Lesson Plans

Design your homeschooling curriculum around these lesson plans that are specified by grade, subject and age.

1. Scholastic. Choose from a variety of fun and instructive lesson plans that you can search by grade or subject.
2. The Lesson Plans Page. More than 3,500 free lesson plans are available for educators, including math worksheets and science experiments.
3. OFCN’s Academy Curriculum Exchange. This site offers lesson plans for kindergarten through twelfth grade students.
4. BrainPOP. From singing to scientists, all lessons are animated with cartoons and interactive videos.
5. LessonPlanZ.com. New lesson plans are added weekly for all grades and subjects.
6. Teachers.net. Get thousands of teacher-approved lesson plans for every grade level.
7. The Educator’s Reference Desk. Find lesson plans that meet your specific search criteria.
8. Let’s Homeschool. This site offers homeschool curriculums, resources and specific subject assignments that cater to homeschooler’s needs.
9. teAchnology. Browse through more than 30,000 lesson plans and tips submitted by teachers.
10. Education World. Shake things up with these creative lesson plans, such as 5-minute fillers, holiday lessons and news for kids.

Educational Resources

From online tutorials to electronic textbooks, these educational resources are easy to use and super convenient for homeschool students and teachers.

11. Educator. From calculus to biology and everything in between, Educator provides video tutorials that cover numerous subjects.
12. Free Home Education. Browse through the extensive list of free homeschool resources available on the Web.
13. PinkMonkey.com. From state testing resources, online textbooks for numerous subjects to SAT prep tests, PinkMonkey has you covered with more than 450 free study resources.
14. Algebra.com. Get free homework help and utilize online tutors to assist with pre-algebra, algebra I, algebra II and geometry lessons.
15. iKnowthat.com. Designed for younger students, this interactive site provides a variety of tutorials and lessons that encourage more active learning and less memorizing.
16. Federal Resources for Educational Excellence. Get federal-supported resources on a range of topics, including arts, music, U.S. history and science.
17. Project Gutenberg. Recognized as "the first producer of free electronic books," Gutenberg has nearly 30,000 free ebooks to choose from.
18. Ambleside Online. This site follows the curriculum of Charlotte Mason’s, which is focused on "high literary standards" and free texts.
19. Math/Science Nucleus. Get an online science curriculum for elementary students on this non-profit educational site, founded by scientists, educators and community members.
20. K-12 Free Homeschool. This kindergarten through twelfth grade schooling program also provides free homeschool resources, such as ebooks, a calendar with daily assignments and a public forum for parents to communicate.

Educational Software

Whether your homeschooler is learning a new language or needs help with math, educational software programs add variety to your lessons and can serve as a second teacher.

21. The Homeschool Place. Choose from a variety of software programs for virtually every school subject.
22. Rosetta Stone. The popular language-learning software enhances a foreign language curriculum with interactive tools and progress reports specially designed for homeschool use.
23. Edu-Track Home School. Use this handy software to keep track of lesson plans, report cards, transcripts and more.
24. Homeschool Tracker. Stay organized with this multi-use tracker that will make your homeschooling experience more efficient.
25. ClickN Read. Listed as the "world’s most advanced phonics, reading and spelling programs," this software is guaranteed to teach your child to read or spell or you’ll get your money back.
26. Smart Tutor. This program is designed to enhance math and reading skills for elementary-aged children.
27. Free Homeschool Software. For a $7.50 shipping and handling rate, you can get free software programs like 2009 World Book Encyclopedia or the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
28. Alpha Omega. Get Christian homeschooling materials for all grades.
29. Professor Toto. François Thibaut’s programs are noted as the "number one technique" to teach children foreign languages before they speak.
30. Algebrator. This software will help you solve everything from pre-algebra to college algebra questions on screen.

Homeschool Supplies

Get used, new or hard-to-find homeschool supplies, teaching materials and classroom items on these discounted shopping and auction sites.

31. DHSS. Shop this site’s discounted curriculum materials and school supplies.
32. SmileMakers. SmileMakers, a division of Staples, has everything you need for your homeschool classroom: stickers, toys and teaching materials.
33. Discount School Supply. From costumes, furniture to arts and crafts supplies, this online store has your homeschool needs covered.
34. Timberdoodle Co. Shop discounted school supplies for grades Kindergarten through twelfth.
35. HomeschoolingSupply. Find educational resources and specific supplies to fit your everyday homeschool needs without paying any sales tax.
36. K-12 School Supplies. Shop teacher-created resources, Christian inspirational items and special needs lessons.
37. Bibliofind. Linked with Amazon.com, this site searches and provides millions of rare, pre-owned and out-of-print books for purchase.
38. Homeschool Bid. Use this homeschooler’s auction site to sell your old supplies, texts or furniture for brand new or used ones.
39. Rainbow Resource Center. Shop more than 40,000 quality educational products for all grades, subjects and ages at discounted prices.
40. The Dow’s Schoolroom. Get homeschool supplies, Bible class resources and educational toys on this school shopping site.

