Websites:

 

 

 

Language Arts sites:

 

1. Kidsreads:  http://www.kidsreads.com/index.asp

    

   Kidsreads is the best place on the web for kids to find info about their favorite books, series and authors. Reviews of the newest titles, interviews with the coolest authors and special features on great books are our specialties. And for even more reading fun we have trivia games, word scrambles and awesome contests!

    

    

2. Education Place (grammar practice through Mad Lib type stories):

   http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

    

    

3. Starfall: http://www.starfall.com/

    

   Parents use Starfall to prepare their children for school, and to support them once they are there. Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children. Primarily designed for first grade, Starfall is also useful for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and second grade. Starfall is perfect for home schooling.

    

4. Vocabulary.com: http://www.vocabulary.com/ 

    

A free site that allows students at high-elementary, junior high and high school levels, teachers and life-long learners to acquire and retain vocabulary. Each free session has three levels. Each level has 3 puzzles with 12 words each (36 total words in a session) and contains seven (7) additional activities/exercises that help develop vocabulary. It is continuously updated.

 

Alphabetical List of 50+ thematic features

 

For details on existing thematic content and Latin & Greek Root list click here:

 

School Content Calendar

 

Alphabetical List of Latin & Greek Root

 

4. The Beehive (Middle School Grammar resource): http://www.thebeehive.org/school/middle/subjects.asp?subject=12

    

5. Free Rice (Vocabulary practice): http://www.freerice.com/index.php    

    

*For each word you get right, Free Rice donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

 

FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place. 

 

There are 50 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get above level 48.

 

6.    Toondoo: (create your own comic strips):  http://toondoo.com

 

7. Book Adventure:   http://www.bookadventure.com   
   
   

    

Similar to Accelerated Reader, this site provides a small reading assessment and identifies where your child should be reading for their "just right reading level." This site also provides a large inventory of books that can be read at your childs reading level and also provides comprehension tests for books they've read. 

 

 

8.    Harcourt Trophies:  www.harcourtschool.com  

 

This site provides activities to help with writing, spelling, grammar and reading. It also has lesson plans, ideas, practice sheets and other valuable resources to go along with all the Harcourt Trophies stories accessible through the Teacher's Resource button. 

 

 

 

The first time you log on, you will need to use the following:

 

 

Password: beck

 

School name: Homelink

 

State: Washington

 

This is only required for the first time you access the Harcourt site from your computer.  

 

 

 

Process for logging on each time:

 

1) Click on "The Learning Site" (red box)

 

2) Select the reading button (some of the other content areas are accessible

 

also...click around and see what you can find)

 

3) Click on the Harcourt Trophies Logo

 

4) Click on the books in the middle of the screen

 

5) Select the grade level you are interested in

 

6) Select the area you want to enter

 

7) If you choose "Teachers Resources" use the following username and password:

 

Username: Homelink

 

Password: Parent 

 

 

If you choose the "Electronic Lesson Planner" in the Teacher's Resource area you can access all the stories by grade level and have additional resources at your fingertips to go along with the story your child is reading. 

 

 

9. Links to Learning: http://www.linkslearning.org/Home/_index.html

    

Links to Learning has something for everyone! Children will want to visit for the interactive math and reading games. Parents and teachers can log on to learn some of the best strategies to teach math and reading as well as to watch recorded lessons of teachers teaching the activities and strategies in the classroom.

 

 

 

10. Reading A-Z:  http://www.readinga-z.com 
    
    

     

Instant access to:

 

• Leveled Readers

 

• Benchmark Books and Running Records

 

• Lessons and Worksheets

 

• Phonics Program

 

• Phonemic Awareness Materials

 

• Poetry Books

 

• Alphabet Materials

 

• High-Frequency Word Books

 

• Vocabulary Books and Activities

 

• Fluency Passages

 

• Reader's Theater Scripts

 

• Assessments

 

 

 

 If this looks like a resource you want to learn more about, contact the Homelink staff for a temporary username and password to explore the site more thoroughly. If you decide you want to use it throughout the year, we can provide you with your own username and password.

