Parent & Student Resources


Student Resources
ACT
SAT Prep Sites
Writer's Companion Links to useful writing sites, thesaurus, dictionaries, graphic organizers and general reference links
MVHS Writer's Lab Schedule of times and dates when extra help is available
Recognized worldwide as the standard in online plagiarism prevention, Turnitin helps educators and students take full advantage of the Internet's educational potential. Used by thousands of institutions in over fifty countries, Turnitin's products promote originality in student work, improve student writing and research skills, encourage collaborative learning, and save valuable instructor time.
How to Study

Studying for that big test? Wish you had more time? Wish you could remember what you had read? Do you need to know how to study biology or psychology? This site is for you!
Study Skills Self-help Information Online Study Skills Workshops.
Study Guides & Strategies Online Study Guides and Study Skills Workshops in Multiple Formats & Languages.
Making International Characters in Windows The Language Center computers now have the US-International keyboard installed. This makes it much easier to make accent marks in any program on your PC. If you're not in the Language Center, see below: There are several ways to make accent marks on a PC. The 3 and 4 number codes will work in any program on your PC. Note that not every letter has a 3 number code.
Mind Maps A Powerful Approach to Note Taking.
Brains Are Not Enough A Guide To Effective Study Skills.
Sites to Promote Academic Success Here is a sampling of sites that provide tips to help you manage your time, take better notes and study more effectively, work on your memory, take tests, and handle the stresses of college life. You can also explore your learning style and explore some excellent general academic success sites.
USGS Educational Resources "Biology: U.S. Geological Survey" provides research results, photos, projects, and other resources for studies in biology, biodiversity, and ecology. Learn about butterflies and moths of North America, bat research, invasive species, environmental contaminants' effects on plants and animals, redwood research, surf scoters, sea otters, reptiles and amphibians of southern California, the desert tortoise, habitat conservation, and genetic diversity across different species groups. (USGS)
Poetry Out Loud Today's feature is sponsored by the National Foundation for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.  The site is geared toward encouraging high school students in the cultural arts by introducing the 'dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theatre into the English class.  This exciting new program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.'  However, those who have completed their high school education should not skip Poetry Out Loud.  There are a host of poems on the site with information about the poet; the visitor has the opportunity to listen to some of the works read by well-known performers such as Anthony Hopkins and Angela Lansbury.  Here's definitely a site for poetry lovers of all ages!
The Butterfly School Presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden - The Butterfly House & Education Center, the Butterfly School is a good resource for both students and teachers.  Teachers will have access to 'Classroom Activities,' a 'Suggested Reading' list and a 'Species Identification Guide.  Students will find facts and activities dealing with 'Invertebrates,' 'Insects,' 'Butterflies,' 'Anthropods' in addition to a 'Photo Gallery,' and an activity section that has instructions on making your own butterfly house, a really fun project!  There are also facts on 'Butterfly Behavior' as well as 'Metamorphosis.'  Naturally, you students can access the 'Species Identification Pages'and really get a leg up on the teacher!  The Missouri Botanical Garden gives everyone a fun site to learn about butterflies.
Visible Proofs Great forensics site, includes resources for teachers and students.
Tips-O-Matic Check out the tips-o-matic machine for writing help and hints.
Weather Dude Songs and activities for weather education.
SciPeeps SciPeeps.com bills itself as 'your one-stop shop for information on sciences' most prominent people.  Here, you will find information about astronomers, biologists, chemists, engineers, inventors, physicists, and radiologists.'  The people featured, the 'Life Changers to our society,' are listed by profession in order to access the profiles with ease.  Each profession is described; there is a 'Quote of the Day' as well as 'Focus' topics to keep you up-to-date on the science front.  You'll certainly want to take SciPeeps invitation to "Come Dive into Science with Us".
Drawn! Drawn! is a collaborative weblog for illustrators, artists, cartoonists, and anyone who likes to draw.
"Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris" Celebrates the range of the self-taught French painter's work. Known for his jungle scenes and taxidermy-like wild animals, Rousseau (1844-1910) is among the most famous of naive artists. A special web presentation explores themes in his paintings: landscapes of Paris, allegories, portraits, forests, jungles, and more. An interactive feature (inspired by Rousseau's art) lets children of all ages create fantasy landscapes.
Congress, Law, and Politics Presents papers of members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and key federal law cases. Learn about the creation of the U.S. by investigating the papers of our earliest lawmakers -- Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and others. See Calhoun's speech against the Compromise of 1850 and Webster's notes for his speech in favor of it, General MacArthur's "Old Soldiers Never Die" address to Congress (April 1951), andmore.
Cultures and History of the Americas Features 50 highlights from rare books, maps, paintings, and artifacts. The exhibit explores pre-Columbian cultures of Central America and the Caribbean, encounters between Europeans and indigenous peoples, the growth of European Florida, and piracy and trade in the American Atlantic. Highlights include Columbus's account of the 1492 voyage, Frances Drake's maps, the first natural history of the Americas, and a 7th century wooden box that recorded Mayandynastic lineage.
ExplorePAhistory Offers stories from Pennsylvania's history, information about the state's regions, and more than 60 lesson plans. (Many are keyed to the state's 1,800 historical markers.) Learn about William Penn, religious communities, the French and Indian War, the Revolution, the Philadelphia Campaign, agriculture, crossing the Alleghenies, the Underground Railroad, the politics of the Civil War, Gettysburg, railroads, mining, striking oil, baseball, the arts, and jazz.
Portraits, Visual and Written Focuses on Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens. See excerpts from Alcott's girlhood journal and "Little Women". Read Clemens' explanation of his white suit in "Mark Twain's Autobiography" and the last chapter of "Tom Sawyer", where Huck Finn has fled the Widow Douglas's civilizing influence. Help students see that their own lives and views can be a basis for creative writing.
The Presidency Offers 40 documents from 23 Presidents -- Washington's first inaugural address, Adams' description of his reception by King George III as America's first minister to Great Britain, Adams' letter ordering the relocation of government offices from Philadelphia to D.C., Lincoln's instructions to the commander at Fort Sumter, Roosevelt's letter thanking Oppenheimer and his colleagues for their ongoing secret atomic research, and more.
U.S. Antarctic Program Aims to understand the world's coldest, windiest, driest, and harshest continent -- its ecosystems and its effects on global processes such as climate. Read breaking news from a newspaper written in McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Learn about important discoveries. See articles about a killer crater found under the ice and the melting of polar ice sheets.