Organization

Organization is a-must for homeschoolers who want to keep the house separate from the school. Use these tips to organize, de-clutter and create a balanced environment in your own homeschool.

41. The Home School Mom. Get the latest planners and tools to help you stay organized and keep track of your child’s assignments, as well as tips on how to keep your house clean and encourage your kids to pitch in.
42. Handipoints. Use these printable worksheets to keep tabs on your child’s math skills, chore duties and study habits, and it’s also a good incentive for rewarding progress.
43. Donna Young. From note-taking forms, lesson plan forms to custom calendars, this site has you covered for organizing paperwork and creating forms.
44. Organized Home. This site is filled with motivational articles and organizing tips to help you cut the clutter and make room for your homeschooler.
45. Homeschool-By-Design. Get information on how to maintain a clean, organized home and keep track of important documents, such as lesson plans and law-required records.
46. Organizing Your Way. Learn how to achieve a balanced homeschooling atmosphere with these organization and time management tips.
47. Homeschool Curriculum for Life. This homeschooler shares her cleaning and organization tips that are simple and doable in a day’s work.
48. I’m an Organizing Junkie. From the school space, the kitchen to your kids’ toys, this organizer gives detailed and practical tips on keeping your house free of clutter.
49. Homeschool Theater. From designating a work space to storing school supplies, this site will help you run your homeschool more efficiently.
50. Ecletic Homeschool. Plan field trips, organize your calendar and get practice worksheets on this handy site that will save you time and money.

Discipline

Being the parent and the teacher may require extra discipline for your child and you. Find ways to handle classroom and behavior problems while maintaining a productive learning atmosphere.

51. Homeschool Curriculum and Support. Learn how to draw the line between home and school life and creating boundaries from parent to teacher with these helpful tips and exercises.
52. Homeschool Classroom Discipline. This site provides practical ideas and plans for parents to enforce discipline and make their classroom run more efficiently.
53. Lifestyle Homeschool. This homeschooler of four children shares her tips on obedience, classroom discipline and other intrapersonal skills.
54. Homeschool Discipline. Find helpful articles on how to handle stubbornness, how to establish homeschool rules and how to solve discipline problems while initiating learning.
55. EduGuide. See how discipline is enforced in public schools and how you can use the same tactics for homeschooling.
56. Back to School. Get tips on disciplining at home, as well as maintaining control as the teacher and parent during homeschool.
57. Homeschooling Fun. This mother of six shares her views and advice on disciplining children in homeschool.
58. Christian-Parent.com. This site focuses on Christian family values and gives advice on how to discipline young children and teenagers.
59. Homeschool Magazine. Read articles on disciplining kids and how you, the parent and teacher, can practice self-discipline at home.
60. Love to Learn. Get information and tips on discipline and other behavioral problems.

Homeschooler Blogs

These homeschooling moms and dads offer advice, resources and tips on teaching kids from home, as well as share their own personal experiences, beliefs and gripes.

61. Relaxed Homeschooler. Read what this mother of seven has to say about homeschooling and how she teaches in a relaxed atmosphere.
62. Notes From a Homeschooling Mom. This mother posts news articles about education and shares her thoughts on homeschooling and parenting.
63. Chez Smiffy. Get tips on how to write your own homeschool curriculum and here why this mom doesn’t segregate one room for teaching.
64. Guilt-Free Homeschooling. This 11-year veteran of homeschooling shares her experiences and offers general advice and encouragement to other homeschoolers.
65. Principled Discovery. Read intriguing articles about the challenges and rewards of homeschooling from this mother and teacher.
66. Higher Up and Further In. This homeschooler shares important lessons such as how to teach children to read, how to teach spelling and when to start practicing poetry.
67. Little Blue School. This mom takes a different approach to homeschool blogging with a range of posts like how to teach a child to write a novel and her views on HSLDA.
68. Eclectic Education. Get up-to-date advice on books, lessons and other resources from this homeschooling mother of two.
69. PHAT Mommy.This tech-savvy mother communicates about homeschooling and motherhood with her blog, Twitter, Facebook and others.
70. Why Homeschool. This blog explores homeschooling topics concerning education and family issues, as well as offer first-hand accounts of teaching from the four authors.

Homeschool Student Blogs

These tech-savvy homeschool students share stories of homeschooling, family and their daily activities, as well as post pictures, artwork and essays.

71. HomeSchoolBlogger. This online community is open to students and their families to discuss education and share pictures and stories with other fellow homeschoolers.
72. Stampede Homeschool. Get up-to-date news and reviews on homeschooling and find lessons from other students and teachers.
73. Simply Vintagegirl. This homeschooled student shares stories of her experiences at home and discusses religion, photography and family.
74. Painter of Words. Read book reviews, homeschool lessons and religious discussions on this young homeschooler’s blog.
75. Seven Sisters. These seven homeschooled sisters write about cooking, God and living on the farm.
76. Aspiring Homemaker. This stay-at-home daughter and homeschool graduate blogs about life and work at home.
77. The Daily Planet. Here what this homeschool college student has to say about education, faith and friends.
78. Empowered Traditionalist. Christa Taylor, a modest clothing designer, writes about homeschool, youth and femininity.
79. Clickety-Clack. Without a formal education, this avid writer shares her thoughts on life, books and God.
80. A Pondering Heart. This 18-year-old homeschool student blogs about her daily life, stories from the homestead and is outspoken about religion and social issues.

