TenMarks Math

Editor's Note: TenMarks Math is no longer available.

TenMarks Math allows teachers to create complete classroom curricula or practice- and review-based supplements to help teach and reinforce math concepts from first grade through algebra 2. The program is designed to be an individualized, customizable, and adaptable learning program for a variety of classroom uses. Teachers can assign Common Core-aligned content for a whole class or create differentiated assignments for small groups and individual students. Students work at their own pace to complete the questions, and the program determines each student's level of mastery, reassigning work as necessary based on performance. The program's Lessons section includes premade lessons complete with presentations, warm-ups, and guided practice. TenMarks also provides access to previous grade-level content, concept trajectories, common misconceptions, as well as enrichment opportunities.

When students struggle, support is embedded in the curriculum with instructional videos, adaptive hints, and "amplifiers" (interactive diagnostic games for remediation) to guide them toward mastery. Before students submit official answers, they get a score and a chance to check their work using the support tools. All data is reported to the teacher dashboard and can be used to track individual and whole-class progress. As students complete sets of assignments, they can earn printable certificates and the ability to play some games; teachers and parents can also set up custom, personalized rewards. Students can see their own progress on a home screen, and parents can also get reports. The TenMarks premium version allows teachers more customization, including the ability to assign students assignments from multiple grade levels, as well as expanded use of the assessment tools and "one-click differentiation."

Overall, teachers will love the flexibility TenMarks Math provides, both for them and for their students. The assignments system allows for differentiation as students work at their own pace, and the videos are especially helpful for those working independently. The lessons are clear, and questions are presented in a variety of styles, such as multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and choose-all-that-apply. Many problems also include detailed diagrams and charts to help illustrate concepts for students. TenMarks allows for a high level of personalization and can provide students practice, remediation, or extension, as directed by a teacher.

With frequent, sustained use, TenMarks Math has the potential to help students develop better conceptual skills in some areas. However, this potential may not be as evident with only occasional or sporadic use. TenMarks toes the line of promoting standardized test-friendly thinking and problem-solving, rather than more general abstract reasoning and practical skill building. Further, the instruction is fully direct, with few inquiry learning features, which may not suit more adventurous teachers or unmotivated students.