Computer Lab

Class was spent in the computer lab today.  We began by completing an xtramath exercise (so no homework!).  Next, we went to khanacademy.org.  

This website is funded by Bill Gates Foundation and was the brainchild of Sal Khan.  He is a mathematician with multiple degrees in mathematics.  His niece needed help with her math, but lived far enough away that he needed a different way of tutoring.  So, he began making youtube videos (in his closet) and posting them for her to watch.  Others found the videos and, as they say, the rest is history.

The site has change a little this year, in that they ask the child to take a pretest.  The information from the pretest is used to determine the topics that the child needs to work on.  They are continually being challenged to move forward, and are rewarded with badges and points to use on the site.  If a child reaches a point where help is needed, they are able to watch the videos that Sal Khan has posted to teach the concepts (they can also ask me for help, too!).

You child will be working on this site every Wednesday.  However, the site is available to them any time and any where.  If you would like them to work on khanacademy.org at home, please feel free to do so!  I have the link on this blog as well.