Yolo County Library

Educators

Learn together by bookmarking the Library Information for Educators page. Featuring printable PDF flyers to share with your school community, this page can help you and your students use the library. You may also request a Virtual Class Visit.

 

A-Z list of library resources for educators

You will need a Yolo County Library card to use the resources below.

Archives Unbound*: Access primary source material for 296 archival collections covering topics of importance to U.S. and California history.

Book Connections – Children’s Books & Author Resources: A collection of movies, read-alongs, meet-the-author recordings, plus assignments and activities for over 12,000 books.

Click here for Teen Books & Author Resources from BookConnections.orgBook Connections – Teen Books & Author Resources: Find the right book for you, hear authors pronounce their names, watch movies of authors in their studies and more.

CultureGrams*: Unique, concise and reliable cultural information, multimedia, and vital statistics on the countries of the world, U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Ebook Central*: All-in-one ebook platform for research, teaching, and learning.

Encyclopedia Britannica*: Learn more about any subject, whether you are a child, teen, or adult. This short introductory video will show you how to access this database.

Escolar*: Un excelente recurso digital en español que ayuda a enriquecer el aprendizaje de los estudiantes de primaria y secundaria. Incluye más de 15.000 artículos de la encyclopedia, 9.000 elementos multimedia (imágenes, videos, audio y mapas detallados) y 65 juegos educativos. Mira este vídeo para arpender más.

Explora*: Find information on thousands of topics including resources for teachers and students, popular magazines, professional journals, reference books, images, AP news video clips, and primary sources.  This short video will review some of its features.

HelpNow*: Offers live tutor access for homework help, skills building and test preparation.

Homework Central*: Authoritative information on a variety of topics to assist student research.

The New York Times Online*: Click on the “REDEEM” button only once; clicking multiple times will result in an error message. Then create an account or log in with your email address and password. For more information, please watch these short videos on onsite access and offsite pass activation. If you have questions about accessing the NYT, please contact NYT@library.ca.gov. 

PBS Video Collection*: A collection of over 1,500 streaming videos which provide full-episode access to PBS documentary series and documentaries. Content topics range from art and Shakespeare to business and economics.

Book Guides and Lesson Plans from TeachingBooks.netTeachingBooks.net – Book Guides and Lesson Plans*: For teachers: ready-to-use activities, reading lists, book, and author resources for grades PreK- 12, a growing list of authors hosting free events, and more.

Diverse Books resources from TeachingBooks.netTeachingBooks.net – Diverse Books*: A collection of engaging resources about authors, books, and reading. Identify exceptional books that reflect diverse cultural experiences, interests, and ability levels.

A-Z list of additional resources for educators

  • DK Find Out: Free teaching resources covering key curriculum subjects.
  • Entertain Kids on a Dime: Popular blog with links to 100 activities of crafts and games to do at home during school closures.
  • Help Me Grow: Community calendar featuring free local virtual events for young children and their families. Events in English and Spanish.
  • Homeschool Resources: Anti-oppressive, anti-racist homeschool curriculum ideas, and resources for families.
  • Learn @ Home with YouTube: Resources and activities for families with children of different learning levels and areas of interest
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium Lesson Plans: Curriculum and resources for grades Pre K – 12.  Exhibits in real-time on their webcams and explore games and activities for all ages.
  • National Archives Elementary At-Home Learning Activities: Activities and ideas for teaching elementary-age children. Resources focus on skills like sequencing and finding clues in historical objects.  Topics include symbols and national monuments.
  • Online Indigenous Education K-8: Indigenous educators volunteer to teach short K-8 lessons online through Facebook.
  • We Are Teachers: Ideas, inspiration, and giveaways for teachers including fun websites, games, apps, and hands-on activities for students K – 5.

What you need to know about Library Storytimes

Storytime is a fun way to get children excited about reading and is also a way for parents to learn more about activities that will help their child(ren) be ready to read as they enter school.

Yolo County Library staff deliver storytimes that are intentional, inclusive, and based on the latest child development research, which includes modeling interactive reading, facilitating parent-child interactions, and building pre-reading skills. Library staff take a whole-child approach to engaging families and building communities by using best practices in early literacy programming and education. Each program encourages families to sing, talk, read, write, and play together– five activities that are part of a nationally recognized parent education program known as Every Child Ready to Read.

In addition to literacy, storytimes build resilience in our communities by increasing social connections and support, enhancing parenting and child development knowledge, and supporting the social and emotional competence of children through the use of the Strengthening Families framework.