Useful Websites : Education

Adult, Nontraditional & Continuing Education

CAUTION! Before signing up or paying for any educational program, please check with the appropriate accrediting organization, such as the DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL (DETC), to verify that the school or program is accredited. A complete list of recognized accrediting agencies may be found on the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION website.

Universal Class Continuing Education Courses Universal Class : Free online non-credit courses for your personal enrichment. Courses are accessible 24/7 via the Internet, and are offered in a wide variety of subjects, including business, computers, cooking, crafts & hobbies, do-it-yourself, health, history, home & garden, office skills, parenting & family, personal care, psychology, real estate, self-help, religious & spiritual studies, web development, writing, and more. You will have up to 6 months to finish each course, and each course has a real instructor you can communicate with by email! (From Recorded Books)
NOTE : Once you have registered on the site, you can go directly to the Login page.

Distance Education and Training Council - The accrediting agency for correspondence study and distance education institutions. Includes a directory of accredited institutions, with descriptions and links for more than 500 different academic, vocational, and avocational courses offered by mail or by telecommunications.

Distance Learning Links - A directory of links to 'distance learning institutions offering degrees, certificates and courses in distance education and training. There are course offerings for the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree programs as well as non-credit courses for adult learners and others who wish to pursue a specific skill or interest.' (United States Distance Learning Association)

Middlesex County College CARE Program new - The Center for Adults Returning to Education (CARE) is 'dedicated to assisting adult students in their return to college to complete an Associate Degree. One-on-one advising is available to prospective students to determine eligibility and degree requirements.' Benefits include academic credit for life & work experience, accelerated degree completion options, flexible online & hybrid courses, personalized student services, and workshops targeted to adult students.

Open Courseware Consortium - Find free online college-level course materials covering a broad range of topics, from universities around the world. Includes course overviews, assignments, readings, handouts, practice exams, and related resources (Non-profit educational consortium). Coursera offers free online courses from top universities including Princeton, Duke, Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, University of Illinois, and many others. Learn at your own pace, test your knowledge, and reinforce concepts through interactive exercises. Courses cover a wide range of topics in the Humanities, Medicine, Biology, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Business, and Science (founded by Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, Stanford University). The newly-launched edX site offers still more free high-quality university courses online from Harvard, MIT, and University of California Berkeley. At present, only a handful of courses is available on edX, all on science topics (non-profit founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Elderhostel / Exploritas is now Road Scholar.

Road Scholar - Adventures in lifelong learning through educational travel, for adults age 55 and over. Non-profit organization; there is a charge for travel programs.

College & University Information

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center : Search thousands of college and graduate school entries, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks; includes practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need to enter your name, library card barcode and PIN to get started. (Thomson Corporation)

CAUTION! Before signing up or paying for for any education program, please check with the appropriate accrediting organization to verify that the school or program is accredited. A complete list of recognized accrediting agencies may be found on the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION website.

CAUTION! Before submitting any personal or financial data online, first verify that the company or organization is reputable, and the internet connection secure. The library cannot guarantee the privacy or security of information transmitted via library computers.

GENERAL

Career Colleges and Technical Schools - Advice and resources for choosing a career college or technical school that will train you for a specific career, trade, or profession such as automotive technician, computer technician, hairstylist, medical assistant, or truck driver (US Department of Education). See also : Choosing a Vocational School (2012, Federal Trade Commission).

The Choice - Information and advice on all facets of college admissions and financial aid. (A New York Times blog; site includes advertisements)

College Admissions Resources - Explains what what you need to do in high school, year by year, to prepare for college, and more. (National Association for College Admission Counseling)

College Board : College Search - Enter information about what you want in a college, majors you're interested in, financial needs, test scores and other information, and get back a list of schools that match your needs and preferences.

College Navigator - Search for colleges by name, geographic area, type of institution, instructional programs and/or size. College Navigator will provide a list of schools matching your criteria, along with statistics for each school on enrollment, costs, graduation rates, admissions, financial aid, accreditation, and more. (National Center for Education Statistics)

Common Application Online - This site simplifies the application process by offering an online form accepted as the application for admission at hundreds of colleges and universities; you can submit the same form to as many of these institutions as you choose.

Diploma Mills - Consumer alert on ads and emails that claim you can 'earn a college degree based...on life experience.' (2012, Federal Trade Commission)

e-Campus Tours - Hundreds of virtual campus tours of colleges and universities in the US. You must register for a free account (enter your name, grade, zip code, email address, and a password) to access the tours (Edsouth; non-profit corporation). TheU.com offers 'Uncensored College Video Tours, For Students, By Students.' Many of the videos posted are not actually campus tours but show various aspects of campus life, including lectures, concerts, sports events, student protests, and yes, rowdy drinking parties. You may need to register and obtain a password for full access. [NOTE : Review boards and forums are mostly SPAM!] (Site includes advertisements)

First in the Family - Advice and resources for young people who will be the first in their families to go past high school. Includes videos, year-by-year checklists, downloads, and links. (WKCD & Lumina Foundation for Education). See also Know How 2 Go, below.

