Links

Here are some links that our home educators found useful. We hope you
find them useful too! Check back often as this page is under development.

Subjects

Art

• Drawspace: Free drawing tutorials designed to take you from
  novice to expert illustrator.

• National Gallery of Art: Connect art and curriculum by borrowing free learning materials from their Division of education.

Language Arts

• Audiobooks: Sign up (free) to download two FREE audio books every day.

• Handwriting for Kids: Free "My Name is..." and personalized
  text worksheets.

• KidBibs: Step-by-step instructions on writing strategies.

• My Own Book: Personalized, free books that can be read
  online or printed into booklets. Each book features your child as
  the hero of the story.

• Spelling Time: Interactive online spelling program for Grades 1-5.

• Starfall: Excellent resource for multimedia reading activities.

• Teachers @ Random: Home of the Magic Tree House Series
  and others.

• Word Safari: List of word links, e.g. dictionaries, vocabulary
  helps, etc.

Foreign Language

• American Sign Language Browser: Browser where you
  can look up video of thousands of ASL signs.

• Babel Fish Translation: Translate blocks of text.

• Elementary Spanish Program Activities: Elementary level
  songs, games, etc.

• Support for Elementary Educators through Distance
  Education in Spanish (SEEDS): Elementary level Spanish
  enhancement  activities in a multimedia format.

Math

• Go Convert: A one-stop website for free conversion calculations.

• Homeschool Math: Excellent resource for all things math.

• The Math Forum: Offers a wealth of problems, puzzles, etc.

• Multiflyer: Fly a space ship while learning the multiplication
  tables. Includes some astronomy facts too!

• National Library of Virtual Manipulatives: Interactive Java
  applets for elementary level math instruction.

Physical Education

• Games Kids Play: A repository of rules and descriptions of
  kid games such as playground games, jump-rope rhymes, etc.

• PE Central: Physical Education lesson ideas.

Science

• Chemistry.org/kids: Chemistry games, links and products
  from the American Chemical Society.

• Chemistry Resources: Oodles of chemistry links brought to you
  by Resource Central.

• Dinosaur World Teacher's Guide: Includes dinosaur info and
  other info.

• Futures Scientists & Engineers of America: A project list
  that gives students the experience of real engineering and
  science with a practical, hands on method.

• Seashell Identification Guide

• St. John River Water Management District Water Education
  Site: A course designed to help students understand the
  need for proper management of this precious resource.

• U.S. Department of Education - Helping Your Child Learn
  Science: An archive of hands on elementary level experiments.

Social Studies

• Adventure of the American Mind Home School Program:
  Online lessons providing students with an opportunity to
  perform guided research.

• America's Story from America's Library: Have fun with
  history while learning at the same time.

• American Memory: The Library of Congress provides free
  access to sound recordings, images, video, prints, maps
  and sheet music that document the American experience.

• C-Span Classroom: Free video and text resources for
  teaching civics and U.S. government.

• Kids in the House: An interactive center to help kids
  learn about the U.S. House of Representatives, the Office
  of the Clerk, and their roles in lawmaking.

• Lesson Plans & Resources for Social Studies Teachers

• National Geographic Map Machine: Create maps with
  satellite, street and theme views.

• Netstate.com Learn about the 50 states from Armadillos to
  Yellowhammers.

• Teaching American History: Historical documents library
  and audio lectures and discussions.

• Teaching with Timelines: Bits and chunks of history are
  woven into a cohesive tapestry via timelines.

• The U.S. Mint - Teachers' Section: Lesson plans based
  on the 50 State Quarters Program and West Journey Nickel
  Series. Online games and other activities as well.

Multi-Subject

• BBC Schools Learning Resources: Amazing resource! Plan to
  stay a while. Covers all levels academically and a broad range
  of subjects including online typing and language instruction.

• Beacon Learning Center Lesson Plans: Extensive lesson plan
  library aligned with Florida Sunshine State Standard. Can be
  sorted by level or subject.

• Central Florida Library Cooperative: A library cooperative
  devoted to sharing resources, services and training among all
  types of libraries.

• Core Knowledge Lesson Plans: From the folks who brought
  you the "What Your ___ Grader Needs to Know" series.

• Discovery School.com: Lots free teachers tools and lesson plans for various subjects brought to you by the folks at Discovery.com

• Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Collaboration of
  several educational organizations to provide a useful web link
  clearinghouse. Can search by Florida Sunshine State Standard
  and by grade level.

• The Educator's Reference Desk: 2,000+ lessons plans and
  3,000+ links to online education information.

• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE):
  Federal teaching and learning resources.

• Florida Stock Market Simulation: Investment simulation program
  offered to students in Gr. 4 and up integrating social studies,
  mathematics, and language art classes.

• Florida Sunshine State Standards: The standards provide
  expectations for student achievement in Florida.

• Fun Christian Homeschooling Unit Studies: An archive of
  free elementary level unit studies.

• Jan Brett: The website of children's author and illustrator Jan Brett
  has a wealth of useful and beautiful teaching helps.

• Kidzone: Worksheets, theme units, etc. for early childhood
  grades.

• Learning Network: The New York Times provides free lesson
  plans for a variety of subjects.

• Library in the Sky: Database of educational web sites
  with descriptions of each link.

• Pittsburgh Teachers Institute Curriculum Units Online:
  Great resource offering creative lesson plans. Plan to stay
  for awhile!

• Sheppard Software: Check out the online games and
  quizzes.

• SuccessLink: Teaching ideas search engine.

• TeAchnology: Over 27,000 lesson plans as well as 6,500+
  free printable worksheets.

• TechTrekers: Web site created for teachers by a teacher.
  Diverse resources, activities, links, etc.

