Early Chapter Books

Early chapter books help children make the exciting transition from primers to chapter books.  These transitional books are a great tool for boosting the confidence of young - and even reluctant - readers!

Subject content is appropriate for 7 to 10-year-olds, and the vocabulary is accessible for children reading at the 2nd-3rd grade level. There is one main plotline with main characters between the ages of 8 and 10. Books are around 60-100 pages and printed in a reader-friendly font size with lots of white space, making them easier to read.

Click here to see a list of early chapter books at your local library!

Early Chapter Books @ Grand County Library District

Getting Started with Homeschooling

So, how does one start homeschooling anyway?

The Home School Legal Defense Association offers a great list of simple steps here:

7 Simple Steps to Start Homeschooling

Fun Resources for Kids

Resources for Kids from the CO Department of Education

Free Resources for Kids Available Anytime

• StoryBlocks --this one is local! This project from CLEL features short videos of CO librarians demonstrating rhymes and songs with early literacy tips. Videos are available in 7 languages.
• Story Preservation Initiative-- find a selection of audio stories from three master storytellers on the K-3 Storytelling Learning Lab, found at www.storypreservation.org. To access click K-3 Learning Lab on blue banner. A one-time registration is required and then click on “storytellers” and listen and enjoy at no cost
• One Hundred Museums Transformed Their Collections Into Free Coloring Pages
• Storyline Online from the Screen Actors Guild, featuring actors reading picture books
• Google Arts & Culture Collections--teamed up with over 500 museums and galleries around the world to bring anyone and everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world
• Virtual concerts, plays, museums and other culture--list of worldwide cultural activities to engage in online
• Free resources from Pop Culture Classroom--this one's local! This Denver-based nonprofit provides some of its comics-literacy based materials free.
• Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere --webpage featuring authors reading their own kids' books, with the videos embedded in the page
• "Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" Family Staycation Resources --from Too Small to Fail
• Story Time From Space -While in space, astronauts videotape themselves reading picture books to the children of Earth. These videos are being edited and placed on this website -- look under the heading 'Story Time Videos.'"
• KidLit TV --multimedia site celebrating all things children's literature
• Book Authors Reading their Books --YouTube playlist of kids' authors reading their own works
• Jarrett Lerner’s Activities Page --lots of printouts/activities that encourage creativity and story creation 
• Virtual School Activities --great list of free virtual tours and activities from around the world

History and Government

History and Government Resources
Online Resources

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government, a service of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), is designed to inform students, parents, and educators about the Federal Government, which issues the publications and information products disseminated by the GPO’s Federal Depository Library Program.

Library of Congress: Educational Resources

The Library of Congress is a great resource for primary historical documents for topics such as the Civil War, the New Deal, Women's Suffrage, and the Westward Expansion.  Lesson plans and primary source sets for specific topics are also available.

Encyclopedias

Free Online Encyclopedias 

Britannica Online

(Library Edition through Grand County Library District)

Britannica Online® Public Library Edition contains comprehensive content for all patrons—from elementary students to college students, from business professionals to curious seniors. Extensive and thorough yet intuitive and fast, this powerful collection delivers trustworthy information.

Fact Monster

Factmonster is part of the FEN Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students.

• Audience: Children through Teens 

Infoplease

Infoplease is part of the FEN Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students.

Audience: Young Adults and Up

Dyslexia Resources

Dyslexia Resources

DIAGNOSIS & THERAPY ORGANIZATIONS

Dianne Craft

Located in Colorado, Dianne Craft offers child diagnostics and help for those who struggle with Autism, Asperger’s, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Sensory Processing and Auditory Processing Disorders. 

Help = brain integration therapy, right brain teaching, and targeted nutritional strategies.

Steamboat Reading

Empowering children to become successful and confident readers and writers. (Dyslexia-focused)

BOOKS and ORGANIZATIONS

• Book: The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan by Ben Foss

 

Amazing!!  He writes about his experience growing up dyslexic and outlining how he overcame and embraced his gift to become a lawyer, inventor, and founder of Headstrong Nation, an organization aiming to help dyslexic adults and children.  (Refer to the next resource below.)

• Organization: Headstrong Nation: Dyslexia Isn't a Disease, It's a Community
• Headstrong Nation Tools for Parents

Founded by Ben Foss, Headstrong Nation is a movement dedicated to a radical new approach to dyslexia. We empower adult dyslexics to own their dyslexia, to understand it, and to develop new ways of learning and working based on their individual profiles.

