Academic Resources
Below are a list of various sources to help support your child's academic needs. We have included a collection of websites, podcasts, and other beneficial tools for your family. Try some out and share the wealth! Please share sources you have found so we can add to the list!
Bible & Christian
Bible Project
[YouTube videos]
With more than 400 videos and four million viewers, there is plenty to go into depth with a Bible study. Check out this source on Instagram, Tiktok, or download their app.
Enduring Word
[Bible commentary]
Enduring Word is a helpful site that provides Bible commentary, based on King James Version (KJV). The text and interpretation is broken down "chapter by chapter, verse by verse." There is also comments provided from other Bible scholars.
dadsworksheets.com
[worksheets]
This website has a great range of math skills including mean, median, mode, Algebra, word problems, and more. You can choose from a variety of practice problems and their sources link to Pinterest.
k5learning.com
[worksheets]
Browse for worksheets for your child to practice various math skills at home. They are printable and free! Click the link on the title above or here.
math-aids.com
[worksheets]
This is another great resource and an easy-to use platform for parents and children. There are a wide range of skills for your little kids to older children, and you can print different versions of a skill for extra practice. The best part is when you print, the PDF includes an answer key!
mathfactcafe.com
[worksheets]
Math Fact Cafe provides free worksheets covering different skills and content. The material available is for various elementary (K-5) grade levels. You can sign up for a paid subscription for more access to different PDFs.
Frax
[online practice]
Frax is a great website to focus on your child's ability to master skills with fractions. The activities are very engaging and children-friendly, and the vocabulary matches what upper elementary-age students learn. They advertise the content's connection to state standards.
IXL is a popular tool used in multiple school districts. There is a fee to have an account, but if your school uses this program, use it! You can track your child's progress by various skills and self-assessments. There are also tutorials in the website as well. If your school provides access, your child's account will usually work throughout the summer.
Math with Mr. J
[YouTube source]
Mr. J has over 1,000 math tutorial videos and more than a million subscribers. I have used his videos as well as a supplemental tool. He has videos and shorts on fractions, decimals, conversions, ratios, and more for secondary math. Click the link above. He also has a channel for elementary math, linked here.
mathworksheetsland.com
[worksheets]
Like other options listed, this website provides a ton of skills ranging from shapes to quadratic formula, probability, and irrational numbers... and more! One resource that is really neat is the Guided Practice. PDFs download once you click the link. There are more options if you upgrade and create an account.
Reflex Math
[online practice]
Reflex Math is a great tool for online games to help children become fluent with operations. You can set their skill level to addition and subtraction facts up to 12s, or multiplication and division up to 12x12. Most schools use this online tool. You may need to set up a paid account to access.
Mathematics
IXL
[online practice]
Reading/ Language Arts
Diverse BookFinder
[diverse book blog/list]
Diverse BookFinder provides a source to find picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC). Their site also has online tools and updated information to find literature by theme.
Reading Rockets
[online reading app]
Reading Rockets is a great resource to help students that struggle with one of the five skills of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
JustUs Books
[diverse book blog/list]
JustUsBooks provides resources for children as well as another option or site to order books. They have a wide selection ranging from literature for Women's History month, Black cowboys book bundles, and poetry.
Sora
[online reading app]
Sora is a subscription-required site that provides books online for children to read. They have a great selection of literature. If your school uses Sora you have access. Also, check if your local library can grant the ability for you to use at home with a virtual library card.
Reading While White
[diverse book blog/list]
Reading While White provides racially diverse and inclusive books for children. Their blog contains a massive list of literature to choose from.