• ThinkQuest: Over 5,500 websites created by students
  from around the world.

• Virtual Field Trips: Neat site where you and your child can
  go on a virtual field trip to various places around the world.

Activities, Resources & Support

Community

• Aiguille Rock Climbing Center

• Central Florida Zoological Park

• Covenant Community Church

• Dinosaur World - Florida

• Florida Eco-Safaris at Forever Florida

• Golden Music Academy - Home School Programs

• Harry P. Leu Gardens

• Ice Den at RDV Sportsplex

• Kennedy Space Center

• Lukas Nursery Butterfly Encounter

• Marine Discovery Center

• The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill & Griddle House

• Orlando Museum of Art

• Orlando Repertory Theatre

• Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

• Orlando Science Center

• Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts

• Seminole Community College Planetarium

• Seminole County Easter Egg Hunt

• Seminole County Library

• TeenPact

• Trout Lake Nature Center

Curriculum & Material Suppliers

• A Beka: Excellence in education from a Christian perspective.

• Apologia Educational Ministries: Quality science curriculum.

• Beautiful Feet Books: History and science resources.

• Books by Valerie Bendt: A Tampa home educator who created
  various books based on her many years of experience.

• BJU Press: Christ-centered resources for education, edification
  and evangelism from Bob Jones University.

• Common Sense Press: Home of the Learning Language Arts
  Through Literature curriculum.

• Five in a Row: Provides students with a unit study approach to
  early education based on outstanding children's literature.

• Heart of Wisdom: Home education materials to help Christian
  families bring up children with a heart's desire for true wisdom
  and knowledge from the Lord.

• KONOS: "The granddaddy of unit studies."

• Peace Hill Press: High-quality books for classical education.

• Rainbow Resource Center: Run by home educators, they offer
  over 30,000 items at affordable prices.

• R.O.C.K. Solid: Home education curriculum at prices you'll
  appreciate!

• Solomon's Secrets: Providing educational material to install
  wisdom and the love of learning.

• SRA Online: Largest pre-K-12 educational publisher in the nation.

• Tools for Teaching: Quality, innovative educational products for
  early childhood through adult education.

• Veritas Press: Providing educators with quality Christian
  classical curriculum.

Home Education How-Tos

• AppLe St.: Teaches at all levels from home to business how
  to be better understood.

• A to Z Home's Cool: Comprehensive info, resources and communities
  for home educators worldwide no matter how you choose to educate.

• About Homeschooling: About.com homeschooling page compiled
  by a veteran home educator.

• Breathing Room: Charlotte Mason resources and refreshment
  for Home Educators.

• Cathy Duffy Homeschool Reviews: Since 1984, Cathy has provided resources and product reviews for the home education community to
  help families successfully educate their own children.

• Donna Young's Homeschool Printables and Resources: Free home
  education forms, calendars, household planners, printables and more.

• Eclectic Homeschool Online: The magazine for creative home
  educators published from a Christian perspective.

• Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS):
  Florida's official online student advising system to help plan and
  track educational progress.

• Florida Department of Education Office of Independent
  Education and Parental Choice: Good source of info for Florida
  home educators.

• Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA): Dedicated to
  assisting home educators to ensure the highest quality of education
  and to provide help and info for those considering home education.

• Guilt-Free Homeschooling: Insights and tips from an 11-year
  home education veteran.

• Home Education Foundation: Established in 1991 to raise
  support and direct lobbying for home education in Florida. Exists
  to safeguard existing legislation and evaluate future legislation.

• Home School Legal Defense Association - Florida: Nonprofit
  advocacy organization established to defend and advance the
  constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their
  children and to protect family freedoms.

• Home Sweet HomeSchool: Offers links to resources other
  home educators have found useful or informative.

• Homeschool Buzz: News, reviews and helpful links.

• Homeschool Hacks: News, tools and information to educate,
  engage and excite your children.

• Homeschool Talk Radio: Tune in each week via internet to hear
  homeschooler's from all walks of life discussing various issues.

• Homeschooling for Free on the Internet: Links to substantial
  curriculum, materials and online resources compiled by a
  Maine homeschooling consultant.

• Homeschooling Zone: Huge repository of resources. Plan to
  stay awhile.

• Ignite the FIRE!: Veteran home educator Terri Camp presents the
  Freedom is Real Education (FIRE) method of homeschooling.

• Intro to Home Education: Check out CCA's Home Education Basics
  seminar topics: how to comply with Florida's home education law,
  different home education styles and options, etc.

• Jon's Homeschool Resources: Providing over 140 pages
  of neutral, non-commercial homeschooling info for over ten years.

• Oklahoma Homeschool: Don't be fooled by the name; this
  veteran home educator has much to offer those outside of her native
  state. Many free forms, unit studies, etc.  Check out a preview of "The Checklist", a fantastic resource for families doing unit studies!

Learning Differences

• Born to Explore!: The other side of ADD/ADHD. The goal of this
  site is to consider the many possible sources of ADD-like behaviors.

• Dyslexics.org.uk: Comprehensive guide to teaching dyslexic
  children at home.

• Gifted Homeschoolers Forum: Supporting gifted homeschoolers
  in California and beyond.

• Hoagies' Gifted Education Page: The "all things gifted" page.

• LD Online: Learning disability articles, columns and other resources

• SchwabLearning: Dedicated to helping families identify and deal
  with learning and attention problems.

• Southpaw Enterprises: Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
  equipment, products, toys, resources and discussion forums.

• SparkTop: A site for kids who learn differently. Games,
  activities, resources and more.

• Young Mensa: Central Florida Young Mensa group serves
  gifted children 18 and under.

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