Teachers are often looking for new ways to assess their students’ knowledge of Common Core Learning Standards. Front Row is a web- based platform (and iPad app!) that allows you to motivate students, differentiate practice activities, and receive immediate feedback on student progress in your Common Core Math class. Teachers can sign up for a free account with Front Row, and create accounts for students where they will receive an individualized experience, based on their current level of performance. Questions provided in the Front Row platform are adaptive to student progress, and provide each learner with practice questions that review topics they need to strengthen. Front Row also encourages open communication between teachers, students, and parents.

Student Experience

Students can use login information and a class code provided by the teacher to access content for each of the Common Core Math domains. When entering the domain for the first time, students are asked to complete a diagnostic exam to gain information on their current level of knowledge. As students work through the diagnostic, the concepts adapt to their performance on each of the tasks. At the end, teachers receive feedback on the students’ level of progress.

Students can choose the domain that they would like to practice when they sign in to the platform.

During future visits to the domain, students will be able to choose between adaptive and assigned practice. During adaptive practice, the system will provide practice examples based on the students level and will change according to their performance. In the assigned practice option, teachers are able to tell students what specific standards they would like them to practice. Students can also view videos and use manipulatives within the platform to aid with problem solving techniques. Teachers will receive data on student progress to review and guide future instruction.

Teacher Experience

Teachers have a lot of control over their experience with the Front Row platform, and they are provided with a great deal of information to help guide their classroom practices. One great feature is that teachers can arrange students into specific groups based on their current progress and knowledge. Teachers can choose a domain and create mixed or homogeneous groups based on performance level. This can help group students for projects or in-class activities centered around a given standard.

Teachers are also given the option to create printable, individualized worksheets for student practice. PDFs can be generated based on individual standards or general domain areas for each student.  When the PDF worksheet is generated, the student’s name will appear at the top for easy distribution.

There are multiple analytics that teachers can receive from Front Row on student progress.  Teachers can track how much students have practiced on assigned or adaptive sessions, as well as receiving an analysis of progress by standard or individual grade level performance.  Reports can be printed for distribution or discussion with parents and administrators about student progress.  Reports are easily shared with parents or school administrators directly through the platform via e-mail or printouts.

Differentiated, individualized instruction is a key part to helping students grow and progress with the Common Core standards.  Providing students with an opportunity to practice at their own level and see personal growth can significantly aid in their motivation.  Check out Front Row if you are looking for a new way to implement these practices in your Common Core classroom.