Homework & Research Tools / Library, Curriculum, Homework Resources

PSD DATABASES
·         Proquest – Magazines, newspapers, books, transcripts, maps, pictures, web links, and audio/video files
o   From school: http://search.proquest.com
§ no password necessary
o   From home: http://search.proquest.com
§ Username – ZVKIS991LB
§ Password – welcome

·         eLibrary – Magazines, newspapers, books, transcripts, maps, pictures, web links, and audio/video files
o   From school: http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/ce
§ no password necessary
o   From home: http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/ce
§ Username – 66-90938
§ Password – bigchalk

·         Culturegrams – Reports on more than 200 countries, each U.S. state, and all 13 Canadian provinces and territories. Includes World Conflicts Today - ongoing conflicts throughout the world
o   From school: http://online.culturegrams.com
§ no password necessary
o   From home: http://online.culturegrams.com
§ Username – 66-90938
§ Password – bigchalk

·         SIRS Discoverer – Current events, almanac, encyclopedia, maps, biographies, dictionary/thesaurus
o        From school: http://discoverer.sirs.com
§ no password necessary
o        From home: http://discoverer.sirs.com
§ Username – 66-90938
§ Password – bigchalk

·         History Study Center – Historical documents, maps, images and journal articles
o        From school: http://www.historystudycenter.com
§ no password necessary
o        From home: http://www.historystudycenter.com
§ Username – 66-90938
§ Password – bigchalk

·         ProQuest Learning: Literature – Historical documents, maps, images and journal articles
o        From school: http://literature.proquestlearning.com
§ no password necessary
o        From home: http://literature.proquestlearning.com
§ Username – 66-90938
§ Password – bigchalk

USEFUL WEBSITESThere are many excellent websites to assist students with their research projects. Saving these sites under your "Bookmarks" or "Favorites" lists and having your child search them first will save both time and frustration, and assure your child is viewing safe information.

http://lii.org/

http://www.answers.com/

http://www.khanacademy.org/

There are many resources to help your child broaden and improve his/her reading skills.

LEXILE RATINGS

One of the benchmarks noted on the M.A.P. (Measure of Academic Progress) test scores in Reading is the lexile score. Consulting a list of books within your child's lexile range will help develop skills while reducing frustration or struggling. Although not all books have had the lexile rating determined, consulting the following websites can help you suggest books for your child or give suggestions to friends and family when gift-giving questions arise.

http://www.lexile.com/

http://www.lexile.com/findabook/Parents.aspx

BOOK TALKS

Not very many teachers or librarians have the time to read all the books available to the students. One great resource for us (and students and parents alike) are the summaries of books found on websites. Some are mentioned below.

http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/

http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bestbooksyoung.cfm

BOOK CLUBS

Another resource helpful in developing and improving reading skills can involve you and your child or the whole family. The following sites have many discussion questions for many different books. Even if you, as the parent, do not have the time to read the same book your child is, the questions offered are a good device to gage how well your child is comprehending the material as well as give you some ideas of the type of questions to ask about their reading material.

http://www.book-clubs-resource.com/resources/

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/roundtable/

http://www.slco.lib.ut.us/bkgrp.htm

OTHER LIBRARIES

We are very fortunate to have many excellent libraries in our area. Their websites offer many features besides a catalog of their holdings. For book holdings, summaries, reviews, etc., visit the following sites:

Neill Public Library

210 N. Grand Ave.

Pullman, WA

509-334-3595

http://ipac2.neill-lib.org/

Moscow Public Library

110 S. Jefferson St.

Moscow, ID

208-882-3925

http://www.latahlibrary.org/

Whitman County Libraries:
Colfax: 102 S. Main, Colfax, WA 509-397-4366
Palouse: 235 E. Main, Palouse, WA 509-878-1513

Albion: 310 N. F St., Albion, WA 509-338-9641

http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us/

Washington State University Libraries

509-335-9671

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/