Phonics and Grammar Songs

Two Letters That Work Together http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=phonics+and+blends+song+&FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=D0FD21FDF9CBDE68CFBFD0FD21FDF9CBDE68CFBF

The Diagraph Song http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Digraph+Song&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=4C27D675EB256F6F995F4C27D675EB256F6F995F

The Vowel Song http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Vowel+Song&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=03BFD4F8DD740A74310C03BFD4F8DD740A74310C

Phonics – Diagraphs and Dipthongs http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Digraph+Song&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=30866D3100E366DAB08530866D3100E366DAB085

Between the Lions: “When Two Vowels Go Walking” http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=between+the+lions+two+vowels+go+walking&qs=VI&form=QBVR&pq=between+the+lions%3A+two&sc=7-22&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&mid=A0E9B345395FA537B463A0E9B345395FA537B463

Sight Words 1st Grade (The words pop up and are read aloud – no singing) http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Songs+For+Learning+Sight+Words&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=B1020A06A50AFC760589B1020A06A50AFC760589

Verb Song http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Linking+Verb+Song+Mickey+Mouse&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=BFA506CE8D9FBE91478CBFA506CE8D9FBE91478C

Preposition Song – this shows the prepositions and the family is singing to the tune of Yankee Doodle http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Preposition+songs&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=preposition+songs&sc=8-12&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=B22BBC6C3A0065CF1ACBB22BBC6C3A0065CF1ACB

Nouns http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=What+Is+A+Adjective+School+House+Rock&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=5D6172422479628FAD495D6172422479628FAD49

Writing Support for College and High School

The Writing Center – Understanding Assignments
This information is taken from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill site and may be helpful for students in college as well as those in high school. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/understanding-assignments

Reading Strategies

Eureka AGORA http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/read_with_understanding.html This site offers pdf downloadable files on many different reading strategies such as Think-Pair-Share, Reader’s Theatre, and many more.

Learning to Read

Reading Eggs http://readingeggs.com/home This site offers a 14 day free trial period. The testimonials I read recommended this program for special needs children who were struggling with reading. The graphics and voice are appealing. The program begins in pre-school and continues through age thirteen.

Tips for Teaching Times Tables

Skip Counting – Students count up by the number. Example 4 times table – Students count 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48

Stories – Use Learn Times Tables the Fun Way by CityCreek.Com. There are many stories to help students remember their times tables. The colorful pictures aid in the students’ learning. For example, 6 x 8 – It is Eight’s birthday. Chef Six bakes a cake for Eight (forty-eight). See their website to purchase story book, work book, music and story disks and more. The illustrations are fabulous and students with a photographic mind and artistic intelligence will enjoy this way of learning the times tables.

Clock – Use the clock for learning the 5 times table.

Fingers – Use all ten fingers for learning the nine times table. For example, 6 x 9 – with hands on the table count from left to right up to finger 6, bend that finger down. Then count in tens from left to the bent finger 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. Lastly, count in single digits after the bent finger – 51, 52, 53, 54. So 6 x 9 = 54

White Board – various times tables put on small and large white boards for students to answer

Apps – Use Nook App Math Timed Pro

Online – CoolMath4Kids.com

Flashcards – Use the story prompt flashcards connected with Learn Times Tables the Fun Way.

Other – 4 times table is doubling the 2 times table

Math Assessments

Math Mammoth – is a website that offers assessments to determine a student’s grasp of particular math concepts or lack thereof. Further, it offers remedial math concept books, math grade level curriculum review books, and worksheets (grades 3-8, Pre-Algebra and Algebra). As a matter of interest, there is a South African version of the curriculum. However, in the regular curriculum the money section includes: Australian, Canadian, South African, European, and British money. The developer notes that the regular curriculum is “slightly above” the common core standards. There is a discussion related to changes to the common core curriculum. For example, http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/grade_5.php

Here are the links to the assessments for grades 1-6.

6th Grade
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade6.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade6_Answers.pdf

5th Grade Math
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade5.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade5_Answers.pdf

4th Grade Math
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade4.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade4_Answers.pdf

3rd Grade Math
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade3.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade3_Answers.pdf

2nd Grade Math
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade2.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade2_Answers.pdf

1st Grade Math
Assessment http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade1.pdf
Answers http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/tests/End_of_Year_Test_Grade1_Answers.pdf

Regular Curricula (Light Blue Series) on Mammoth Math website
In addition, grade level curricula are available for purchase individually or as a bundle. See https://store.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=5KN_LIVE&page=Math_Mammoth_LightBlue_Series

Worksheets (Golden Series)
Here is the link for obtaining worksheets http://www.mathmammoth.com/worksheets/
Testimonials: See the Testimonials written by tutors, parents, and teachers, including one from Africa and one from a co-ordinator of children with learning disabilities. There is a comment from a high school special education teacher affirming the use of worksheets with higher functioning special needs students. http://www.mathmammoth.com/worksheets/free.php

Note: This site has been recommended by Cathy Duffy (January 2014)

Math Games

There are several games on the Cool Math Games site http://www.coolmath-games.com/1-number-games-01.html  including Fraction Splat, FractOne, and Number Balls.  These math games are on the “number” section.

Cool Math for Kids http://www.coolmath4kids.com/   This site has many games including the “Timernator” which is a timed multiplication game.   This game allows you specify the extent of your learning, for example, up to 3 times table.   The “Number Monster for Times Tables” is an untimed version of the game http://www.coolmath4kids.com/times-tables/number-monster-times-tables-multiplication.htm

Cool Math is another site which has math learning games for any one aged 13 – 100!  So enjoy http://www.coolmath.com/  for example, Math Lines xFactor 12 which works on the 12 times table. 

Summer – A Time for Tutoring

Summer is a great time to consolidate a student’s learning.  There are many ways in which to do this.  Attend a mini-camp at a local facility. Try tutoring.  Individual tutoring, online tutoring, skype tutoring, group tutoring, or self-tutoring are some ways for a student to continue developing academically.  To improve your memory why not check out Luminosity.  You will have your own “personal brain training program.”  Summer Bridge Builders is a book that bridges learning between grades and includes character development. Upon completion a certificate is issued.  If you are a rising 7th grader, then use the 6-7 book.  The books are obtainable at your local Barnes & Noble store or by ordering online.  Reading is a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a hot summer’s day.  Try the Kindle.  (See Resources for free download.)  Students may like to do their own research on a topic of interest.  The history of chocolate was fascinating.  A student could read pertinent literature, eat a chocolate bar and watch the movie, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  One of my favorite books is Around the World in Eighty Days.  Students would learn about different cultures and customs, gain an insight into the history of transportation and enjoy the humor of the story.  The movie is available for rent online at Amazon.  Why not enjoy a Chinese meal and watch the 1956 version of Around the World in Eight Days.  If students need help with tutoring this summer, please contact me.  Summer is a time for tutoring.