Elite 100

Strategies for success:

My students are required to complete the Real-Time Diagnostic weekly on Fridays. This helps me make sure all of their Language Arts and Math recommendations are at their level. It also helps me see their growth or dive deeper to see why they may have decreased in a skill. The data also helps me create small group interventions if I find that a group of students are not making progress on a skill over a time.

Favorite teacher tools:

I enjoy the Live Classroom and being able to use to help students who get stuck on a question or skill. I also love how you can take a skill and assign it to your students at differentiated levels for the same skill. It makes assignments truly individualized to student needs. I use the diagnostic reports for IEP data. I also use the Student Details report for progress monitoring information and the Skills Score Chart for data on homework or modified assignments.

Success story:

I have seen my students grow in academics, progress towards their IEP goals, and increase their confidence. When lessons are customized to their learning levels, it decreases the frustration and increases their confidence. This in-turn increases their desire to keep making progress and gets them excited to learn again.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL to reinforce the skills that are taught in class as well as to push those students who need to be challenge more. I assign skills each week for students to master based on their needs.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love how IXL added video tutorials in the math section this year. In the past I created my own videos to help students who were struggling with a skill and pushed the videos out to kids, now videos are posted right in IXL itself. What a great resource! I also love the Live Classroom feature. I am able to provide feedback or cheer students on while they are working at school or at home-during the school day, on nights, or on the weekends. I have found my students love to be acknowledged for their hard work and doing so while they are working has really motivated them.

Success story:

My students' MAP scores in both reading and math have increased significantly since using IXL.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as a station in my classroom. I teach a skill, and use IXL for extra practice to help master the skill.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love the Diagnotic Action plans. Each student can work on personalized instruction to help fill in gaps or even work above grade level for the ones who need more of a challenge.

Making it fun:

I follow the diagnostic action plan for each student. We have an IXL goal sheet we use in the classroom, and students are rewarded each six weeks for meeting their goal.

Success story:

Our state assessment scores have improved so much! IXL provides the rigor students need to be successful on their state testing.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as a suplemental math program. It helps me differentiate my teaching and challenge all of the students to get after it!

Favorite teacher tools:

Live Classroom is my favorite feature because I can leave them messages of encouragment wherever I am or they are!

Success story:

State standardized test scores and overall knowlege of math have improved. I have some students that are able to take it to the next level on their own and exel at their pace.

Favorite teacher tools:

For students, I love the "Learn with an example" feature so they have a model in case they need it when they are working independently. It's so convenient for students to watch a video tutorial! They can also quickly jump to a related foundational skill using the "Not feeling ready yet?" button. The Real-Time Diagnostic is another favorite because it shows students' strengths and weaknesses. The data is very informative for targeting remediation and interventions so that students are able to make progress in their curriculum!

Success story:

I have seen some students make more than a year's growth using IXL!

Strategies for success:

I use IXL every day in my classroom as a reinforcement tool of what I just taught that day. When my students finish that skill they can go above and beyond (sometimes I will teach them the next skill or sometimes let them go in 4th grade on the same skill).

Favorite teacher tools:

I love all of the IXL features! I use the Live Classroom and now the Group Jam daily. The Live Classroom helps me see what kids are doing, if they are struggling, send them a quick message of encouragement, and to make sure everyone is on task. The Group Jam helps me teach my lesson for the day. Sometimes I do a quick mini lesson on a skill they are ready for.

Making it fun:

Two times a year I line up their MAP testing scores with IXL. I write the skills they need practice on or are ready for in the back of their planners. When they have extra time or at home they can work on those skills. I also have many rewards and prizes each week for how many medals each student has mastered. I have competitions with the other 3rd grade math classes each month too. I assign 15 minutes of IXL as homework each night. It is helpful for me to look at the Students Quickview report and to see if they practiced home. I also look at the Student Score report to every Monday to see how many skills each student has mastered. For every 5 kills mastered they earn a reward (switch spots, eat lunch with a teacher, popsicle, candy, free homework pass, a prize, etc).

