Virtual Building Blocks

June 15, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People

Remember learning about tessellations with the multi-colored regular polygons as a child? Or how about using geoboards to help you understand perimeter and area? Studies have shown that letting a child explore mathematical concepts with such things helps them better understand mathematical processes and algorithms.

The problem is that most of the time parents do not have access to those tools to help supplemental child learning without going out of their way to order them from specialty stores. However, Utah State University has put together a National Library of Virtual Manipulatives where anyone can have access to virtual versions of the mathematical tools used in classrooms from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The website is broken down by grades and mathematical categories (Geometry, Algebra, etc.). Each section contains a plethora of virtual tools that will help your child take their mathematical comprehension up a notch while at home. Each manipulative comes equipped with activity suggestions and tips for parents or teachers.

For more information about the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives visit their information page here

Your Child, the Grammar Guru

May 18, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Young People

Remember MadLibs? Were they the only reason you know what an adjective is, too? Share the fun with your own children at Wacky Web Tales. It’s as simple as choosing a storyline  filling out the information and then letting the …

Space Station Nathan

April 6, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People

Nathan Hale is the illustrator of Yellowbelly and Plum, Animal House, and Rapunzel’s Revenge. Fans of his work will be happy to know that they don’t have to wait for his next book to see more of his …

Stop Disasters!

March 23, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Young People

Stop Disasters is a free online game with no subscription necessary. On the site you are asked to choose a disaster, a level of difficulty, and then given a challenge, money, and a time frame in which to …

Click

March 9, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People

Click is an interactive website for your child to explore. The Your Turn section allows your child to practice his or her spelling by moving around alphabet magnets, practicing writing a letter or sending an email. …

Guyku

February 9, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Young People

Does your boy think that poetry is girly, mushy stuff? Bob Raczka’s and Peter H. Reynolds’s website www.guykuhaiku.com is geared toward guys and encourages young boys to write their own poems. The website is based on the team’s …

Librivox.org

January 26, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People

Love the classics and but don’t have the time you’d like to sit down and read? Model a love of reading for your child through Librivox, a non-profit website set up by writer Hugh McGuire. Thousands of public …

Kerpoof.com

January 12, 2011 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People, Write Smart

Kerpoof.com is a wonderful resource for children who love to create anything from movies to cards. This Disney-sponsored website  helps get your children excited about stories and writing. Try out the Spell a …

H.I.P. Pocket Change

December 22, 2010 in Featured Websites, For Adults, For Young People, Money Smart

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln has been on the U.S. penny since 1909? H. I. P. Pocket Change is a website created by the United States Mint that teaches children (and grown-ups) all about our country’s money …

Write Smart: Author Websites

November 29, 2010 in 13+ Teen, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Featured Websites, For Young People, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, Write Smart

Does your child dream of being a writer? Author websites are  great resources for budding novelists. Many writers for children know that their readers also love creating stories and explain how they do it on their website or blog. Shannon …