IXL
IXL was initially created by Dave Green in 1995 to help his own children learn math in a fun and interactive way. Green, a computer programmer turned educator, capitalized on his unique blend of skills to craft an educational tool that combined his love for teaching and technology. The program's potential was later recognized by Paul Martino and David Liu, who acquired and expanded it into the platform now known as IXL in 1998 (Enlightened Mindset).
Since its inception, IXL has grown into a global educational platform, noted for reaching over a billion questions answered annually. This widespread use underscores its effectiveness and popularity in the educational sphere (Enlightened Mindset).
Grades
IXL offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans from kindergarten through 12th grade, addressing a broad spectrum of educational needs and levels.
Cost
IXL provides several pricing options tailored to family and educational needs. An individual monthly pass is priced at $9.95, while the annual pass costs $79. For families needing broader access, the Unlimited Family Access pass allows up to four students and is priced at $1,695 per year. These passes include access to subjects like math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish, making it a versatile tool for homeschooling (Homeschooler Pro).
Platform Overview
IXL is an adaptive learning platform that offers a personalized educational experience through its wide range of activities in subjects like math, language arts, and science. The platform uses a diagnostic tool to assess and adapt to each student's skill level, enabling personalized learning paths (Homeschooler Pro).
Unique Features
IXL's Real-Time Diagnostic feature stands out by offering continuous adaptation to a student's learning process, which helps in providing tailored educational support. This tool assesses student performance and needs in real-time, offering a personalized learning experience that adjusts as the student progresses (Homeschooler Pro).
Getting Started
Setting up IXL for homeschooling is straightforward—parents can sign up on the IXL website, select the appropriate subscription plan, and create student profiles to begin the learning journey.
Educational Content
IXL offers a robust array of subjects tailored to various grade levels:
Math: Covering everything from basic arithmetic to complex calculus.
Language Arts: Includes phonics, grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
Science: Offers topics in biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth sciences.
Social Studies: Encompasses history, geography, civics, and economics.
Spanish: Provides language learning from basic vocabulary to advanced grammar (Homeschooler Pro).
What’s Good About It
Users appreciate IXL for its interactive content and the autonomy it offers students to manage their learning pace. The platform's ability to adjust to individual learning levels helps students stay engaged and motivated without becoming frustrated by content that is too challenging or too easy (How Do I Homeschool?).
What Could Be Improved
While IXL is lauded for its comprehensive features, some users feel that the platform can sometimes offer repetitive questions, and the progress-driven model may be stressful for some learners. These aspects suggest a need for greater variety and sensitivity to student stress levels during learning (How Do I Homeschool?).
Advice from Parents
Many parents recommend using IXL as a supplementary tool alongside other educational resources. This approach helps balance the digital learning experience with other teaching methods and provides a well-rounded educational journey for students (How Do I Homeschool?).
Ideal For
IXL is particularly suitable for students who thrive with interactive, self-paced learning tools that allow them to practice and master educational content independently.
Not Ideal For
It may not be the best fit for students who require direct instruction or less screen-based interaction, or who are easily overwhelmed by performance metrics.
Ways to Get It
IXL can be accessed through its website, where various subscription plans are available to cater to different family sizes and educational needs. This flexibility allows parents to choose a plan that best fits their homeschooling approach and budget (Homeschooler Pro).
Top Secular Alternatives for All-in-One Curriculum:
Here are our favorite other all-in-one options for different types of learners.
Book Lovers, Gifted and Profoundly Gifted Learners: Torchlight Curriculum
For Gifted, Workbook-Lovers: Critical Thinking Co
Nature-Based Curriculum for creative, Hands-On Learners: Blossom and Root
Adaptive learning app for kids who love video games : BrainPOP Homeschool
For Middle and High School Students: Build Your Library
For kids who love watching videos, here are highly Engaging Free YouTube videos for middle and high school: Crash Course
For Project-Based, Standards-Aligned Curriculum and Online School: Oak Meadow
For Free or Freemium online curriculum: Khan Academy Kids, Khan Academy or FishTank Learning
For more Traditional/schoolish Standards-aligned adaptive online learning: Time4Learning
Explore more All-in-One Homeschooling Resources
Dive into our comprehensive review of Blossom and Root, a secular, nature-based homeschool curriculum that combines flexibility with a rich integration of the arts and literature. Discover how it can transform your homeschooling experience.