. At least once a week we look at a few problems from IXL on the smart board together, and they solve them on their personal white boards. Then they get a chance to work that same skill on their iPads. In addition to math station time, they work on IXL during remediation/enrichment time at least twice a week. They can work with a friend if they get up to 80%. The kids love to help each other.

Making it fun:

I have many ways to reward IXL in my classroom. I have a few lanyards with tags that say "Math Leader", "LA Leader", and "Top IXL Usage." I let students wear them about once a month. I also let them put a ticket in a cup for every skill that they get to 80% and then 100% at the end of the year. I then pull a name from that cup for prizes once a month. My prizes vary, but something like a red cushion to sit on in their chair for a week, exercise ball to sit on for a week, candy, cheap junk from the store, etc. They love it! They get online at home or at the library to earn more tickets.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in a variety of ways. I use it in focus groups to differentiate based on the students' need in a particular skill. I also use it as a method of assessment to ensure mastery of a specific skill by each student, and I use it for extra practice and instruction.

Favorite teacher tools:

The variety of reports is the feature I appreciate the most with IXL. The reports allow me to monitor and adjust the skills I am assigning to the students. The reports allow me to track students' progress in a variety of ways and report to parents how their child is progressing.

Making it fun:

We have a few different competitions and reward systems with the IXL program. We have weekly competitions for longest time spent using IXL and most goals accomplished. We also have various mastery boards that the students can sign as they complete assigned categories. At the end of the year, the male and female who have accomplished the most goals in their grade level are honored at the promotion ceremony.

Favorite teacher tools:

I use the students reports function on IXL. Sometimes I pair up students with low scores with those with high scores to tutor. I use IXL to work individually with students that have problem areas that need to be addressed.

Making it fun:

I pretend that we are playing a one-on-one game. If the students score above a score of 80 in twenty minutes or so, they get to write their name on the board as winning against their teacher.

Strategies for success:

I have developed advanced organizers that assist me with whole-class instruction. After teaching a concept, I provide students with fifteen to twenty minutes of practice-time during class. Any work that is not completed in class is assigned as homework.

Favorite teacher tools:

I like that IXL is very easy to use, it covers most of the curriculum that I teach, provides instant feedback to students, and has motivational features that students enjoy. For example, my students love anticipating which prize they will earn. I also love all of the reports that are right at my fingertips. Finally, IXL has bridged the gap between the classroom and the home. Parents see exactly what is expected of their students.

Making it fun:

I have a classroom economy set up. Students are paid for doing their work just like I am paid to do mine. Students receive $10 for reaching 90% and $20 for reaching 100%. I have also created educational "degrees" students can earn. For example, they can earn an "Associates" degree. I have placed IXL on each degree. This allows advanced students to work ahead of the class.

Strategies for success:

I have my students use IXL for independent work in math and language arts. I also use it to challenge the gifted students in math by assigning them objectives in the 6th grade library.

Favorite teacher tools:

I really like IXL because students can use it at their own pace. I also like the explanation feature when students miss a problem. The students really like the cool awards when they get 100%.

Making it fun:

At the end of the year, in order to review for math, I put my students in teams and they compete to win a lunch on me. I assign them the 6th grade library and they work at their own pace. The group that masters the most objectives wins.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as whole-class instruction for 10-20 minutes about once or twice a week. I also assign 30-40 minutes of daily IXL homework assignments.

Making it fun:

I find motivation and ideas through the education community. I also hold individual student competitions and have reward parties based on the numbers of problems attempted by the students.

Strategies for success:

My kids use IXL to practice grammar skills. After taking notes and discussing the skill, they are assigned modules to complete. They have class time to work and ask questions and they also work on IXL for homework as well. It reinforces the concepts, and the repetition for the students who need extra practice is fabulous!

Favorite teacher tools:

I love the instant feedback feature when students miss a question! When they immediately know their mistakes, they can continue working with a better understanding of the concept. The feedback keeps them from making the same mistakes over and over in homework.

