Flipped Classroom with Khan Academy: Can it be for Primary Grades?

After watching, "Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education" by Salman Khan, I was amazed at what is being done using the Khan Academy in a 5th grade classroom.  As a 1st grade teacher, I struggle with several things.  1st grade is one of those years that is extremely developmental.  Some of my students are ready to push, push, push, while others need to take the time to mature and slowly move through topics.  There are so many levels and they are always changing.

In this TED talk, Mr. Khan talks about how the Khan Academy evolved from being a few tutoring videos, to a countless amount of videos that correlate to modules.  Students can follow a pathway through a module and it will track progress and not allow that student to move on until the concept is mastered.

He then goes on to talk about two 5th grade classrooms that are piloting a program with Khan Academy.  In both of these classes, students are given laptops and started on the first math module. Students advance when they are ready and stay on a subject if they are not ready.  The teacher has all of the data associated with the students and can target the students who need the most help.  Students work at their own pace and move through math at their own time.  The data can follow them into other math classes in their future.

What I really enjoyed about watching Mr. Khan explain his pilot with the 5th grade class, is that he said that some students just take time to catch up and once they do, you can't tell them apart from the students who appeared advanced in the first two weeks of class.  I feel that this is true about my first grade class because of all of the maturity and development that occurs throughout the school year.  Students are able to make humungous gains in short periods of time.

Here is the link to the video and to Khan Academy:
Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education
Khan Academy
Here is a link to what appears to be a first grade module on Geometry:
Geometry

It would be interesting to see how a 1st grade class would do with piloting a program like this.  The students would have to be trained to work on the computers, but would be able to work at their own pace and the teacher would be able to target students who need the most support.  I know that if I would like to find a demonstration video in the future, Khan Academy will be one of my first stops.  I look forward to the idea of having students work at their own pace, and having teachers be able to specifically target students and help them meet their most urgent needs.