,I thought I would share a couple Homeschool Resources with you this morning. If you have used these resources in your classroom leave me a comment and let me know what you thought of them and why.
Thank you in many languages: Omniglot
All grades; children with parental supervision
This website will teach you how to say “Thank You” in the many languages of the world.
Most of the languages include audio files so you can hear how the word is supposed to sound when it’s pronounced. Plus, in some cases the name of the language is linked to another page containing more words and phrases you can learn.
BONUS! YouTube: Thank You Song In 45 Languages
You’ll tap your toes and clap your hands along to the beat as you learn to sing “Thank You” in 45 languages from Arabic to Vietnamese. This is a really uplifting video presentation – don’t miss it!
Listen and Read: Scholastic
Grades K-4, with parental supervision
This resource from Scholastic is where you can enjoy 15 non-fiction, read-along books that are accompanied by images and audio narration. There are even activities and/or quizzes at the end of each book to help the reader review what has been learned.
When you get to the site you’ll see a brief introduction and a menu of the online book titles. The first 8 books on the menu are about careers that kids are often curious about including a Firefighter, Pediatrician and Veterinarian.
Then the rest of the books are divided into:
- Animals
- The President (Obama)
Click on any story and a new page opens where you can start reading the book, one page at a time. Each page is accompanied by an engaging photograph or illustration, and the option to click “Listen” to hear a narrator read the words on the page. Just follow the arrows to read the entire book.
At the end of the book you’ll find a simple quiz or activity that reviews the vocabulary words or simple concepts and information learned in the stories.
Once you do the activity, you can advance to the next book. You can skip the activity, if desired, and move on to the next book by simply returning to the main menu.
Free Fun Vocabulary Games: Word Central
Grades 1-12, with parental supervision
This website from Merriam-Webster offers free games to test your child’s verbal sensors.
When you get to the site, you will see a featured game and then below there are three vocabulary games your child can choose from:
- Robo-Bee – Will your language skills blossom or wilt? It’s up to you as you control the flight of the Robo-Bee through a garden of synonyms, antonyms, spelling, and usage puzzles!
- BIGbots – These word-automated machines have quite an appetite, so come prepared with a voracious vocabulary! Good hand and eye coordination is a definite plus!
- Jumble Kids – Unscramble a list of words, then use the circled letters to unscramble the bonus solution.
There is also an online dictionary: just type in the word you want to learn about in the search box at the top and press Go. You’ll get the definition along with the pronunciation and function.
The “Build Your Own Dictionary” and “Daily Buzzword” links are no longer available, but here is the link to the Weekly Vocabulary Words for Kids at the main Merriam-Webster website.
And be sure to check out the “For Educators” section for additional resources.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