Success story:

I have seen growth in all my students that go on IXL for 15 minutes or more a night. Their MAP scores have jumped up one or two grade levels and some students several grade levels!

Strategies for success:

I use IXL in the classroom for a variety of purposes. My students experience the benefits of IXL's spiral curriculum in whole class instruction, small group centers, individual intervention and extension of concepts, partner work, virtual learning, and bridging concepts toward grade level prerequisites.

Favorite teacher tools:

Students take the diagnostic initially at the beginning of the year which takes several sessions and then keep it updated for 15-20 minutes weekly. The diagnostic action plans that are formulated from those results allow us to be able to quickly recognize strengths and weaknesses at various levels of learning. Being able to share growth with students and parents, particularly during conferences really provides everyone a clearer picture of the student's strengths and weaknesses related to grade level standards. Data drives instruction for me and the IXL data provides extremely detailed plans for making sure that students are working on grade level successfully. I also love the Live Classroom feature because it allows me to see students that are logged in regardless of their location. I also enjoy being able to send students a real time message to help them be successful with concepts.

Success story:

I have been using IXL for the last 10 years or so. Even when our school system had opted out for a few years, I continued to use it. Most of my students throughout the years have made tremendous gains academically and this includes students of varying abilities, including below grade level students and students with special needs. Being able to differentiate with various levels of material for the same standard allows me to reach students that may need additional remediation as well as students that may need to be challenged. We have monthly awards for students based on their success in the classroom and the students take tremendous pride in their improvements.

Strategies for success:

We use IXL in several settings in the classroom. For whole-group instruction we use Group Jam. For small-group instruction we like using the Real-Time Diagnostic and Recommendations Wall. For independent learning we mostly rely and guide using skill plans. Students also like to help each other out while in collaborative groups, sometimes they seek out the same avatars/rewards as their friends. Highly competitive students are really motivated by the Leaderboard feature. The truth is IXL can be used in all settings, even for tutoring!

Favorite teacher tools:

We've used IXL for about 10 years and we have seen constant innovation fueled in part by the needs of today's classroom. During the 2019-2020 pandemic being familiar with IXL was a game changer it allowed the students to maintain and in some cases grow well above grade level. The Real-Time Diagnostic tools allow me to group students for small groups and it also informs the students of their specific knowledge gaps. We use Live Classroom everyday. The Student Usage and Score Grid reports are also quickly accessible and super relevant reports. We really appreciate the immediate data availability that IXL has.

Success story:

For years I have seen students change their mindset and their attitude towards math. IXL allows them to prove that effort reflects in mathematical understandings. One of the most relevant testimonials came from a former student, she came back to a school Science Spooktacular event about 4 years after being in 4th grade. She volunteered to help in our geometric shapes booth and while kids completed the activities she shared that thanks to IXL and being in my class she actually liked math and that she was considering an engineering career for college based on her strong math foundations. That student story is told every year in my classroom.

Strategies for success:

I use IXL as both practice and review in support of my instructional lessons. As homework, IXL easily compliments learning in a challenging and fun way. Those results can be used during whole class and small group instruction to reinforce mastery of the skill.

Favorite teacher tools:

From the teacher's point of view, the Trouble Spots report is most appreciated. It allows you to specifically target areas of concept weakness. Also, the Live Classroom feature allows me to check in real time if my students are on task or if they need assistance with the skill.

Success story:

Having both virtual and in-person students, I feel that IXL has really added to their confidence.

Strategies for success:

My curriculum is based on IXL. My students complete 3 hours of IXL lessons per subject a week. I use them as a means of supplementing classroom instruction. Typically my students will complete the skills independently. However, I will frequently meet with my students in a 1:1 setting to provide feedback and assistance as needed.