 

 

Author sites:

IPL Author Page. This site allows you to read Biographies of other authors or check out Author Links with links to some of your favorite Authors/Illustrators. http://www.ipl.org/div/askauthor

 

The following list of author sites combines "official" sites (not all authors have them) with other useful ones. If your favorite author is not listed below, simply go to Google.com and type in your author's name. Chances are, you'll be overwhelmed.

 

Mitch Albom http://www.albom.com/

 

Laurie Halse Anderson-- http://www.writerlady.com/

 

Avi http://www.avi-writer.com/

 

T. A. Barron http://www.tabarron.com/

 

L. Frank Baum http://www.literarytraveler.com/spring/west/baum.htm

 

Judy Blume http://www.judyblume.com/

 

Rick Bragg http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/bragg/

 

Joseph Bruchac http://www.josephbruchac.com/

 

Patrick Carman http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-carman-patrick.asp

 

Lewis Carroll http://www.lewiscarroll.org/carroll.html

 

Gennifer Choldenko http://www.choldenko.com/

 

Beverly Cleary http://www.beverlycleary.com/index.html

 

Robert Cormier http://www.ipl.org/div/askauthor/Cormier.html

 

Sharon Creech http://www.sharoncreech.com/

 

Christopher Paul Curtis http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/

 

Karen Cushman http://www.karencushman.com/

 

Roald Dahl http://www.roalddahl.com/

 

Tomie DePaola http://www.tomie.com/main.html

 

Sylvia Engdahl http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/

 

Sharon Flake http://sharongflake.com/

 

Sid Fleischman http://www.sidfleischman.com/

 

Russell Freedman http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/freedman.html

 

Jack Gantos http://www.jackgantos.com/

 

Patricia Reilly Giff http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-giff-patricia-reilly.asp

 

Karen Hesse http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-hesse-karen.asp

 

Carl Hiassen http://www.carlhiaasen.com/

 

Will Hobbs http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/

 

Brian Jacques http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-jacques-brian.asp

 

Angela Johnson http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/johnson.html

 

Marcia Thornton Jones http://www.baileykids.com/  

 

Lois Lowry http://www.loislowry.com/

 

Adeline Yen Mah http://www.adelineyenmah.com/index2.html

 

Walter Dean Myers http://scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/myers.html

 

Robert Munsch http://www.robertmunsch.com/

 

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/naylor.html 

 

Naomi Shihab Nye http://www.barclayagency.com/nye.html

 

Scott O'Dell http://www.scottodell.com/

 

Mary Pope Osborne http://www.marypopeosborne.com/

 

Linda Sue Park http://www.lindasuepark.com/

 

Katherine Patterson http://www.terabithia.com/

 

Christopher Paolini http://www.alagaesia.com/index.php

 

Gary Paulsen http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/

 

Richard Peck http://www.carolhurst.com/authors/rpeck.html

 

Tamora Pierce http://www.tamora-pierce.com/

 

Philip Pullman http://www.philip-pullman.com/about_the_author.asp

 

J.K. Rowling http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/author/

 

Pam Munoz Ryan http://www.pammunozryan.com/

 

Louis Sachar http://www.louissachar.com/

 

Neal Shusterman http://www.storyman.com/

 

Jerry Spinelli http://www.jerryspinelli.com/newbery_001.htm

 

R.L. Stine http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumps/books/stine/

 

Nikki Tate http://www.stablemates.net/

 

J. R. R. Tolkien http://www.tolkiensociety.org/

 

Chris Van Allsburg http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/home.html

 

David Wiesner http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/wiesner/

 

Chris Wooding http://www.chriswooding.com/

 

Jacqueline Woodson http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/

 

Laurence Yep http://scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/yep.html 

 

            Markus Zusak http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

 

 

Math sites:

 

1. NCTM Illuminations:  http://illuminations.nctm.org/

    

Illuminations is designed to:

 

• Provide Standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students.

   

• Provide materials that illuminate the vision for school mathematics set forth in Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.
  
  

   

1. Math Forum: Learning to Multiply:  http://mathforum.org/t2t/faq/faq.multiplication.html

    

Many letters received from both parents and teachers ask for help in teaching students their multiplication facts. One parent put it like this:

 

"Is there a tried and tested best way of learning multiplication?"

