Boing Boing: The case against homework

For many generations, the accepted wisdom has been that it benefits children when teachers assign homework because it is a good practice and refresher for the child at home to . However, there is a vocal minority of parents and teachers (and of course, students) that want to turn this truism on it's head. Read more and decide for yourself at BoingBoing.net.

LINKS Learning for Kids: Math: Illustrated Lessons

Many children and people in general learn visually. A visual mathematical tutorial can be a useful introduction or refresher for those wanting to excel.

Math is the language of symbols. The way we work with numbers tells us a lot about their relationships, patterns, and the ways they change. Math helps us describe both similarities and differences and also helps us think and solve practical problems.

In this section, you will find some fun ways to learn about math. You can start out with Estimation of Length, Place Value and Weight and Capacity. If you want something more challenging, take a look at Line Symmetry, Patterns and Tangrams. Try some of these at home with your family!

Get started at LinksLearning.org.

Invisible Octopus

Normally, you will learn that invisibility doesn't exist in nature. But this video seems to show an invisible octopus.

This Octopus turns invisible and visible at will. Just watch.

For accuracy, this is quite possibly a cuttlefish and not an octopus, though they are related. The cuttlefish is quite possibly the smartest invertebrate on the planet. They have a pretty advanced brain structure, most likely adapted because they have to be able to control the vast number of color changing cells within their body.

There was a pretty interesting special on them on the Discovery Channel about a week ago, although I can't find a link for the show right now. Keep your eye out for that show, but in the meantime, see the Invisible Octopus.

Integer Bars: Learning Fractions

Learning about fractions? Need a good tutorial to help you get started that might also put you in a hungry mood for pizza?

The word fraction means a portion of a whole. For example, if you have a whole pizza cut into 8 equal slices, then each slice is a fraction of the whole pizza. A group of slices (for example, 2 or 3 slices) is also a fraction of the whole pizza.

Read more about Integer Bars: Learning Fractions.

Starfall.com - Word Shapes: Guess Guess

I've linked to Starfall.com before.

• Pick a Pumpkin
• All About My Bathroom!
• The Letter 'O'
• Learn to Read

Now there is a new page to visit. See Word Shapes: Guess Guess.

Kids-In-Mind: Movie Ratings That Actually Work

It is important that parents either screen movies before their children see it. It is also important that they understand their children well enough to know whether their child will react well to certain scenes of higher intensity in certain films. For busy modern parents without time to see every movie their child is interested in, but who want to know more about the movie in order to better improve them now have a great web site resource.

We enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for them or their children, according to their own criteria. Unlike the MPAA we do not assign an inscrutable rating based on age, but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE & PROFANITY on a scale of 0 to 10. We also explain in detail why a film rates high or low in a specific category, and we include instances of SUBSTANCE USE, a list of DISCUSSION TOPICS that may elicit questions from kids and MESSAGES the film conveys. Again, unlike the MPAA, we do not make age-specific recommendations. Since our system is based on objective standards, not the viewer's age or the artistic merits of a film, we enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for their children according to their own criteria...

Start making use of this great site for parents at Kids-In-Mind.com.

Cool math 4 kids

Are you looking for a good resource to learn math online interactively? Just like Starfall.com is good for reading, Cool math 4 kids by Karen is a fun site for math games and puzzles.

Cool math 4 kids is a math site specially designed for what kids like and how they learn! Math really CAN be fun and really CAN be easy to learn. One "thank-you" email I received from a parent said, No more tears at homework time! That's what it's all about! I've got lots of lessons and games on the site(s) to make math fun...

So, look around... Play together and learn! HAVE FUN!

The site is also described as An amusement park of math and more -- especially designed for kids and FUN, FUN, FUN! So if you want to give it a try and stretch your math muscles, head over to Cool math 4 kids.com.