Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The One Where We Switch to Front Row

Front Row Math


My 4th graders have been using the newly revamped Khan Academy website on our iPads since Mid-November. Things have been going great and I have seen a fantastic, better than average, increase in MAP Math scores from August to January.

I read a Tweet recently that mentioned an App called Front Row (or Front Row Ed Math). It is very similar to Khan in many ways but has some thing unique to it that I really like. Both Khan and Front Row are FREE and both give teachers access to "More Data About Their Students Than They Could Ever Use."

I have already written in length about the Khan Academy and it very positive effects in our classroom. Test scores have improved for all of my student (some dramatically). We are now using Front Row as a "Change of Pace" from Khan. Here are some of the "Data" highlights... To the left there are clickable areas like "Insights" (my favorite), Groups, Matrix, Common Core Standards, Class Roster, Report Card, and Printables (My 2nd Favorite). Clicking on the "Insights" tab brings up the screen below. Clicking on the arrows on the right will drop down each section revealing your students "Most ahead" and "Most behind" as well as who is improving the most and the least. The last section reads "What's the Most Important Standard I need to teach next? 



Clicking on that will bring up this screen and you can see what standards students are missing the most.


Clicking on the standard itself will show you examples of the types of questions they are missing.



My other favorite feature is the printables section.....


I've only used the "Individualized Practice". If you click on GENERATE PDF it will generate an individualized worksheet for EACH STUDENT based on their appropriate level of success in that area. Don't worry, it also generates a mini answer key for each child's worksheet. Pretty Slick! 

I don't know if Front Row Ed will ever replace Khan in my class, but ALL students like it right now as a great change of pace!

What do you think? Have you used Khan Academy? Do you use Front Row? If you have tried both, which do you prefer?






4 comments:

  1. I am using Front Row and I LOVE IT!!! The data is incredible and very succinct! I find it easier to use than Khan Academy for the younger kids! Great Post!

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  2. Awesome post Garrett! My students and I love Front Row! Another great example of individualized and differentiation of instruction in a 1:1 classroom!

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  3. We love Khan academy except for geometry but I'm going to take a look at front row right now.

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  4. Hi Garrett, I am checking out starting with FrontRow. I currently use Khan. How has it worked out for you? Have you switched to Front Row, stayed with Kahn, or doing a combination of the two?
    Thanks,
    Juliane

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