Fun for Students

Reading Planet: http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/gamestation/default.mspx
This website has all sorts of fun reading games and activities for you to explore. Parents, this site is created by the children's literacy organization Reading is Fundamental, so you know your children are in good hands.

National Geographic for Kids: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/media/world/
What in the world is going on? Packed with videos, pictures, and news stories, this website will tell you all about interesting things that are happening around the globe. A great resource if you are interested Social Studies, Science, and current events. There are also plenty of cool games to check out as well!

Wacky Web Tales: http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
A virtual version of MadLibs producing silly stories that you will love reading, playing, and sharing again and again.

The State of North Carolina Kids Page: http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/kidspg/homepage.asp
All of the things you read on here happened in your own backyard! See if the ghost stories are from a town nearby. Learn fun facts about our state; did you know Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in North Carolina? Follow the link for all sorts of cool information!

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Student Resources

Math Homework Help: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/homeworkhelp/homework_help_home.html
Need help with addition, subtraction, multiplication or division? This site contains videos to help you visualize the problems you are solving.

Fact Monster: http://www.factmonster.com/
Need an answer? This website has information on all different subjects so you can easily find the quick facts that you are looking for. There is also an area for homework help plus fun and games.

HowStuffWorks: http://www.howstuffworks.com/
You name it, this site will tell you how exactly "stuff" works. From animals, to vehicles, to electronics, HowStuffWorks provides simple descriptions, pictures, and videos to explain the reason and technology behind everything we see and use.

Ben's Guide to U.S. Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Based on your grade, Ben Franklin will guide you through information on our country, government, and values. Everything is in kid-friendly language so you can easily understand our Founding Fathers!

History for Kids: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/
Step back in time as this website lets you travel around the world in a virtual time machine. Explore the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and Romans then see what life was like for children in World War II.

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Parent Resources

Federal Resources for Education Excellence: http://www.free.ed.gov/
For all those times when your child asks you questions you just can't answer...now you have a place to look. In every subject area, this website is packed with information that is easy to access. This is a great tool to help your children find information for homework and projects. Careful, the primary resources and photographs are so interesting, you'll get drawn in and never want to leave!

Scholastic.com for Parents: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/parentsHome.jsp
Parenting advice, motivating your child to learn, activities you can do with your kids, and how to help your child excel as a student, this website is a great resource that all parents can use and appreciate. You are bound to find something that will not only aid your child in school but also strengthen the bond that you share.

Family Education: http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting-preteens-children/elementary-school/42867.html?detoured=1
A great website for parents who want to help their kids succeed in the classroom. There are helpful resources about every aspect of your child's early education including how you can better merge your child's home and school life. Topics include: Backyard Science, Working Mothers, Communicating With Your Kids, Good Sportsmanship, and Math-Skills Builders. There is something for everyone at this site!

Media Awareness Network for Parents: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/index.cfm
Posted above are many links to websites that I will encourage my students to explore in their free time. Parents, I would love it if you encourage this extra-curricular learning as well. Technology and Internet skills are a vital part of a 21st Century education, however, as you likely know, safety using such media is a must. I will certainly educate students on the importance of safety using the Internet but I encourage you to do this as well. This website provides a quick overview of the issues concerning media issues and what you can do to keep your children safely learning what you want them to.

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Teacher Resources

Learn NC: http://www.learnnc.org/
A useful resource for lesson plans, teaching strategies, learning materials, field trip ideas, and multimedia tools for all teachers in the state of North Carolina. This site is very easy to navigate and is rich with content based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

4Teachers.org: http://www.4teachers.org/
The goal of this website is to help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. It offers links to online tools such as quizzes, graphic organizers, calendars, and games. Check out RubiStar, a fantastic tool to not only create your own rubrics but also find existing rubrics for assignments. 4Teachers also provides information to accommodate various types of students including those with special needs and English Language Learners.

PowerPoint in the Classroom: http://www.actden.com/pp/
A free tutorial for teachers who want to use PowerPoint in their classroom but need a little extra knowledge to make it effective for their students. This site is simple, direct, and easy to understand!

Scholastic.com for Teachers: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp
Another great site that provides lesson plans, strategies, and tools. There is a link especially for new teachers containing how-to strategies, classroom activities, the best books to choose for the grade level you are teaching, plus a "New Teacher Survival Guide." Teachers can also register with Scholastic to receive great discounts on books and teaching materials! I already have!

What is Universal Design for Learning?: http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html
As discussed in my page about pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a method of teaching to a diverse classroom of students by accommodating all learning styles through presenting content in multiple formats. This website explains UDL in greater depth and has a section answering frequently asked questions.

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Standards

North Carolina Standard Course of Study: http://dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/
The framework that teachers in North Carolina must consider for each and every lesson they plan. We are expected to achieve these learning objectives for our students throughout the year and thus it is important to always keep them in mind.

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards: http://www.ncptsc.org/
The Standards explained here are the foundation behind my teaching philosophy and website. You can view the full NCPTS on this link for greater detail of the information I have provided here.

National Educational Technology Standards: http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS
Technology has quickly become one of the most important aspects of a 21st Century classroom. The International Society for Technology Education has created Standards required for both teachers and students to succeed in the digital age.

21st Century Skills Framework: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120
To prepare students for success in the "real world", teachers must have high expectations for student outcomes which involve 21st Century skills. This website presents a graphic representation of the four 21st Century skills student outcomes and the relevant 21st Century skills support systems.

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