Hobson's CollegeView - A variety of college-related information. Includes useful sections on Historically Black colleges & universities, Christian colleges, and Community Colleges. Use the Site Map to find helpful articles on a variety of topics. (Hobson's college recruiting services; site includes advertisements)

Know How 2 Go - Advice and information for students from middle school through high school on how to prepare for college and why they should go to college. Also includes advice for parents, teachers and mentors for helping teens succeed in school (American Council on Education et al.). See also First in the Family, above.

Mapping Your Future - Career, college, financial aid, and financial literacy resources for students, families, and schools. Includes separate sections for middle / high school students, undergrads, graduate students, student loan borrowers, parents, and school counselors. (Non-profit organization, sponsored by student loan guaranty agencies)

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Search thousands of college and graduate school entries, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks; includes practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need to enter your name, library card barcode and PIN to get started. (Thomson Corporation)

Princeton Review - Information about undergraduate and graduate schools, including law, business, medical, and technical schools, plus advice on applications, majors, and admissions. (Princeton Review is a publisher of college-related books and provider [for a fee] of test preparation courses.)

Privacy in Education - This guide for parents and adult-age students outlines the types of information that school records commonly contain, and discusses privacy-related laws in education and emerging issues in security & informational privacy. The issues covered pertain to K-12 as well as college-level records. (2012, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse)

Study Abroad : IIE Passport - Choose Country, Field of Study, Instructional Language and other criteria from the search boxes to locate study opportunities in countries around the world. Includes a blog [UPDATED LINK!] offering information and advice on studying abroad (Institute of International Education & EducationDynamics; non-profit organization, site includes advertisements). See also CIEE : The Council on International Educational Exchange, an international education organization that creates and administers programs allowing high school and university students and educators to study and teach abroad. Students Abroad provides lots of helpful advice on travelling to and living in a foreign country (U.S. Department of State).

COLLEGE DIRECTORIES

(The directories below are listings / links only. Searchable databases
of colleges are included in the General section, above.)

BRAINTRACK™ - International University Index - Thousands of links to colleges and universities in almost 200 countries. (FutureMeld LLC)

Community College Directory - A comprehensive listing of links to community colleges nationwide, arranged by state; there is also an alphabetical list. (University of Texas).

College Source® Online - Virtual library of over 50,000 cover-to-cover, original-page-format college catalogs. This site charges a subscription fee, but offers a free trial period (registration required). Formerly College Catalogs Online.

Military Colleges & Schools - Directory of accredited schools with military programs approved by the Department of Defense, with links to the schools if available. Covers colleges, junior colleges, and elementary / secondary schools.

N.J. College & University Directories - Directory of colleges and universities in the state, organized by sector, with presidents, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers as well as links to home pages and to degree offerings. Also provides an alphabetical listing, listing by county, interactive maps, and separate listings of Community Colleges, Independent Colleges & Universities, Proprietary, degree-granting institutions, and Religious, Rabbinical, & Theological Institutions. (N.J. Commission on Higher Education)

U.S. Colleges & Universities Directory - Links to the home pages of U.S. colleges, universities, and community colleges, arranged alphabetically or by state. Also links to accrediting boards. (University of Texas at Austin).

COLLEGE RATINGS & RANKINGS

See :
See also : Graduate School & Law School

Before visiting any of the ranking sites listed below, we recommend you read
CAUTION & CONTROVERSY, which examines the validity of rankings.
(2012, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

Academic Ranking of World Universities - An annual ranking of the top universities in Europe, the Americas, and the Asia/Pacific region. Institutions are ranked by indicators such as faculty and alumni winning prestigious prizes or publishing in prestigious journals, as well as per capita academic performance. (ShanghaiRanking Consultancy; site includes advertisements)

America's Best Colleges (US News & World Report) - This annual rating of U.S. colleges & universities also offers college data, information about scholarships, loans, & grants, and related articles. (Site includes advertisements)

College and University Rankings Links - A directory of numerous college ranking lists, covering both undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as schools outside the U.S. (2012, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

College Results - Not really a ranking guide, this site allows you to learn about universities' records of graduating diverse groups of students, and compare the graduation rates of similar institutions. Data is drawn from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. (The Education Trust; non-profit organization)

Washington Monthly College Guide - Rates colleges on their commitment to national service. Updated in 2011. There is also a related blog. (Washington Monthly magazine)

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFO

CAUTION! Before applying for financial aid or scholarships, please see
SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID SCAMS [UPDATED LINK!] (2012, Federal Trade Commission) and AVOIDING FINANCIAL AID SCAMS new (U.S. Department of Education).