Homeschool Laws

Before you start teaching, make sure you are up-to-date on your state’s homeschool laws and regulations.

81. Home School Legal Defense Association. Find your state’s legal options for homeschooling, as well as news, resources and legislation information.
82. Homeschool Laws & Legalities. Get the ins and the outs on homeschool laws and legal assistance to help you better understand the laws of your state and how to comply to them.
83. Home Education Magazine. Learn how to start and run a homeschool support group and how you can stay informed on homeschool laws and regulations.
84. National Conference of State Legislatures. Get an overview on compulsory education laws.
85. Homeschool World. Child immunization laws are discussed here, as well as which states allow parental choice exemptions.
86. Homeschooling Your Child. Get the latest news and information on homeschool laws and regulations.
87. Successful Homeschooling. This homeschooler has put together a list of homeschooling requirements, a summary on the history of homeschool laws and information on homeschool testing.
88. The Home School Foundation. Get information on homeschool funding, scholarships and aid for needy families in the homeschool community.
89. National Center for Home Education. This site focuses on federal legislation, federal relations and has opinionated articles.
90. Homeschooling State Regulations. Get detailed information and explanations on state regulations and rules.

Sports and Activities

Just because your child is homeschooled doesn’t mean they can’t have extracurricular activities. These sites will help you find local homeschool sports leagues, plan new activities and create fun games for your child to play at home or outdoors.

91. Homeschool Sports Network. Get information on local homeschool sports leagues in your area and follow your favorite team’s stats.
92. Homeschool Football. This is a community forum to share information, comments and strategies for homeschool football programs.
93. National Homeschool Volleyball Tournament. Get information on upcoming volleyball tournaments and see how your homeschooled child can play
94. NCAA. The National Collegiate Athletic Association provides eligibility information for homeschooled athletes interested in playing college sports.
95. The Field Trip Lady. This article is filled with field trip ideas and unique places to visit.
96. Homeschool Diner. Search through tons of fun and educational games, puzzles and hands-on activities that your kids will enjoy.
97. SchoolExpress. Get thousands of free activities online, such as jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku games and journal writing assignments.
98. Craftster. Find kid craft projects, share ideas and discuss art with fellow crafters in the public forum.
99. The Incredible Art Department. Let your homeschooler find his or her inner-artist with these art lesson plans and activities.
100. Homeschool Music Association. Find local bands, choruses, orchestras and other homeschool music groups in your area.

Evaluation Tools

Teachers, school psychologists and doctors will help you test your child for a learning disability, but in the meantime, you can use these guides and tools to check symptoms and learn more about the testing process.

1. Learning Disability Screening Quiz: About.com’s quiz is mostly for testing elementary school kids.
2. Assessing Your Child’s Learning Difficulty/Learning Disability: This guide helps you assess symptoms of ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and ASD.
3. Inclusion of Students with Special Needs: Standards and Assessment: This guide has lots of tools and resources for understanding the assessment process and certain symptoms.
4. Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligence: This quiz helps students find out their preferred learning style.
5. Early Identification: LK OnLine’s Early Identification page features resources, videos, recommended books and a FAQ section to help parents and teachers identify LD signs early.
6. Rating Scales and Checklists: Learn about this form of assessment for ADD and ADHD.
7. Top 8 Tips to Recognize Early Signs of Learning Disabilities: Ann Logsdon’s guide points out 8 signs and lots of sub-symptoms when evaluating special needs kids.
8. Late Blooming or Language Problem?: This guide from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association helps parents identify speech and communication conditions early on.
9. Dyslexia Screening Test: Parents and teachers can use this screening to test a child for dyslexia.
10. All About Autism Symptoms Video: This video from the National Autism Association outlines the principal symptoms of autism.

Reading and Writing

From innovative dictionaries to lesson plans for dyslexic students to grammar and spellcheck help, these reading and writing tools are must-haves for special needs students.

11. Multisensory Phonics: Learn about and purchase this system of phonics and literacy tools for children with dyslexia, Aspergers, austism and other learning differences.
12. CleverKeys: This free software program immediately connects to dictionaries, thesauruses and Reference.com through word processors and web browsers.
13. RFB&D: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has tools, lesson plans and guides for reading-challenged students.
14. CAST: Access classic literature in a flexible online format plus free tutoring tools and other add-ons to help those who face reading challenges.
15. Co-Writer: This tool isn’t free, but its writing, spelling and grammar-help features help students as they go.
16. Bookshare: This "books without barriers" project provides books and periodicals to readers with sight or reading disabilities. It includes over 50,000 digital books and textbooks.
17. LibriVox: Find free audiobooks in mp3 or ogg file format.
18. Articulate Spelling 1.22: A cute cartoon character helps kids spell and sound out words.
19. Textic Talklets 1.90: Websites become more interactive with this unique approach to text-to-speech technology. Audio clips can even be saved to mp3s and to iPods.
20. WordLogic: This tool helps dyslexic students use a keyboard, develop their writing style and more.
21. PixWriter v3.0: Young learners will associate words with pictures to help them with sentence construction and reading comprehension.
22. Text-Reader: Tools in this kit include a free Drill dictionary and text reader.
23. Aurora: Aurora features a talking spellchecker, phonetic word completion tool, homonym help, and word prediction tool are great for dyslexic students.
24. Ghotit: Ghotit’s writing assistant has a context spellchecker, word dictionary, and text-to-speech tool.
25. AnswerTips: Double click a word to get an information bubble with that word’s definition with AnswerTips.

