Brainfuse HelpNow
HelpNow is an online tutoring service offering help from live tutors with useful tools for learning, writing assistance, and test preparation for students and learners of all ages. Live tutors are available daily from 2 – 11 pm.
Scholastic Teachables
Thousands of searchable and printable educational materials—created by teachers and precisely leveled—for teachers, homeschooling caregivers, and learners from Pre-K to Grade 8.
World Book Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos
This Spanish language reference resource for young learners features illustrated articles, videos, a visual dictionary, and Spanish language news from around the world. Enciclopedia Estudiantil is integrated with World Book Kids, so readers can toggle between English and Spanish.
World Book Kids
This online reference site features articles, videos, games, and activities to engage elementary students. Explore everything from animals to hands-on science experiments.
World Book Student
World Book Student combines encyclopedia articles, accompanied by photos, videos, and animations, with interactive quizzes and dictionary and translation tools to enhance research and learning for middle school students.
More General Reference Resources
PBS Learning Media – Videos curated by subject make learning fun and easy for preK – high school students and educators.
Common Sense Media – tips, resources, and practical advice on helping students find credible information online.
American Library Association – Look to Libraries for media mentorship, make a family media plan, etc.
Virtual Field Trips
Discovery – A collection of videos and learning guides to explore the world from right inside of your home.
National Park Service – virtual tours of Yellowstone National Park
Google Arts and Culture – A collection of museums from all over the world that offer virtual tours.
China Guide – virtual tour of The Great Wall of China
Monterey Bay Aquarium – A collection of live cams at the aquarium allows you to visit without ever leaving home.
Hoopla
Check out up to 6 titles per month from Hoopla’s selection of ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, comics, and TV shows.
Novelist K-8 Plus
Includes picture books, children’s chapter books, and young adult titles. Search or browse by subject, plot summary, grade level, and more.
Novelist Plus
Find your next read with Novelist. Looking for a good fiction or nonfiction book? Search by subject, plot summary, grade level, and more.
TeachingBooks
An online collection of resources for children’s and young adult books, selected to encourage the integration of multimedia author and book materials into reading and library activities for K-12 students.
Transparent Language
Learn a new language using a self-paced, online language-learning system. Transparent Language offers courses in over 100 languages.
TumbleBooks
Animated e-books for young children with read-along narration and sound. Also features games, puzzles, and quizzes for young readers.
More English Language Arts Resources
ReadWorks – free content, curriculum, and tools to power K-12 learning.
ReadTheory – personalized reading comprehension exercises for K-12 and ESL students.
Reading Rockets YouTube channel has short video segments on how to help children learn to read.
Storytime From Space – Picture Books are shared by astronauts on the International Space Station.
World Book Day – Storytime Online presented by publishers in the UK and Ireland.
Art and Music
Creativebug — Enjoy more than 1,000 online art & craft video classes taught by designers and artists. Creativebug’s classes cover everything from drawing and sketching to sewing and bookbinding.
ArtyFactory — free visual art lessons
Cassie Stephens — an art teacher from Nashville shares several weeks of art lessons on topics such as robots, pirates, dinosaurs, and superheroes.
Math
Bedtime Math — Sign up for a free daily email from this non-profit and turn math into a fun family activity.
Khan Academy — Non-profit, free learning resource for grades 1-12, plus college!
Building Better Bodies and Brains — Author/Educator Dr. Jean Feldman encourages physical fitness by making it fun and easy to incorporate into your day.
Math Playground — Math games for grades 1-6 can be played free without an account.
Physical Activity & Games
Game On – Dr. Jean Feldman suggests games and activities to keep kids engaged inside.
Go Noodle – A collection of physical activities and tutorials, designed to get kids up and moving.
Move Your Way – Use this HHS tool to find ways to fit more activity into your child’s day.
NFL Play 60 – interactive lessons and family activities aligned to learning standards.
Science and Engineering
The Tinkering Studio from The Exploratorium has a ton of hands-on projects, across a wide variety of subjects.
TinkerLab – science projects that are kid-tested
Nat Geo Kids – Science facts and experiments from the makers of National Geographic Kids Magazine.
Explore.org Livecams – Animal webcams provide wilderness livestreams. Look for Kenya’s Mpala nature lab, Alaska’s Katmai National Park and the Decorah Raptor Resource Project
Social Studies
AtoZ the USA — This beautifully-illustrated resource brings the diversity and history of the USA to life. Covering all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia, you’ll find information on local cuisine, animals and plants, history, government and politics, and historical map collections.
Global Road Warrior — Featuring in-depth information on 175 countries, Global Road Warrior includes country facts, royalty-free maps, and travel essentials. It is an excellent resource for student projects and a great companion for international travelers.
World Book Timelines — Learn about history through images, video, and timelines covering events in arts, science and technology, society and culture, sports, world history and geography. Plus, create your own timelines for school presentations, family history, or just for fun!
Nat Geo Kids – History – Facts and Biographies presented in an engaging full-color format.
PBS Learning Media – A collection of videos and activities from WTTW.
Smithsonian Learning Lab – The Smithsonian Museum has compiled resources for learning at home, using their museum collections.
Middle School Summer Reading Lists
School reading lists for local middle schools and junior high schools in Westmont and surrounding communities
High School Summer Reading Lists
School reading lists for local high schools in Westmont and surrounding communities
Westmont CUSD201
South Early Childhood Center
C. E. Miller Elementary School
J. T. Manning Elementary School
Westmont Junior High School
Westmont High School
Maercker D60
Holmes Primary School
Maercker Intermediate School
Westview Hills Middle School
Downers Grove CSD99
Downers Grove North High School
Downers Grove South High School
Downers Grove D58
Elementary: Belle Aire, El Sierra, Fairmount, Henry Puffer, Highland, Hillcrest, Indian Trail, Kingsley, Lester, Pierce Downer, Whittier
Middle Schools: Herrick, O’Neill
Health / Social-Emotional Resources
NCPMI Tip Sheet: Helping Children Understand Emotions When Wearing Masks
NCPMI Scripted Story for Children: Wearing Masks
DuPage County Health Department Coronavirus Information Page
Map of Hotspots — For families who may not be within our district
Homeschooling Basics
Illinois State Board of Education:
CRHE (Coalition for Responsible Home Education):
Homeschooling Styles
There are many different types of homeschooling styles, such as a more traditional approach that mimics a classroom, or different, more child-led approaches. Here are some websites to help explain the different options.
Time4Learning — Types of Homeschooling
The Best Schools — Homeschooling: Which Model Is Right for You?