My Picks For The 5 Best Websites To Prevent Brain Drain In Teens

There are only 14 weekdays until my kids begin Summer Vacation and, inevitably, the knowledge they've acquired the previous 10 months will almost immediately begin to seep slowly from their precious brains. Usually I buy a workbook, but educational websites work just as well.

In my previous post, I listed my seven favorite learning websites for kids in 6^th grade and under (in case you don't want to scroll down, click here: http://isithotinheremmm.blogspot.com/2014/05/7-free-learning-websites-to-prevent.html). As promised, here are my 5 recommendations for educational websites for kids in 6^th grade and up:

1. Coolmath.com (http://coolmath.com) – Billed as “an amusement park of math and more” these games are “designed for fun.” Now, as a math-hater, I was skeptical, but this site actually makes math enjoyable. It covers pre-algebra/algebra, pre-calculus/calculus, geometry, fractions, fractals, finance, and more. New to the site are reading, spelling, and geography games.
2. Sheppard Software (http://sheppardsoftware.com) – This massive site covers preschool through COLLEGE and extends into a section for adults. Subjects include chemistry, geography, SAT prep, and medical terminology with oodles of games, activities, quizzes and articles. A colossus of a site!
3. EdHelper.com (www.edhelper.com) – Not as big as Sheppard, but it's got some unique stuff like weekly high school writing prompts, skills reviews, literature units, poetry, and an American Government section. Definitely worth a look.
4. Kids.gov (http://kids.usa.gov/teens) – A teeny weenie place that also has some things for bigger kids in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades. Explore different jobs, music, art (including photography), and online safety. Play games and watch videos as well. The government takes a lot of flack (justifiably or non-justifiably), but this is one of it's better endeavors, folks.
5. HowStuffWorks.com (www.howstuffworks.com) – Though not a specifically academic site, it does pack a lot of learning into one web location. I go on this site because it's so interesting! Pique your teen's interest in just about anything. I especially like their technology section which contains fascinating articles like “10 Nightmare Scenarios From the Internet of Things.”

Hey, if our screen-addicted kids are going to go on the Web, at least make it interesting! And, let's be real, chances are that high schoolers are going to have packets of school work to do over the Summer. Still, the websites above will keep them ensconced in much of academia without it seeming like a chore. Perhaps gently suggesting these sites might intrigue them enough for them to log on. It's worth a shot.

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Thanks for reading!!!