Landlubber Connection

There are many ways you can be involved in your child's education. Along with the easy things, like helping your student with homework and eating a meal with your child at school, there are a few things I do to encourage parent involvement.

~Treasure Jar- Every day, one child gets to take the treasure jar home. Attached to the jar are instructions explaining that the child needs to find some object that fits in the jar starting with the given letter. Then, you and the child write 3 clues about the object. The next day, the child will share the clues and the class will try to guess what is inside of the jar.  Please don’t send anything that has sentimental or monetary value.

~Monthly Family Projects- Every month I will send home a family project that I encourage you and your entire family to do together. This could be anything from decorating a quilt square to creating a page in a class book, or even shareing baby photos. Family projects are sent home at the beginning of the month and, while the actual project is not graded, the student's presentation is graded for speaking and listening.

Here are a list of enrichment websites we use in class, and I encourage you to use at home too!

EDUCATIONAL GAMES & ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
http://www.games.com/ http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.kidsdomain.com/ http://www.pbs.org/
http://www.nanana.com/ http://www.kids.com/
http://www.edu4kids.com/ http://www.funisland.com/
http://www.familyplay.com/ http://www.crayola.com/
http://www.funschool.com/ http://www.wuziegames.com/
http://www.familygames.com/ http://www.primarygames.com/
http://www.education.com/ http://www.factmonster.com/
http://www.school.discovery.com/ http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
www.berenstainbears.com/learnfun.html http://www.carmensandiego.com/
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/ www.dositey.com/langk2.htm
www.resource.kaboose.com/games/read2.html starfall.com primarygames.com

SEARCH ENGINES
http://www.dogpile.com/ http://www.altavista.com/
http://www.yahoo.com/ http://www.hotbot.com/
http://www.yahooligans.com/ http://www.search.com/
http://www.search.netscape.com/ http://www.allsearchengines.com/

GENERAL REFERENCES
Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org/
Awesome Library http://www.awesomelibrary.org/
Homework Central http://www.bigchalk.com/
Kids Connect www.ala.org/ICONN/AskKC.html
Research Papers http://www.researchpaper.com/
The Library Card (research center) http://www.librarycard.net/
UNLV Library http://www.library.nevada.edu/
Henderson Public Library http://www.hdpl.org/
CCSN Library http://www.ccsn.nevada.edu/
Clark County Library http://www.lvccld.org/
Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/
Tutoring http://www.tutoringcenter.com/
Homework Help http://www.homeworkspot.com/
Library Spot http://www.libraryspot.com/
Ask Jeeves / Kids http://www.ajkids.com/

DICTIONARIES / ENCYCLOPEDIAS
Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/
Webster’s Dictionary http://www.m-n.com/
Information http://www.infoplease.com/
DeskRef: Quick Reference Links www.ansernet.rcls.org/deskref
My Virtual Reference Desk www.refdesk.com/index.html
Language Dictionaries http://www.yourdictionary.com/
Biographical Dictionary www.s9.com/biography

MAGAZINES / NEWSPAPERS / NEWS AGENCIESLas Vegas Review-Journal http://www.lvrj.com/
Las Vegas Sun http://www.lasvegassun.com/
USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/
LA Times http://www.latimes.com/
New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/
Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/
London Times http://www.the-times.com.uk/
Cable News Network http://www.cnn.com/
Channel 8 http://www.klas-tv.com/
Channel 3 http://www.kvbc.com/
Channel 13 http://www.abc.com/
Consumer’s Digest http://www.comsumerdigest.com/
Education Weekly http://www.edweek.org/
Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/

READING / LANGUAGE ARTS
Teachers @ Random www.randomhouse.com/teachers
Young Adult Award Books www.ala.org/yalsa/printz
Read Classics Free http://www.4literature.net/
Children’s Literature www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown
Free Reading Motivation program http://www.bookadventure.com/
Children’s book lists by subject http://www.kidsreads.com/
Webbing into Literacy www.curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/wil/rimes_and_rhymes.htm
Harry Potter Lesson Plans www.connectingstudents.com/lessonplans/potter
Activities & book reviews www.randomhouse.com/kids
Authors and Illustrators on the Web www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/authors.html
4 Blocks http://www.readinglady.com/
Free Interactive Books and Games http://www.starfall.com/
Phonics Songs www.mrsjones.org/songs/alphlist.html
Children’s Storybooks Online www.magickeys.com/books/index.html
Giggle Poetry http://www.gigglepoetry.com/
Good Night Stories www.goodnightstories.com/stories.htm
Advice to Parents about Teaching kids to Read – Information in English & Spanish
www.colorincolorado.org/homepage.html

