I Know It! Math Supplement Review

My girls are so hot and cold with math. When something clicks and they are feeling confident, it's like we can't get enough. When they're learning a new concept and we're in the "tedious practice" stage, they whine and moan and tell me how much they hate math. When we first started homeschooling, that first math slump and attitude change from Madison really freaked me out - what did I do???? Did I break the child??? - but now, I know that math ebbs and flows and they'll come back around. However, I also don't need to make everything tedious when attitude is already questionable. So when it's new concept time, I try to do some more app and website use for practice. We have been using I Know It to add some supplementary online math lessons to our daily schedule, and so far, it's helping keep the attitudes MOSTLY good!



The program is designed for elementary level math students, kindergarten through fifth grade, so between the two girls, we can potentially use this for a while. The parent can log in and make assignments based on what needs practice, or even a favorite topic. Both girls love when something clicks, and it's fun to let them reinforce those skills, and then they're much more willing to practice what's unfamiliar. I set up what I want them to do, and then see how they did. Sometimes I'll assign practice because I think they're struggling, but they'll fly through it and it turns out that all they needed was a new format to help things click. Or sometimes I'll see that they're really not getting it, and I need to slow down. I love a program that really shows the parent what's happening, and I love the flexibility to skip around and assign specific topics, rather than a general "third grade math".

Because this program is geared toward both parents and teachers, it is common core aligned. This doesn't really bother us, but I know that some people have very strong feelings when it comes to common core, especially in math. For some, it's a plus (if they someday need to attend a public school they'll be on track!), for others, a huge drawback (that's the reason we LEFT public school!). My suggestion is to play around with the site and see if it works with your personal math philosophy.
 




What the girls love is that this isn't just a drill site. Reagan HATES when she just gets an "angry buzzer" and the right answer highlighted, and I kind of get that. What's the point? That's the equivalent of a red pen. This program allows students to get hints, and once they answer, if they're wrong, they get feedback on what they may have done and how to fix it. It really did feel like having a tutor!

We have a family account, which allows for a parents and up to four kids (obviously we're only using two). The parent sets things up, then creates sub accounts with logins for the students. I did select a grade for each child, but you're free to assign work either above or below that grade level. It's very easy to set up in a short amount of time.

This is a GREAT supplement and something the girls love rotating into our computer time!