Making it fun:

I have students compete while working in class to see who masters a module first. I might give the winner a homework pass or candy as a reward. My classes are VERY competitive, so this works well for them.

Favorite teacher tools:

I am using all the IXL features for High School and I love the way IXL gives my students immediate feedback on what they are doing wrong. They are able to control their own grade. When some of my students have gaps in some math skills, IXL gives me the opportunity to direct them to the corresponding skill they need to practice even in lower grades.

Strategies for success:

Each day I explain the material and do a few problems from IXL on the Smart Board. We discuss strategies for solving the problems and shortcuts, which saves time and makes the work more interesting.

Making it fun:

Students love IXL, too. They enjoy the ribbons awarded for mastering a topic and the virtual prizes. Some students compete to see how many times they can master a topic by comparing ribbons. On some of the more challenging topics, I give a small treat when they achieve SmartScores of 80, 90 and Mastered. This may be candy, a sticker, or just the time to play a math game.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL daily! I usually begin teaching a math or language lesson via Smart Board interactive activities and then move to IXL to reinforce the lesson. Afterwards, the objectives are assigned to students to work on individually on classroom computers. Any unfinished classwork is worked on after school.

Favorite teacher tools:

I was having trouble giving students enough individual practice in the areas they each needed. This program allows students who get the concept to move on and the ones who need extra practice can do extra problems and get extra instruction to meet their needs. The students experience the extra instruction in a little bit different way from the Smart Board activities and teacher led instruction.

Making it fun:

Accountability is reward enough. They learn to love seeing their own progress and seeing that their practice matters. Small group problem solving becomes so fun when they already have the math concepts practiced.

Strategies for success:

I direct my kids to IXL for practice after teaching a skill. With the feedback I get from IXL reports, I am able to differentiate my class and assign my students extra work based on grade level (either higher or lower levels). I make sure that my class's IXL site doesn't show the grade level; rather, I have it showing by letter. This helps me when I assign students work from lower grades as they do not feel discouraged to be doing work from the grade they passed. I also assign IXL for homework and check the reports every morning before class to see if there are any students that need extra attention.

Favorite teacher tools:

I like every available feature on IXL, but I find the reports the most helpful as they give details about how every student is progressing. This feedback helps me determine whether I need to reteach a lesson or proceed to the next topic. I also like the fact that IXL bounces you back if you get a problem wrong; this helps students stay focused. The explanation given when students have gotten a problem wrong is also very helpful. The medals and awards the kids earn from IXL are also very motivating. The students are always looking forward to seeing what award they will get next.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in my classroom to review skills from previous homework practice (required 20 min per night on prescribed skills). I also partner it with discussions about best practices and successful strategies, as well as independent optional practice for acceleration or enrichment.

Favorite teacher tools:

I appreciate that students receive immediate feedback about their success on a problem. I encourage students to reach out to peers, parents, or myself when they're having trouble to find alternative strategies that will work better for them. I also like that IXL progressively gets more difficult towards the end of mastery and that students are expected to get the last 10 consecutive questions correct before achieving a 100 SmartScore. I feel this motivates students to check their work and think about their work in a more critical manner before submitting their solutions.

Making it fun:

To motivate my students, I give them classroom cash rewards when they receive a 100 on any of the required skills for the week. Students are further motivated by earning classroom cash for completing optional acceleration skills that are on or above grade level as well as completing enrichment skills. Finally, students can receive a "Free Friday" if they earn a 100 on ALL of the skills prescribed by the end of the week. Typically, I choose 1 to 3 skills, depending on the difficulty of the skills. This motivates students to use a bit more of their "choice" learning time on IXL during the school week if they finish early in the mornings or during their math block. In the past, my classes have also been extremely motivated by the county-wide contest sponsored by IXL for a pizza party!

