Homeschooling on the Road: How IXL Became Our (unexpected) Secret Weapon

As a traveling family, homeschooling comes with its fair share of challenges. Balancing flexibility with structure, ensuring the kids stay on track, and keeping learning engaging while constantly on the move—it’s a lot to juggle. But something that has truly made a difference for us is IXL.. I have written some other blog post on our experiences with IXL, if you wanted to catch up you can read it here: ‘What Homeschooling Program Do You Use?”

Recently, I stumbled upon a feature that has completely transformed how we approach learning on this platform this year:

“The Diagnostic Arena.” I can’t believe I overlooked it last year, however I am very grateful I have found it now at the start of 2025.

Here’s how it works: The Diagnostic Arena takes my kids through a series of personalised questions designed to assess their skill levels in Maths and English. Once they’ve completed the questions, I receive a detailed chart or report (see picture below) showing exactly where they stand. What I love about this feature is that it clearly indicates their current grade or skill levels, but this information is hidden from the kids. This allows me to understand whether they need extra support, are right on track, or are ready to push ahead—without the added pressure or comparison for them.

Take Hannah, for example. In Maths, she’s catching up beautifully, working confidently at a Year 5 Term 3/4 level. But in English? She’s flying ahead, operating at a Grade 6–9 level! The flexibility of IXL allows her to focus on areas she needs to strengthen, while still being challenged in subjects she’s excelling at.

And then there’s Maddie. She’s always been more reserved when it comes to academics. With IXL, not only is she staying on track for her grade, but she’s also developed a newfound love for reading. I mean, this is a kid who was reluctant to pick up a book, is now beyond excited to tell me, in detail, what she is learning through each of her reading comprehension activities on IXL.. Seeing her thrive and watching her confidence grow, last year, has been one of the most rewarding parts of our homeschooling journey.

As we dive into another year of homeschooling in 2025, I wanted to share this little win. Whether you’re homeschooling full-time or just looking for a tool to supplement your child’s learning, IXL’s Diagnostic Arena is worth checking out. It’s incredibly intuitive, adaptable, and has genuinely made a difference for our family as we enter a new year of learning.

If you’re curious about IXL’s packages, they’re quite reasonably priced for what’s included. You can explore them here: IXL.

Looking back at the past year, I can confidently say we’ve found our rhythm. The kids are thriving—not just hitting their targets but truly enjoying the learning process. But with Ari starting foundation this year, I’ll now be homeschooling three kids! It’s an exciting new challenge, and I’m sure it will bring its own set of adventures and lessons. Watch this space for updates on how they (and I) are navigating it all.

Homeschooling isn’t always easy, but with the right tools and mindset, it can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s to another year of learning, growth, and no doubt, plenty of surprises along the way!

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