Student Resources

Brainpop – 24/7 access to educational movies & quizzes.  Brainpop Jr. (K-3), Brainpop (3-12), and Brainpop Espanol.

Enchanted Learning – Over 20,000 searchable articles, topical activities and crafts for preschool though upper elementary with reading level suited to 3rd grade and up.

Khan Academy – online resource with movies covering topics for elementary through high school.

Michigan E-Library (MeL) – provided free by the State of Michigan.  Click area of interest to access resources suitable for all ages.  NOTE: Most areas require a MI driver’s license number, state ID number OR name and barcode number from a public library card.

FACTs – online student information system.  Students and parents can view assignments, grades, and directly email their teachers.

World Book Online – multimedia resources for preschool through high school, a Spanish language reference, and timeline creation tool.  Email Jan Mathews at [email protected] for login & password.

Click here to download the keyboarding visual aid

Typing Club: Google app – 100 leveled lessons – excellent design and instruction with goals & comprehensive feedback including lesson accuracy, finger-by-finger accuracy, speed timeline – includes SAVE function

Sense-Lang: Well designed and thorough lessons that include animated tutorials with audio and visual guidance for correct home row typing – tutorials and lessons match by number – moderately customizable content – generous statistical feedback – WARNING: many ads are indistinguishable from the typing content – to avoid ads, locate features strictly from the site’s horizontal navigation bar below the masthead – Example: Tutorials > pull down menu to choice of Keyboarding Lessons, Test, or Animated Tutor – Animated Tutor recommended

BBC Bitesize: Very well designed and entertaining for lower elementary through 4th grade – focuses on main keyboard only – excellent choice for teaching 1st & 2nd graders proper beginning technique – site from UK – characters have different accents but the visuals overcome any listening issue

Peter’s Online Typing Course: Unglamorous, no-frills site but thorough typing for beginners – explanations are brief but complete – effective if done in order

Lynda.com Practice Typing: Good practice site that generates useful progress reports – text based on commonly occurring letters in your choice of languages – WARNING: lacks specific home row and reaching instruction – color-coded keys disappear when lesson begins

TypeRacer: Type against other on-line users – great motivator – has error alert and good user feedback but little typing instruction – WARNING: takes text from novels and songs – while testing site, no objectionable content was seen – parent should check prior to use – best suited to upper el. and older students

ABCya!.com: K-5th grade-leveled site with multiple topics – keyboarding and letter location games of varying difficulty – WARNING: lacks home row and reaching instruction – best used for letter recognition with young students or for fun keyboarding practice for older students who have already learned correct home row and basic touch typing