Strategies for success:

After my students have mastered a 6th grade skill through paper and pencil assessment, I then have them practice and review the skill on IXL. For students who finish assignments early, I have a "Super Improvers" wall. Students who earn a 100 on any previous year's skill (for my students, 5th grade), they earn points for advancing up the Super Improvers Wall. This helps me differentiate according to student interests and readiness levels.

Favorite teacher tools:

I most appreciate the numerous reports. Whether I need to evaluate student pacing or overall retention, I have the reports available.

Making it fun:

The "Super Improvers" wall has motivated my students to practice IXL on their own initiative. I have students who go home and work on IXL for fun each night.

Making it fun:

I connect IXL to our activeboard and we complete problems as a class. Sometimes it's a game of who can get the answer first, and other times I leave it on the board while students are completing other assignments. So when students are multi-tasking and completing their written assignments, they are quietly giving me the answer to the problem on the board.

Strategies for success:

I assign IXL as part of the practice following a lesson. Students must complete (SmartScore of 75 or greater) a specific set of skills each week.

Favorite teacher tools:

I appreciate the performance reports so I can document each student's progress on assigned skills. I appreciate the alignment with the Common Core Standards and the Performance by Strand report that I use to evaluate our progress.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in both language arts and math. For language arts, I have the students do a Daily Language Review (DLR) and assign them skills that are aligned to that DLR. For math, I use IXL both in class and for homework. In class, we will do a few sample problems on the board, then the students have to complete the skill individually before we move on to the next activity. I also use IXL for students who are struggling with a particular skill. For instance, if a student does not understand a topic they should have already learned, I will have them go back and complete a skill from the prior grade level.

Favorite teacher tools:

I really like the new "star" feature where I can assign a skill to the students in my class.

Making it fun:

For the ELA skills, if the student gets a 90% or higher they will get a raffle ticket for a weekly drawing. This helps students get more motivated to use IXL.

Strategies for success:

I have been using IXL as a way to reteach concepts to my students who are struggling with certain skills. It allows me to differentiate my instruction based on student needs.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love the fact that you can take the grade levels away and replace them with letters. This makes it easier for the students when I ask them to review a concept that might be below their grade level.

Strategies for success:

We are a one-to-one school between students and mini iPads, and IXL has made the transition easy! We use IXL as our daily practice. After a lesson, I model working through the IXL problems. We begin by doing the first 5 together, then I switch to the same lesson that I have previously worked in the "Challenge Zone". As a group we work through the remainder of the problems together. Finally, students work through the skill independently.

Favorite teacher tools:

My favorite IXL features are the ability to differentiate, and the reports. I love that in my classroom I can have students working on the skills that they need. My students range in ability and needs. I can reach the needs of ALL of my students easily through IXL. For example, I have had one student working on preschool skills, another on 1st grade, the majority on the 2nd grade skill, and a few working on 3rd and 4th grade skills. I can fill the gaps of the students who need extra practice and I can push the students who need to be challenged. The IXL reports make it easy to track who has learned the skill and who needs some remediation. With a quick glance, I can see who needs extra instruction and I can provide it immediately without having to grade or group the students myself. It is all done automatically, which gives me more time to provide support for my students.

Making it fun:

My students enjoy having IXL "Jam Time". We turn off the lights and turn up the music. The students love to sprawl out on the floor and work in the dark. We also have a "Top Five" board and a "Most Improved" board. Students with the most points for the week can be in the top five, and students who improved the most also get recognized.

Favorite teacher tools:

I most appreciate the reports on IXL. The fact that they are so detailed and provide so much information is a huge asset and a major reason why I love the program. The graphs allow a visual for a whole group goal. The breakdown of the goals using color-coding provides the students with exactly what they need to see.

Making it fun:

As a class, we celebrate all learners every day on IXL. We have class homework goals and we celebrate and cheer when goals have been met and when students have made gains. Students are given "Class Dojo" points for completing homework and extra points for exceeding the homework expectation. As a school, we celebrate and recognize the top performing classes on IXL.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as homework to reinforce and practice not just what is being taught but also those skills that my students are supposed to know according to their grade level. I also design "Personal Plans" for all my students to differentiate their needs. This has really helped my students, and has also helped me.

