*Tangleword: (If you win at this, you're good! HINT: use mouse over letters rather than type; senior high and up.)

*Wordox: (TEMPORARILY OFF LINE. Go to Britain for an exciting, speedy version of scrabble; prizes (except US); much like shoveling sand against the tide; log in, scroll down to last choice on games list; HINT: use s, ed, ing to capture other players' points; worldwide game site with chat; senior high and up).

*Literati: (A teacher found this game addicting and promised me the same fate; sign up and scroll down right side to "Word Games"; similar to scrabble, but challenging in a different way; free; high school and up).                                                                                                                                                                                                               *InkLink: (draw picture of word, other players guess for points; high school and up; international chat).

*Grammar Gorillas: (a way to practice parts of speech recognition, all grades).

MATH

*Math Baseball: (1 or 2 players; basic math; grades 1 - 9).

SCIENCE

*Science Vocabulary Hangman: (BEAMS Vocabulary, 6th - 8th Grade Science, 2nd Grade Matter, Atomic Structure, Force and Motion, Machines and Force, Geometry Basics, Biology, Cell Basics/Structures/Systems/Environment, Electric Circuits, Energy and Electricity, Living Systems, Body Organizatin/Systems, Basic Nervous System, Matter Basics, Meteorology Basics, Where Storms Begin, Skeletal System Basics, U.S. State Capitals).

*Optical Illusions: (The eyes have it, or do they? Dozens of illusions and their explanations including the Moon Illusion; all grades).

HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY

GENERAL

*Daily Jigsaw: (Develops spatial, organizational, noticing skills; good group activity; HINT - click on "EDGES"; turn up sound to hear the satisfying click of matching pieces; best on the net; high school and up).

*Stay Afloat: (Harry Potter, Cells, Geology, Animals, Climate, Rainforest, Dinosaurs, Endangered Animals, Organic Chemistry, Physicists, Physics Terms, Geography, World Cities, Countries, Countries of Asia.Africa/the Americas, WW II,Composers, Musical Instruments, etc.; similar to Hangman, but don't sink the boat).

SITES TO VISIT (clickNgo)

*Reference Books - Collegiate Dictionary/Thesaurus (Merriam-Webster; defines/pronounces word).

*Marco Polo Education Foundation: (a consortium of educational sites provides lesson plans for grades 1-12 geared to meet the standards in your state, free; professional individual or group training about internet use in the classroom, fee).

*A POEM A DAY - Poetry 180 (this site promotes an active high school age program, but the excellent poetry can be enjoyed by all; don't miss the How to Read a Poem Aloud section), Poetry Daily (a poem to enjoy and to think about each day).

*TEST TAKING SKILLS: PREPARATION.

*NYS Regents Exam Prep Center (all subjects; also Spanish translation).

HAVE A BETTER DAY! All Subjects: When grading long multiple-choice tests, especially reading-indicator tests with 50 questions or more, record answers on tape cassette and use the recording to grade each test (avoids answer key/student sheet flipping). - Uzma Harris, Brooklyn, New York. Math: When teaching basic math, use graph paper to reduce sloppy mistakes (one numeral in each square/straight columns). - Marlene Glick, New York City. Foreign Language: When class energy wanes, use the WAVE. In cascade of activity, students jump up and say any phrase or word, coinjugate verbs in sequence, or give a word pertaining to a category (students react quickly, use the target language, and move a little). - Deb Thompson, Spanish teacher, Braham, Minn. new

*SHOW ME THE MONEY! Getting Ready for College Early (steps to take during the middle and junior high school years to get ready for college, also Spanish version, free online), Preparing Your Child for College (benefits of a college education and about ways to put college within reach academically and financially, free online); http://encarta.msn.com/college/ (join first, solid advice ... be sure to click on "Choosing a college: what the numbers mean" ... also Student Match and Counselor-O-Matic in last paragraph of article, specific college profile check, college money search, financial aid tools, free); Minority money in social science fields (sign up for free Scholarship News subscription which includes matching, update, alerts, and consultation, type social work in search field); www.fafsa.ed.gov  (federal aid); www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/student.html and www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide (good guides to aid); free scholarship searches: BrokeScholar - go to Google and type in broke scholar, www.fastweb.com, www.college-scholarships.com; Unusual Scholarships (left-handed students - $1,000, winning couple wearing duct tape outfits to the prom - $2,500 each, SAMMY {Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year} Award - 25 $7,500 scholarships; also tall, short, twins, golf caddies, etc.; many colleges have unusual awards based on name, interests, skills, ethnicity, gender, many never collected --- check it out; also be sure to click on the "profile-based aid section" and "FastWeb" - free personal search -- icons.)