By now, if you've been homeschooled for awhile, you probably have taken some time to gather a group of other students similar to your child's age and plan activities for socialization.  While it may not be prudent to run off and meet each day, there are other ways to promote recess around your home.  Recess is an integral component to any well-rounded curriculum because it allows the learner much needed down time to refresh before getting back to work.

At MeBeam, you can easily open up a chat room anytime of the day you want.  It is as simple as:

Naming your chat room
Telling your buddies

No long forms to fill out or sign up, MeBeam allows you quick, easy access.  Kids can watch TV, play music, or games and talk to their buddies on MeBeam sharing thoughts and information.  I appreciate these sites that are set up with the user in mind.  It is a simple click and you're ready to talk!

I just stumbled on a Wiki site created by Katharina I. Boser, Ph.D., titled Autism Apps. .  Ms. Bosner, president of Individual Differences in Learning of Howard County, Maryland, and founder of Boser Educational Technologies; shares pertinent information regarding technology friendly tools for students with Autism.  She feels that multiple inputs - sound, pictures- help students with autism learn.  She is a strong supporter of interactive white boards and iPads letting teachers try different ways to get the information out. 

Ms. Bosner feels the IPad's sensory component is crucial.  It's the direct touch of finger to device that can break the academic barrier.  Rather than using a mouse or stylus, children of autism appreciate less interference that may cause confusion.  Hence, the opportunity of

Listed my subject category, Katharina Boswer makes it easy to pick and choose what areas your child needs strengthening. Log on today and see what iTunes can offer.

It's now called Curating the Web - being able to store and share
information with others. Are you a social media hound?  This article talks about the latest wave that's hitting the Web - Social Media Sharing. Whether you're a student or blogger- sharing social media has its roots in just about everything we surf. Many now are bypassing traditional means of locating information which is
of interest to them and faring for more nontraditional sites that house
multitudes of information. Here you can locate easily exactly what topics and
categories share your interest. Another wonderful article by Dave Kuplar that
examines the top 10 best social media sites:


With the amount of information that is available on the internet,
it's important for teachers to filter through websites to find relevant
information in a timely manner. As a blogger, I believe we "curate" the web
automatically to help keep things organized and to convey information in as
detailed and easy a way as possible. Now, with the addition of dedicated
websites, people can curate the web and save information on their own while
sharing this vital information with others.
 

1. Pinterest - A relatively new site that is     growing at a record pace.
   It's easy to use, ideal for curating the web (by     saving/sharing favorite
   sites), and visually engaging for users. There's     lots of potential for
   education as it is being used by educators     everywhere.


2. Bag the Web
   - Bag the Web is a great     site for curating the web into "bags." With their
   educational     portal, teachers and students can share resources, collect
   information for     assignments, embed them into a site, and
   more.


3. MentorMob
   - A site that has been     getting quite a bit of press on Twitter lately, it's
   one of the best     around for curating the web into "playlists." These
   playlists     can contain different types of media such as video, articles,
   pictures,     etc. Once these playlists are created, they can be rated and
   shared with     others.


4. List.ly - A wonderful site for curating sites  
      into an interactive list that can be commented and voted on.


5. Middlespot - A unique site that     allows users to browse the web and
   stick sites onto their     "dashboard," which can be edited and shared with
   others. More     features are available for a paid account.


6. Paper.li
   - A very popular site among bloggers     and educators for creating an online
   newspaper out of their web content.     Best of all, once a "newspaper" is
   created, Paper.li     automatically updates the paper by monitoring news
   content.


7. Bundlr -
   A great way to organize the web     into "bundles." These bundles can contain
   all sorts of media and     then be shared with others in a grid or timeline
   view.


8. Scoop.it
   - A nice site for turning one's     social media into a stunning-looking digital
   magazine. A very popular     resource among educators on
   Twitter.


9. Searcheeze - Another fun site     for curating web content (text, video,
   images, articles) and turning it     into a digital magazine that can be shared
   with others.


10. Storify
    - A great site for telling social     stories by curating web content through
    video, photos, and text.