Picture Books List
[picture books to share with children based on different holidays and events each month]
January
(Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Dream March: Dr. Martin Luther King J., and the March on Washington- Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
March On! The Day My Brother Changed the World- Christine King Farris
9- Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves- Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice- Marianne Celano
February
(Black History Month)
28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World- Charles R. Smith
ABC's of Black History- Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer
Black Heroes: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A.- Arlisha Norwood
Don't Touch My Hair!- Sharee Miller
Sulwe- Lupita Nyong
March
(Women's History Month)
A Computer Called Katherine- Suzanne Buckingham Slade
Hair Love- Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison
I Am Enough- Grace Byers
I Am Truly- Kelly Greenawalt and Amariah Rauscher
One Riddle, One Answer- Lauren Thompson and Linda S. Wingerter
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World- Chelsea Clinton
Ruby's Wish- Shirin Yim Bridges
(Music in Our Schools Month)
Charlie Parker Played be bop- Chris Raschka
Sweet Music in Harlem- Debbie A. Taylor and Frank Morrison
Little Man- Dionne Warwick
March Madness (basketball)
Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game- John Coy
2- Dr. Seuss Day/ "Read Across America" Day
Goin' Someplace Special- Patricia McKissack
Richard Wright and the Library Card- William Miller
Schomburg: The Man Who Built the Library- Carole Boston Weatherford
April
2- Autism Awareness Day
My Brother Charlie- Holly Robinson Peete
22- Earth Day
Just a Dream- Chris Allsburg
The Great Kapok Tree- Lynne Cherry
May
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre- Carole Boston Weatherford
(Mental Health Month)
I Am Human: A Book about Empathy- Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds
The Power Of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts- Trudy Ludwig
Teacher Appreciation Week
The Best Teacher in the World- Bernice Chardiet
The Teacher's March- Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
June
(summer and family vacations)
Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)- Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Boundless Grace- Mary Hoffman
In My Momma's Kitchen- Jerdine Nolen
Opening the Road: Victor Hugo and His Green Book- Keila V. Dawson
Ruth and the Green Book- Calvin Alexander Ramsey
Summer Ball- Mike Lupica (novel)
19- Juneteenth
Freedom- Gary D. Schmidt
Freedom Bird- Jerdine Nolen
Henry's Freedom Box- Ellen Levine
So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth's Long Walk Toward Freedom- Gary D. Schmidt
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt- Deborah Hopkinson
The Story of Harriet Tubman- Christine Platt
July
4- Fourth of July
A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent- Anne Rockwell
Blue Sky, White Stars- Sarvinder Naberhaus
Coming On Home Soon- Jacqueline Woodson
Mumbet's Declaration of Independence- Gretchen Woelfle
Pink and Say- Patricia Polacco
(Olympics)
A Picture Book of Jesse Owens- David A. Adler
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman- Kathleen Krull
August
(beginning of school)
All Are Welcome- Alexandra Penfold
Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong- Frances Park and Yangsook Choi
Let's Go to School!- Liza Charlesworth
Mr. Lincoln's Way- Patricia Polacco
The Day You Begin- Jacqueline Woodson
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read- Rita L. Hubbard
The Story of Ruby Bridges- Robert Coles
The Two Tyrones- Wade Hudson and Mark Page
Think Again- Doug E. Fresh
September
(Hispanic Heritage Month)
Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas who made U.S. History- Naibe Reynoso
Frida- Jonah Winter
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez- Kathleen Krull
My House, Mi Casa- Rebecca Emberley
My Very Own Room- Amada Irma Perez
Salsa Stories- Lulu Delacre (chapter book)
Say Hola to Spanish- Susan Middleton Ely
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation- Duncan Tonatiuh
Too Many Tamales- Gary Soto and Ed Martinez
November
(Native American/Indigenous Peoples' Month)
Dancing Drum: A Cherokee Legend- Terri Cohlene
(first Tuesday) Election Day
I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference- Mark Shulman
Grandaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box- Eric Stein
Grandaddy's Gift- Margaree King Mitchell
(Folktale Week)
John Henry- Julius Lester
December
25- Christmas
The Black Snowman- Phil Mendez
Science
Social Studies/ History
Crash Course
[YouTube videos]
Crash Course has great content for Social Studies and History. They provide over 1,500 videos that also include information about Philosophy, Biology, and Literature. View more on Facebook, Twitter/X, Tumblr, and more.
Zinn Education Project
[materials and resources]
Zinn Education Project helps provide specific topics, skills, and tasks for educators based on grade level, time frame, and subject content. If you're looking for something that incorporates multiple perspectives, and diversity, check out this site.
Fresberg Cartoon
[YouTube videos]
Fresberg provides an exciting view of not only historical events, but an animated tool to learn about different people that have played a major role in shaping our society. Enjoy the fun videos and check out the Instagram account, too.
Learning for Justice
[YouTube videos]
Learning for Justice (formerly known as Teaching Tolerance) helps teachers create safe conversations about Race, Diversity, and equity in their classrooms. This site provides lesson plans and activities for students become aware of social justice battles and issues that occur in their schools. These tools are also suitable for family discussions as the changes occurring in the world spark questions from children.
Gracie's Corner
[YouTube videos]
Come and play with Gracie with fun, interactive videos for children. With more than three million subscribers and 200 videos, there is bound to be something to help fill the time and brain with your child. View on Facebook, Komi, Spotify, iTunes, and more.
BrainPOP
[YouTube informative videos]
Jools TV
[YouTube videos]
Check out Jools TV for inspiring, entertaining videos full of nursery songs for you little ones. Their content is focused on toddlers up to first-graders. Follow them on Instagram or Tiktok.
Khan Academy
[YouTube videos]
Miscellaneous
Listen along to Tim talk about various topics and events. Tim and Moby (robot) are a hit in classrooms because videos vary between 3-5 minutes long. Check out their website,
Khan Academy is where online tutorials began! With more than eight million subscribers and 8,000 videos, the proof is in the numbers. The title above is a link to their YouTube channel, but here is a YouTube link to their Khan Academy Kids channel. This is great for younger children, but worth exploring if your child is struggling academically.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”