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IXL: a Review

This summer we are continuing to do some school and keep our minds fresh to avoid the dreaded summer brain drain.  Because of this I was very excited about reviewing IXL!  IXL is a very straightforward website all about practicing your math facts, from addition to exponents and roots.


IXL focuses on five main areas: 

  • math for the left and right brain: they mix it up in the way problems are presented so that there is something for every learning style.
  • math learning that sticks with you: creating an environment that rewards the students work and helps them to actually "get" the concepts.
  • math practice that keeps you in the zone: a focused learning environment
  • math at its most mesmerizing: creating an environment that is pleasant for the student
  • never miss a math moment: providing the parent with detailed updates and reports
Also, if you're concerned about how your student will do on standardized tests, you can look up the common core or even your own state to see what they should be practicing in order to be prepared.



IXL's exercises are broken down two ways: by grade or by topic.  Grades range from Pre-K to 8th grade and the topics start at addition and go all the way to geometry--over 2,000 skills!  It's very easy to look up the desired practice areas for your student to begin.  

And as they master one exercise and practice diligently they are rewarded with prizes on their own themed game board also with earning certificates of achievement that they can even print out.  
So far this site has worked very well for my kiddos as they continue to keep their math facts fresh in their minds this summer.  The exercises are not timed in such a way that they have limited time to solve a problem, but only in the way that they can see how long they have practiced.  I like this because my children do not always do well with timed exercises.  I also like the reports that are sent to me as a parent.  This also helps me keep track of how they are progressing in their practice time. 

The award online game boards are a hit with my kiddos, of course!  They love seeing how many tokens they have earned after completing an exercise.  And it's always rewarding to see the little achievement badge pop up beside a completed task to show they have mastered that.  

I am excited to continue using this site through the summer to help avoid all of the review that so often happens in the back-to-school season.  

IXL is available by monthly subscription or yearly subscription.  Pricing for families starts at $9.95 per month or $79 per year.  A family only needs to purchase one membership and can add additional children within that membership.  Each additional child costs an extra $2 per month or $20 per year.  

While they don't offer a free trial membership, they do offer you the opportunity to try 20 math problems per day for free to get a feel for the site before purchasing a membership.  You can read more about that here.


Also, don't forget to go here to read what other homeschool parents have to say about this product or simply click the banner below.


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Disclaimer:  I received a family membership to IXL through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.  
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Comments

Unknown said…
I have often came upon ads for this site! Thank you for the review, we might look at it for next year. Our daughter is just entering kindergarten age this year (5).

Thank you!


Here from Blessed Beyond A Doubt. My blog is at http://www.gardentenders.blogspot.com/
June 23, 2012 at 5:45 PM
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