My Take
I was surprised to see the IXL bashing on this forum. Many schools have dropped it due to cost issue but let us look at what it offers.
1. Math is a subject that requires lot of practice and it has an amazing practice bank.
2. It is setup in line with the MAP test. Infact, in the IXL, you can input the latest MAP scores and it will give you a personalized plan that your kid can follow
3. The MAP test (which again is reflected beautifully in IXL - the types of questions) is a precursor to PSAT which prepares students for SAT.
4. For kids that struggle on a concept, I drop a grade on that particular concept and let the catch up. I was amazed how this flexibility adds wonders to the platform
The con is that the teachers and the students have to be disciplined. In my teaching experience, it took me a good year to get students to get used to doing problems daily. They do not have to finish every topic they start but I will aks then to gte to 60 percent. This way, I ensure that they are covering all the topics. On topics they struggle, I cover the underlying concepts and then ask them to finish the exercises. I have seen marked increase in scores for all my students and more importantly they got used to PSAT as the style of question matches it perfectly
How I Use It
I have used IXl thoroughly with my daughters and other kids that I have taught in elementary and middle school