While I was conducting a homeschool meeting last week, my friend Renee mentioned that she uses Khan Academy for math.
It is free.
I had been to the site before, having heard about it in other circles, but I thought it was just a video site.
I was wrong.
I won’t say that the site screams how to use it. I stumbled around for awhile before I figured it out. So far, my kids are loving it, I like how it focuses on mastery, something that has been hard to come by in our family for sure!
To make your own account to use for homeschool, you will need to first become a “coach”. You can use Facebook, Google or email.
Once you have an account, click on “manage students”.
It will tell you that you don’t have any, and have you add them. Children 13 {I think}, and over need to have a separate email, and give permission to be coached by you. I just used an alternate email that I own for my oldest, and set him up as my student.
*This program obviously was not made for homeschoolers specifically. You may also check a box if you want others to be permitted to coach your child. I did not check this box.
As a coach, you can go in and see your class stats.
For your child to login, you will need to log out of your own account first, and log them in. They need to select “practice”. This will show them their “mind map” and suggested skills to learn.
Since Khan Academy works on mastery, you keep going until the concept is mastered.
Even though there are no “grades” mastery seems like an A in the report card to me.
We have just started with Khan Academy, and while I am not usually a fan of free {you get what you pay for sometimes, you know?} this time I see a lot of benefits.
You aren’t working at a grade level, your working at your child’s level. There are videos that show instruction as your child learns, and for my children, they have begged to go do math.
If you know us, you’re impressed.
There are a lot of insights for me to see where my children are working, and what areas they need to strengthen. There are periodic reviews of facts that have been mastered, to prevent them being forgotten, but working on what you don’t know makes a whole lot of sense to me!
We are trying this and another math program before we decide if we will set aside our current curriculum, for now I am very pleased with this program. I’ll keep you posted.
© 2013, Sam. All rights reserved.
We have used Khan off and on since last year. The girls love the marathon sessions where they keep up with how many in a row, before they miss one. I have an overachiever who can really stress out about that, but she loves getting her stars and mastery certificate.
I love that it has videos to help with skills that need a different approach. I also love to see what they keep adding to this site. Most of the items are higher than we need now.
Lanelle
I am glad you wrote this. My son was using Khan but I didn’t know about all of these features. Great post!
Karen Gouvin latest thoughts..100 Bible Verses in 2013-Week 6
Thanks, Karen!
Sam Kelley latest thoughts..Khan Academy
Thanks for explaining the coaching thing. We’ve just started to utilize Kahn Academy, too. “Just” as in, it’s on my assignment sheet and I’ve set up an account for my dd, but we haven’t started anything yet, so that makes your explanation very timely.
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers latest thoughts..Homeschool Showcase #110
Gotcha. I wanted TT to be the one, but it isn’t looking like it. I hope that one of these two programs we are using will be it!
Sam Kelley latest thoughts..Khan Academy
Oh I really like Khan Academy! I set up an account last month and hope to start soon. We tested it out a while back but have been in a funk lately. I look forward to using it with my 11 year old. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!!
Sam Kelley latest thoughts..Khan Academy
I dont ever plan to buy another math curricula again. ever… This takes them through Trig 2 and Calculus. I love that they are asking to do it.;-)
Renee latest thoughts..This Week… Needing To Be Held
They do like it, but I may be leaning the other direction…
Sam Kelley latest thoughts..Khan Academy
I will say that as his teacher I am struggling with me being less involved in the structure. But as I’ve learned over and over, it’s not about what I like it’s about what he needs.
Renee @ Great Peace latest thoughts..This Week… Needing To Be Held
Thanks for this. I’ve looked up specific subjects before, but never planned it out like that. That’s really helpful!
Eddie – The Usual Mayhem latest thoughts..Outdoor hikes from January
You’re welcome!
Sam Kelley latest thoughts..Khan Academy