Math Tools

Get help with math problems by working with these interactive, engaging tools.

26. Webmath: With just a few clicks, students can get answers and step-by-step study help for math problems.
27. Internet Lessons in Mathematics: The University of Washington has developed this helpful interactive math site for learning geometry and more.
28. Visually Impaired Calculator: This big-print calculator is web-based and easy to use.
29. Math Card Games for Special Education Learners: Here you’ll find math card games and activities that help special education learners practice their skills.
30. Math Made Easy: Math Made Easy features tools and lessons for students who struggle with math.
31. Math Games: These interactive math games use tangrams, spatial learning techniques, and more to provide a multisensory and interactive environment.
32. TouchMath: TouchMath uses multisensory, interactive systems to help young students learn math.
33. MathTrax: NASA’s graphing and mathematics learning tool accommodates blind and low vision users, too.
34. Education World Math Center: Find creative learning techniques and lessons like math raps, the Mathnasium and other tools for alternative math education.

Communication and Social

Not all of these tools are specifically intended for special needs students, but they can be very useful for teens and older students who need help with organization, mind mapping, meeting new people and working on their social skills.

35. Emacspeak: This speech interface for blind and low vision users supports web messaging.
36. Amiglia: Help students make connections and learn about their family history with this site, which includes albums, a family Facebook, calendars, games and more.
37. Google latitude: Teens with learning and social disorders may want to use this tool, which allows friends and family to track the teen’s location through their phone.
38. GoodReads: This online book club can help students stay on top of their reading and learn how to discuss and analyze books.
39. LivingSocial: This social cataloging site can help special needs students work on organization skills while meeting new people, branching out of their comfort zone, and exploring their own interests.
40. 43Things: Help your student feel better and more focused about setting goals by introducing them to this site.

Organization

These tools are great for students who have trouble remembering, focusing and staying on task.

41. ListPool: Students can easily create to-do lists that they can share with tutors, teachers and parents here.
42. Todoist: Todoist is another straightforward task manager that works along with an online calendar.
43. MyStickies: Students can immediately jot down ideas on websites using MyStickies.
44. Notefish: Notefish is a web tool that lets you manage projects while you research online. Special needs kids will like being able to drag and drop images, color pages and annotate notes right from their browser without having to wait until later.
45. Diigo: Diigo is another tool that lets students highlight, bookmark, add sticky notes to and basically customize websites so that they’re easier to read, manage and share.
46. Nutshell: Students can work off their to-do list as they work online with Nutshell.
47. Remember the Milk: Help students stay focused on homework assignments and everyday chores with this to-do list, which can send you reminders via IM, text or e-mail.
48. MyProgress.com: Students will like this easy goal tracker that allows them to see how much progress they’ve made.
49. ChoreBuster: Teachers and parents of special needs kids can depend on this chore organizer to keep their home or classroom on track.

Study Skills and Test Prep

These study tools and concept mapping tools can help your special needs students more organized, focused and driven.

50. Mindomo: A mind mapping system like this clearly lays out concepts and facts for visual learners.
51. FreeMind: This free and open source mind mapping tool can work as a customizable study guide or study scheduler.
52. Comapping: Comapping is an organization and study tool that helps students take better notes, understand concepts visually, collaborate with other students and teachers, and become more engaged in the learning process.
53. iWriter: This system helps you incorporate text and audio so that your study system is more interactive and completely customized.
54. bubbl.us: This is a colorful site that allows users to create brainstorming maps and then print or share them with parents and teachers.
55. HomeworkSpot: Kids and teens can find lots of study, reference and exam help in all subjects on the HomeworkSpot.
56. MAPMYself: This organic mind mapping tool follows each person’s unique train of thought.
57. Discovery Education: Discovery’s education site has free tools, videos, guides and other multimedia resources for interactive learning.
58. Vision Learning: Teachers will find graphs and other interactive learning tools for studying mid-ocean ridges, cells, atoms, and more.
59. Multiple Choice and True/False Test-Taking Tips: Students with test anxiety or other learning disorders can use this guide to master multiple choice and T/F tests.

Visual and Hearing Impairment

These tools can help visual and hearing impaired students work online and more.

