By SHARON MILLER CINDRICHSpecial to the Journal Sentinel, Sunday, February 11, 2007
"Can you help me with my homework?"
My daughter pulls out her middle school math and I pull my chair up to the computer. While I can't count on my recollection of math formulas to help her with her assignments, I know the answers are just a few mouse clicks away.
Helping kids find the right answers has never been easier, and online resources offer parents and kids amazing tools for completing work, igniting ideas and practicing the tough stuff. Check out the following online resources when your kids crack the books.
Math
Ask Dr. Math, mathforum .org/dr.math. Questions about factors, prime numbers or algebra formulas? Ask Dr. Math can help kids (and parents). This search-able archive is easy to use and great for kids from elementary school all the way through high school. This site is also available in Spanish.
A Maths Dictionary for Kids, www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com. Features an animated, interactive dictionary of math terms for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, along with calculators, examples and hundreds of interactive math games and practice.
Science
BrainPop, www.BrainPOP.com. This award-winning site provides more than 500 animated mini-movies on topics such as science, health, technology and social studies and is aimed at kids in grades three through 12. BrainPOP Jr. is now available for the kindergarten through third-grade group. Try this subscription-based online resource free for 14 days.
Science News for Kids, www.sciencenewsforkids.org. Kids 9-12 can find science news, games, puzzles and resources on this Web site. The ScienceFairZone provides ideas and news on science fair winners and projects.
Reading
Reading Planet,
www.rif.org/readingplanet. Sponsored by RIF (Reading Is Fundamental), this site promotes elementary school reading through literacy games and stories that kids can read along with online.
Dear Reader, www.dearreader.com. Teen reader club encourages readers to sam¬ple a book with just five minutes of reading a day. Each day for a week, a five-minute sample reading is sent via e-mail. By the end of the week, your teen has read two to three chapters and can finish the book by checking it out at the local library.
History
AmericasLibrary.kids.us.
Sponsored by the Library of Congress, the site helps kids learn about history, meet amazing Americans, explore the nation's Capitol and jump back in time online. History-based games include Thomas Jefferson's Word Search and You're the Animator, where kids can learn about animation by creating some of their own.
Writing
Handwriting for Kids,
www.handwritingforkids.com. Gives young children simple instruction on printing and cursive with, printable practice templates of the alphabet along with ones that can be personalized with their own name.
Word Central by Merriam Webster, www.wordcentral.com. Allows students to look up words in a student dictionary, build their own dictionary, explore a buzzword of the day and use the Verse Composer to create their own poems in a snap.
All Subjects
AOL@School, www.aolatschool.com. K-12 resources, reference materials, tutorials and educational games for students, as well as advice and info on how parents can get involved and help support kids academically. AOL@School Jr. is specially designed for kids in kindergarten through second grade.
Ask for Kids, www.askforkids.com. Children 7-14 years old can search for answers online and get homework help though a directory to fun, "edutaining" G-rated sites.
Fact Monster from Information Please, www.factmonster.com. The site is designed to answer kids' questions and provides an almanac, encyclopedia, timelines and dictionary. The Homework Center is organized by subject with tools such as a periodic table, math flashcards and word of the day.