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1. Believe it or
not, there is not a universal math curriculum that works best for every
child. Not only is a curriculum's mathematical content an important part of
the education equation, but the role of the teacher also plays an
essential part. It's up to you as the teacher to be excited and enthusiastic
about the subject matter and to teach it in a fun manner. Many homeschoolers
use
ALEKS
(Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) to meet their math
curriculum needs. ALEKS is a research-based, online math program that
provides highly-targeted, individualized assessment and learning for grades
3-12. With a
robust course library,
ALEKS offers the instruction and support
you need to homeschool your children in mathematics. ALEKS is accessible
from virtually any computer with Internet access, making it a flexible and
mobile educational solution.
2. How teacher-intensive is the curriculum you
are considering? Factors such as preparation, resources, time, grading, and
your own knowledge should influence your choice of a math curriculum. If you
find that you need assistance teaching math to your child, there are many
Web-based programs available that eliminate most of the time you'll have to
spend going over math problems and figuring out the answers. These programs
allow you more flexibility and eliminate countless hours of building lesson
plans. For example, ALEKS provides homeschooling parents with a robust
Master Account that allows parents to monitor their child's progress using
automated reports, and much more.
Master Account: Easily
manage all student accounts, assign quizzes, and monitor student progress
through automated reports.
3. Do you know what level your child is at when
it comes to his or her math skills? One method to determine your child's
knowledge base is to have her take an assessment. ALEKS administers a
personalized, adaptive assessment that includes approximately 25 to 30
questions. This assessment quickly and accurately determines exactly what a
student knows and doesn't know within a course. ALEKS then instructs the
student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through
a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics
learned are also retained.
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Personalized
Assessment: The ALEKS Initial Assessment is a personalized, adaptive
assessment that will help you to determine precisely what your child knows,
doesn't know, and is ready to learn within a given course.
4. Determine the type of approach you want to
use when you're selecting a curriculum. Do you want to use an incremental,
step-by-step approach or a mastery-based approach? In a step-by-step
approach, most of the exercises are review problems. A mastery-based
approach is usually laid out in chapters or sections that concentrate on a
few topics, with review problems completed separately. With the mastery
approach adopted by ALEKS, students are given a color-keyed pie chart which
summarizes the student's current knowledge and offers topics that she is
ready to learn next.
Personalized Learning
Path: The ALEKS Pie summarizes a student's current knowledge and offers
topics that the student is ready to learn next.
The darkened portion of each pie slice represents the topics
that the student has mastered and the lighter portion represents what the
student has yet to learn.
5. Does the program fit your child's specific
style of learning? All children learn differently, so it is important to
select a medium that is appropriate for your child. For some, this includes
computer-based delivery of math content, allowing technologically-inclined
children to learn in a comfortable environment.
6. What is the cost? Check product and
curriculum websites. Some products can be purchased and reused with other
children in your homeschool. Other programs are purchased on a subscription
basis. For ALEKS, an individualized student subscription can be purchased
month-to-month for $19.95 per month, or $99.95 for 6 months, or $179.95 for
12 months. A
family discount program
is also available.
7. Read reviews from other homeschoolers before
choosing your math curriculum. It's always smart to do your research before
purchasing anything.
Homeschool feedback about ALEKS includes:
We have used ALEKS with my nine year-old son over
the past two years. He loves math, and ALEKS has kept that love alive by
letting him move ahead at his own pace. It presents the right amount of
work at the right level, every time. He is thrilled to be learning
concepts that he wouldn't normally see for another three years in a
traditional classroom. My son is very confident in his ability to learn
math; he says, "If everyone could use ALEKS, nobody would be afraid of
Algebra."
Laurie Becker, Homeschooler, CA
ALEKS is a fabulous tool for identifying gaps in
my students' learning. My kids really enjoy using it as a supplement to
their regular math program, and I think ALEKS has really enhanced their
understanding.
Laurie Joyce, Homeschooler, TX
ALEKS has saved our year! My daughter refused to
study math and was almost a year behind. Now that we have ALEKS, she
works eagerly and even puts in extra time. My daughter is thrilled with
her progress in ALEKS, especially when she completes a pie slice. She is
so much more willing to try new problems now, and views math as a
healthy challenge instead of a punishment.
Nancy Loughran, Homeschooler, FL
For more ALEKS success stories, please visit:
www.aleks.com/homeschool/success_stories
8. Incorporate
"living math"
into your program. When my son was in second grade and riding in the car
with me, he announced "1/2 is the same as 2/4." I think my head spun around!
He wasn't learning fractions in school, so I asked him how he knew that and
he said, "From road signs!"
9. If you have been using a particular math
curriculum and find it doesn't quite work the way you would like it to,
remember that it doesn't have to be your final choice. Do not become a
prisoner to a specific curriculum. These programs are merely a tool and
there are a number of tools out there to choose from.
10. If you haven't had good luck with math
curriculums in the past, or you don't know where to start, free trials are a
great way to experience a curriculum before you purchase. Most companies
offer a free trial, ranging from a sample lesson to a demo disk or free
subscription. ALEKS offers a
1-month trial subscription
for new users, which is a great way to evaluate a new curriculum.
ALEKS has been used successfully by
homeschoolers,
as well as by millions of students at
schools
and
educational institutions
throughout the world. Additionally, some ALEKS
course products are
American Council on Education (ACE)
credit-recommended,
meaning that your student may be eligible for college credit at
participating colleges.
ALEKS is a Research-Based Online Math Program:
- Complete Curriculum Solution for
Math with Access to Full
Course Library
- No Textbook Required
- Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
- Assessment and Individualized Learning for Grades 3-12
- Master Account Includes Quizzing and Automated Reports to Monitor
Learning Progress
- Unlimited Online Access - PC and Mac Compatible
QuickTables
– Complimentary Math Fact Mastery Program
for Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction
Begin 1-Month Free Trial
(New Users Only)
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