Durable yet lightweight, the Caliber Index Card Case is perfect for every on-the-go student.  With five dividers, one can easily separate his or her index cards by subject or by topic.  The two metal snaps make sure the case closes secure and tight – every time.  Many of my students keep their note cards in their binders, and then they fall out into their backpacks. Typically, the cards get ruined or lost. These index card cases are inexpensive and will help students to stay organized. Caliber Index Card Cases are sold nationwide at CVS.

The Sharpie Accent Liquid Highlighters make visualizing important information much easier.  Vibrant colors allow students to find key points quickly. My students love that ten highlighters come in a pack, as opposed to the four basic colors offered by most companies. A thin tip provides superior ink control to limit highlighting to the area a person desires.  Also, the clear plastic body allows one to see how much ink is left inside the pen so one can determine when to replace the highlighter before it is completely dry and useless. My six-year-old daughter takes these highlighters along with her wherever we go. In addition to their main function as highlighters, they are great for drawing and coloring because they glide smoothly, almost like paint.

So often, parents forget the incredible opportunities available through the Internet because we are constantly reminded of the abuses in our open-ended age of information. I get so excited recommending truly beneficial, free websites that can help children maintain their skills, get ahead to the next grade level, and develop a love of a subject that may have proved difficult in the past.

That Quiz is a tool for teachers to help their students; however, I recommend it to parents and children who want to practice a variety of math skills in a light, positive way. That Quiz appeals to students of varying ages as the viewer can choose the level of difficulty, the amount of questions asked, and the topic of math to be reviewed. The areas covered are: arithmetic, fractions, time, triangles, inequalities, money, shapes, exponents, logarithms, measurement, geometry, algebra, simplifying, place value, points, calculus, probability, graphs, and angles.

Once a child enters an answer, the computer will keep track of the correct and incorrect answers. The problems that are answered incorrectly will reappear at the end of the session so the child has another chance to work it out. There is also a timer which I tend to ignore. However, I do have a few students who fear timed tests, and I have been using this site to desensitize them. For those working to get faster at math facts or trying to complete timed math exams at school, the ticking clock will be helpful.

Under each category, you will have an array of choices. For example, if you click on the topic called “Arithmetic,” you are able to choose on the left hand side whether you want to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination of the four. You can also advance the level which will take you through inverted equations, double and triple digit problems, and negative numbers. In the topic titled “Identify,” the student can practice identifying what fraction of the shape is shaded, shade in the given fraction, place the fraction on the number line, or order the fraction or decimal from least to greatest.

Many parents look for ways to practice telling time with their children. Under the “Time” section, the child can practice telling time, figure out the passing of time, add and subtract hours and minutes, and convert seconds, minutes, hours, and days. My fourth grade students just finished the year studying time zones. This section is perfect for this age; for example, there is a map in which you are given the time of a city and then are asked to convert that time to the hours and minutes of a different city in another time zone.

My two favorite sections are “Geometry” and “Money.” I love the “Money” section because the coins look real, and parents are always saying that their kids are weak at counting coins. This section advances to include gold dollars and even Canadian and European coins. Another area where students find themselves struggling is geometry. My students continuously ask to practice perimeter, area, volume, and surface area of geometric figures. After choosing the topic “Geometry,” the student can click on the left hand side if he or she wants to work on perimeter or area, for example, and choose the shapes. I love a program that can work for students of multiple ages and grade levels, and this section can be used for students 3rd grade through high school.

After practicing your math, you may want to explore other subjects. Underneath the math topics are vocabulary activities in English (including SAT words), Spanish, French, and German as well as map quizzes (both countries/states and their capitals) including America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Because of the variety of subject matter offered, this website is sure to keep you busy for the entire summer!

For years, I have thought about the importance of marking up one’s book, whether underlining or taking notes on the side, in order to retain information, find quotes at a later date for a paper, or study for a test. In most public schools, the books are reused, so the students are not allowed to write in their books. My new find is FriXion light made by Pilot. A pack comes with six erasable highlighters (orange, green, yellow, pink, purple, and blue). With these highlighters, students can actively learn and then erase their markings for the next year’s class. Although the eraser does leave some residue, I think that the benefits, including increased comprehension and soaring grades, will far outweigh that one concern!

Recycling comes in many forms. My son, who cannot get enough of building Bionicles, also loves the containers they come in. We have so many, and he just doesn’t want to throw them away. Instead, we have come up with other uses for them. Last year, Joshua has kept all of his school supplies in his Bionicle container; he uses it as a pencil case. All the pencils stand vertically, and he also puts his erasers, pens, and markers in there. Sometimes, I think that he loves school so much because his supplies are so cool!

FreeRice is a site that I am so proud to recommend for multiple grade levels.

This site offers a variety of subjects, including Art (Famous Paintings), Chemistry (Chemical Symbols), English (Grammar and Vocabulary), Geography (Identifying Countries on the Map and World Capitals), Languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish), and Math (Basic Math and Multiplication Tables).

The format is entirely multiple-choice questions. For each correct answer given, ten grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program to help end hunger. Though ten grains of rice may seem like a small amount, it is important to remember that thousands of people play at the same time. The children who use this site feel that they are bettering the world, while simultaneously improving their own skills!

Many people don’t know that once you answer the first question, you can change the level if it’s too easy or too hard. You can also change the subject with the click of a button. Even adults can benefit from this site. My seven-year-old son loves the Art section; he has become familiar with the most famous painters and their works. The math goes as high as pre-algebra, which gives a nice review. I love the grammar and vocabulary sections, which are great for every-day knowledge and have really helped students studying for the ISEE, SAT, and/or ACT entrance exams.

Visually, on the right-hand side of the screen, you can see the bowl filling up with grains of rice. You can also press the OPTIONS button, and choose “Remember my personal rice donation total from the last time I played when I start FreeRice.” This gives children the chance to see cumulatively how much they have actually donated in an effort to help end world hunger. Over 64 million grains of rice have been donated to date (September 2010), and the amount continues to increase. One hundred percent of the donation is distributed to people in need. This site provides a win-win situation for all involved!

Once your child shows an interest in math, it is the job of the parent to kindle your child’s life-long love of learning. Besides creating the worksheets with fun objects or themes, you can supplement a math lesson with other activities, such as computer programs.

I like to move from the table, where we use paper, colored pencils, crayons, and markers to the computer, where we enter the high-tech world. I love this program called “Seashell Search” by Harcourt Publishing.

There is nothing more exhilarating than finding a beautiful shell in the sand. Harcourt understands the attraction children have to the beach. By answering the addition problems correctly, a child can fill up his or her bucket with intact, gorgeous shells, complete with the waves rolling in and out.