Helpful Websites
Reading:
http://www.storylineonline.net
Storyline Online features accomplished actors and actresses reading some of their favorite children’s books. Each story comes with a free Activity Guide and can be viewed on YouTube or SchoolTube.
Similar to Storyline Online, Read to Me features popular children’s books being read by famous performers.
A Pearson Foundation Initiative, We Give Books offers students a unique opportunity to read for social good. Each book that is read results in a book that is donated to a charity for children.
Math:
By far my favorite and most recommended!
Websites to challenge your children
Multi-Subject Websites for Gifted Kids
- ABCya.com – Organized by grade level from K-5, so would be appropriate for gifted kids starting around age 3. I like when websites are organized by age/grade because then we can just hop up about 2 grades/levels and we’re usually at a good starting point. This website has some fantastic content and games – spelling bee games, word searches, sight words, typing and keyboarding games, math bingo, geography games, and more.
- Enchanted Learning – Definitely a must visit for crafty kids. I have used the printable worksheets from this site for both of my kids from age 2 and up. We use it constantly even today… definitely spring for the membership if you can afford it. (Also great for toddlers and preschoolers)
- Freerice – Answer questions to end world hunger!
- World Book for Kids – Articles, illustrations, games, activities, dictionary, and atlas
- Where’s Waldo? – Online version of the classic Waldo books
- Time for Kids – Multi-subject activities, worksheets, printable quizzes and more for K-6, from the publishers of Time Magazine
- Brainpop – Animated educational site for kids – science, social studies, arts, math, health, engineering, and English
- San Francisco Symphony – Learn about tempo, musical notes, and more!
- KidsKnowIt.com – Totally free children’s learning network.
- ZiggityZoom.com – Another new find for us. Crafts, food, printables, tech, activities, and more. Includes summer fun activities, and homeschooling activities. I really like this site because it’s well organized, loads fast, and has a great layout.
- Everyday Mysteries – Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress
What others suggest...
1. Kidblog:http://www.kidsblog.com/
Online publishing tool designed for elementary and middle school teachers who want to encourage oral and written communication in and out of the classroom. Very user friendly and completely safe for students of all ages. Teachers have complete control over all posts.
Applications:Early elementary classroom can use this to develop early sentence structure. They can practice the components of writing a friendly letter. Topics can be chosen by the student in order to engage them. As students get older, teachers can have guided discussions ranging from writing prompts to discussions on current events.
2. Glogster:http://www.glogster.com/
Interactive multimedia poster where teachers and students can share information outside of the typical research project. Posters can include video, pictures, text, and music.
Applications:Students can use this tool to express themselves in an all about me project in the beginning of the year. Students can also use this tool as an alternative to the typical research paper or book report. Examples include, life cycles, wants and needs, natural resources, and biographies. Glogster allows for limitless creativity. Teachers have complete control over content and who can access the interactive posters by sending a secure link to parents.
3. ABCYA:http://www.abcya.com/
Educational website that incorporates language arts and math skills along with beginning computer skills. Lessons and games are visually appealing and tailored to all levels and abilities in grades K-5. Excellent site for skills practice at school or at home. Apps are available for the iPod, iPad, and certain smartphones.
Applications:Examples of lesson include, alphabet matching, sight word bingo, word clouds, spelling challenges, keyboard practice, telling time, fractions, mouse manipulation.
4. Cool Tools:http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/
A wiki that offers a vast variety of web 2.0 tools for students and teachers, including mapping, quiz and poll, graphing, video, music, and writing. Easy to use and provides descriptions of each tool. Site is easy to navigate and includes a teacher resource section organized by subject and topic.
Applications:Students and teachers can use this resource to develop web quests, flashcards, and graphs. Depending on your need or goal, cool tools organizes dozens of sites so it is easy for students and teachers to choose the best application for the task at hand.
5. Wonderopolis:http://www.wonderopolis.org/
Created by the National Center for Family Literacy, Wonderopolis focuses on subjects of which children are curious. This immediately engages the child and encourages them to learn more. A video is included in each topic of information.
Applications: Teachers can create a “Wonder of the Day” bulletin board. Students can submit a question on a topic they are curious about. There is also an online support network for teachers and parents to ask questions and share ideas. Students can add comments to the daily wonder.
6. International Children’s Library: http://en.childrenslibrary.org/ Multicultural digital library created by the International Children’s Library. Students can read books online in 19 different languages from dozens of different countries. Children and teachers can search for books by age level, topic, color of cover, length, award winners, and recently added. Books are visually appealing to early elementary students and children can begin reading any story immediately. All text and pictures can be enlarged.
Applications: Students can practice independent reading skills and easily choose books at their level and interest. Children can read different stories and share their opinions on Kidblog. Students can read the same story without worrying about not having a classroom set.
7. My Story Maker: http://www.clpgh.org/kids/storymaker/
Students can create their own digital stories. They can choose their characters, setting, and topic. Children have many opportunities for creativity, as they can change the setting and add details to their stories. Students can preview before they print and share their stories.
Applications: Children can be given a broad writing prompt, and they can use My Story Maker to make the topic their own. They have the opportunity to share their creations with family and peers. Can be used to create a whole class story with all students contributing.
8. Kerpoof: http://www.kerpoof.com/
Best for second grade and older, Kerpoof allows students to create stories, spell a picture, make a card, and create movies, drawings and pictures. This site offers a teacher tool section which can help create lessons incorporating Kerpoof. Students can save their work as they go, so projects can continue throughout the year.
Applications: Students can create movies or pictures based on the current topics being studied in the classroom. Teachers can use spell a picture for interactive spelling and sight word practice. Games can reinforce concepts being studied.
9. Wordle: http://www.wordle.netand/ and http://www.tagxedo.com/
Both of these sites offer interactive word clouds. Wordle is more user friendly for early elementary students. Tagxedo offers many more creative outlets (shapes, colors, sizes). Each site is visually stimulating and allows for individual creativity.
Applications: Word clouds are a great way to make “all about me” projects interesting and different. Can be used after reading a book to create a character analysis. A great way to review vocabulary words in science and social studies. The main idea of a story or chapter can be enlarged, with supporting details surrounding the main topic are smaller. When studying a historical figure, a biography can be created, with the descriptive words are in the shape of that person.
10. E-Learning http://www.e-learningforkids.org/
Organized both by grade level and subject areas. Includes interactive learning videos with practice within the video, perfect for the interactive white board. Each “course” lists the appropriate age level for the students. Geared for students in K-6.
Applications: Perfect for review of a new skill (example: compound words). Great for whole class lessons and review. Allows for children to be actively involved in learning the content.