BACKPACK SAFETY
Backpacks and children
Advice and links from the the Chiropractic Resource Organization.
http://www.chiro.org/places/backpacks.shtml
Our Children: Who Is Designing for Them?
An article about ergonomics for children, including information about
the proper weight for a school backpack. From the National Safety
Council.
http://www.nsc.org/issues/isd/isdchild.htm
Backpack Safety
A general backpack safety article from KidsHealth for Parents.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/backpack.html
Backpack Safety America
A program designed to raise awareness about backpack safety. Includes
advice on how to buy a backpack and tips on how to use a backpack
safely.
http://www.backpacksafe.com
READING
How to Raise a Reader
The joy of sharing books is a gift you can give children from
the time they are born. Chanting nursery rhymes, singing songs, and
reading stories can comfort and entertain even the youngest child.
Here is a list of some of the best with easy-to-do tips developed
by members of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division
of the American Library Association. This information is also available
in Spanish.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/raise_a_reader.html
Between the Lions
This early literacy site, for children ages 4 - 7, is a tie-in
for the award-winning television program. Appealing characters, terrific
songs and fun games combine to offer great on-line experiences.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/lions/
PARENTING
KidsHealth
Child health, illnesses, behavior, nutrition, and fitness
http://kidshealth.org/
National Network for Child Care
A large site offering information from curriculum and programming
to nutrition. For teachers and parents.
http://www.nncc.org
NPIN - National Parenting Information Network
Information and materials for parents and caregivers.
http://npin.org
The Parents At Home Page
Information and materials targeted at at-home parents.
http://iquest.com/~jsm/moms/index.html
VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL
The Busy Teachers' Web site K-12. This Site is designed to
provide teachers with direct source materials, lesson plans / classroom
activities with a minimum of site-to-site linking, and to provide
an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the teacher who is learning
to use the Internet. Teachers may want to direct students toward certain
sites as part of their lesson plan. I designed the site with the view
in mind that teachers were very busy people. They needed rapid access
to quality source materials which were organized in a familiar way.
By Carolyn Cole at the Center for Education: Integrating Science,
Mathematics and Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt/
Helping Your Child With Homework Page
Help for the parent struggling with a child's homework problems.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/
homework.html
California's Untold Stories Gold Rush
Presented by the Oakland Museum of California, this site offers
an interactive learning experience for elementary level children through
adults to experience and educate themselves about this important period
in American History.
http://www.museumca.org/goldrush
Good Night Mr. Snoozleberg
This entertaining, interactive game requires problem-solving skills
and a sense of humor. It's just lots of fun.
http://sarbakan.com/snooz
Library of Congress presents America's Story from America's Library
The Library of Congress puts the story back in history through
images of primary source documents, prints, photographs, maps, recordings
and other materials from the past. Along with the fascinating information
about people, places and things of interest to kids of all ages, there
are songs to listen to, a Krazy Kat cartoon to watch, a scavenger
hunt and other fun things to do.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov
POLICY
EdSource
As an independent, impartial, not-for-profit organization, its sole
mission is to clarify complex education issues and to promote thoughtful
decisions about public school improvement in California.
http://www.edsource.org
MOVING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Easing the Transition: The director of the National Association
of Elementary School Principals talks about a new effort to help kids
succeed in the transition to middle school.
http://www.naesp.org/misc/edweek_article_4-03-02.htm
Transition to Middle School: How Parents Can Help. The National
Parent Information Network interviews Trevor Kampfl, a school counselor
at Edison Middle School in Champaign, Illinois.
http://npin.org/pnews/2001/pnew901/int901c.html
Middle School Malaise. The switch from elementary to junior
high school coincides with several major changes for young adolescents.
Most are in the throes of puberty; they're becoming more self-aware
and self-conscious, and their thinking is growing more critical and
more complex. At the same time, adolescents are often "in a slump"
when it comes to academic motivation and performance. What parents
can do to make the transition as easy as possible. From the American
Psychological Association.
http://helping.apa.org/family/malaise.html
The Transition to Middle School. ERIC Digest. This Digest
presents a brief overview of some of the issues involved in the transition
from elementary to middle school and provides suggestions for transition
programs and activities. The term "middle level schools"
includes all middle grade and junior high school configurations.
http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed422119.html
Middle School Survival Guide, published by the Jefferson County
Schools in Kentucky. This is a PDF file and requires Adobe Acrobat
to view when downloaded.
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Pubs/MS_Survival_book.pdf
Caught in the Middle is a 28-minute video project and comprehensive
web site that encourages parents to stay involved in their children's
lives during the often-tumultuous middle school years. Middle school
presents a span of years when parents often seem to lose touch with
their children. Many parents don't feel the need to be involved as
much in their children's school life at this juncture because they
seem so "grown up" when, in fact, just the opposite is true.
The middle school years are a critical period of development in an
adolescent's life and, despite the protests of the students, parental
guidance is required! Includes tips section and links to other resources,
including books and other web sites.
http://www.caughtinthemiddle.org/
Just for Middle School kids. Links to the best web sites for
middle school kids, chosen by middle school kids.
http://www.westnet.com/~rickd/Kids.html