FAQs
- How are credits earned?
- How do I purchase Math-Whizz?
- How do I reset a student’s password or date of birth?
- How do I skip a lesson?
- How does a teacher send messages to their class or a specific student?
- How does Math-Whizz personalize instruction?
- How is usage time calculated in Math-Whizz?
- How often should Math-Whizz be used?
- Is Math-Whizz aligned to standards?
- My student is not reading yet, can they still use Math-Whizz?
- The same lesson keeps being delivered, how can I fix this?
- What are the minimum system requirements needed to run Math-Whizz?
- What grade levels does Math-Whizz cover?
- What is Math Age™?
- What is the initial assessment?
- Why are the lessons too difficult for my student?
- Why are the lessons too easy for my student?
- Why can’t I input answers? Why are lessons freezing?
Q: How are credits earned?
A: Each lesson is worth up to 15 credits, while each exam is worth up to 30 credits. You can earn up to 10 credits for beating your original score and time in Replay mode. Credits can be spent in the Whizz Shop.
Q: How do I purchase Math-Whizz?
A: If you are looking to purchase for your class, school or district please contact an experienced Whizz Advisor at sales@whizz.com or 206 547 0292. You can also find out more information here.
Q: How do I reset a student’s password or date of birth?
A: Locate the student then select the pencil and paper icon next to their name. Insert your changes and press ‘save.’
Q: How do I skip a lesson?
A: Go to ‘edit’ tab in the student’s report, where you can reset the assessment or skip the current exercise. Please read the advice regarding when to skip an exercise. It is important that students complete all lessons in their tailored learning journies. Note: You cannot skip a test.
Q: How does a teacher send messages to their class or a specific student?
A: Log in to your account, launch the Reports and then go to your Class Report. Next, select the envelope icon in the top right corner of the page follow the prompts. Please note that students cannot reply to these messages.
Q: How does Math-Whizz personalize instruction?
A: Math-Whizz uses an initial placement test and then assesses students consistently within lessons and at specific checkpoints within the curriculum. Our continuous assessment model enables Math-Whizz to truly individualize instruction for every student, adapting our lessons, scaffolding, pacing based and help on each student’s unique needs. As students work through their curriculum, Math-Whizz responds immediately – keeping students on track and progressing.
Q: How is usage time calculated in Math-Whizz?
A: Only the time spent in Tutor Mode, Replay, Topic Bank, and Tests are counted as usage.
Q: How often should Math-Whizz be used?
A: We recommend that the majority of students use Math-Whizz 45-60 minutes per week, with those needing an extra boost aiming for 90 minutes per week. We’ve found that 20-30 minute sessions, 2-3 times a week, are most effective.
Q: Is Math-Whizz aligned to standards?
A: Yes. Math-Whizz is aligned to the Common Core. Please contact us for a comprehensive list or visit our Common Core page for more information.
Q: My student is not reading yet, can they still use Math-Whizz?
A: Yes, all lessons aimed at those K-2 have an audio component and reading comprehension is not necessary.
Q: The same lesson keeps being delivered, how can I fix this?
A: You need to clear your web browser’s ‘cache’ or ‘history.’ This is sometimes referred to as ‘temporary internet files’ and are often found under the preferences or options menu in your browser.
Q: What are the minimum system requirements needed to run Math-Whizz?
A: Explorer 7.05, Flash: 10.3181.22, Firefox 4.0.1
If you are using a Mac computer and see a blank screen or experience freezing issues, please access the site from Mozilla Firefox instead of Safari.
Software requirements:
Internet Explorer 7 or newer or
Mozilla Firefox 4 or newer;
Flash Player 10 plugin or newer.
Minimum PC Requirements:
Pentium II 400 MHz or AMD K6-2 or 100% equivalent processor
Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP
64Mb RAM
16 bit color (though 32 bit is ideal)
Sound card and speakers
Recommended minimum screen resolution 1024 x 768 pixels
Minimum MAC Requirements:
G3, G4 Mac 300MHz
Mac OS X version 10.1 with 128Mb RAM or Mac OS 8.6 or 9 with 64Mb RAM
Recommended browser: Google Chrome.
We recommend that you have a broadband internet connection to use Math-Whizz.
Q: What grade levels does Math-Whizz cover?
A: Math-Whizz covers content generally delivered in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Subscribers have access to all content.
Q: What is Math Age™?
A: Math Age is a term unique to Math-Whizz that defines mathematical ability, similar to the way ‘Reading Age’ helps to define reading ability. We use standardized grade-equivalent targets to calculate Math Age to the nearest quarter year (e.g. Math Age 8.25 = equivalent math ability to age eight and a quarter).
Q: What is the intial assessment?
A: The initial assessment effectively takes a ‘snapshot’ of each individual’s current math ability topic by topic. This is presented in an ‘exam-style’ format. The initial assessment determines the initial level of difficulty for each child, therefore it is very important that individuals do not receive any help while completing the initial assessment. The assessment must be completed in order to view reports for the individual.
Q: Why are the lessons too difficult for my student?
A: There could be a couple of reasons that the lessons being delivered are too difficult for your student.
1. Help, other than that from the Tutor, was given to the student during the assessment or within the lessons. It is normal to want to help a student if we think they are struggling, but Math-Whizz needs to know what the student doesn’t understand just as much as it needs to know what the student does understand – this is the only way the appropriate lessons can be delivered.
2. The student is distracted and or tired.
Solutions:
1. Ask the student to explain what the question is asking. Sometimes talking it through helps the student understand what is being asked.
2. Take a break – sometimes a short break is all that is needed. Come back to Math-Whizz after a short break and/or a snack.
3. If the lesson is too hard, let the student answer it incorrectly. Encourage your student by letting them know it is OK to make a mistake. Math-Whizz will adapt the curriculum to support your student’s instructional needs.
Q: Why are the lessons too easy for my student?
A: The main reason that lessons are too easy is because the student answered too many questions incorrectly or just pressed ‘I don’t know’ during the initial assessment.
Solutions:
1. Have your student re-take the assessment. Make sure your student knows that the assessment is used to determine their place in the Tutor. When a student is challenged appropriately, learning is much more enjoyable.
2. Let your student know that they receive more credits for correctly answering questions on the assessments. This often motivates them to try harder.
3. Let your student continue working through the lessons delivered. Lesson difficultly is based on how the student is performing. If answers are correct, the difficultly level increases.
Q: Why can’t I input answers? Why are lessons freezing?
A: Please check to ensure you do not have an active pop-up blocker as it will interfere with overall functionality of the program. Check to see if you are running the latest version of Adobe Flash by clicking this link.
Account
Q: Where do I log in?
A: You can log in from anywhere on www.whizz.com by entering your credentials in the upper right hand portion of the site. You can also bookmark this direct login link for your convenience.