CAUTION! Use of financial aid services may require filling out a detailed personal & financial questionnaire. Before submitting any personal or financial data online,
be sure you are using a secure internet connection.

THE LIBRARY CANNOT GUARANTEE THE PRIVACY OR SECURITY OF INFORMATION TRANSMITTED THROUGH LIBRARY COMPUTERS.

NOTE : Some additional information on financial aid and scholarships may be found at many of the websites listed in the General section, above.)

College Answer - Information on selecting, applying to, and paying for college. Formerly Wired Scholar. (SLM Corporation)

College Goal Sunday (N.J.) - College Goal Sunday is an annual event designed to assist low income and first generation students in completing the national application for college financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and providing information on available financial aid resources. (Co-sponsored by NJASFAA and HESAA with a grant from the Lumina Foundation)

College Savings Plans Network - Information on federal-tax-exempt college savings or 529 Plans. (National Association of State Treasurers)

CSS / Financial Aid Profile new - 'By filling out one form, you can apply online for nonfederal financial aid from almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs.' (The College Board)

FAFSA Online Financial Aid Application - Information on applying for Federal Student Aid. Apply online, or download an application. Use the FAFSA4Caster to begin exploring your financial aid options and get an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. See also Student Aid on the Web, below. (U.S. Department of Education)

FAFSA / Financial Aid Q & A [UPDATED!] - A six-part series on the federal student aid application process; by Mark Kantrowitz, FinAid.org, 2013. A related series is Answers to Your Questions About Paying for College new ; by Laura Perna, University of Pennsylvania, 2013. Part of The Choice (A New York Times blog; site includes advertisements)

FinAid.org - A comprehensive annotated collection of online information about student financial aid. Covers scholarships, loans, military, and other student aid. (A Monster company, Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher; site includes advertisements).

Most Affordable Colleges in America - An article about U.S. colleges & universities that have low or no tuition, or that offer generous student grants. (January 2011, Smart Money Magazine)

N.J. Higher Education Student Assistance Authority - Information, advice, and related resources for students and parents on choosing a college, applying to college, paying for college, and more. Includes specific information on loans, grants, and scholarships available in New Jersey. Use the menu on the left to navigate. (State of New Jersey)

Scholarships.com - Free online database of over 600,000 college scholarships, grants, fellowships, and internships from thousands of sources. NOTE : Use of this service may require filling out a detailed online personal profile questionnaire. Don't enter any personal information online until you understand the website's privacy policy and made sure you have a secure internet connection.

Smart About Money : Saving for College [UPDATED LINK!] - Advice on saving for college, calculating your college savings needs, College Savings Plans (529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and custodial accounts), qualifying for financial aid, and college saving catch-up strategies. (National Endowment for Financial Education; an independent, non-profit foundation)

Smart Money College Planning - Advice on financial aid, and saving and investing for college (Smart Money Magazine; site includes advertisements). See also CNN / Money's Paying for College page (site includes advertisements).

Student Aid on the Web - This site provides information on obtaining Federal Student Aid (FSA) including grants, loans, and work-study funds. Also offers advice on choosing a school, preparation and applications, and attending college. (U.S. Department of Education)

Student Guide : Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education - The current online guide and updates, in English and Spanish.

Student Loans : Avoiding Deceptive Offers - Consumer alert explaining how to spot the potentially deceptive claims or business practices that some private companies may use to get your student loan business. (Federal Trade Commission)

GRADUATE SCHOOL & LAW SCHOOL

America's Best Graduate Schools (US News & World Report) - This annual rating of graduate programs also offers school directories, articles, and research tools for the prospective grad student. Includes graduate programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, and more. We also recommend reading Caution & CONTROVERSY (University of Illinois) which examines the validity of rankings.

Graduate School Essays - Tips on writing effective essays for graduate school applications. (Writing Center at Rensselaer).

Hobson's GradView - Advice on choosing a graduate school, financial aid, admissions, program search, and more. (Hobson's college recruiting services; site includes advertisements)

COLLEGE & VOCATIONAL TESTING (SAT, etc.)

College Board - Register for the SAT® online and practice online with actual SAT® test questions; includes info on PSAT/NMSQT®, AP®, and CLEP®. One section of the site is aimed at K-12 Teachers new and other educational professionals, including AP Central new , with teaching tips, information, resources, and other helpful content for all 34 AP (Advanced Placement) courses. You can also use collegeboard.com to identify and search for suitable colleges, apply to college online, explore career options, and learn about college costs and financial aid.

ETS - The Educational Testing Service Network - Information on standardized tests such as the SAT®, AP®, GRE®, TOEFL®, CLEP®, and others, including online registration, test-taker guidelines, and practice tests.