MATHAsk Dr. Math www.mathforum.com/dr.math
Hotlist: Mathematics www.sln.fi.edu/tfi/hotlists/math.html
Math in Daily Life www.learner.org/exhibits/dailymath
Teacher Resources www.forum.swarthmore.edu/teachers
Lesson Plans, Activities, & Websites http://www.enc.org/
Basic Math Practice online http://www.math.com/
Absurd Math www.hrmvideo.com/abmath
Problem of the Week www.mathform.org/funpow
Flash Card & Worksheet Creator http://www.aplusmath.com/
SCIENCENASA http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Weather http://www.weather.com/ or http://www.dopler.net/
Satellite Pictures of US http://www.goes.noaa.gov/
Discovering Dinosaurs http://www.dinosaurs.e.com/
US Dept. of Energy http://www.doe.gov/
National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org/kids
The Nine Planets http://www.nineplanets.org/
National Geographic / Kids www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
Science Fair Resources Guide www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide
The Why Files http://www.whyfiles.org/
Bill Nye the Science Guy http://www.nyelabs.kcts.org/
Science Information & Movies http://www.brainpop.org/
Inventor’s Hall of Fame www.invent.org/book/index.html
Rocks http://www.rocksforkids.com/
San Diego Natural History Museum www.sdnhm.org/kids.index
Habitats Around the World www.panda.org/kids/wildlife/mnoceans.htm
Bugs & Insects www.ent.iastate.edu/zoo
Animal Information & Games http://www.seaworld.org/
Solar System www.tcsn.net/afiner/intro.htm
Butterfly / Insects www.mesc.nbs.gov/resources/education/butterfly/bfly_intro.asp
Red Rock www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov/
Discovery Channel http://www.school.discovery.com/
Insects http://www.insects.org/
National Wildlife Federation http://www.enature.com/
Human Body www.yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/body/
Frogs www.frogsonice.com/froggy/
Wonders of the Sea www.oceanicresearch.org/lesson.html

SOCIAL STUDIES
The Globe http://www.globe.gov/
Nevada State Legislature http://www.leg.state.nv.us/
The History Place http://www.thehistoryplace.com/
American Memories Collections http://www.memory.loc.gov/
National Geographic / Kids www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
US Supreme Court http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
The White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/
US House of Representatives http://www.house.gov/
US Senate http://www.senate.gov/
US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/
Biography http://www.biography.com/
Postcards from… http://www.postcardsfrom.com/
Annenberg Exhibits http://www.learner.com/
The History Net http://www.thehistorynet.com/
American Presidents www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS
British Monarchy http://www.royal.gov.uk/
American Indian National Museum http://www.nmai.si.edu/
United States http://www.50states.com/
Inventor’s Hall of Fame www.invent.org/book/index.html
World Flag Database http://www.flags.net/
CIA World Fact Book www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Las Vegas History www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us/history/default.htm
Tour 50 States & 65 Countries http://www.onlineedition.culturegrams.com/
The History Place www.historyplace.com/index.html
Asia http://www.askasia.org/
Afro-American Almanac www.toptags.com/aama
The History Channel http://www.historychannel.com/
U.S. Maps www.fermi.jhuapl.edu/states/states.html
Museums, Exhibits, Points of Interest www.virtualfreesites.com/tours.html
Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/
Discovery Channel http://www.school.discovery.com/
America’s Library www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
Today in History www.lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html

HEALTH
Kids Health www.kidshealth.org/index2.html
National Institute of Health http://www.nih.gov/
Health Information & Movies http://www.brainpop.com/
Discovery Channel http://www.school.discovery.com/

TEACHER RESOURCES
http://www.quia.com/ http://www.nea.org/
http://www.pbs.org/ http://www.thegateway.org/
http://www.braingym.com/ http://www.teachersfirst.com/
http://www.learningpage.com/ http://www.abcteach.com/
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/ http://www.dltk-kids.com/
http://www.teachnet.com/ http://www.alphabet-soup.net/
http://www.puzzlemaker.com/ http://www.scholastic.com/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ http://www.learner.org/
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ http://www.edhelper.com/
http://www.lessonplanz.com/ http://www.schoolexpress.com/
http://www.theeducatornetwork.com/ http://www.schoolnotes.com/
http://www.eduhound.com/ http://www.classroom.net/
http://www.flashcardexchange.com/ http://www.pic4learning.com/
www.field-trips.org/trips.htm http://www.savingteachersmoney.com/
http://www.shapebooks.com/ http://www.songs4teachers.com/
http://www.proteacher.com/ www.school.discovery.com/lessonplans
www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/index.html http://www.iloveteaching.com/
http://www.patswebgraphics.com/ http://www.cyberbee.com/
http://www.songsforteachers.com/

ESL TEACHER RESOURCES
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/ http://www.esl-lounge.com/
http://www.tesol.edu/ http://www.esl.net/
http://www.tpr-world.com/ http://www.eslgames.com/
http://www.eslpartyland.com/ www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/links
http://www.englishclub.net/ www.web-a-dex-.com/translate.htm
http://www.english-to-go.com/ http://www.freetranslations.com/
http://www.esl-lab.com/ http://www.efl4u.com/
Internet TESL Journal http://www.iteslj.org/
Bilingual Picture Dictionary http://www.enchantedlearning.com/
280 Languages http://www.yourdictionary.com/
Does translations http://www.altavista.com/
Picture Finder www.ncrt.org/picture
Bilingual Ed. Information www.coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora
Word based games for ELL students www.manythings.org/wbg