About the "Best of the Web" for Children
What's it all about?
This site is designed for children around the world. It is organized so children who read can find what they are looking for with just two or three mouse clicks. Parents and teachers of younger children, (or children learning English), should find the menu simple and intuitive to use.
Children can easily be overwhelmed by the vast number of websites on the Internet, most of which are written in language that is too difficult for them. Teachers and parents have such limited time to search through billions of websites to find sites that are truly useful for children. Computer time is often much too limited to spend precious time looking through sites that aren't appropriate or useful for children.
The links on this list have been suggested by teachers around the world and collected in one place to help children, parents and teachers use computer time effectively. It is free to all, has no advertising, and can be used effectively and safely by children at school, at home, in public libraries, or wherever there is Internet access. The list was created and is maintained and hosted by Geoffrey Bell, a teacher in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is reviewed and updated regularly. Menu categories are based on common school curricula in English-speaking countries, and topics of high interest to children.
Guidelines for selecting linked sites:
- clear curriculum connection, educational content, and/or topic of high interest
for 4 to 12-year-old children
- content matches age level or can be used effectively with teacher or parent
guidance
- content appears to be reliable and safe
- if a site advertises commercial products, the main focus is still on educational
content
What makes it different from other collections of "educational" websites?
- It is designed specifically for use by children, taking reading levels, ease
of navigation and topics of high interest into consideration
- It contains no advertising or products for sale
- It is not affilitated with any organization or commercial enterprise and is
not designed to promote any specific point of view
- It is created and maintained by a certified teacher with numerous years of
experience working with children and technology
- There is no subscription fee or registration required to use the site
- Design is simple to allow older computers with older web browsers or slower
modems to use the site
- Links are kept up to date
* The sole purpose of the “Best of the Web" for Children project is to bring the best Educational websites together in one easy-to-use location.
Isn’t it better to teach children how to find this content themselves?
Ultimately, by the time my students complete Grade Six, I hope to have helped
them learn the necessary skills and tools to research any topic independently.
However, like many skills learned between the ages of 4 and 12, this is an accumulation
of step-by-step learning and practice developed over seven formative years.
When introducing students to the Internet and to research skills, I first want
them to experience success and excitement as they encounter the best of what
the Internet has to offer. Starting with a rich source of learning, we learn
how to mine it for its valuable information and resources. Then we learn how
to go looking for more!
This site is designed to be an excellent “starting off point” for
children. It is one part of a larger program to teach the skills and practices
needed for well-rounded and healthy Internet use.
Is there something like this for Teachers?
The "Best of the Web for Elementary School Teachers" site is available by clicking the link at the top of this page. It is intended to provide quick, direct access to useful resources for teachers worldwide. The site was officially unveiled at the Alberta Teacher Association Computer Council Conference in May, 2005. New links are added regularly. Yes, I'm happy to take suggestions for new links, and glad to hear from you if you find a bad link. Just click the email link at the bottom of any page.
Who is using the "Best of the Web?"
Children, families and teachers from:
Awards
The "Best of the Web" was awarded an "Innovative
Computer Grant" in 2005 by the Educational Technology Council of the
Alberta Teachers' Association.
Speaking Engagements
Geoffrey Bell, the creator of the site, has been a guest speaker for:
In 2008 he was also a guest teacher at various schools in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. He currently teaches for the Calgary Board of Education.
Credits
Special thanks go to Pete MacKay of The
Teacher List, an excellent email list for teachers! Subscribers receive
one short email every day highlighting a new, useful website for teachers. Thanks
also go to The Internet Tourbus
for its semi-weekly fascinating tours; to Cynthia B. of
INET Toolbox for her excellent monthly newsletter packed with tips and resources;
to Jan G. for leading me to many excellent ESL resources; to Robert C. for sharing
French resources;
to Elisabeth H. for her research (above and beyond the call of duty) into using
picture books to teach; to Vicky D. for providing a High-School teacher perspective
and a keen editorial eye; to Rob W. for always looking out for me and for his
steady support; to Bondalee O. and Dianna T. for steadily providing me new and
interesting sites; and to the staff of Beddington Heights School for inspiring
me to explore in all kinds of interesting directions! Thanks also go to Joan
W. for sharing the Math dictionary and glossary links! Thanks to Kerri H. for
telling me about Black Gold school division and Mrs. Brown's Art!
Special thanks also go to Dean McKinney and the Educational Technology Council of the Alberta Teachers Association for hosting the "Best of the Net" mirror site in 2006 and 2007.
Updates - 2012
Geoff is currently in the process of checking and
updating every link. Check the bottom of each screen to see when it was updated.
Dec. 2012 update - I am now involved in a number of new projects, so my work
to maintain Best of the Web is sporadic. If you don't hear back from meright
away, it's because I'm working on other projects. (To see what else I'm working
on, check the bottom of this page.)
Wondering where to start? Check the blog
each week for a recommended link!
http://bestwebsitesforkids.blogspot.ca/
Updated December 1, 2012