IXL Training 

 
Contact: ​amyh@ixl.com 
 
Analytics 
This is our homebase.  
The​ “Learning”​ tab is mainly where the students will be mainly and our version of 
this tab mirrors what the children see on their end.  
 
The ​“Diagnostics”​ tab is where student data can be found.  
 
Students also have access to their analytics as well to own their own learning and to see 
their growth.  
 
Up by our teacher account username, we will find:  
1) Roster  
2) Profile- Here you can: 
a) Hide the grade level from the student (in the case that the student is 
lower in some levels) 
b) Hide the timer.  
c) Allow audio support 
d) Allow spanish language support (can even set the questions to be 
written in spanish)  
 
IXL Daily Instruction 
(Through Student Account) 
 
● Have them double check to make sure their ​name is showing on the top right 
of their page​ to make sure that their data is saved and accurate when they 
are working in IXL. (although, IXL allows 10 free questions a day for any 
nonmember)  
 
● Students can learn with an example for each skill.  
 ○ However, these example walk throughs are only present ​before the 
first question​ of every skill.  
○ These examples have key ideas that include vocabulary and color 
coded information.  
○ This is GREAT to do for whole class instruction before independent practice.  
 
Students Working in IXL 
● Will get immediate feedback after every answer.  
● Their​ S
​ mart Score​ w
​ ill go up or down depending on what they get right.  
● As they answer 1 question at a time, their next questions will automatically 
adjust to be more challenging.  
○ If they get a question incorrect, they will get an exact explanation and 
specific feedback on how to do the problem.  
○ Their Smart Score will go down, but it can always be raised again.  
○ There will be a “remember box” that will repeat key concepts and 
vocabulary. 
○ IXL will automatically dial back the difficulty level in the next questions 
until they raise their Smart Score and can handle more of a challenge.  
 
● The Ideal Smart Score would be between ​70-80​ when introducing a skill and 
then ​90-100​ around the 
ending of a unit for 
mastery. (This is only a 
verbal goal, there is no 
setting to set a Smart 
Score goal) 
 
 
 
**It is important to model how the Smart Score works for IXL so that the kids know 
they can always go up*** ​(This will also show that IXL is forgiving of mistakes and that growth 
is the important part of using IXL) 
**The Smart Score is not a percentage, it analyzes more data** ​(Though it is a good 
predictor) 
 Planning Your Lesson 
 
The ​“Learning”​ tab is where your curriculum lives. In this tab:  
 
● You can find a specific skill by:  
○ Grade level 
○ Subject (including all grade levels for differentiation) 
■ There are overarching goals at the top of these subjects. 
○ By topic, such as multiplication or addition (including all grade levels 
for differentiation) 
 
When you hover your mouse over the skill, you will see preview questions. 
 
Skill Plans 
 
● You can pin different skill plans to the top of the page for you and the 
students by looking for: 
○ Various textbooks and standards are organized by unit and session.  
○ State standards that include various skills in direct alignment. 
○ Test for preparations (ACT, SAT, MAP..) 
○ Or by using the search bar and setting different filters.  
 
Assigning 

● There is a star next to each skill . Here you can:  

○ Assign to a class  
○ Assign to a student  
○ Assign to all students  
● You can share a specific skill with a DIRECT LINK URL. 
● Each skill also has a unique ID that will never change so the students can also 
use this to find an assigned skill.  
 
 
 
 
 Live Classroom 
In Dashboard under “Live” tab 

 
● You can support the students in real time.  
● This is a teacher favorite! 
● The screen will have each student as a square:  
○ Blue= working in diagnostic 
○ Pink= missed 3 out of 5 recent questions and needs help 
○ Gray= has been paused for inactivity for a few minutes  
● To help, you can click the airplane icon to send an instant message. (i.e. “Do 
you need help?”)  
○ The student will be able to respond immediately. 
 
IXL Real Time Diagnostic 
● Up to date and accurate. 
● 45 minutes for the initial diagnostic. 
● Each child has specific skill links suited to the child for growth.  
 
**Students should visit arena for at least 10 minutes every week to keep the data 
accurate and up to date** 
 
For the Student to take Diagnostic:  
● Students click “Diagnostics” then click “Step into the Arena”.  
● Math and ELA are automatically integrated together.  
 ○ They can be separated by clicking the drop down option and choosing 
one at a time.  
● As the students test, it will narrow down the levels for the student and will 
continue to accumulate the levels as they go.  
● Dashes mean levels aren’t quite pinpointed yet, so the student will have to 
answer more questions for a more definitive result.  
● The scores are read as: Grade level and then percentage into that grade level 
year.  
○ Ex: Score of 5
​ ​30​ means ​fifth grade level​ and about 3
​ 0% into that 
grade level year.  
● Each student will result in a personalized learning plan that can be printed as 
a PDF.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Recommendations Page 
● Page can be narrowed down by clicking on the icons.  
​ ​= Math  
○ A pyramid Δ

○ A book = ELA  

○ A flag = Diagnostic recommendations 

● Right hand corner will have the starred suggestions of assigned skill.  
○ This can also be sorted by subject for the student.  
○ Student score will be shown in parentheses ().