Just Learn.

Have you ever thought about asking your kids to do a little school work over the summer?  You either get this reaction:
I Love to Play School!  OR
But it's summer! 

Either way, there are many many important reasons to encourage summer learning with school age kiddos.  If you have a younger child, one that still wants to "play school"  encourage that, but make sure that you as the adult direct some of that play to certain activities of your choice.  Do not hesitate to encourage them to complete real workbook pages, read for so long, practice their math facts, spelling words or sight words.  Also encourage those more fun projects that they may not have time for during the school year.  This is much easier with a younger, more enthusiastic child. 
For little kids and daily practice check out these sites:
www.spellingcity.com
www.starfall.com
 http://www.abcya.com/
For an overall good site check out: www.ixl.com   This will require some parent support for our youngest kids who are still learning to read.

These are great resources for little ones, but some older students are ready for a real summer challenge.  Keeping their brain's fresh and even learning something new.  Have you heard about Khan Academy?  If you have not, you need to check it out.  Learn more about Khan Academy and their mission on their site.  Here is how I would structure their summer challenge (adapt for your kids needs, and it never hurts to do MORE):         
1. 20 minutes Math on Khan Academy
2. 20 minutes something ELSE on Khan Academy.  I let the kids pick what they like. I tell them what they pick today does not have to be what they pick tomorrow......but at the end of the 20-30 minutes they have to tell me about what they learned.  There is so much great content on this site from Science, Finance, Art, History, Computer Programing and Computer Science, Test Prep, Talks and Interviews and some of my favorite stuff is hiding in the Partner Content. There is a LOT to learn about on this site!
3. 30 minutes reading (preferably a book.  Searching for books to read?  Check out my first post.)
4. 10+ minutes trying to learn SOMETHING.  We have the Internet at our fingertips.  There is so much learning to be done.  Through sites like YouTube, Ted.com and Google itself kids have the ability to either decide on a specific or general topic they want to learn about and then through a little research, learning, reading or watching report back and show and tell what they have learned!

If you have limited computers and/or more than one kid this may take some juggling but it is worth it.  Khan Academy does also work on iPads and other tablets.   
Ready to sign up?  Check out their help page about getting started, including How Do I sign up as a Parent (coach, tutor, teacher, etc.)?  Once you have created your own account you can then create accounts for your own kids (you will be their coach), their site is VERY user friendly.  Here is a page specifically for parents and mentors about getting started.  If you have questions OR you just want to brag, please feel free to leave a comment on this post.

Also, check out your school's website and see if they offer students subscriptions to services like Study Island, iXL, Accelerated Reader, BrainPop, ExploreELearning, Discovery (Cosmeo.com),  or many others!

No matter what, take time each day to just learn.

Just Read.

It is summer.  A perfect time to just........read.  Ahh.  As an adult, I and many other adults understand this simple indulgence, but with kids (especially today's kids) there is a lot competing with their attention and sometimes other things grab their attention and time before books.  I can understand, but we want to make readers out of our kids, so why not shake things up and try something different?  Do you know how many ways there are to find books, stories and reading opportunities for kids out there?  It used to be you had to go get a BOOK.....but these days, you can use a computer, a smart phone, an e-reader or your favorite tablet and the books can come to you.  Read on to learn more about the many ways to find your next reading opportunity.

Number 1 has to be the library.  I am a librarian and libraries offer FREE books, thousands of them!  Organized, at just the right level for every one of your kids and you can find a few for you too.  Don't forget one of the keys to making great readers is modeling the importance of reading.  To find a library near you check out WorldCat.org

Libraries cards also open a whole world of electronic books that are also FREE and will come to you.  The catch:  you need a library card for a library.  If you are not in Pennsylvania these links may not work for you.  What you can do is check out YOUR local and state libraries to see if you have the same, similar (or possibly better) resources available to you........OR use the links below to get a library card subscription for out of state residents.