Number2.com - Free customized online test preparation courses for SAT, ACT and GRE, with user-friendly tutorials, practice sessions, vocabulary builder, and more. NOTE : You will have to provide some personal identifying information to create an account (required for use of the site). (Xap Corporation; site includes advertisements)

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need to enter your name, library card barcode and PIN to get started.

GED Test Preparation

************ ADVISORY : Beware of Misleading Diploma Claims************

American Council on Education GED Page [UPDATED LINK!] - The official website for the GED, or General Educational Development test (also known as Graduate Equivalency Diploma), is now a for-profit business. The site provides general descriptions of the test and sample questions. (American Council on Education & Pearson Education, Inc.)

Getting a GED - Answers to common questions about the GED : What is the GED? How Do I Get Ready for the Test? What is the GED Test Like? Who is Eligible to Take the GED Test? Why Do I Need a GED? and Will the GED Help Me Get Into College? En Español : Cómo obtener un GED. (The Beehive / One Economy Corporation)

Literacy Link - Online lessons, practice tests, and other materials to help you prepare for the GED and learn basic workplace skills. Free registration is required. (WKET-TV)

New Jersey Department of Education GED Information Page - Explains what the GED test is, how to register, where to take the test, etc.

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Practice tests and study tips for the GED and many other standardized tests, plus test-taking tips and strategies; you'll need to enter your name, library card barcode and PIN to get started. (Thomson Corporation)

Skillswise : Maths - Printable fact sheets & worksheets, quizzes, and learning games designed to help adults improve their basic skills in math. Covers whole numbers, measuring, fractions, decimals & percentages, and handling data. (BBC)

Gifted & Talented Children

Learning Disabilities

Access STEM - Resources to help educators make classroom opportunities in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) accessible to individuals with disabilities, and to help students with disabilities succeed in STEM courses and pursue careers in STEM fields. (University of Washington)

Additude Magazine - Information and support for families and adults living with ADHD and learning disabilities. Includes practical advice about raising children, expert Q&A, and resources to help students with attentional or learning differences succeed at school. (New Hope Media LLC; site includes advertisements)

The Alliance - Gives technical assistance to 100 Parent Centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Parent Centers in each state provide training and information to parents and professionals to help them meet their children's special educational needs. Website includes links to Parent Centers in every state, as well as publications and other resources. Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) is the statewide Parent Center for New Jersey.

Do 2 Learn - 'Thousands pages of social skills & behavioral regulation activities & guidance, learning songs & games, communication cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment & life skills.' This site offers many free resources, but also sells related products. (By computer engineer Dr. Dorothy Strickland, Virtual Reality Aids, Inc.)

Homeschooling Children with Learning Disabilities - Resources on homeschooling for children with special needs. (2010, WETA-TV, PBS station; site includes advertisements)

LD Basics - Explains the basics about learning disabilities (symptoms, types, strategies), with special sections for parents and teachers. (Learning Disabilities Association of America)

LD Online - Accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD, including information for Parents to help you understand what your child needs, your rights and responsibilities in working with schools, and ways to support your child at home. There are also separate resources for Educators and Kids. (WETA-TV, PBS station; site includes advertisements)

Learning Disabilities - Information and tools for parents of a child with a learning disability (LD), or for parents who suspect their child may have a learning disability. (National Center for Learning Disabilities)

Learning Disabilities Articles - A collection of articles for parents covering topics such as diagnosing a learning disability, learning problems in teens, types of learning problems, your right to special services, and more. (HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics)

SparkTop - 'A safe place where kids who learn differently can create awesome stuff... play great games... connect with other kids... and discover new ways to succeed in school and in life.' Also includes resources for Teachers. (Professor Garfield Foundation / Charles & Helen Schwab Foundation)

Special Education & Early Education Resources - Links to information and support relating to education for children with special needs. Updated in 2011. (University of Wisconsin)

Special Education : GreatSchools.org - Guidance for parents on learning disabilities & ADHD, autism & other disorders, health & development, legal rights, and more. (Non-profit organization; site includes advertisements)

Teaching LD - Teaching how-to articles aimed at teachers and administrators of children with learning disabilities and children who are gifted. Presents methods and materials for classroom use as well as current issues in special education teaching and learning. Articles are in PDF. (Council for Exceptional Children)

School Directories & Information / Data (K-12)

America's Best High Schools - Rankings from US News & World Report (Standard & Poor's / US News & World Report; site includes advertisements). For a quick overview of educational quality in each state, see Leaders and Laggards : A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness; 2012 edition will be released on June 19, 2012 (U.S. Chamber of Commerce et al.).

