by Ashley Alicea, Grade 3 Teacher, NC:
Following the transition to the Common Core, I struggled to find the right math resources. I tried a number of online programs, but none of them were meeting my needs or those of my students'. Then, I found TenMarks Math Free, which was a game-changer! The most learning happened in my classroom when my students used TenMarks Math. The level of rigor is unmatched, and the questions require my students to really think and not just regurgitate an answer. It was also so easy to use.
There were some limitations with the free version, however. Without access to all the grade-level content, my students who had gaps in foundational skills weren’t able to get the review work they needed. Similarly, my students who were ready for challenge work did not receive that personalized practice they were ready for.
When I learned that I could try TenMarks Math Premium, I jumped at the opportunity! I viewed the brief training video, which I found to be very helpful in becoming familiar with the new features and how to make the most of my time with the premium version during the short trial period. Seeing the new features and functionality really got me excited about the program all over again! It helped that my students were already familiar with TenMarks Math. So, we were up and running in no time. My students and I had a fabulous experience with TenMarks Math Premium. In fact, now that I have experienced the premium features, I can’t imagine going back to free!
Here are the aspects of TenMarks Math Premium that stood out to me during my trial:
Enhanced Assignments and One-Click Differentiation
TenMarks Math Premium provides teachers with more options for customizing assignments with additional enhancements to support student engagement. Customization options include five- and 15-question assignments, a second try on assignment questions, and the ability to assign all students the same questions or specific question types. In addition, having access to content from all grade levels allows me to go in and assign work for enrichment and remediation to meet the needs of all my students.
When students complete assignments in TenMarks Math Premium, teachers can view and accept personalized differentiation recommendations for every student with just one click. This feature made my life so much easier! I was able to push out review and challenge work to students based on their results. This feature alone saves me so much time and makes me feel reassured because I know my students are getting exactly what they need to master that standard.
Assessments and Differentiation Recommendations for Personal Work
TenMarks Math Premium includes assessments to be used to evaluate students' proficiency in all domains across a grade or standard level. I assigned my students a grade level assessment to uncover gaps and benchmark their progress towards mastery. The assessment was automatically graded, and the results included recommendations for personal work for every student. By clicking on a student’s individual results, I was able to see the review, practice, and challenge work recommended for that student. Then, it just takes a quick review of these recommendations and one click for these suggested assignments to appear in the student’s assigned work. This feature saved me so much time when I would otherwise be scrambling to find worksheets for each individual student! And students were so invested because they knew that their personal work was catered to meet their needs. These assignments seemed more meaningful to them because they knew it was customized just for them. Meanwhile, as this personal work is happening, I am providing hands-on instruction. So, these things work in tandem to really make an impact on student outcomes.
Real-Time Interventions
With TenMarks Math Premium, students who score 70% or less on assignments automatically receive interactive tutorials called Amplifiers, which target and close learning gaps, and have resulted in a 23% increase in the average score. Amplifiers save me so much time and reassures me that my students are getting support right when they need it. It takes work off my plate because these interventions close gaps when I am not there -- anything that makes a teacher's life easier is amazing.
My students also loved the chance to complete the Do-Over, which is assigned to any student who completes the amplifier. The mini-tutorial, coupled with the chance to show their improvement in the Do-Over, allows students to practice growth mindset while completing math assignments.
I am doing everything in my power to make sure my students and I upgrade for the 2016 to 2017 school year. With the option to upgrade my own classroom, I am in the process of applying for a local grant that I have had success with in the past. I am so excited to start out the school year with TenMarks Math Premium. I can’t wait to see the growth in my students with access to these impactful premium features for a full year!
Ashley Alicea has been teaching third grade in Havelock, North Carolina, for 11 years. She has strived to set the bar high for each child and thanks to exceptional programs like TenMarks Math, has found her strength in technology integration.