Here in Pennsylvania any resident is eligible to receive a library card from ANY library (I live near Pittsburgh and have cards for all over the state from Pittsburgh, to Butler, to Hershey, State College, even Philadelphia).  The easiest way is to walk into your local branch and ask for one and it will open up almost all of these resources, however there are also benefits from having cards for the larger libraries with more resources.  These links will lead you to learn how to get a card from either the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh or the Philadelphia Free Libraries.

Book Flix.  This is one of my favorite databases because it offers fiction and nonfiction pairs to read and view.  You HAVE to find Knuffle Bunny (warning you will be addicted to Mo Willems and need to find all his other titles somewhere else), because it shows the story in a whole new way that I love.  I imagine Mo Willems actually sitting down and reading to your little one.  It's like that.  Oh and playing I Spy the Pigeon is a hit with any kid too!  They are constantly adding more and it is a vast database to begin with.  Well organized, easy to use and perfect for the 8 and under crowd.  To access visit Book Flix the first time it is a little "adult assistance needed" Go to the website of your local library and find either a link for Book Flix itself or a link for Power Library.  This is the Carnegie library website's link to Book Flix.  The state of PA is generously providing this database to everyone for free through Access PA and Power Library funding.   Once you have found the link, make a book mark for it on your favorite bookmark site for easy and quick access in the future.  Like this but want it for older kids?  Search for TrueFlix instead.

Tumble Books.  This is another great database, but mostly consists of fiction books aimed at the 6 and under crowd.  However they are some GREAT books and I love the options for reading including read to me, or independent reading.  It is not available state-wide through Access PA, but check out your local library's website to see if they offer this database to patrons or access it through either the Carnegie or Philadelphia libraries.

E-Book Services.  Have a reader ready for chapter books or independent reading through their tablet or e-reader?  Libraries offer several different e-book services that through a series of a few clicks will let you find a great book and it is instantly sent to your device.  Setting this up may require a little adult help to begin with, but kids quickly catch on and can take over.  Almost all PA residents have access to popular services like Overdrive, Hoopla(audio books, but also movies), Freading, and EBooks on EBSCOhost.  Again,  check out your local library's website to see what services they offer to patrons or access them through either the Carnegie or Philadelphia libraries.

Outside the library.  Ok I have to admit, not everything HAS to go through the library.  There are many great sites that do not require a library card.  I am focusing on BOOKS, READING and STORY websites today and will try to come back to some of the great educational websites and apps another time.

Barnes and Nobles Online Storytime.  Basically videos of celebrities reading books.  Will work on almost any device.  Never underestimate the power of searching for a favorite book title on YouTube itself too, you might be surprised what you find.  Similar sites include:  Storyline Online, and Between the Lions

Several sites opperate on the same premise of reading the entire book simply to kids, BUT they require Flash player including Highlights for Kids, Read to Me, and my favorite is We Give Books (it does require you to join but it is worth it and free and painless).





Scholastic Listen and Read kicks it up a notch requiring kids to apply basic interactive skills to select what they want to listen to or attempt independent reading.  Not the fanciest books, but a good basic collection worth checking out and book marking depending on your child's interest.  Similar sites include: National Geographic Young Explorer, Professor Garfield's Online Toon Reader, and Curious George (from PBS)

And more.....these are what I consider the best sites but there are MANY more.  Check out this list of even more online sites that will lead to even more books and stories online.

Your favorite online bookstore.  Keep an eye on your favorite online book store.  I admit mine is Amazon.  Visit the kids e-book site and you might be shocked at how many GREAT books you can get for little or nothing in Kindle format on Amazon and the same is true for other book sellers as well. 

Also, don't forget the power of reading the Internet itself.  As a school librarian this is becoming more and more of my job.........teaching kids how to read the Internet, but like fiction and nonfiction it needs to be supported in the home.  Sit down with your kids, search, browse, wonder and explore the Internet looking for sites that interest you and sit down to read them together.  Not sure where to start?  Like dogs?  Check out my dog's blog! 

Whatever you do, just read!  

Do you know of a site I forgot?  Please comment and share!