Association of Boarding Schools - A searchable directory of Accredited College-Prep Boarding Schools throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, plus information about different types of boarding schools, choosing a school, how to apply, and more. You can also search or browse schools by alphabet, girls schools, boys schools, coed schools, location, size, grades offered, military schools, and subject focus, as well as summer programs (non-profit membership organization). See also Private / Independent Schools, below.

Center for Public Education - Practical information, analysis and expertise on key issues in public education, pre-K - 12. For educators, school boards, policymakers, and the public. (National School Boards Association; non-profit organization)

Great Schools : New Jersey - Online guide offering statistical profiles of K-12 schools, plus advice for parents about school selection, navigating the system, and getting involved. You can also use the site to research schools in other states. (Non-profit organization; site includes advertisements)

New Jersey Blue-Ribbon Schools - 'The nationally-funded Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors schools that are models of excellence and equity.' You can find more award-winning New Jersey schools and educators on the Recognition Program home page. See also New Jersey Schools to Watch®. NOTE : Best Practices and Star Schools programs have been discontinued. (New Jersey Dept. of Education)

New Jersey School Report Card - Click on 'New Jersey School Report Card' for a profile of each public school in the state, with statistics on enrollment, faculty, class size, expenditures, test scores, computer use, etc. Or you can go straight to the South Plainfield schools report card for 2010-2011 (New Jersey Dept. of Education).

New Jersey Statewide Testing - Information and sample questions for elementary and high school students taking standardized tests such as the ASK and HSPA.

Private / Independent Schools [UPDATED LINK!] - A searchable directory of private / independent schools. You can search by school name, location, school type, religious denomination, sports programs, and other special programs. The site's Parents' Guide offers additional information about independent schools. (National Association of Independent Schools, a non-profit membership organization)

School Locator - Search this site to find schools in a specified geographic area. Provides statistical data such as enrollment and student-teacher ratio. Covers private and public schools, as well as colleges and libraries. (National Center for Education Statistics)

South Plainfield Public Schools - Official home page for all the South Plainfield public schools, including the adult school. Click here for Parents section, which includes forms, notices, policies, enrollment, and related information.

Teachers, Parents & Homeschoolers - Resources

FACTS ON FILE : CURRICULUM RESOURCE CENTER - Printable handouts on a variety of subjects, including history, geography, and science, for the elementary, middle school, high school, and junior college curriculum. If you're logging on from home or school, you'll need to enter your name, library card barcode number, and PIN to start.

Adolescent Literacy - Information and resources for parents and educators of students (grades 4-12) having difficulty with reading and writing. Includes articles, Q&A, classroom strategies, newsletters, themed booklists & book discussion materials, author interviews, video presentations and more. (WETA-TV, PBS station)

ALTEC - Teacher tools and other 'educational resources that use technology to improve instruction across all content areas and grade levels.' (Advanced Learning Technologies project, University of Kansas)

Annenberg Media : Learner.org - Instructional videos and teacher professional development programs for those with broadband Internet access, covering a wide range of subjects for grades K-12, college, and adult learners. You can also browse teacher resources by discipline and grade. (Free, but you must register to view the programs.)

ArtsEdge : Arts Education Resources - Articles, multimedia, lesson plans, and other resources for educators, families, and students on a wide range of arts-related topics (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts). Integrating the Arts Resources 'use the visual arts to teach concepts of social studies, science, language arts and math curricula. Designed for middle school students but adaptable for elementary and high school' (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore MD).

A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - This comprehensive site contains links to articles, websites, and other useful resources relating to all aspects of homeschooling. (By Ann Zeise, a 'retired' homeschooling parent; site includes advertisements)

Back-to-School Transitions - Suggestions to help ease the transition from summer vacation to schooltime and get the new school year off to a good start (National Association of School Psychologists). Back to School offers brief, helpful information for parents at the start of the school year, covering check-ups & immunizations, nutrition, homework help, financial assistance, plus links to related resources (USA.gov). See also Back to School Health & Safety Tips [UPDATED LINK!], School Tips: Ages 5-12, School Tips: Ages 12 - 18 (American Academy of Pediatrics), Going to School (PBS Parents), and Childhood Student Emergencies : Prepare Now (American College of Emergency Physicians).

Back to School Activities - Links to ideas and resources for teachers and homeschoolers starting off a new school year, including icebreakers, first-day activities, crafts, clip art, printables, and more. (Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers; site includes advertisements)

C-Span Classroom - Video on current events, government, economics, politics and history, suitable for classroom use. Click on 'Subjects/Topics' to begin.

Cable in the Classroom - Commercial-free, educational video and web resources available free from cable TV networks to public and private schools. Covers a wide range of topics. (A non-profit foundation from the cable telecommunications industry)

Character Education - Free resources, materials, and lesson plans to help teachers promote ethical values in their students. Includes character-building activities, discussions, and other resources, with a special section on character in sports (Live Wire Media, an educational media producer/distributor). Includes a Service Learning Primer, below. For additional information and resources, see Character Education FAQs and Character Education Resources (Character Education Partnership).

