Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Aleks on iPad?

Anyone have experience with Aleks accessed on iPad? Would it be appropriate for a first grader's main curriculum rather than just enrichment?

I can't speak to if it covers all topics in a given grade level. My kids have used it in the past over summers to enrich. It also depends on your 1st graders math level. The site list k-12, but in reality the curriculum doesn't begin until 3 grade.

We haven't used it on Ipad, but the regular version is not a curriculum. It doesn't really offer instruction. It gives problems, and if the child gets the problem wrong they can click on the "explain" button to see how the problem is solved. For me, that doesn't get enough into the "why" of the math, which I consider very important.

We used it as a stopgap in elementary, as no appropriate work was otherwise available. It let DS blow through a lot of content too quickly, in my opinion.

I (maybe somewhat) disagree with DeeDee on this. If your child can work out how to answer Aleks' questions without instruction, that's a feature, not a bug: it leads to deeper understanding than being told. It is important that a child using Aleks has access to someone who can explain if necessary; and Aleks has no non-routine problems so you need to supply those separately. But a quick wizz through the first few grades of Aleks was great for my DS at 5/6yo. It used to start at third grade; not sure if it still does, but I wouldn't let that put you off if so, as in practice it also v has much easier material embedded.

I am only familiar with ALEKS for 5th grade, 6th grade and Pre-Algebra so I can't really speak with authority for the lower level stuff. I am assuming that you are homeschooling a first grader, so I would say probably okay for that purpose as long as you supplement with non-routine problems and with problems that require showing work and writing, particularly as he moves up the curriculum. ALEKS is a good resource but I would hesitate to use it (by itself) to argue grade level achievement because it is inferior to our district's GT curriculum, even after adjusting for the one-year differential. For example, my non-mathy but very bright DD quickly completed the ALEKS 6th grade math the summer after 3rd grade but I didn't consider it as mastery of 6th grade curriculum at that point. Part of your decision will depend on the probability of your DS' return to a brick and mortar school and the curriculum there.