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Resources for parents and teachers of kids in grades 4-12 on keeping kids engaged and reading

Cathy Fleischer, a professor of English at Eastern Michigan University, is the author of Reading and Writing and Teens: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Literacy, published by the National Council of Teachers of English. She says parents can support their kids by encouraging all types of reading, from Internet content and text exchanges with friends to genre fiction and, of course, the difficult books required by teachers. Here are some of Fleischer’s suggestions for inspiring your high school student to read.

This list of titles has been compiled by librarians at member schools of the Houston Area Independent School Library Network (HAISLN). It includes both fiction and nonfiction books by some of the best authors for children and young adults.

Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.

To help kids maximize the Internet's benefits -- while minimizing the risks -- we offer the latest research, tips, and tools on what really keeps kids safe. Which privacy settings should you use? What are the ins and outs of parental controls? Get tips on everything from the basics, such as smart usernames, to the big stuff, such as appropriate sharing.

Learn how to be a better parent, teacher or caregiver to the “digital natives” in your life and gain the knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing and participating in our technology-infused world.

Tips on how to use Google's safety tools and protect you and your family's personal information online.

Internet guide of child-safe sites selected by a committee of the American Library Association. Offers links to information about animals, history, literature, the arts, social science, mathematics, computers, and science.