Library Resources
Home Resources
Please find links to databases and websites that can add to your child's learning at home.
Click on the logo of the site you would like to visit.
Research Resources
Other parent resources
Tips for Reading Aloud to your children (fiction books)
Here are some learning activities for fiction books.
1.) Create a comic strip - choose your favorite scene in the book and create a comic strip about it. Create colorful pictures and speech bubbles for the characters.
2.) Compare and contrast two characters in the story. Create a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between the two characters.
3.) Write a letter to the author or a character in the story. You can share why you liked/disliked the story, or questions you have for a character in the book.
4.) Draw a new book cover for the story you just read. Be creative and have fun!
5.) Have a conversation about the book you just read together. Here are some questions you can ask each other.
- Did you like the book, why or why not?
- What was your favorite part?
- Can you relate to any of the characters in the story?
- Why do you think (pick 1 character) and discuss something what that character did in the story. Would you have acted the same?
- Retell the story from beginning to end.
- Would you change the ending in the story, why or why not?
- Did you learn anything from the book? What did you learn?
Here are some learning activities for non-fiction books.
1.) Write down a list of all of the things you have learned.
2.) Create a poster of what the book is about.
3.) Have a discussion about all the things you already knew about this topic. Do you have any unanswered questions about the topic?
4.) Were there any non-fiction text features that were important? Why? (diagram, chart, map, photograph, etc.)
5.) Write down a list of new words you learned in this text and try to use one word in a sentence.
6.) Draw a picture of your favorite part of the book and write a caption for your picture.
Teacher Resources
TeachingBooks.net is free for educators. Once you have created your free account, navigate to author pages and listen to them pronounce their name, possibly read some of their stories, and listen to their interviews. There are also free resources to help teach books!
Epic! is, well, epic. Free for educators and parents. Like Netflix, Epic! has developed some of their own original digital books. There are books, books that are read to you, and videos. Teachers can curate bookshelves that can be assigned to students.
Bookflix is a widely used alternative to Fiction/Non-fiction comparison read alouds. Fiction titles are animated, and non-fiction texts are stationary but can be read to you. Book sets are divided into categories. There is a limited amount of titles on this site, but the categories make this site quick to use when pinched for time. District subscription. Contact the library for username and password.
Free. Picture books read by some of your favorite actors and actresses. Need I say more?
CreativeCommons
"When we share, everyone wins."
Free. Use Creative Commons to find artwork, pictures, and gifs that have been marked by the people sharing them as available for the public to use. A great site to use when teaching about respect online, digital citizenship, and plagiarism. Useful for your students when using GoogleSlides, because there is so much more available. Just drag and drop images, but make sure you give credit to where it came from. **At this point Giphy is not available with school computers.**
Flipgrid
Free. I just started experimenting with Flipgrid and I love it! Flipgrid acts as your class' own little youtuber station, but it is private and safe for school. Limit who can get on your boards, by either assigning specific emails that are able to log in or domains (like @northrockland.org). Then, invite your students to join. Post exit slips or even assignments. Students will record their responses, take a "selfie" and post with very little guidance needed. Then, once they've posted, they can look at, like, and respond to their classmates work. Another fantastic opportunity to teach respect online, and encourage student collaboration. Afterwards, check out the "engagement time" Flipgrid provides. You'll have trouble pulling them away!
Don't forget consent forms: https://static.flipgrid.com/docs/Flipgrid_consent_form.pdf
Screencastify
Free. Editing requires a paid subscription ($25/year). Record individual tab, whole screen, or whole screen with camera. Use Chromebook microphone and camera. Can be used for recording complicated instruction, or instruct students to record themselves. With the free subscription, recording maxes out at 10 minutes long and editing is not possible.
Series and Sequels
Free. Have you ever had a student come up to you and ask, "What is the third book in [insert popular series here]?" Well, be a positive digital citizen role model, and don't just Google it. Use Mid-Continent Public Library's awesome resource, Juvenile Series and Sequels. Search by Series Title, Series Subject, Book Title, or Book Author.
Common Sense Education and Common Sense Media
Free. Common Sense Education (under For Educators tab), provides lists to help you keep up on the latest technology. Digital citizenship lessons can also be found here. Click on For Parents tab, and type in any popular book/movie/videogame title and get a short overview of what can be found within (categories of violence, language, etc. and positive categories like positive role models and positive messages). I've used this before when I haven't read a title, and want to feel out if it might be appropriate to purchase for the library.