The minute I see this web site, I immediately sign up for DD1 and tried it. Verdict? I LOVE IT!
Visit this web site now!
https://www.xtramath.org/
First seen from
this teacher's web site and here is her review:
In a nutshell, Xtra Math is a FREE (love) program that provides
targeted math practice for your kiddos. You really should explore their
site a bit before you dive in, but here’s how it works. You load in
your class roster – which takes all of about 5 minutes. You can
customize the program for each kiddo, so that those who need practice
with addition through 10 can do that, and those who are ready for
multiplication can do that. Then, the wonderful folks at Xtra Math
have a video that you show to your class, and the online teacher (Mr.
Robertson, a FOR REAL National Board Certified teacher
in Seattle) explains exactly what to do. And, that’s it! The system
completely runs itself. Let me say that again, because I don’t know
about you, but that is music to this teacher’s ears. THE SYSTEM
COMPLETELY RUNS ITSELF. So, when Johnny logs in and completes his
practice for the day (which takes about 5 minutes), the next kid’s name
flashes on the screen, and he just goes and quietly tells that kiddo to
go do Xtra Math. The system tracks who’s been practicing, and how much,
so it prompts the kids to get those who need to practice the most.
When kids master a level (get 100 facts correct in 3 seconds or less per
fact), they get a nifty completion certificate and move on to the next
operation. Last year, I had a few who mastered everything, so then I
moved them to level two, where they have to get the facts right in 2
seconds or less. And, yes, you can have it running on multiple
computers at one time. Xtra Math also provides flyers, customized for
your kids with a unique login, so that they can sign in and practice at
home, too. AND you get a weekly e-mail update that shows how they’re
growing! I can’t tell you how much my kids’ math fact automaticity
improved once we started using Xtra Math. And they LOVE it – they’re
totally motivated to beat their prior score.
My favorite part about it is that it doesn’t just drill the kids on
their facts, it teaches them the facts. So, let’s say that Johnny is
working on his addition facts, and he misses 8+5. The answer will be
grayed in, and he must type in the answer to move forward. Then, the
same problem will pop up 2 or 3 times in a row, and he’ll enter the
answer. Next, a different, familiar problem will pop up, then 8+5
again! If they run into trouble, Mr. Robertson will pop up and tell
them what to do.
In my class, kids get to the classroom as early as 7:30, and school
starts at 8:00, so I have morning work out for completion, and then kids
go back and get on Xtra Math. I have a pencil caddy on the computer
table that holds laminated bookmarks for each kiddo with their logins
and passwords for all of the computer programs we have. When they go
back to get on Xtra Math, they get their password bookmark, enter the
password, then move their bookmark from the left hand side to the
right. That way, I can tell at a glance who has done Xtra Math and who
hasn’t, and I’ll keep an eye on it throughout the day. Those who don’t
get a chance to get on Xtra Math in the morning can do it during the
first 5 minutes of math, when everyone’s working on Mountain Math, if
they finish something early, or while we’re waiting for the bus. At the
end of the day, my helper of the day moves the bookmarks back to the
left. When a little darling masters an operation, we make a big deal
about it, and they come to the front of the room to get their
certificate. Then, they get to sign the mastery sheet that’s on our
data door (I’ll post more about that later).