60. Thunder: Thunder helps visually impaired and blind web users navigate the Internet.
61. TextAloud: This system translates into all kinds of languages and dialects, including US and UK English, LA Spanish, and more.
62. Pics4Learning.com: This image library for teachers and students can help hearing impaired students as well as students with other learning disabilities.
63. Another Lens: Hover your mouse over a selected area to view a magnified version.
64. ReadPlease: This text-to-speech software works on Windows computers.
65. e-Captioning: Research closed captioning and subtitling tools here.
66. BrainPOP: This colorful, dynamic learning site has all kinds of resources for engaging learners without using sound.
67. NonVisual Desktop Access: NVDA is a free, open source screen reader that uses text-to-speech and Braille.
68. iZoom: With iZoom, visually impaired students can magnify their computer screens.
69. BIGGY: Features included in this toolkit include bigger fonts, cursors and more for your word processor.

Web Surfing

By using these tools, special needs students, including blind and low vision students, can access all that the Internet has to offer.

70. Web Design: These toolkits help teachers and anyone else set up websites that accommodate special needs visitors.
71. WebbIE: This program helps blind and visually impaired individuals access the web.
72. Web Talkster: This free talking web browser makes it easier for the visually impaired to use the Internet.
73. SpringerLink: HTML structure is accessed through audio technology with SpringerLink.
74. BrailleSurf: This Internet browser for blind and low vision users operates a speech synthesizer.
75. Communicate: Webwide: This program makes the Internet more accessible and includes symbol and full speech support.
76. LowBrowse: Lighthouse International’s tool is an add-on to Firefox that features image enlargement, speech capability and page customization.
77. EIA: The Enhancing Internet Access system works with a specialized web browser for special education and rehabilitation environments.
78. ZAC Browser: This browser is the first web browser just for autistic children.
79. Homer: Homer is a simple but effective web browser for the blind.

Just for Teachers

These special needs educator resources and tools help with lesson plan design, classroom design, and more.

80. FASD Toolbox for Teachers: Teachers working with kids with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can use this special needs handbook to learn how to teach study skills, problem solving, math and social skills.
81. Classroom Management: This toolkit can help teachers work with special needs kids more effectively.
82. StudyDog: Special ed teachers of Pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade students will find lesson plans for interactive reading assignments here.
83. Special Education: New special ed teachers learn how to use bulletin boards, set up their classrooms and prepare for their unique students.
84. Resources for Early Childhood Special Education: Preschool Zone: Preschool teachers with special education students in their classes can turn to this toolkit for lesson plans and more.
85. Education Ideas and Resource: Special Needs Special Kids has put together these tools and guides for teaching young kids basic skills.
86. Outside the Box! Especially for Teachers: Special needs and special education teachers can use the glossaries, articles, curriculum ideas, assessment tools and more on this site.
87. AT Basics: Learn how to set up your keyboard, computer and classroom for hearing and visually impaired students.
88. SERGE: Check out the Special Education Resources for General Educators site for a FAQ page, tools, and support.
89. teAchnology: The Online Teacher Resource has a special education page for teachers of students with behavior problems, physical disabilities and more.
90. National Association of Special Education Teachers: NASET’s website offers all kinds of resources, references and tools for special education teachers.

Games and Activities

Help special needs students learn by playing games, using virtual reality systems and beyond.

91. Do2Learn: Special needs kids and their parents will find songs, games and other activities to help them learn how to use the phone, stay safe on the bus, and more.
92. Google Earth: Google Earth is a fun, interactive web tool for studying the Earth, maps and more.
93. Parent Pals Special Education Games: This collection of games includes four levels of activities and over 200 different games.
94. Virtual Reality Special Needs Software: These video games and virtual reality games teach life skills and more to special needs students.

Physical Disabilities

Wheelchair-bound students and students with other physical disabilities will find lots of great learning tools here.

95. Ultra Hal Assistant: This digital assistant helps special needs students stay organized.
96. Tips for Working with Students in Wheelchairs: This guide for teachers offers tips for classroom design and more.
97. No-Keys Virtual Keyboard: This virtual keyboard can use various pointing devices to type.
98. ShortKeys: This text replacement program offers helpful shortcuts for students with limited movements.
99. Camera Mouse: This free program lets students move their heads to control their mouse pointers.
100. Click-N-Type: Click-N-Type is another virtual keyboard that’s free.

General

Learn about China’s education history and its basic laws and regulations here.

1. Before 1949, 80% of the Chinese population was illiterate: Before the People’s Republic of China was founded, nearly 80% of the 500 million people living in China were illiterate. During Mao Zedong’s rule, education became one of the government’s chief priorities and experienced great change during the Cultural Revolution.
2. Chinese citizens must attend school for nine years: The public education system in China, governed by the Ministry of Education, states that all Chinese citizens must attend school for at least nine years.
3. Chinese youth have a 99% literacy rate: UNICEF reports that from 2000-2007, Chinese youth ages 15-24 years old enjoyed a 99% literacy rate.
4. China intends to match developed countries for supplies and school conditions by 2010: Though China’s primary and secondary schools are lacking in supplies and modern structures, they have created a special fund that will allow them to match the standards of well-developed countries by the year 2010.
5. Private schools were not implemented until the 1980s: While private schools have been common in the United States for years, China did not allow private schools to operate until the early 1980s.
6. Local governments and businesses oversee secondary education: High schools and upper middle schools are run by state and local governments as well as local business leaders.
7. Senior-level middle schoolers or high schoolers must pay tuition: After completing the compulsory nine years of education, students who wish to continue in high school, or the senior-level middle school, must pay a small tuition fee.
8. After-School Education: After-school education is an important aspect of the Chinese education system, and it is overseen by joint efforts between the Communist Youth League, Committee for Women’s and Children’s Work, and various departments in charge of education, technology, culture and more.

