Digital technology for boys and other distracted learners

Here is a math website for kids in pre-K through 6th grade.

We have been enjoying using this website for tracking mastery of state standards for math curriculum at http://www.ixl.com/.

It's interactive and self-correcting which is great for the "distracted learner."  As educators are discovering, computer-based learning can be very useful for a wide range of learning styles. 

It provides immediate reinforcement and virtual rewardsfor completing tasks -- much like the popular "Club Penguin" or "Build-a-Bearville."

You can "mouse over" every skill area to see sample questions of every skill area to be mastered. You can also practice a limited number of questions per day without cost.

For $9.95 a month you can obtain a full subscription for a child ($2 for each additional child). The full scribscription produces reports for parents or teachers to track where their child/student is excelling and where there may be areas for improvement.

Such online record keeping can be an effortless way to track "proof of learning" for the home educator who needs to provide reports to the district.

School districts can also obtain a yearly site license for $199 for up to 30 children to have full access to the website from home or school.  It seems like an incredible tool to have!

Rant: If only our K-12 system could keep up with the use of technology for engaging learners the way Disney has done with Cub Penguin!!

My son gets daily assignments from some penguin headquarters or something and he takes them very seriously.

And he gets immediate feedback and reinforcement for completing tasks. I *never* have to beg him to focus on this work.

Even my pre-K daughter is completely into the action and learning words from the easy-chat.

Thank goodness for Leapfrog products like the Leapster and the Didj.

It has provided a fun way for my son to learn math, phonics, spelling, and a host of other skills that would have been  p-a-i-n-f-u-l-l  to do any other way.

My pre-K daughter enjoys them as well.  But she would sit for hours doing seat work so it isn't as critical as it is for my son.

If you have sons (or daughters) who are in constant motion, don't like to sit still, hate to focus on seat work, you probably know what I mean...

I wanted to be a crunchy-waldorf-montessori homeschooling mother, but that approach does NOT work for my son like it might for my daughter. 

Technology is really his key to learning as I imagine it is for a lot of other kids on the autism/autism-like spectrum. And I am greatful.

The flip side is that our distracted learners also crave TONS of exercise and derive so many benefits from spending time in nature. 

So homeschooling allows us opportunities to do hands-on project based learning in and out of doors like the "Square of Life: Studies in Local and Global Environments "