It’s Wednesday, and time for a Homeschool Resource: Language Arts. I would like to ask you to check out these Recommended Websites: If you have used these resources in the past leave me a comment and let me know what you liked or disliked about them and why.
Age Range: 12-18 (Grades 7-12, with parental supervision) This ad-supported website offers free, web-based reference guides for studying literature, poetry, and more to make learning and writing more fun and relevant for students in the digital age.
The content is written primarily by Ph.D. and Masters students from top universities including Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and Yale who specialize in “everything from Shakespeare to Victorian literature to African literature…” Shmoop’s laid back and often humorous approach to the material is really engaging.
When you click on the link, you’ll land on the literature page where you’ll see a menu of literary works by authors such as Jane Austen, Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, George Orwell, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Tennessee Williams, and more.
Click on any one and a new page opens with a tab menu that includes:
- Introduction
- What it’s about and Why Should I Care?
- Resources
You can also use the search feature to find a book of choice.
Then check out the top menu for more Free Stuff and more Subjects including English and Writing. Access to all of this rich content is free, without obligation.
NOTE: Because this site links to exterior websites that we have not reviewed, PARENTS SHOULD PREVIEW THE CONTENT TO DETERMINE SUITABILITY.
Finally, we’d like to reiterate that one of the best aspects of this site is the way humor is used to engage students. Students will find the captivating banter irresistible. Just browsing the site can ignite interest in literature, so bookmark it to return often.
Recommended Website: Roy the Zebra
Age Range: 5-7 (Grades K-2, with parental supervision) This site provides an archive of free interactive language arts games and literacy resources to help emerging readers learn to read.
When you get to the site, you’ll see the featured activities that include “Guided Reading Story” starring your host, Roy the Zebra, as well as “Reading Games” that help teach concepts such as:
- Alphabetical Order
- Capital Letters
- High Frequency Words (Days and Months)
- Double Consonants
- Long Vowel Phonemes
- Singular or Plural
- Tricky Words
- Words that Rhyme
- Words Within Words
- And more!
The simplicity of this site makes learning the basic skills for reading lots of fun for kids. Non-readers will need assistance.
https://www.roythezebra.com/In addition to playing the games, you can help your children read the interactive story book about Roy the Zebra and his escape from a zoo. The stories come with free, printable discussion worksheets.
If you read the story, you’ll discover that Roy the Zebra loves to sing. Use the menu to click on “Songs” to hear Roy singing his faves.
In addition to all of the freebies here, you can join Club Roy for more activities for a fee. However, you are under no obligation to buy anything to easily access the free stories and games.
Recommended Website: FreeTypingGame.Net
Age Range: 5 and up (Grades K and up; children with parental supervision) This ad-supported website provides free touch-typing lessons as well as practice games and tests.
When you get to the site use the display menu or the menu tabs at the top of the screen to access:
- Games – Choose from several different interactive, fun, arcade-like games that reinforce typing skills. For example, play “Meteor Typing Blast” and protect your spaceships from meteors and hostile UFOs – by using your typing skills to blast them out of the universe! Or for something a little less intense, try “Save the Sailboat Race.” Type the falling letters before they land on the boats and ruin the race!
- Lessons – Use your computer’s keyboard and follow the simple instructions on the site to learn to type. The interactive program teaches 2 keys at a time, starting with the “home row.” Beginners will find a proper hand placement guide too.
- Tests – Get an accurate word per minute assessment of your typing ability. The tests have timer options of 1 to 5 minutes. When you’re through, submit your speed on the world wide scoreboard for all to see. Or print out a certificate with your name and typing speed.
Bookmark this one to return often.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
