| When I set out to find the best websites for kids | | | | They have Book fairs at schools, Book clubs and |
| I wanted to make sure that the sites had real | | | | offer online lessons for a fee. But, lucky for us |
| educational value and were easy to use. I did not | | | | there are many free activities your child will enjoy. |
| want any sites included that asked for any | | | | Scholastic is the home of the Magic School Bus |
| information, not even an email address. Websites | | | | and the famous Miss Frizzle! You will also find |
| that had too much advertising were avoided. And, | | | | Clifford the Big Red Dog and other favorites. The |
| finally, I wanted the sites to be free or very low | | | | younger children will need some help to navigate |
| cost. | | | | the website at first. There are plenty of activities |
| I always advise parents to look at any sites | | | | to do and they have parent pages as well. |
| before sharing them with your kids so that you | | | | Clifford's Interactive Storybooks |
| know exactly what is on each site. | | | | This area of the Scholastic website is located |
| So with that in mind, here are my choices: | | | | within the teacher pages. Children can listen to the |
| Starfall | | | | stories and practice reading. It's lots of fun! |
| Starfall is a website that helps children learn to | | | | National Zoo |
| read. It has everything from learning your ABCs | | | | The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian |
| to reading books. The graphics are colorful, | | | | Institution. The website is excellent. If you have a |
| attractive and simple to click on. The audio is clear | | | | child that likes animals, you must visit this site. |
| and easy to understand. Best of all it is a jump | | | | The site is jump and go, meaning you can start |
| and go site. No login and nothing to click through | | | | exploring immediately. Younger children will need |
| to get started. They also offer free printable | | | | help searching. The live animal cams are very |
| worksheets to practice writing. And it is all FREE. | | | | popular! The photo gallery has excellent pictures |
| Starfall can be accessed from any computer with | | | | as well. So much information is available you really |
| an internet connection. The site is listed for | | | | need some time to explore and even then you |
| Kindergarten through second grade, but preschool | | | | will always find something new to discover on |
| kids enjoy learning their letters and struggling | | | | subsequent visits. |
| readers may enjoy it also. | | | | The San Diego Zoo also has a great website. |
| PBS Kids | | | | Enchanted Learning |
| PBS Kids is a wonderful site that has lots of | | | | This website is HUGE and covers everything from |
| familiar characters that children love: Clifford the | | | | the Alphabet to Zoology. The information on this |
| Big Red Dog, Arthur, Maya and Miguel, and | | | | website (over 20,000 pages) is available to |
| Sesame Street, just to name a few. The pictures | | | | everyone for FREE. You can just view or view |
| are bright and attractive and the audio is great. | | | | and printout the pages. This website does not |
| For older children, ZOOM is a favorite. They have | | | | offer interactive games; however, if I had to |
| games to play and free printable worksheets. PBS | | | | choose just one website to have available to my |
| Kids is a jump and go website as well. No login | | | | students it would be this one. I said students, |
| and nothing to click through to get started. | | | | rather than children for a reason. The information |
| One of the great things about PBS Kids is that | | | | on this site is so extensive that even college |
| some of the areas of the site are companions to | | | | students could use it for basic research. (I have.) I |
| the television shows seen on PBS. Between the | | | | am not kidding. You have got to see this for |
| Lions, Reading Rainbow, Maya and Miguel are all | | | | yourself. |
| represented in the website. Once again, this site is | | | | As I said, all of the information is free, but they |
| FREE. PBS Kids is recommended for children | | | | do offer a membership. Members can print out all |
| preschool through elementary. | | | | of the pages with no ads showing. |
| If this were not enough, they have great | | | | I cannot believe that so many people have never |
| parenting pages! | | | | heard of Enchanted Learning. I would expect that |
| The Literacy Center | | | | a membership to this site would cost at least $50 |
| This website is much smaller than the others; | | | | year if not more, but no - and it's not $40 or $30 |
| however, I like it because it is simple to navigate | | | | either. For just $20/year your entire family can |
| for preschoolers and kindergarteners. The have | | | | benefit from this BEST Educational Website Ever! |
| cute online games in English/Spanish/German | | | | (and remember - if you don't want to become a |
| French for children learning colors, letters, | | | | member, you can still enjoy all of the benefits for |
| numbers and shapes. This is a great place for ESL | | | | free) |
| (English as a Second Language) to begin saying | | | | BookPALS Story Online |
| the words in English. Some children may enjoy | | | | BookPALS is presented by the Screen Actors |
| learning the Spanish, German or French words for | | | | Guild Foundation. Celebrities read children's books |
| fun. The audio is very clear. This is also a jump | | | | aloud. The site also features activities for kids. |
| and go site. And it is FREE. | | | | The audio is excellent and it has lots of great |
| Guys Read | | | | pictures. It is a jump and go site, but a speedy |
| Jon Scieczka, a famous children's author, created | | | | computer is needed, otherwise it can take a long |
| the Guys Read website in order to promote | | | | time to load and the buffer won't take it without |
| literacy for boys. It is an established fact that | | | | pauses.abcteachabcteach is the greatest! This is |
| boys don't always take to reading willingly. I have | | | | the favorite website of teachers. There are so |
| seen this in my own classroom and there have | | | | many things you can print and use from coloring |
| been studies done on this very subject. So how | | | | pages to reading comprehension practice. They |
| can we encourage boys to read more? One of | | | | also have a fabulous math section. The website |
| the ways is to provide boys with books and | | | | has now introduced an area for middle school |
| other reading materials that they enjoy. The Guys | | | | students. In order to be fully functional the |
| Read website was created to give guys (little | | | | membership fee is $35/year; however, over |
| guys and big guys) a place where they can find | | | | 5000 pages are available for free. In addition to |
| books that are interesting. There is also a forum | | | | the great reading activities at abcteach you can |
| called Readerville where they can talk with other | | | | find flashcards, puzzles, mazes, clip art, report |
| guys about the books they are reading. | | | | covers and so much more. This is a great place |
| Scholastic, Inc. | | | | to find excellent printables. Parents will have to |
| You may be familiar with the name Scholastic. | | | | choose and print the activities for younger |
| They are a publishing company that has been | | | | children. |
| serving the educational community for years. | | | | Go surf for fun! |