Common Sense Media and Technology Resources for Educators - Free curriculum materials designed to help educators and students in grades K-8 use the Internet safely and effectively while taking full advantage of the rich content available online. (Originally co-published with Macmillan/McGraw-Hill; now part of Common Sense Media)

Core Knowledge® - Lesson plans and other resources for a core curriculum aimed at helping elementary and middle school students establish strong foundations of knowledge, grade by grade. Includes information for homeschoolers. (By author / educator E. D. Hirsch, Jr.; commercial site)

CyberBee - Curriculum ideas and related web resources for teachers and homeschoolers. (By Library Media Specialist Linda C. Joseph)

Discovery School Teaching Tools - Use this site to generate puzzles, quizzes, worksheets, & lesson plans. (Discovery Channel; site includes advertisements)

Doing What Works - 'A website dedicated to assisting teachers in the implementation of effective educational practices.' Covers the topics of Early Childhood Education, English Language, Math & Science, Psychology of Learning, and School Improvement, with research-based teaching recommendations, reviews of how actual schools are teaching, and useful tools to help you improve your practice. (U.S. Department of Education)

EDSITEment - 'The Best of the Humanities on the Web.' An outstanding collection of lesson plans, with links to online humanities resources from some of the world's great museums, libraries, cultural institutions, and universities. Browsable by category/subcategory and grade level; you can also search by keyword or phrase. (National Endowment for the Humanities et al.)

Eduweb® Adventures - A collection of imaginative, interactive K-12 learning experiences created for museums, zoos, and other institutions; great for homeschoolers. Browse by subject or grade level. (Eduweb, a developer of digital learning games and activities.)

ERIC® : Education Resources Information Center - Enormous searchable directory of journal articles and other materials on teaching & education. Links to full text are included where available (limited availability). (U.S. Department of Education).

FactCheckEd Learning Resources [UPDATED LINK!] - Lesson plans and related materials aimed at helping students acquire the skills to see through deceptive advertising in consumer products and in politics; now part of Annenberg Classroom. A related site, FlackCheck.org , 'uses parody and humor to debunk false political advertising, poke fun at extreme language, and hold the media accountable for their reporting on political campaigns.' (Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania)

Garden-Based Learning - Learning activities which provide children with opportunities for mastery, belonging, power, and generosity, while teaching them about science, nature, and economics (Cornell University). See also School Garden Resources (Life Lab, a non-profit organization), KinderGarden & School Gardens new (Texas Agricultural Extension Service), KidsGardening (National Gardening Association), My First Garden (University of Illinois Extension), and Green Schools Initiative, below.

Geography : Helping Your Child Learn Geography - General guidance for parents of grade school students on introducing kids to geography, with many suggested games & activities you can do at home, in your neighborhood, and while traveling - great for home-schoolers. For pre-schoolers (ages 2 - 5), see Early Childhood : Where Learning Begins - Geography (1996, 1999; U.S. Department of Education)

Going to School - Information for parents of kids in Pre-K through grade 5. Explains what and how kids learn, grade-by-grade. Offers advice on choosing a school, helping your child adjust to a new grade or a new school, helping with homework, making friends, and more (PBS; site includes advertisements). To help you decide whether your child is ready to start kindergarten, see Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? [UPDATED LINK!] (University of Minnesota Extension) and Ready for Kindergarten? (Scholastic Inc., site includes advertisements). For more great tips on helping prepare your young child for school, see Ready Web (University of Illinois). See also Get Ready Activities, Countdown to Kindergarten [Link opens a PDF], and Ten Ways to Get Ready for Kindergarten [Link opens a PDF]; also available in Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages. (Boston Public Schools).

Green Schools Initiative - 'Green schools have good indoor air quality, use natural light, save energy, serve healthy food, create green schoolyards, and teach stewardship.' This site offers information and advice for greening the schools in your community (David Brower Center, a non-profit environmental organization). See also Garden-Based Learning links, above.

Health Curriculum Resources - Teacher's guides and student materials 'on the science behind selected health topics. They combine cutting-edge biomedical discoveries with state-of-the-art instructional practices.' Use the Title menu on the left to choose grade level and topic. Additional resources are available from the Office of Science Education home page. (National Institutes of Health)

Heritage Teaching Resources - A variety of online materials about Black History, Women's History, Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Heritage, and American Indian Heritage (Smithsonian). Gale Free Resources also offers activities, biographies, links, quizzes, and timelines for Women's History, Black History, and Hispanic Heritage (Gale Cengage Learning).