I am a full supporter of online learning, but I must admit there are certain areas of life's pleasures that are difficult to fulfill on the computer.  Most online classes are wonderful in establishing that many of your tactile senses are immersed as you work from subject to subject.  But, I do feel that creative side of each child needs to be tapped into each day or several times a week.

As you know, your online task time will often dwarf the actual brick and mortar requirements of traditional schooling.  Yet, even though our children spend less time on a computer terminal, actual content and lesson absorption can be much greater due to the interactive ability of online learning.

With a bit of this extra time, I encourage you to to put together an art box full of crafts and projects to encourage the sheer sense of creativity in your child.  Some students may just want to free draw to relieve stress.  Others may require actual projects and directions as that art bug has just not been tapped yet.  

I do encourage you to use Discount School Supplies Arts and Crafts.  There are several sections of creative play that will tap into any learner.  Set time aside each day, or several times a week, for an "actual art class" as you being the instructor.  After all, you are your child's academic learning coach!  This time will be rewarding for you and your child as you will make some positive, delightfully divine projects to bless your house. 

Here's a site I recently stumbled upon that makes collaborate writing a breeze!  Type With Me is an online synchronized typing program that allows you to work with others on the same page at the same time, even if you're not in the same place.

It is completely simple to use, and it's FREE!  There is no need to sign up to use this feature.  No need to fill out elaborate forms to use Type With Me. Simply log on and type in a New Pad name.  Once you pick your "pad" name, everyone simply logs on to the same pad, and each can see what the others are typing.  You can make corrections or add information as you go.  There seems to be no limit as to how many individuals can work on the same page at any given time.

I personally like this for tutoring.  It allows me to offer advice to my students without being in the same room.  I can ask questions or help the child with fluency as he/she is completing an assignment.  This would be great for parents away from home, too.  Should your child need help on an upcoming essay, simply log on at the same time and work together! 

PBS KIDS Lab  is a great new site available that focuses on using new technology to enhance learning.  PBS KIDS is already well-known to parents who favor PBS when it comes to fun and learning for thier kids.  The lab was built due to a recently funded grant and offers a new opportunity for technology learning.  PBS works closely with advisers and researchers ensuring a well-built curriculum every step of the way.       

Characters such as Curious George, the Cat in the Hat, Buddy from Dinosaur Train, and Sid the Science Kid can be found in the online games.  The company has announced 60 new cross-platform games that will help children age two to eight build critical math skills.  Available FREE on the website, these games feature a colorful cast of characters.  Each game suite links to a set of games that are accessible through computers, mobile devices, and interactive whiteboards.

Get 13 great educational apps for FREE with Kid Apps: 13 in 1. This creative application was designed with the help of parents! If you'relooking for the perfect application to teach your child the fundamental reading, writing and math skills, then look no further.Kid Apps: 13 in 1 brings important components in the classroom right to the palm of your hand.

Features:  

1) Kid Genius: ABCs, Counting and Words

• Full alphabet with pictures and sound
• Number and letter tracing
• Beautifully illustrated Flash cards of common words
• Learn to count with pictures and sound

2) Flash Math

• Interactive math flash cards
• Choose from addition & Subtraction
• View the correct answers with a press of a button
• Easy to use, with a no hassle interface

3) Sight Words


• Based on the Fry's list of common Site Words
• Helps kids master high frequency words
• 6 different levels of words with example phrases
• Over 550 words

4) Math Whiz

• Pick from 5 categories, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or mixed.
• Questions are dynamic and always changing
• Trophy and Scoreboard to keep track of your success
• Create up to 5 profiles, for other people. Each profile stores high scores,
  settings and trophy info separately!
• Different difficulty settings depending on how tough you want to be drilled.
• Easy to press buttons and a very simple app to use.
• Great for all ages, even adults!

