How can students choose their own math work?

Freckle gives teachers a certain level of control over their students' learning. They can assign various types of work for students to complete, focus on specific standards, and make teaching decisions based on student progress data.

At the same time, Freckle gives students autonomy over their learning as well. Student choice boosts interest and engagement, particularly when those choices make students feel in control and give them a sense of purpose. Student choice is also beneficial when it sets students up to feel adequately challenged.

When students select to practice math, they are given a choice of domains in which to work.

Students can choose the domain themselves, or teachers can provide the domain in which all students should be working. With adaptive practice, each student will still be working at his or her own level within the domain.

Note: This is the student view for an upper elementary student. Lower elementary, middle, and high school students will have slightly different pages.

Once students select a domain, they will be taken to their position on the domain map. Here, students can easily see what level they are on, which they've completed, and how many levels are ahead in the domain.

Each level is represented with a number on the map. A student's current level is indicated by the blue border. Below, I can see that in the Operations & Algebraic Thinking domain, this student is on Level 25: Two-Step Word Problems. Mastered levels are indicated with a green border. And all upcoming levels are grayed out (if you scroll through the map). The map changes as students progress through the levels.

The student can choose to work on their current level by selecting it or by selecting the green Practice button. Mastering this level may take several sessions, and so the progress bar helps inform students of their progress towards completion.

The student can also choose to go back and work on a level that he or she has already mastered by looking at the level short names. He or she can go back to a tricky level, one on which more practice was needed, or even one that was particularly fun. Students cannot, however, choose to move ahead. The levels in each domain build on one another, and it is important that students develop mastery of each concept before moving on to a more challenging topic.

Each domain has its own map, helping students understand their progress towards completing the domain.