Layout and Grade-Specific

Discover the intricate layout of preschool, primary school and secondary school in this section.

9. Preschool lasts three years: Chinese students often start preschool as young as three years old and do not enter elementary school until they are six.
10. Preschool curriculum: Preschools and kindergartens put a lot of emphasis on training young children, since the Chinese believe that this time is crucial to personality development. Students are taught to play games, dance, sing, act and uphold the values of Truth, Kindness and Beauty.
11. Middle school is split into two categories: Lower middle school students receive a basic academic education including foreign language, Chinese language and math, but after they graduate, they take a test to determine their vocational/technical path or another basic extension of traditional school in which students learn science and the humanities while preparing for university.
12. High school lasts for three years: Chinese students receive primary or elementary school education for six or seven years, but are typically in middle school and high school for three years each.
13. Vocational schools: Vocational schools train students to become medium-level workers like technical personnel, construction managers and farmers.
14. Schools for Skilled Workers: These schools are set up to train junior middle school graduates in production and operations fields.
15. Students must take a test to go to high school or vocational school: Those who do not pass the test effectively end their formal education.
16. Preschool education in rural areas is still a work in progress: In China’s remote, aging communities, preschools and primary schools use alternative education options like game groups, activity centers and mobile aid centers to reach young children.
17. Vacation: Primary schools have 13 weeks of vacations and holidays, junior secondary schools have 12 weeks, and senior secondary schools have 10-11 weeks of vacation and holidays.
18. Junior Vocational Schools are mostly located in rural areas: Junior vocational schools, which prepare students to enter the labor market, are most often found in rural and disadvantaged communities.
19. Special education: Gifted and special needs students were not addressed until the 1985 National Conference on Education. There are now 1,540 special education schools in China, plus special vocation training schools for special needs students.

Higher Education

College and graduate school enrollment has increased significantly in the last few decades. Learn how and why these changes are occurring below.

20. College students apply through a central enrollment system: China’s Ministry of Education oversees all college applications.
21. Each year, nearly half a million engineering students graduate from college: Wikipedia estimates that each year, 450,000 engineering students graduate from Chinese universities.
22. Adult higher education programs have increased: In 2002, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China reports, there were 607 higher education institutions (HEIs) for adults and over 2.2 million adults enrolled in unique higher education programs.
23. Tuition changes: China used to cover the costs of college students, but a new system is evolving, in which students compete for scholarships and some students pay part of their tuition.
24. Graduate education is a relatively new concept: As China plans to improve its economic status, more systems are put into place to support graduate education. Between 1990 and 1995, graduate education enrollment increased at an average annual rate of 9.3%.
25. Between 1999 and 2004, college enrollment nearly quadrupled: In 1999, enrollment in higher education stood at 1.6 million, and in 2004, enrollment was up to 4.473 million students.

Proteins

Protein is the best way to get amino acids which are essential to brain health that the body cannot synthesize itself. A high-protein diet is usually recommended to athletes as it helps to build strong muscles, so give that brain a workout with protein-rich foods!

Spinach: Along with other leafy vegetables, spinach is a good dietary source of protein. An added benefit to spinach is that it contains anti-oxidants that can dispose of free radicals.

Nuts and Seeds: Another great source of protein. Easy to snack on and readily available, nuts/seeds/whole grain foods make for a great way to easily improve your brain power.

Eggs: Not only do they contain a large amount of protein for your brain, but they also carry a great deal of choline, a member of the B-Vitamin group and responsible for maintaining the health of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Fats

We often hear that we need more “omega-3” or that a food is rich in “omega-3”, so when you hear this, know that they’re referring to a type of fatty acid which is usually considered as being food for the brain as well as having the added benefit of reducing heart disease, amongst other things.

Seeds and Nuts: Returning again, seeds and nuts are a fantastic source of fatty acids, including the omega-3 variety of fatty acid. Prime examples of nuts or seeds will include almonds and pumpkin seeds.

Fish and Shellfish: Rich in fatty acids and omega-3, fish truly is food for thought. You’ll often find that people will claim fish is the number one food to make you more intelligent. Anything Oily: Except maybe for people, you’ll find that anything that’s vaguely oily (fish, flaxseed, soya oil, virgin olive oil) will be high in fatty acids and a lot of them will also contain decent amounts of omega-3 for added brain-boosting power.

