Some of Nancy's favourite websites of this year include:

www.aplusmath.com   I know, I know - you already have a math program, thank-you-very-much. This website won't replace it but it might provide a little fun and motivation for your elementary aged child to carry on. There are flashcards, worksheets, homework helper (put in your problem, and it will tell you if you have the right answer) and, of course, games. I find it appealing because it's very clean and easy to navigate without too many bells or whistles. Maybe your child will like it, too.  

www.brainpop.com/science/   Are you trying to find a fun way to peak your child’s interest in a new scientific concept? BrainPOP has more than a hundred short, animated movies that can do just that. With everything from acids and bases to types of rocks, you’re likely to find something that applies to your area of interest. If you like what you see, you can have a look at the other subject areas at brainpop.com like math or technology. The catch? You can only watch 2 movies per day unless you subscribe. The target group is grades 5 to 8 but could definitely apply to a wider range.

www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/pertable_fla.htm   I am not naturally scientifically inclined but, as a student, I remember loving the Periodic Table of Elements. There is something so simple and clean and logical about it. This flash version is beautiful, with each element represented by an artistically rendered symbol. And it's not just pretty - a click on each element leads you to all the information you could want, especially from the "chemical data" link. This is an excellent supplement to a science curriculum.

www.classicalarchives.com   I'd like my kids to be well-versed in the fine arts and, musically, this site is indispensable. You can access thousands of compositions and have 5 free listens per day. We've used it to listen to pieces we're learning for piano lessons. There are also excellent biographies of the composers and a wonderful timeline feature where you can visualize where the greats fit in the grander scheme. Get ready to turn your speakers up!

www.classicalhomeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html   1000 Good Books List - Classical Christian Education Support Loop   We all want to get good books into the hands of our kids. Sometimes when choosing gifts or coming up with a library list, we run out of ideas. This sight is crammed with classic books and divided up according to the your child’s reading level, from beginners to high school level. If the book is available online, the link is provided. This list will keep you and your kids reading a very long time.

www.donnayoung.org   Are you busy making up lists and getting organized for next year? You've got to check out the printable forms available from Donna Young. There is sure to be something there for you, no matter what your style is. I've found it most helpful to click on "Site Index" to see all the possibilities laid out before me. For the hyper-organized among us, this site can make you lose sleep. If you just need a way to get your thoughts and ideas out of your head and onto paper, this site will make you sleep easier.

www.elections.ca   Federal elections don't come around too often so, if you want to take advantage of current events to teach your children about Canada's electoral system, a little digging around on the Elections Canada website (www.elections.ca) yields some promising results: 
     From the home page, click on "Young Voters" - "Learning Resources" - "Resources for Teachers." 
     For kindergarten through Grade 4 - Choosing Our Mascot is an election simulation. Obviously this will work best in numbers larger than your immediate family, but it would be great fun to try it with your support group or some other families. If you like, you can order supplies, like a ballot box, from Elections Canada but all the information you need is right on the website, right down to the candidate's speeches. 
     For upper elementary and beyond - click on "teacher resources" at the bottom of the "Resources for Teachers" page. These interactive CD-Roms, Exploring Canada's Electoral System and Explore a History of the Vote in Canada, are free and mine took about 10 days to arrive in the mail. 
     Try the "Games Corner" too. I tried the trivia game and was surprised by my own ignorance. Apparently I have a lot to learn, along with my kids, about how the vote works here in Canada.

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/writing%20process/sl_storystarters.htm   Sometimes writing just for the fun of it can produce the best results. This site gives 50 "story starters" - a first sentence or a beginning phrase such as #8: "He didn't look like a genius, he looked more like...." These could also be the spark used to start one of those games where each person takes a turn adding on to the story - I'm thinking campfire, perhaps? Have a look at this list and you'll likely come up with your own unique way to use it to spin some great tales.

www.mathforum.org   Here is the resident math tutor I've been wishing for, and you can borrow him whenever you want! This looks like a great resource, especially the "Ask Dr. Math" feature. If your child is struggling to grasp a particular concept, K to College, he simply clicks on the subject area and scans the FAQ list. Click and you'll find a straightforward, user-friendly, step-by-step explanation. Check out the "Math Library" too, for excellent links. I'm feeling pretty good about having my tutor in place before we hit high school.

www.middleschoolscience.com/   While I don't tend to teach a lot of science in the elementary years, I still like to have (free) resources at my fingertips for those days when we need to shake things up a bit. This listing fits nicely for my upper elementary student because each lesson deals with a single concept – just the bite-size I'm looking for. Click on "Lesson of the Week" along the sidebar and then click the "archive" button for 100's of lessons including, in many cases, printable worksheets and internet links.

www.momsminivan.com   Are you planning a road trip this summer? Are you maybe dreading it a teensy bit? This site is packed with fun things for kids to do in the car, kids travel games, and general travel tips. You can search according to age group, so have a look around. It might be just the thing to head off quite so many inquiries of  "Are we there yet?"

www.stretcher.com   We homeschoolers generally have to be pretty creative to make ends meet. If you want to use some of your summer leisure time to acquire new money-saving ideas, The Dollar Stretcher is the best place to start. There are articles about everything you can think of - meal planning, gift giving, fitness, etc. There's even a section devoted to homeschooling. Click on "Topical Index" to get started and learn some new tricks for frugal living!