Favorite teacher tools:

I LOVE all the reports and data that is generated through IXL. I use this information (plus the diagnostic) to develop IEP goals for my students. I use the diagnostic reports for IEPs. Plus, I will go through and look at SmartScores on independent lessons to see how well a student is doing in each area. When I am writing an IEP, I look at each lesson the student has completed and provide insights on the PLOP of each goal on the IEP.

Success story:

I have several students that have made 1-2 years' worth of growth in math and ELA.

Strategies for success:

The Live Classroom helps me manage my time and allows me to help students in the moment. The Trouble Spots report drives my small-groups and intervention time.

Favorite teacher tools:

IXL has completely changed how I teach! The skill plans have replaced a lot of my worksheets and even some tests. It allows my students' practice to be tailored to their ability and gives them supports to succeed. I appreciate the skills plans the most. It doesn't matter if I'm using the skill plans for our math curriculum, reading curriculum, SD state standards, or NWEA mapping, IXL has it all ready for me to go! The diagnostic action plan is my go to when I need individualized plans for each student.

Strategies for success:

I currently use IXL in a variety of ways in my classroom. My students use it for their instructional time, meaning they work a minimum of 3 hours a week to achieve attendance requirements and get high school credit. I also use Group Jams in my small group sessions.

Favorite teacher tools:

The feature that I love the most is the Analytics tab. This allows me to see exactly where my students are and what they are working on. My favorite Analytics report is the Student Details reports because I can see exactly what skills the students have worked on in a set time frame, how long they have spent on a topic, and if they are meeting attendance requirements. I use the Real-Time Diagnostic to help assess growth and to ensure we are giving them lessons at their instructional level.

Success story:

I have seen major growth in my students. They have made growth in areas of need and have been able to use this to get high school credit for their courses.

Strategies for success:

One of the MANY things that I love about IXL in the math portion is that it allows students to build the foundational skills of how to do a skill before they jump into deeper learning with word problems. Repetition and practice are two of the most important things to help master math concepts and IXL helps to provide those exact things! With the ELA portion, I love that IXL now offers reading passages with questions afterwards, and is set up very similar to their state test. This has really allowed students to work on their reading comprehension, as well as fluency, and be more confident in their ability to do these skills. In science, anyone that teaches 5th grade, as I have for the last several years, knows that science is not really taught in depth to prepare students for the 5th grade science state test. This is where IXL is a true LIFESAVER! You go all the way back to even 2nd grade to help the students become familiar with the knowledge and standards that they have not been equipped with from years past. This helps students to build not only their knowledge with science standards, but also their confidence in the subject matter.

Favorite teacher tools:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that IXL offers differentiation! All of my students get to practice on the skill at THEIR level no matter the subject! This takes educating a class of students, especially when you have several different tiers of achievement, to a whole new level! Every teacher's dream has come true with IXL Analytics! You can view your class as a whole to view the percentage of your class that understand the skill being practiced or you can view individual student details to see exactly where a student may be struggling. With all of the changes in education due to COVID, IXL has been a lifesaver when it comes to educating students virtually. I can assign skills to practice, monitor how their practice is going and communicate with students through the Live Classroom if I see they are struggling.

Success story:

I’ve had students come into my classroom at the beginning of the year a grade level behind in multiple subjects. By implementing IXL for those students to practice their skills, I’ve seen them not only come up a grade level, but rise to the grade level they are supposed to be on! I have witnessed so many students' confidence peak due to no longer feeling “behind”!

Favorite teacher tools:

Group Jam allows me to see students answer on the same kind of answer. Analytics let me see the skills students are working individually and as a group

Success story:

The more my students practice IXL the better they get at math!

Strategies for success:

I completely aligned all subjects with IXL skills last year really targeted my essential standards. Due to this, my CAASPP scores in ELA were 92% met or exceeded the standards. In math, they increased by 39% and exceeded the standards. Adding IXL to our PLC's bag of tools was instrumental to student success. It was phenomenal to use during distance learning because I could work with students one on one. I could not have provided the level of support the students needed without IXL. Students became extremely proficient with it and would even look ahead at my lesson plans to begin practicing IXL skills.