Carbohydrates

When people think of carbohydrates, they might think of the “carbs” which are bad for them because they induce weight gain. But the truth is that carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for metabolism, the body breaks down carbohydrates and is in return supplied with energy to keep going, thus keeping your brain alert and active. The problem is knowing how much to have, for having too much can indeed lead to weight gain (as can too much of anything) and a high blood/sugar level, but can be partially countered with non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, for example.

Starch-Rich Vegetables: Pastas, corn, carrots and potatoes are all high in carbohydrates and starch, providing the body (and therefore the brain) with an abundant energy source.

Whole Grain Foods: Another supply of energy can be found in common whole grain foods such as breads and cereals, things we commonly have for breakfast to give ourselves that much-needed wake-up boost in the mornings.

Minerals and Vitamins

Vitamins and minerals also contribute to the fight against harmful free radicals, as well as being full of anti-oxidants and other beneficial nutrients, they generally keep the body at its healthiest, maintaining the status quo, as it were. The building blocks of a healthy mind and body. Fruit and Vegetables: The most common and plentiful supplies of vitamins and minerals can be found in such everyday items as small portions of the most common fruits (apples, bananas, oranges, etc) and stir-fried/raw vegetables.

Vitamin Supplements: Supplements shouldn’t be frowned upon for any reason just because they come in little labeled boxes and containers. They can be an incredibly important and beneficial source of health for a person, however, it is important to stress the fact that one cannot live on supplements alone. Think of them as a booster to a well-balanced diet, greatly enhancing the effects of the nutrients contained within normal food.

Where to Create Your Blog

Creating a blog is the first step. The following resources all offer blog publishing. Some of these are aimed specifically at school blogs while others are available for anyone.

1. Class Blogmeister. Created as a blogging platform specifically for educators, this free service will get you and your students blogging in no time. An added bonus to this service is that it is rarely blocked by school filters due to it’s specific safety features.
2. Edublogs. Another blogging platform made just for educators, this service is based on WordPress, so comes with all the features of WordPress. Another benefit of Edublogs is the short and simple URLs for the blogs that make it easy to share with parents.
3. WordPress. Get a free blog with WordPress and you will also have access to plenty of tools such as spellcheck, integrated stats tracker, and spam protection. This is one of the more popular blogging platforms.
4. Blogger. Another popular blogging publisher, Blogger is teamed up with Google and offers lots of tools to make your blogging experience easier. You will need a Google account to create a blog with these folks.
5. TypePad. TypePad lets you select from thousands of designs and has lots of widgets, custom banners, and more. However, this service is not free. You can take advantage of a free trial before you decide to pay the low monthly fee or annual subscription, though.
6. LiveJournal. In addition to providing a blog, LiveJournal also makes it easy to create a social network through the blogs. This might work great for your class if all the students will have their own blog as well.
7. Moveable Type. Another free blog publisher, Moveable Type offers many of the same features as the others with a spam blocker, templates, and more.
8. Tumblr. Not really a full-fledged blogging platform, Tumblr is designed for smaller posts and a much more personalized experience. If you aren’t ready to go the way of the blog, this might be a good way to get your feet wet.
9. Windows Live Writer. Get a Space in Windows Live and download Live Writer to start blogging with this publisher. You can connect with others, post video, and more with Live Writer.
10. Thingamablog. All you need to get started with this blog platform is FTP, SFTP, or access to a server. The setup wizard will guide you through the steps of getting your blog in place.

Blogging Tools and Help for Teachers

The following tools and articles are all focused on helping teachers blog or provide free access for teachers to blogging tools that would normally cost money.

11. Smilebox. Create scrapbooks, slide shows, postcards, and more to post on your blog with this tool. While it’s not specifically designed for educators, teachers can receive the premium subscription for free.
12. Using Del.icio.us for Blogging. This article describes how you can incorporate the popular bookmarking site, Del.icio.us, into your blogging program.
13. avatars. Let your students design their own personal avatars with one of these free tools. Using an avatar lets the students personalize while also keeping their identity private.
14. VoiceThread. Create an online presentation with audio and text. You can incorporate PowerPoint, Flickr, Word, PDF, and more. Teachers get a free account.
15. Teacher Training Videos. While this site is not specifically for blogging, it is directed at teaching educators how to use technology in the classroom. There are some blogging videos that will help get you started.
16. A Vision for Classroom Blogging. Read about reasons to blog in your classroom as well as how to go about doing it in this article written by an experienced teacher and blogger. She also includes links at the end of the article for even more information.
17. Classroom 2.0. Read blog discussions between teachers with blogging experience ranging from newbie to veteran blogger. You can find helpful advice as well as resources in these blog posts.

General Blog Tools

From adding fun photos to maps showing where your blog readers live, these tools will help you and your students create fun and educational blogs.

