Posted by Mrs. Rapoport, 5th Grade
For the past two years I have been using Khan Academy and Saxon math in my classroom to help students improve their math skills. Khan Academy is an online educational organization created by Salman Khan in 2006, with the intent to provide “a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” When visiting Khan Academy for the first time, there are many subject to chose from. I have chosen to use math with my students, because it focuses on all parts of math. Once I received parent signatures and some other information I created accounts for each student and we were able to start using the materials.
When students log on, they go to the math part of the website and begin with the skill. They can start with basic skills or skills that I have recommended for them. Students this year are working on 5th grade math, but they can begin with kindergarten math all the way to linear equations. Khan Academy can be used as a flipped-classroom, which involves assigning students an instructional video (vodcast) to watch online as homework, while problem-solving or other hands-on work occurs during class time. This allows educators to spend class time interacting with students rather than lecturing. I don’t use it that way because students already have math homework for me to complete. I do tell the students to watch the video if they are having a difficult time grasping the concept.
When students are working in the computer lab you may see them wearing ear buds or jotting down notes, as they are watching a video on a new skill or solving mathematical problems. After watching the video students will work on that specific skill, and that is my time to check in with them to see how they are doing. While working on a particular skill, students need to complete at least five problems in a row before moving on to the next skill. This doesn’t mean they have mastered the skill yet. It will keep coming back for a certain amount of time until Khan Academy has decided it has been mastered.
As their teacher, I can see what they have been working on, how long they have been working or where they’re having trouble. This allows me to work with individual students on a skill they’re struggling with, or if the whole class is struggling, I can provide whole-class instruction. The teacher reports are very clear and easy to read. Dark blue tells me the students have mastered the skill, light blue means they are still working, and red means students are struggling.
Students enjoy doing Khan Academy at home and at school. It is great to see their reaction when they have mastered a skill they have been working on for a long time. It has helped my students’ confidence grow and love for math. I have chosen to use Khan Academy with my students because it helps students progress at their own pace, and challenges them at appropriate times. It has been a great resource for my students, as they can pick up where they left off and still see their progress.
It would be great to hear about other things people are doing with Kahn Academy in the comments below this post.
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