It seems that math has been at the forefront of our studies lately. I'm always looking for a great resource to reinforce basic concepts, yet still challenge Big Sis to keep progressing. I don't want to frustrate her, but I need to give her a little extra nudge in the math department. I blame myself, since I have the least enthusiasm for math of any other subject I teach. I don't want that to influence her feelings, though, so I'm glad to try an online resource like ALEKS to help with the situation. Using an online program takes that personal issue out of it for me.
What is ALEKS? ALEKS stands for Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces. It is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and math learning system for grades 3-12. Using questions that adapt to your child's skill level, ALEKS can gauge your child's math knowledge. It then chooses appropriate topics/questions to present for your child's individual ability and learning progress. Assessments are re-done periodically as a child works to be sure of accuracy. Multiple choice questions are avoided so that a child can't just guess on an answer, but actually gain mastery of the topic.
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| Sample student assessment |
How much does it cost?
- $19.95 per student, per month
- $99.95 every 6 months
- $179.95 every 12 months.
ALEKS is not a bells and whistles type program. There are no cutesy characters or bright colors. ALEKS is straight-up math, with the added advantage of tracking progress and self-adjusting. Since it's online, I can let Big Sis (10) sit down to do math whenever we're ready. She can have some quiet, uninterrupted time to concentrate (rare around here with two little sisters ages 4 and 2!) and do her math without my help. If she has a question, I'm available, but she doesn't take it personally if she gets some wrong answers. ALEKS just adjusts for her. It's like having a tutor without a personality. I'm relieved that she's making progress without frustration.
One of the benefits of ALEKS is the parent account. I can see what she has worked on and I even get an email "report card" once a week. This is a look at the parent account screen:
Another aspect that I appreciate are Quick Tables. These are a visual representation of math facts that Big Sis has mastered. I know I've talked about math facts mastery a lot lately, but I really do think it's worth the work in the long run. Big Sis likes it that she can see how she's doing. That accomplishment is an incentive to work on it. Quick Tables covers 0-12 math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They are online flash cards, if you will, that adapt to your child's skill level.
Okay, so there are a few cutesy characters. However, they are not the focus of ALEKS. There's nothing wrong with using fun characters to learn, in my opinion. It's just not the ALEKS style.
Children accumulate pie pieces to show progress, as well. Darker colors indicate what the student has already mastered, while the lighter colors show what the student is ready to learn next. I really think the feedback offered by ALEKS is one of its biggest advantages. There is no guesswork involved for parents since a child's progress is so clearly tracked.
There are some math games available within the program after children have gained some mastery. Again, this is not the focus of ALEKS, but rather an extra feature.
ALEKS did not magically make math easier or more pleasant for Big Sis. It did create an environment tailored to her specific knowledge level without hassle or frustration. She does not beg to do math everyday, but she does like the fact that she can use the computer and do this on her own, at her own pace.
You can get a free two-month trial of ALEKS to see if it will work for your children. ALEKS has a special section for homeschoolers so that you can take a tour to get a better feel for what is offered, too.
You can visit the Crew blog to read more reviews.
Disclaimer: I received a free trial of ALEKS for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given for my honest opinion.
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