Strategies for success:

We have dedicated time each day to work on the Minnesota Standards. We are a one-to-one iPad school, so many students work on IXL at home as well.

Making it fun:

We have quarterly goals tied to completing the 5th grade math standards by April each year. Students earn apps for their iPads by meeting quarterly goals. Right now we are in competition with a 6th grade class, and goals and objectives will be changed weekly. We have a ceremony for standards completion with apps for the iPads, Dairy Queen Dill Bars and special math assignment privileges.

Favorite teacher tools:

The reports are the best. I use the trouble spots with individual students or the whole class and reteach a lesson when necessary. I'll also provide mini lessons to small groups. I can see what my students are mastering and what they need help on.

Making it fun:

Students compete to see who can master a skill first for in-class "dojo" points or for a reward they choose. Students have started competitions with one another just for fun without any kind of reward offered. Students work in partnerships to solve problems in a certain area that they need help in.

Favorite teacher tools:

The feature that I appreciate the most is the explanation that is given if a student does not get the problem correct. It gives them an opportunity to use this explanation as a reliable resource to ensure that they are that much closer to mastery in that particular skill.

Making it fun:

To motivate my students I do class competitions. The class that has the most students to complete the assigned lessons on IXL is rewarded. I also give students opportunities for bonus points for lessons that address a particular standard but may be more challenging than other lessons in that standard.

Strategies for success:

We are using IXL in our classroom for math homework. We align our curriculum lessons with IXL, and vary homework between IXL and problems from the book. Students receive a grade for their IXL completion. If they receive at least proficient they get 5 out of 5 possible points. They will also receive 5 out of 5 possible points if they work on each assigned lesson for half an hour. This shows us that they worked diligently, but are still not understanding the concept, so we can go back and reteach. IXL works great as an informal assessment! We love using IXL because the students are able to see their mistakes and how to fix them. When they just do problems from the book, they have to wait until their work is graded to receive feedback. With IXL, it is instant feedback! IXL supports what is taught that day in class, and helps the children work at their own level.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love that I can log in and see the progress my students are making. I also love how IXL explains how the problems can be corrected if students get them wrong. The SmartScore technology is an added plus, as I really feel it gives a good idea of how the students are performing.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in a variety of means that range from whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one. Our district is one-to-one with technology, so we have the benefit of being able to use IXL however we choose. Students are also assigned homework that is typically centered around IXL and the skills from the school day.

Favorite teacher tools:

I greatly appreciate the reports and how they help me ensure that my assessments are on track with what I need to follow with the Common Core.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as a means of tracking students' strengths and areas of difficulty. IXL allows me to focus my lessons according to individual and class needs rather than on the next planned lesson for the day. I also use IXL as a portion of class and homework activities, and as a means of tracking work habits as well as specific math skills. I encourage students, as well as parents, to use the data that IXL gathers to view and monitor their own progress so that they can become proactive learners by celebrating their accomplishments and seeking assistance when troubles arise. Since IXL displays the underlying math concepts for each question, parents often feel empowered to help their child with their math homework. Suddenly, the "new math" difficulties that parents find challenging become easier to understand. Parents often tell me that they enjoy using the software with their children, and they wish that they had had IXL when they were in school. This daily conversation about mathematics and children's education as a whole has helped foster a learning community between our students, our parents, and our school.

Favorite teacher tools:

I appreciate the data that IXL gathers on each student so that I can focus my teaching on skills that are most in need of attention. I also value that achievement is evaluated through the SmartScore system which evaluates skill level according to skills mastered rather than a percentage of right and wrong answers. I appreciate that this program allows my students to work and progress according to their abilities and to find explanations to questions they find difficult when I'm not able to help them at home.