 

Oh, it would be so nice if we could have a formula to follow. Studies show, however, that children learn in different ways. Some learn best kinesthetically; some learn best when music is involved; some learn using rote memorization methods; still others respond to a visual display.

 

3. Links to Learning:    http://www.linkslearning.org/Home/_index.html

    

Links to Learning has something for everyone! Children will want to visit for the interactive math and reading games. Parents and teachers can log on to learn some of the best strategies to teach math and reading as well as to watch recorded lessons of teachers teaching the activities and strategies in the classroom. 

 

 

4. Math Playland:  http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html   

    

Practice your math skills with these fun and challenging games. There are action games, puzzles, and other learning activities. Concepts include basic math operations, algebra, percent, geometry, and money.  

 

5. Saxon Math:   http://saxonhomeschool.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonhomeschool.htm 

    

This is your link to the following Saxon Homeschool resources: New Releases, Textbook Corrections, Store Locator, Homeschool Conferences, FAQs, Placement Tests, Scope & Sequence, Basic Math Facts Sheets, Math Stumpers and Math Enrichment, Research, Request a Catalog

 

6. Teacher 2 Teacher:  Math Forum:  http://mathforum.org/t2t/

    

Welcome to Teacher2Teacher, a resource for teachers and parents who have questions about teaching mathematics. 

 

 

 

Social Studies/History sites: 

 

 

 

1.                The Library of Congress: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi

 

This Web site is brought to you from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the largest library in the world and the nation's library.  We hope you will find this Web site entertaining and fun to use. And, of course, we hope you will learn something from it. The site was designed especially with young people in mind, but there are great stories for people of all ages, and we hope children and their families will want to explore this site together.

 

2.             Smithsonian Institute:  http://www.si.edu/ 

 

Welcome to the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex and research organization composed of 19 museums and 9 research centers. Visit the Smithsonian in person or online and you will see why it represents for so many the treasured icons of our past, the vibrant art of the present, and the scientific promise of the future. 

3.             CultureGrams: http://online.culturegrams.com/ 

 

The aim of CultureGrams has been to foster understanding and appreciation of the world's countries and peoples by creating and publishing excellent content. Find photos, recipes, maps, teaching activities for over 200 countries. 

 

Username and password: wwplremote 

 

4.             Washington State Elections:  http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/outreach

This is a Washington Secretary of the State website. It provides learners of all ages with information and activities dealing with voting.

 

5. Kids.gov http://www.kids.gov/

    

    Find links to government and other kids' sites -- grouped by age and subject. Explore, learn, and have fun!

 

 

 

Science sites: 

 

1. Bytesize Science: http://feeds.feedburner.com/bytesizescience

   Bytesize Science translates cutting-edge scientific discoveries from The American Chemical Society's 36 peer-reviewed journals into stories for young listeners about science, health, medicine, energy, food, and other topics.

    

2. American Museum of Natural History:  http://ology.amnh.org/
   OLogy, the Museum's Web site for kids ages seven through twelve, is based on the premise that "everyone wants to know something," and is designed as a place for kids to explore, ask questions, get answers, meet OLogists, play games, and see what other kids are interested in. With age-appropriate content in archaeology, astronomy, biodiversity, genetics, marine biology, paleontology, and physical science, OLogy makes science learning rich and engaging. Educators can find suggestions and tips on how to use the OLogy Web site in the Educator's Guides. 

    

3.  Newton's Apple:  http://www.newtonsapple.tv/index.php

   Video clips for all sorts of science concepts plus lesson plans and experiments to try.  Have fun

    

    

World Languages sites:

 

1.        Rosetta Stone: http://wallawalla.onlinelanguagelearning.com/en/welcome

 

Learn another language. Access the Rosetta Stone for free through the Walla Walla public library. If you have a library card you can start learning Spanish, German, and French from the comfort of your own home.

 

Miscellaneous sites:

 

  

1. WebQuest.Org: http://webquest.org/index.php 

    

   A Webquest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. 
2. AlbrightKnox Art Gallery: http://www.kids.albrightknox.org/index_launched.html 

     

3. Zoho Planner – Online organizing tool: http://zoho.com

    

4. Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/