Home Education Magazine - Helpful homeschooling advice and information, plus links to book catalogs, curriculum resources, support groups, discussion boards, recommended websites, and more. (Commercial site)

Home Fires - Online journal for homeschoolers with facts, articles, curriculum materials, links and more. There is a fee for some resources, but many are free. (Diane Flynn Keith, editor; site includes advertisements)

Home School Legal Defense Association - Information on current legal and political issues related to homeschooling; includes updates on state legislation. (Non-profit organization; site includes advertisements)

Homeschooling Children with Learning Disabilities - Resources on homeschooling for children with special needs (WETA-TV, PBS station; site includes advertisements). See also Learning Disabilities, above.

Interactives - 'Provides educators and students with strategies, content, and activities that can enhance and improve students' skills in a variety of curricular areas,' including math, science, language, history, and arts. (Annenberg Media)

International Ed - A selection of online resources for teaching and learning about other cultures, places, and languages (Asia Society). TOPICS Online Magazine offers short articles on international customs & cultures, globalization, and related topics, written by ESL learners from many different countries.

Kid Tools - Free downloads of user-friendly software designed 'to help students take control of their learning, behavior, and problem solving to improve success in school.' A variety of tools are offered for pre-school through middle school; the website provides information for parents and teachers. (University of Missouri)

Learn NC - A searchable collection of resources for K-12 teaching and learning, including lesson plans and teaching strategies, classroom text & multimedia, and online courses for teachers and students. Covers arts, science, civics, geography, literature, history, and more. NOTE: Resources are correlated to North Carolina curriculum standards. (University of North Carolina)

Library of Congress Webcasts - Another great site to find online videos on a wide range of topics, including biography, history, culture, education, government, literature, religion, and science & technology. The Library of Congress also has a Teachers' page with classroom materials, lesson plans, and other education resources.

Math Education : Parent Resources - Advice and information for parents to help their children succeed at learning mathematics. Also includes Tips for Teachers as well as lessons, activities, and other math resources for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics)

Media Smarts : Media Awareness Resources - Resources for teaching and learning about media issues (media violence, media stereotyping, online hate, and information privacy); grades K-12. Curriculum standards are for Canada, but most materials should be generally useful to teachers, homeschoolers, and parents in the U.S. as well. Teachers' section includes a lesson library which is searchable by grade and subject (Media Smarts, formerly Media Awareness Network; non-profit organization). For additional lessons, activities, and other materials, see Media Literacy 101 (for teens; University of Washington) and Media Smart Youth (for 11- to 13-year olds; National Institutes of Health) .

Microsoft Teacher Guides - Free teaching tips and step-by-step guides to help you use Microsoft tools and technologies in class. Covers Windows Live Movie Maker, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, Windows 7, Bing, Microsoft Mathematics 4.0, and more. (Microsoft Corporation)

Montessori Homeschooling - Q & A for those interested in using the Montessori principles in homeschooling, with links to additional resources. (International Montessori Index)

New Jersey Core Currriculum Content Standards (CCCS) - The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards include Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards as well as K-12 standards for: Visual & Performing Arts; Comprehensive Health & Physical Education; Science; Social Studies; World Languages; Technology; and 21st-Century Life & Careers (State of New Jersey). EBSCO offers a Curriculum Standards tool that allows teachers to locate curriculum standards based on several criteria. The Curriculum Standards application is available in EBSCO's History Reference Center, Kids Search, Science Reference Center, Searchasaurus, and Student Research Center. See Curriculum Standards tool for information on how to locate the tool in each resource.

New Jersey Homeschool Association - Includes legal information and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about homeschooling in New Jersey. (Volunteer-run organization)

New Jersey State Museum - A great destination for homeschoolers who want to get off the Web and out into the world, this general museum located in Trenton collects, exhibits and interprets natural history, archaeology/ethnology, cultural history, and fine art. Facility includes an auditorium and high-definition planetarium. Another excellent educational destination in New Jersey is the Newark Museum, featuring art and science exhibits, a mini zoo, planetarium, auditorium, and other kid-friendly facilities and programs.

New Jersey Statewide Testing - Information and sample questions for elementary and high school students taking standardized tests such as the ASK and HSPA.

New Jersey Teacher Licensing and Credentials - How to apply for teacher certification in New Jersey, including the 'Alternate Route' requirements. Separating or retiring military personnel who are interested in pursuing a second career in public education should see the Troops to Teachers page. For information on teacher certification requirements in other states, see Teacher Certification Map (University of Southern California).

New York Times Learning Network and PBS NewsHour Extra - Current events learning materials for teachers and students, grades 7-12.

PBS Teacher Source - Thousands of lesson plans, activities, and other resources for teachers or homeschoolers (site includes advertisements). PBS LearningMedia new provides access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready digital resources including videos, games, audio clips, photos, lesson plans, and more; free for educators, registration required for full access (PBS & WGBH Educational Foundation). See also PBS Nova Teachers' Resources (site includes advertisements) and ThirteenEd Online (Educational Broadcasting Corporation).

