Parents' Guide to

Studyladder

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Wide-ranging hub for lessons in nearly every subject.

Website https://www.studyladder.com/
Studyladder Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this website.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

hackerscammer
hackerscammer Adult
February 4, 2020
age 4+

I found a lot of mistakes in the wording my son started started saying things that don't make sense from the app other wise low acadamic level

it sucks
Lucy R.
Lucy R. Adult
November 4, 2017
age 6+

a bit sexist

My daughter really enjoys this and we've only just started using it. However, I am immediately struck by the bias in the characters she can choose to battle against. Only 3 out of 14 are female (we are 50% of the population, in case you forget). One is a granny who likes cupcakes, one a bit of a siren who dances and one a fluffy pink girl who is kind and loving and likes pink. Really? I just wonder, have the creators of this tool met any real women or girls? I am assuming they are not female themselves because why would you write yourselves out of the world? This choice doesn't give my daughter much to get involved with. The scientist is a man (of course he is) and the other male characters can play guitar under water with their feet and other stuff that must have been fun to make up. Can't you imagine any women or girls who do interesting things too? Also, it goes without saying, the female avatars all have long hair, no afro options and pretty predictable colour choices. You can tell me this is not important but I think when you are giving kids choices, they should be able to recognise themselves, as they are, in those options. It's not hard to do - you have created a world here which children do find fun and engaging but why make half of them feel a bit less a part of it? It's just not necessary. I get fed up watching my daughter learning how to see the world through the eyes of white men.
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  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
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What’s It About?

STUDYLADDER is a website that features lessons on a wide variety of subjects for kids in pre-K through 6th grade. From math to literacy, science, music, art, culture, health, and even citizenship, it's all here. The site also includes some interactive games, videos, and other content. Schools and teachers get access to Studyladder's full program for free, which is great. However, if homeschoolers or families want the full program, there's a yearly fee. The site is easy to search; grade levels are color-coded, and you can also search by type of resource. From handwriting practice to advice on how to get to school safely, Studyladder is jam-packed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (8 ):

As a free resource for teachers and their students, Studyladder is outstanding in terms of depth and variety of activities. There's simply so much standards-aligned curriculum here. There are also all kinds of goodies for teachers, such as templates for letters to parents and a great system for organizing classes within the site.

However, if you're a family paying for use, it's possible that you could do better. Some of the content is written for a British/Australian audience, which may be confusing for foreign readers. Graphics run from generic to kind of amateurish, which may be off-putting to media-savvy kids. Also, some kids might find the site's motivation system a bit frustrating. Kids earn "rewards points" by completing activities. They can then spend points in the Rewards Room, adding features to their avatar or room. It sounds cool, until you realize that only fully paid members get access to the "best" stuff. No fair!

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Use Studyladder as a summer motivator. Kids can lose a lot of information during this time; even occasional practice can make the fall return to school a lot less painful.

  • You can give your kids positive feedback with Studyladder. Send them an encouraging message when they succeed in a challenging subject -- they'll love it!

Website Details

  • Subjects: Math : arithmetic, counting, numbers, Science : biology, chemistry, physics, Language & Reading : letter or word recognition, phonics, reading comprehension
  • Skills: Self-Direction : academic development, effort, work to achieve goals, Thinking & Reasoning : applying information, decision-making, memorization, Creativity : combining knowledge
  • Genre: Educational
  • Pricing structure: Paid, Free (The free version offers decent but limited access. For additional features and full access, subscribe at $88/year for up to six students.)
  • Last updated: March 14, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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