Being dyslexic does not stop at the end of formal education.  It is a workplace issue as well as a factor in families and should be seen as part of the full life of an individual. Generally, we are interested in highlighting the strengths that can come with this profile in addition to the weaknesses and challenges.

• Organization: Boulder Valley Kids with Dyslexia (BVKID)
• BVKID Top 10 Accommodations Recommended in the Classroom
• BVKID Special Events (Symposiums, Fundraisers, Meetings, Simulations)
• BVKID Resources for Parents (Barton Lending Library, Dyslexia Screeners Tests, Tutors, and more)
• BVKID Lexercise: Dyslexia Evaluation (Over 100,000 parents have tested their children for dyslexia with Lexercise's free scanner)
• Dyslexic Tutors

The mission of our parent group Boulder Valley Kids Identified with Dyslexia (BVKID) is to create a culture of innovation and to promote awareness of dyslexia among parents, teachers, and administration in Boulder Valley and to serve students with dyslexia and related learning disorders to ensure that they reach their maximum potential.

• Organization: Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association
• IDA's Rocky Mountain Branch Info for Parents 
• IDA's Rocky Mountain Branch Info for Educators

IDA-RMB Mission Statement

The IDA-Rocky Mountain Branch supports those living with dyslexia, language and literacy challenges by providing research-based education and resources to individuals, families and educators. We serve communities in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Vision Statement

The IDA-Rocky Mountain Branch is recognized as the premier authority in the Rocky Mountain Region for providing state-of-the-art expertise in the area of literacy so all individuals with dyslexia, language and literacy challenges are afforded the opportunity to achieve their highest potential.

CURRICULUM

• Orton-Gillingham for Language-Based Reading Instruction
• Math-U-See
• Fun Schooling Books

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY for Dyslexic Students (Recommended by Dyslexia Specialists)

• Google Chrome Snap&Read 

Text reader (TTS) that simplifies vocabulary, translates text, reads inaccessible text (OCR), and captures and cites sources.  Snap&Read is the Next-Generation reading tool that can cover the most diverse reading needs.  Features include Read-Aloud, Dynamic Text Leveling, Translation, and Study Tools.

• Google Chrome Read&Write

Boost reading and writing confidence across all types of content and devices, in class, at work, and at home!

Wonderfully intuitive and easy-to-use, Read&Write for Google Chrome™ provides personalized support to make documents, web pages and common file types in Google Drive (including: Google Docs, PDF & ePub) more accessible. It’s designed to help everyone engage with digital content in a way that suits his/her abilities and learning styles.

• Google Chrome Voice to Text

SpeechTexter is an online multi-language speech recognizer, that can help you type long documents, books, reports, blog posts with your voice.

• SnapType

A simple way to complete any school worksheet on your iPad or Tablet.

• Audiobooks!
• LiveScribe Pens

Laura's Lists

Laura's Personal Lists

Links to Templates of Laura's Lists for You

Family Chore Charts

Morning and Bedtime Routines

Daily Chores for Each Child

Recommended Resources for Moms

Recommended Resources We Shared at TLC Night

Kid Chores
Accountable Kids
Deb Hast recommended this program that trains children to be accountable for chores and helping around the house -- without being told!  It's used to be available on Amazon.com.  Click here to view what is included in the package.  Deb recommends checking for it on eBay.

Laura’s Lists -- Laura Luna's chore lists

Age Appropriate Chores for Children

Organization

Color Note App

GCLD Reading Lists & More!

GCLD Reading Lists and More!
January 29, 2020

GCLD Librarians are creating reading lists for kids and young adults.  To locate the lists...

• Go to www.GCLD.org
• Type GCLD lists in the catalog's search field
• In the left panel, click the down arrow by Author
• Select GCLD Reading Lists to sort the view to include kid-only reading lists 

The Grand County Blues Society donated brand new instruments to GCLD that are available for check-out!

• Electric bass guitar and amplifier (Fraser and Juniper/Grand Lake Libraries)
• Electric guitar and amplifier (Granby and Fraser Libraries)
• Acoustic guitars (Fraser, Granby, Juniper/Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling Libraries)
• Acoustic classical guitar (Fraser Library)
• Child's Violin (Fraser Library)
• Ukeleles (Fraser, Juniper/Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs & Kremmling Libraries)
• Snare drum (Fraser Library)
• Drum practice pads (Fraser and Juniper/Grand Lake Libraries)
• Electronic keyboards (Fraser, Granby, Juniper/Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling Libraries)