Physical Education Energizers [Link opens a PDF] - Short classroom-based physical activities that integrate physical activity with academic concepts; printable booklets (PDF) for middle school teachers and homeschoolers. (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction)

PTA Parent Topics : Student Learning [UPDATED LINK!] - Parent resources to help your child achieve success in school. Use the left-hand menu to choose other topics. (National PTA; site includes advertisements)

Science Education Gateway (SEGway) - High quality educational websites on space science, sun/earth, and solar system, with suggested grade levels (K-4, 5-8, 9-12) and content standards provided for each. The site is 'designed to help teachers locate and identify the resources they can use best and that fit their local curriculum and National Science Education Standards' (University of California, NASA, et al.). See also Science Learning Center; use the menu on the left to filter the list by subject and/or grade level (National Science Teachers Association). AMSER (Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services in applied math & science, designed for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges but free for anyone to use.

Service Learning Clearinghouse - Information and technical assistance for promoting learning through community service (U.S. government program). Service Learning Primer is a guide to the whys and hows of doing a community service project. Aimed at teachers, but material will also be useful to students planning a service project. Includes dozens of examples of projects for elementary through high school (Live Wire Media, an educational media producer / distributor).

Smithsonian Education - Smithsonian educational resources for students, teachers, and families, with features on topics in art & design, science & nature, history & culture, and people & places.

StudyStack - Interactive site provides online 'flashcards' and other tools to help students learn facts and dates in history, geography, math, science, language, and medicine. You can also use the site to create your own flashcards; free registration required. (By John Weidner, software engineer; site includes advertisements)

Teach with Documents - 'Reproducible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the United States, teaching activities correlated to the National History Standards and National Standards for Civics and Government, and cross-curricular connections.' Related materials are available on the Teachers' Resources page.

Teach with Historic Places - A unique collection of lesson plans and other resources for using historic sites to teach students about history. Ideal for homeschoolers who can travel to the sites, but includes lots of resources useful for the classroom too (National Park Service). Sightseer's Guide to Engineering suggests 'fun and stimulating destinations [you can visit] while learning how engineering improves our quality of life and helps make our economy go.' Photos and maps included (National Society of Professional Engineers).

Teach With Movies - A guide to using movies to introduce students to 'major events of history; great achievements of civilization; extraordinary men and women who have shaped our world; works of music, dance, drama, literature and the visual arts; and ethical, social, and cultural issues.' There is a small fee for full access to learning guides, but basic info and helpful indexes are free.

Teachers and Families - Thousands of free resources, including original, theme-based preschool activities, learning projects, and printable pages, plus reviews and links to K-12 study resources grouped by subject and grade level, and parenting resources on a wide variety of topics. (Network for Instructional TV, Inc., 'a non-profit learning technologies corporation'; site includes advertisements).

Teachers' Domain - A multimedia digital library for the classroom offering video, audio, interactives, images, and documents from NOVA, American Experience, and other public television productions; with background articles for each resource, correlations to curriculum standards, lesson plans and other tools. Includes collections on Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering, and the Civil Rights Movement; Language Arts, Social Studies, and Math will be added in the future. Free registration required for full access. NOTE : Teachers' Domain will soon be replaced by PBS LearningMedia (WGBH Educational Foundation)

Teachers Network - A huge collection of lesson plans and other curriculum materials designed by teachers, for teachers. Browse or search by subject and grade level. (By a nationwide non-profit organization). Hundreds of additional great lesson plans and related resources are available free at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), arranged by subject (non-profit organization).

Teaching Channel new - 'A video showcase of inspiring and effective teaching practices in America's schools... Our video library offers educators a wide range of subjects for grades K-12. The videos also include information on alignment with Common Core State Standards and ancillary material for teachers to use in their own classrooms.' Teaching Channel Presents airs on PBS stations. (Non-profit organization)

Teaching Tolerance - Classroom activities, teaching kits, and other resources dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children. Mostly for teachers. (Southern Poverty Law Center)

TED Talks video , 'inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers' on Technology, Entertainment, Design, Business, Science, Culture, Arts, and Global issues (non-profit organization). See also WGBH Forum for thousands of video and audio lectures from the world's foremost scholars, authors, artists, scientists, policymakers, and community leaders (WGBH & the Lowell Institute; hosted on YouTube).

Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute Curriculum Units - Dozens of detailed lesson plans on a wide variety of themes; for elementary, middle, and high school grades.

Zoom School (Enchanted Learning) - 'An on-line elementary school classroom with lessons in geography, biology, language arts, and early childhood activities. (Commercial / user-supported; site includes advertisements)