Making it fun:

To encourage students to complete each section, I often allow students who master each section first to choose a book of their liking from our book club. I also use the same reward for each student who has shown the most improvement in each section.

Strategies for success:

IXL is a great program to assign for homework. It provides students with explanations if they miss a problem and shows the steps that need to be followed to get the problem correct the next time. I also use IXL as intervention for students who are struggling with specific skills.

Favorite teacher tools:

IXL is the best online program that is closely aligned with the Florida standards. It provides an excellent opportunity for drill and practice so that students are able meet proficiency standards and excel during state testing. I also like that students are able to download the IXL app on their devices. Students are able to use their finger to write directly on their devices.

Making it fun:

I print the certificates for each section once it is completed and attach a small candy bar to help motivate the students as well as recognize their achievement.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL for many facets of math support. It is a wonderful tool for whole class introduction, practice, and review. I also use it for 1-on-1 tutoring and homework.

Favorite teacher tools:

I really like that students get detailed feedback on how to solve the problems. I also love that students can work at various levels.

Strategies for success:

IXL is used in my school as a math intervention activity. It is usually for 30 minutes each day and the students work individually, in small groups, or as a whole group depending on the students' needs. I assign skills for students to work on that are tied to the math standard that they are currently learning. I regularly use the skills to introduce the new lesson as a whole group before letting them work independently. IXL has been a valuable tool, as it allows me to see what skills the students have mastered. I can then determine who to work with in smaller groups for a more effective intervention time.

Favorite teacher tools:

I like many IXL features. The one I use most frequently is the reports on skill proficiency; this allows me to have a quick snapshot of where the class is in their understanding of a skill or standard. I have also liked the recent addition of starring certain skills. This allows me to highlight the skills I want students to work on.

Making it fun:

My colleagues and I use a shared spreadsheet that outlines the IXL skills as they tie to our pacing guide and standards for the year. Students then record their scores when they have reached 90 or better for my signature and a sticker. I have done individual rewards, like stickers or even a sweet treat, for completing an especially difficult skill. As a whole group, if everyone in the class completes a skill or series of skills we can earn extra recess time or free game times. These individual and whole class incentives have provided great opportunities for students to give peer support (i.e. a student who has mastered the skill will peer tutor the peer who is struggling) so that everyone feels successful.

Strategies for success:

While students are working on the skill of the day, I put the skill proficiency report on the big screen and let students work to complete the pie chart. As students mastered the skill, they go up and update the report using my computer. My students love working as team to complete the skills and turn the pie chart green. The first time I used this technique my class was working in the computer lab and was late for lunch because they were cheering on the last student and didn't want to leave until they all finished. Once she finished, the pie chart turned all green and the room erupted with cheers! Imagine how great that struggling student felt to be cheered on in such a way. I left that lab fighting back tears of joy, it was incredible! Additionally, a part of my weekly parent letter is devoted to IXL. Each week I would list the skills that we were going to focus on that week as well as all of the past skills. Parents seemed to enjoy the list since it gives them an opportunity to see what we work on in class and it helps them focus their efforts at home.

Favorite teacher tools:

For my students, the most valuable feature of IXL is that they can work at their own pace and on skills that are at their appropriate level. Targeted practice is the key to learning. Students must be able to work at a level that challenges them without frustration. Since IXL gives students the ability to work on skills that are at their level they learn at a quicker rate and with less frustration. As a teacher, I find the skill proficiency report to be my most valuable tool. As students are working, I am monitoring this report and identifying students who need my assistance. Once I identify a struggling student I am able to go to their side and give them the assistance they need. Using paper, I would never have been able to meet the needs of my struggling students with such speed and precision.

Making it fun:

Our grade level had a list of skills that we wanted to focus on for the year. The skills chosen were skills that seemed to cause our students trouble on our standardized testing. The list was put up in the classroom and students were encouraged to work on the "Weak MEAP" list after mastering the skill of the day. We started a grade level challenge to see which class could finish the list first and the class that won had bragging rights and an afternoon "fun day".