Related Resources • The Assignment Checksheet • Elementary Math (for Parents!) • Helping Your Child with Homework • Music and Learning • Paying for Elementary Education on the Web? • School Fundraising • The Chronically Ill Child in School • Back to School Series • Best of the Educational Web • Language Development • Learning Strengths

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Are you willing to pay for online educational assessment, remediation, instruction, or enrichment for your child? My first reaction is negative. I have purchased products online, but never purchased a Web service until recently. I paid for professional continuing education that was presented online and was quite pleased with the quality of the material and the convenience of learning at home.

This experience opened my mind to the possibility of paying for educational services for my child at home. I have always purchased educational toys, workbooks, and software for my kids. My daughter enjoys online games, and she seems to be motivated by computer learning. But, what am I willing to pay for online education? And, is the experience really going to be worth the money?

My exploration of fee-based elementary education online began while trying to find online math practice for my daughter's apparent lack of comprehension of subtraction with regrouping (carrying and borrowing to us old timers). I looked for hours at numerous free math practice sites. What I found was that the child has to type in the number from left to right in a java applet. Well, a vertical math problem is worked from right to left, and it really helps to be able to write the regrouping number also. Finally, I found an online math problem that allows the child to enter the numbers in a natural way. Then, surprise, I saw that it was going to cost us to use it. But, keeping an open mind, I decided to explore further.

To evaluate fee-based sites, I used the following criteria:

1. Can I customize it to target my child's individual needs?
2. Is it reasonably priced?
3. Does it have an engaging design and easy navigation for children?
4. Is the technology required to use the site easily obtained and installed?
5. Are there a variety of payment options and a strict privacy policy?

Fee-Based Online Educational Assessment, Remediation, Enrichment, and Tutoring Sites

Compass Learning Odyssey
A true online elementary instruction site that covers many subjects - Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies. At $19 a month, this extensive site could be used for homeschooling, remediation, or enrichment at home. The children's learning launch pad is colorful and engaging, and the lessons are deep but easy to follow. An Initial Placement Test is useful, and you can also change grades within the subject pages, a very helpful feature. Sign up for a week-long trial visit to check it out for yourself.

Kidtest.com
At Kidtest your child can take "benchmarked" assessment and aptitude tests for grades 3-12. The cost for tests, which are taken online, ranges from $9.95 to 12.95. These are good practice for the standardized tests your child will take at school, and they give parents an idea of the child's academic strengths and areas that need work. A useful free feature at Kidtest is the Flashcard tool. Join the site for free and use the flashcards to study for tests. We tried entering my daughter's vocabulary words and definitions on a blank deck, and it was a fun and effective way to study for her weekly vocabulary test.

ALEKS - Math Educational System
Individualized assessment, targeted learning, and in-depth reporting are the strengths of the ALEKS online math system. The ALEKS plug-in enables the child to enter exact mathematic calculations, no multiple choice questions are used. It begins with basic Arithmetic, but also includes Pre-Algebra, Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, and Middle School Geometry. This unique program offers feedback, advice, and practice based on your child's progress in each lesson. The cost is $17.95 per month (credit card payments only) and offers a truly cost efficient and instructionally effective alternative to private math tutoring, plus it's available to your child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Edventures.com
Children learn high-tech and advanced scientific subjects at this unique learning site for elementary and older kids. Learning topics include Art-Creative Construction, Physics-Mechanics, Chess, Internet, Logo Programming, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture with Lego, and Electricity. Kids are guided in at-home learning projects with online instruction. You get a free trial, then either a 3 month subscription ($24.95), 6 months ($39.95), or 12 months ($69.95 with a free architecture kit). You must also purchase the materials or kits needed to complete the projects at home. This is an exciting example of elementary enrichment that teaches children critical thinking and problem solving skills.

TutorNet
Online homework help includes Math and Science tutoring for grades 4-8. You get unlimited access to tutoring for $29.95 per month, however the current schedule indicates that tutoring is not available on Saturday and Sunday. Access the site from home, school, or library using your account log-in. Tutoring sessions consist of a whiteboard for demos and a chat space for questions and answers between student and tutor. 

Tutor.com
Get unlimited Live Homework Help for grades 4+. Homework help sessions are limited to 20 minutes, from 2:00 - midnight 7 days a week. Tutors conduct private learning sessions on Math, Science, Social Studies, and English with students for $99.99 month. You can also sign up for private online tutoring at this site, pricing starts at $20/hour.