Getting Kids What They Need

One of the ways parents fill in the gaps of a "less than expected" education for their children is to find outside activities, lessons, trips, and recreational pursuits to take up the time that might have been spent on learning in school. If school is too easy, homework is scarce and time spent at home ends up being spent in front of a television or computer screen.

There are many ways you can enrich your child's education, even in front of a computer screen. Of course you can choose from the plethora of education related computer programs, but why not do something for free instead? Scholastic.com offers resources for teachers, parents, and kids to investigate more fully the world of literature. Popular children's books and novels published by Scholastic now includes online teaching guides for the use of classroom teachers, homeschool parents, and other interested parents.

A recent addition to this rich list of literary resources is the activities and online teaching guide to Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I had the privilege to create this guide for Scholastic. Inkheart is the first book in a trilogy about a book binder and his daughter as they interact with worlds and characters created by writers as they spill into their real life. See the book review of Inkheart for more information on this great title for grades 4-8.

Parents and teachers are always on the hunt for ways to meet the needs of kids in their care. As you evaluate the myriad of resources out there, make sure they point your child to where you want them to go.