5) Math Match

• Match simple math equations to their answers
• The concept is similar to memory match games, but involves math
• Helps challenge memory as well as basic math skills
• Fast response and easy to pick up and play
• Great for all ages

6) Music Instruments

• Pictures and words teach kids the different musical instruments
• 25 different instruments to teach
• Only 1 button to press and finger swiping navigates you through the
different instruments

7) Around the House

• 5 different categories of words and pictures
• The following rooms are covered, bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, and the garage
• Large letters and clear pictures really stand out

8) The Outdoors

• Words of animals, plants and items found outside the house
• 6 different categories to learn from
• Great interface and simplicity to allow ease of use for both parents and
kids
• A large collection of words at your fingertips
• The following areas are covered, the beach, the forest, the garden, the mountain, the park, and the sky

9) My Pets

• Cute adorable pets to learn and spell

• Same ease of use and simple navigation, for a great experience.

10) At School

• Collection of words and pictures of items and characters you may
find around the school
• 25 beautifully illustrated and clean images
• Flick through each flash card with a simple gesture.

11) The Zoo

- Many interesting and unique animal names to learn
- Realistic looking photos to help children identify the animal
- Over 70 total species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish
- Fully licensed pictures, with a very clean and eye pleasing presentation.

12) At The Farm

• Explore animals and items around the farm
• Licensed pictures and illustrations
• A variety of different animals and farm related items to learn
• Easy to navigate flash card format

13) Food Words

• Large list of vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy products
• Colorful pictures and fast navigation
• 3 categories of fun and learning 
 

Need a little help in the area of spelling? Then Chicktionary Lite is one app you need to enhance your child's spelling scores.  This adorable game allows your student to insert a correct letter enabling spelling mastery.  The chicken bobs its head and clucks when kids use one of the letters to make a word. 

There is a "beak sneak" option that will fill in one letter of the word if the child is stuck.  This allows a prompt to still allow the child to complete the remaining letters.  What a great way to use some down time especially if they are waiting in the car or with mom for a doctor's appointment. 

I linked onto another recent article by David Kapuler discussing the top 50 web 2.0 sites for teachers.  The article says little about parental academic coaching, yet contains many valuable tools for online learners.  I felt confident this would be of great benefit to our online community.  There is a list of great resources that can be utilized at home with your student.  Why shouldn't Academic Learning Coaches have the same resources at their fingertips while instructing their child?  I give you the ultimate resource guide!

Recently I've been experimenting with a number of curation sites that are beneficial for creating and sharing lists. While exploring these tools, I've been "fine tuning" my Web 2.0 list for schools. I created a list of 25 Web 2.0 sites for education over a year ago -- but a lot has changed since then. More sites have been developed and more tools are available to students and educators than ever before. This list is in
alphabetical order.

50 Web 2.0 Sites for Schools

1. 19 
   Pencils - 19Pencils is the easiest way
   for teachers to discover, share and manage web-based educational content with
   students. A teacher can create quizzes, websites, track students, and
   more.


2. ACMI Generator - This is a great site for older
   students for digital storytelling and creating a storyboard scene with a
   script.


3. Animoto - Create wonderful looking slideshows that
   includes, video, images, music, and more.


4. Aviary Education - A safe private environment to use
   Aviary's suite of online tools for: audio, video, and image
   editing.


5. Boom Writer - BoomWriter is a supremely engaging creative writing
   website that has students reading, writing and assessing content in ways they’ve
   never done before!


6. Classtell - A nice site for teachers to create an
   educational website.


7. Diigo
   - Social bookmarking for teachers
   where they can create free student accounts.


8. Dropbox - A great way to share and collaborate on
   documents on a number of different electronic devices.


9. Edmodo - A wonderful safe/secure learning environment
   for teachers and students. A nice all-in-one solution for
   education.


10. Educaplay - A excellent way to create interactive
    multimedia educational activities.


11. Every1Speaks - A learning platform where students
    learn through collaborative enquiry-based learning.


12. Gaggle - A excellent suite of online learning tools
    for filtered: emailing, messaging, forums, and more.


13. Glogster - Creating collaborative and interactive
    posters in this safe environment. A wonderful and very popular web 2.0
    tool.


14. GoAnimate - A terrific way to create custom
    animations with an educational portal.


15. Google Apps for Education - Does it really get much
    better than this?


16. Gnowledge - A wonderful site to create collaborative
    online quizzes, share resources, view others quizzes, and more. Excellent tech
    support and tutorial videos as well.