18. Spellery. Type in the URL to your blog and find out if you have any spelling mistakes. This simple tool is invaluable for ensuring your posts are in top shape.
19. Jiglu. This tool creates tags within your blog that allows readers to find more information from your previous blog posts. You can manually assign tags or let Jiglu assign the tags automatically.
20. Wufoo. If you would like to create an online form for your blog, use this tool to do it for you. It’s easy to use and you’ll be creating polls, invitations, and more right on your blog.
21. AddThis. With this simple tool, you can add a button on your blog that allows readers to easily bookmark and share your website. Having this button will allow parents and other teachers easier access to your site.
22. Buttonator. If you need to create buttons for your blog, this easy tool will help you with the task. Choose the style, font, color, and more.
23. Bananr. Want to put those photos from the class field trip or talent show on your blog? This tool allows you to enter your Flickr user id or photoset id and easily add the photos to your blog.
24. Gickr. Add photos to your blog and put them in motion with this tool. Create fun slide shows and more without using difficult software.
25. Website Ribbon Generator. Create a ribbon for your favorite cause or use an originally designed ribbon to tie all your students’ blogs together with this simple tool.
26. FeedBlitz. Add this tool to your blog so readers can have your blog posts sent directly to their email. FeedBlitz also offers widgets to add to your blog such as a blogroll.
27. ClustrMaps. When visitors click on your blog, this tool logs their location on a map. Watch as over the life of your blog, the map fills with information on your visitors’ locations. This tool can also serve as a geography lesson.
28. MakeBeliefsComix.com. Choose your characters and add word or thought bubbles complete with your own text to create your very own comic strip. This is a fun activity for students to incorporate in their blogs, too.
29. TagCrowd. Create a cloud of words from your blog with this tool. Once you have created the cloud, the tool will provide the HTML code so you can put it on your blog.
30. widgetbox. Add any imaginable widget to your blog with this tool. Let your students run wild to allow their individuality to shine with these widgets that range from clocks to animals to word searches.
31. LabPixies. Add any number of fun widgets like Google maps, games, calendars, and more on your blog. There are some great learning opportunities among these.
32. gabcast. Record using your phone and post audio on your blog with gabcast. This tool can also be used to host conference calls, which would be helpful with parent-teacher conferences.
33. BlogRolling. With this tool, you can add a blogroll to your blog to show readers what other blogs you find interesting. The is great for localizing a whole class worth of blogs in one spot.

Blogging and Internet Safety

As a teacher, you are already well aware that keeping your students safe is a priority. Introducing blogs in the classroom is undeniably a powerful learning tool, but it also brings about an opportunity for the teacher to reexamine student safety. The following resources will help you protect your students from harm.

34. Google Analytics. Keep a close eye on your blog traffic and find out who is visiting your website. This tool breaks down the visitor information in several ways, including plotting a map of where the visitors are located.
35. Keeping students cybersafe!. This blog post, written by an educator, offers suggestions on how you can protect your students while enjoying student blogs.
36. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. This law explains how a child’s privacy is protected online. Working with children and blogs, this is a must-read item.
37. Copyright and Fair Use. This simple primer gives the basics on copyright and fair use laws as it pertains to the Internet. Any teacher posting on the Internet should take the time to read this.
38. A Teacher’s Guide to Fair Use and Copyright. Another helpful guide to fair use and copyright, this one is specifically designed for teachers. It also includes a chart for fair use to post in your classroom.
39. Responsible blogging. Taken from a 10th grade class, these guidelines for safe and responsible blogging are not just teacher-generated, but also come from the students themselves.
40. Blogger’s Contract. This contract between the teacher and student is a great way to remind the student of the safety and responsibility required when blogging. Use this contract as a model for one you can create for your class.
41. Consent for Your Child to Participate in Online Collaborations. This teacher has drawn up a consent form for parents explaining how technology will be used in the classroom and asking for parental consent. Click on the link at the beginning of this letter for the actual consent form.
42. Blogging Rules. This list of rules was compiled by a teacher for his classroom. You may find this helpful for setting the rules in your class before you begin blogging.
43. Discovery Blogging Rules. Another set of rules for classroom blogging, this one is a bit more extensive and also includes clearly defined consequences to breaking the rules. This list can serve as a model for the rules in your classroom.

Getting Students in on the Action

Don’t keep all the fun to yourself–let your students blog too. These resources offer suggestions and tools for getting students into blogging.

44. 21Classes. Set up classroom homepages and host and manage blogs for your students with this free service. Students can customize their pages and insert photos and videos.
45. Reflections on Student Blogging. This article written by a teacher working with middle and high school students describes how she implemented a student blogging project. She also offers more generalized helpful tips on blogging with students.
46. Blogging Basics: Creating Student Journals on the Web. This tutorial covers all the basics for getting your students set up to blog in the classroom. There are even some links to school blogs.
47. Students 2.0. This blog is run by students and allows them a chance to raise their voice on the topic of education. Not only does this blog serve as an example of what student blogs can be, it is also a great tool to share with your older students.
48. Student Tools–Let them fly!. Compiled by an educator, this list offers the top tech tools for students. Many of these tools can be used in student blogs or help students set up blogs.
49. iLearn Technology: Dipity. This educational blog reviews Dipity, a time line generator that students can use to create time lines on any topic. Students can use Dipity in conjunction with their blogs to create personal timelines.
50. Making it Interesting: What would you add to this classroom. This is a fun little visual to suggest various technology tools to get students excited about learning. Think about what you would add for your students.