Favorite teacher tools:

I appreciate the detailed explanations when students get a problem wrong. Students were able to identify their errors and make deeper connections with their own learning. The "Learn with an example" feature was also helpful, especially for parents who were trying to support their students during distance learning. I love the Real-Time Diagnostic because I was able to give parents resources when they asked what could they do to help their child. It also helped me fill the gaps in my students' learning. Whenever students were done with their classwork they could go to IXL and work on skills that were individually recommended for them based on their own ability. It is differentiated teaching at its finest. There was never any downtime in my classroom. There was always something to improve on whether you were a high or low-performing student. I also love the dashboard in IXL Analytics because I could monitor how my students were doing on the skills that I suggested to them.

Success story:

The biggest improvement I saw was that IXL made my students more independent and they owned their own learning. All of my students were eligible for sports and extracurricular activities!

Strategies for success:

Even though my district has had an IXL subscription for years, the 2020-2021 school year was the first year that I utilized IXL within my classroom. At first, I used it primarily to give students extra practice by assigning homework that was aligned to our curriculum. However, I soon realized that I could use it to fill in my student's gaps and learning misconceptions from previous school years through the math and ELA diagnostic. During intervention, I used the Strand Analysis report to pull small groups based upon my student's individual needs and in class, I used the Live Classroom feature to meet with students right away that were experiencing difficulty with math and reading concepts.

Favorite teacher tools:

I love being able to see my students' progress and growth throughout the school year. Last year, most of my class started school below grade level, so it was reassuring to know that the interventions that I implemented were successful and led to most of my students ending the school year above grade level. My favorite feature is the Real-Time Diagnostic. Often, it is difficult to pinpoint all of the skills that my students are lacking before teaching a concept. However, the diagnostic clarifies what students do not understand from previous grade levels and offers skills to support their learning. I love using Live Classroom to monitor student understanding in real time and provide interventions immediately when students do not understand a concept.

Success story:

By using IXL, I have noticed tremendous improvements in my students confidence and self-motivation when it comes to taking charge of their own learning. Many of my students would practice pinpointed skills on their IXL diagnostic to improve their understanding and provide themselves with necessary challenges when they understand a concept.

Strategies for success:

For my students who are working 2+ years below grade level, I assign 30 minutes of IXL per day in each areas of need. During small group intervention time, I use the Trouble Spots report to hone in on areas of misconception with instruction and guided practice. For large group instruction, I compile Diagnostic data for all students to define appropriate instructional topics and targets. I start the school year with the Real-Time Diagnostic for all students. I use results to conference with my students and help them set goals for growth. Diagnostic results prescribe the questions students will see on their Recommendations Wall and students are directed there daily for practice at their individual levels. Then I use the information from all students to identify common areas of need and prioritize those into my instruction and guided practice. Less common, though often significant, areas of need are addressed in weekly small group sessions for students with those needs.

Favorite teacher tools:

I really appreciate the clarity of the diagnostic reports, which I use to support IEP modifications and intervention decisions. I love how the tool helps me see student growth in a way I can show students and parents to help them celebrate growth. I really appreciate the Recommendations Wall, which prescribes skills at the students' individual instructional need. I think my favorite part of IXL is how incremental each skill is, in sequence, through gentle levels of complexity to adding each new skill. I use the Live Classroom feature almost daily to track, at a glance, when students are focused, when they are progressing, and when they get stuck and need help. This lets me prioritize my time well. I use the Student Usage report to see how often they have worked, on which questions they have spent their time, and I like to be able to review the questions they have worked on there so I can see exactly what they've been doing and how they answered each question. This is great for seeing identifying issues. I appreciate the Trouble Spots report, which tells me what specific students are challenged and how to focus my intervention instruction.

Success story:

For my students who work the assigned time in a focused manner, I frequently see 1-3 years of math or reading growth over a school year. Even my students with significant learning needs demonstrate measurable growth and solidify their gains with familiarity.