17. Grockit Answers - A great teaching tool to create a
    Q/A session for any YouTube video.


18. Kidblog - A fantastic way to create a safe
    environment for students to blog in. Everything is controlled by the teacher as
    a moderator.


19. Kerpoof - Lots of educational activities can be found
    here such as: make a movie, draw a picture, and more.


20. Kubbu - A free site for teachers to create games,
    quizzes, or crosswords and then share them with students and view/analyze their
    results.


21. Little Bird Tales - A wonderful free site for digital
    storytelling that allows kids to record and narrate their
    story.


22. Live Binders - Is an excellent site for creating an
    online binder to collect and share resources with others.


23. MentorMob - One of my favorite new sites for curating
    the web into learning "playlists." This is an innovative way to teach a lesson,
    unit, or any given topic.


24. Mixbook - A great site for digital storytelling in a
    safe environment. Educators get a discount on printed books.


25. Musicshake - Legal, copyright, free music for every
    student in your school - created by students, right from a
    browser.


26. Myths & Legends - One of the best free sites
    around for digital storytelling in a safe environment with lots of characters,
    themes, and objects to choose from.


27. PhotoPeach - An excellent site for creating
    slideshows and creating and managing student accounts.


28. PikiFriends - A fun safe environment for online pen
    pals for middle school and high school students.


29. Pixton - A great way to motivate students by creating
    digital stories using this comic creator.


30. PresentationTube - A nice windows app for creating
    presentations out of PowerPoint slides.


31. Prezi - A excellent site for creating zooming
    slideshows and presentations.


32. Primary Access - A free suite of online tools for
    students and teachers to create digital movies, storyboards, and other
    activities.


33. Primary Wall - A real-time collaboration tool that
    allows students and teachers to create a page of online sticky notes. Great for
    mind mapping and brainstorming!


34. Skype in the Classroom - A great collaboration tool
    for classrooms to video or audio chat with other educators and
    students.


35. SideVibe - Turn bookmarked web content into blended
    classroom lessons.


36. SlideRocket - All you need is a Google Apps account
    to use this free tool to creating stunning presentations.


37. SpellingCity - One of the best sites around for
    teaching and learning Spelling and Vocabulary. A very user-friendly and engaging
    site to use.


38. Storybird - A fantastic site to inspire students to
    read & write through the use of digital storytelling.


39. StoryJumper - A great site for digital storytelling
    where students can incorporate their own art, publish online, share with others,
    or order a print copy.


40. SymbalooEDU - A wonderful way to organize educational
    sites into one location for students.


41. Triptico - A great free tool for teachers to help
    create, share, and edit interactive lessons.


42. ToonDoo Spaces - Create a private and safe
    environment for digital storytelling through the use of an online
    comic.


43. VoiceThread - One of the most popular web 2.0 sites
    around for creating dynamic and interactive slideshows and presentations. Also,
    another great tool for digital storytelling.


44. Webspiration - From the creators of Inspiration comes
    this excellent web portal for creating mind maps, brainstorms, outlines, and
    more.


45. Weebly - Create a free class/student blog or
    website.


46. Wolfram Alpha - There is now an educational portal
    for Wolfram's computational search engine. This portal contains dynamic
    textbooks, lesson plans, widgets, interactives, and more.


47. Yacapaca - A nice free all-in-one solution for
    schools for creating quizzes, surveys, assessments, and more.


48. YouTube for Schools - Access 1000s of YouTube videos
    in a controlled environment without having to worry about
    comments.


49. Zimmer Twins - A great site for digital storytelling
    with an educational portal.


50. Zoho Wiki - A nice site for educators to create
    online interactive content.

_David Kapuler, educational consultant

Looking for an all in one site that will give you an up-to-date
list of the Best Kids Apps available today? Then log on and check out the latest additions. Best Kids Apps takes the time to peruse all the latest additions so that you don't have to sort thought the iTunes store for all the applications your child 
 might be interested in.

Best Kids Apps has a multitude of ideas for your family. Apps include educational links as well as fun games. Best Kids App reviews are not written by those who design the games, but rather by moms whose kids have actually played the games. You don't have to look any further when deciding what would be best on that iphone.