Recently, she had the opportunity to subscribe  to a new program at a heavily discounted price through the Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op. IXL is a web-based math program that provides drills beginning at the pre-K level and extending up to the 5th grade. Topics covered include:

• counting
• addition
• subtraction
• identifying money
• identifying shapes
• multiplication
• division
• decimals
• word graphs

The system keep track of each student’s accuracy and provides parents with reports for each session. Students are rewarded with virtual prizes as they successfully master levels. IXL also tracks education standards by state. Your students’ lesson plan can be tailored to meet the education standards of your state. The program will even provide you with feedback about your child’s readiness for state testing.

The program’s design is light and attractive and graphics are kept to a minimum. This is helpful for young children who are easily distracted by overwhelming images. Since the program is web-based, users can access IXL Math from anywhere. A subscription for one child is $9.95 per month or $79.95 for the year. However, if you decide to subscribe, search first for discounts available on the web.

They even provide thematic materials for each month. Once you subscribe to this terrific group, you will have access to  a plethora of printable worksheets, games, and puzzles to supplement your children’s curriculum.

The annual fee is relatively low: $19.99 for the basic K -8 package and $39.98 for the package that includes high school and special needs materials. It is quite a value considering the abundance of resources available at this site.  Armed with a printer, you could possibly print everything you would need for the academic portion of your child’s education at Ed helper.

For additional great tips visit Rocks in My Dryer’s Works for Me Wednesday.

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. “-C.S. Lewis

I do selectively review new products – one at a time in the privacy of my own home. In this manner, I have been able to make informed decisions and changes in my educational material that have benefited my children over the years. At this point, the products I add to our educational cache are generally supplemental material: games, drills, and extra educational activities. For example, I have utilized the games Math-It and Verb Garden this year along with a few new math drills.

One product that I have added this year to our daily routine is ClickNRead Phonics. It is an internet based phonics program based on advanced reading research. It is a  resource that is scientifically founded and instills the important skills necessary for successful reading in children. I have been very pleased with the programs exercises, pace, and emphasis. The program allows children to work in an independent environment. It is fun and engaging although I do not agree with the products’ claim that it is “the child’s favorite part of their day” – it is work. It also provides assessment reports and printable worksheets for review.

ClickNRead Phonics is a stand alone reading program based on 100 lessons. It offers a “learn to read guarantee” and it is actually quite reasonable. At this point, I am utilizing it to supplement other programs I have in place.

In the words of Rocks In My Dryer: ClickN Read Phonics definitely Works For Me! For other great ideas visit the Works for Me Wednesday meme.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” — Joseph Addison

Well, I must admit, I am one who helps fuel the economy and I struggled to come up with even ONE freebie site that I visit regularly. And then it hit me . . . I am actually a devotee of FOUR complimentary educational sites.

• Wikipedia – A free encyclopedia with thousands, no, millions of articles in a plethora of languages.
• Dictionary.com – This is a fabulous free dictionary, thesaurus and vocabulary learning resource.
• Bible Gateway – An online Bible with easy-to-use passage and keyword search engines utilizing over 100 versions of the Bible.
• Words by William Whitaker – A Latin-to-English dictionary that my children have used for years.

I hope you find these sites helpful and enjoyable as well as FREE.

“Gold, for the instant, lost its lustre in his eyes, for there were countless treasures of the heart which it could never purchase. ” – Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby