There is so much happening at the library!
Library Activities
The library hosts lots of story times, musical lapsits, craft programs, and many other fun events that help to nurture early literacy. Check the events calendar here to see what’s on the schedule and to register.
The Teen Blog lists everything we have going on specifically for teens, including book lists, our Fyre Subscription Service, online gaming programs, social media links, and more. Click here for the calendar of all our upcoming teen programs.
Parent-Teacher Resources Available in the Library
The Children’s Room has an entire Parent-Teacher section which includes many learning kits on a wide variety of topics. Kits often consist of a book or multiple books, a CD or DVD, and often include a corresponding game, toy, or other manipulative.
Vox editions consist of a picture books with an audio book built in so your child can read along. They are available in both English and Spanish and you can find them in the Consortium catalog by searching the keyword Vox edition or by clicking this link.
There are also numerous Playaway LaunchPads which are educational tablets that include a talking storybook with corresponding games and videos that provides a multi-sensory learning experience.
You can use this link to get an idea of the number of parent resources that are available at the library. From here you can browse, use the search filters to narrow down your selection, or ask a librarian to help you find what you need.
And don’t forget the magazines! The library has an excellent collection of educational and fun children’s magazines that can be checked out. Some examples are NatGeo Kids, Sports Illustrated Kids, Ranger Rick, Ladybug, Highlights, American Girl, Sports Illustrated Kids, Kiki, and many more. Come by the Children’s Room and browse.
Also, you can click here to go to our Parent/Caregiver page which lists even more information about the resources available both in and out of the library.
If your child has a specific interest in any subject, feel free to ask a librarian–we love matching people to the right materials for them!
E-Resources for Youth
Take a look at our E-Resources for Youth page which links to a large collection of electronic resources that are available with your library card. They’re divided up by grade range. Below you’ll find just a few examples from each grade range:
Pre-K – 5th Grade
Bookflix – a website that pairs short video storybooks with non-fiction Scholastic e-books that you can read together with your child but that is kid-friendly enough that they can use it on their own.
Encyclopedia Brittanica Elementary, a colorful, engaging resource, from a trusted source that is rich with information and graphics that cultivate curiosity about the world. Also available in Spanish.
6th Grade – High School
For older kids there are many opportunities to learn information literacy with multiple Gale databases of credible articles and content including the In Context series for learning about Science, Global Issues, Biographies, History and more. Encyclopedia Brittanica Middle School and High School are also available.
Resources for All Ages
Then there are electronic resources that are not limited by age including Freegal Music downloads, Mango Language where anyone can learn a language free with a library card, and Hoopla, Kanopy, and Libby/Overdrive for borrowing books, audiobooks, and movies–all for free with your library card!
Gain access to them all through the E-Resources for Youth page.
Museum Passes
Also, the Haverhill Public Library offers discount passes to many local museum. You can call the library to reserve them, or use this link and your library card number. You can also find a Museum Passes button on the front page of the library website. Some of these museums even offer programs designed specifically for homeschoolers. Links to some of the museums are listed below:
Museum of Science Boston
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Boston Children’s Museum
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
Seacoast Science Center
Stone Zoo and Franklin Park Zoo
Massachusetts State Parks
Books on Child Development and Home Education Philosophy
There are classic homeschooling books which would be helpful for every homeschool parent to read and there are newer books on homeschooling that are just as valuable–but be sure to check the author’s credentials. When you’re starting out, it’s best to get your ideas and advice from experienced homeschoolers. We’ve listed some of the most important works below, but you will also find many more books for parents on how to homeschool by searching the library catalog. Try the keyword:
as well as the subject headings:
And you can also always feel free to ask a librarian for help!
Pioneers and Influential People in Homeschooling
John Holt was instrumental in creating the “Growing without Schooling” movement. This page highlights his work, has a few key quotes and accomplishments–you may want to poke around this website while you’re there as it has lots of information about John, his books, and the Growing without Schooling philosophy. And you can use this link to access all his his books in the library catalog.
John Taylor Gatto, a teacher with 30 years experience and who was named New York City Teacher of the Year three years in a row and New York State Teacher of the Year, was also a thoughtful critic of modern education. He became famous for his book, Dumbing Us Down, which you can find in the library. You may also want to check out his Wikipedia Page for more information about him and this link to all his works in the HPL catalog.
Home Learning Year by Year : How to design a homeschool curriculum from preschool through high school by Rebecca Rupp is a good place to help get you started thinking about curriculum ideas and philosophies.
Susan Wise-Bauer is the author of many home-learning favorites. The Well-Trained Mind is her influential guide to a classical education. She is also the co-author of the very popular Story of the World series which teaches history from the beginning of civilization through modern times.
Charlotte Mason was an early advocate of gentle and natural learning and using nature as the primary teaching tool. There are many people who follow her philosophy, especially in the early years. You can use this link to find her books in the Consortium catalog and you can also search using the keywords “Charlotte Mason” in the catalog to find some of the many homeschooling books that were inspired by her.
If you have questions about any of the resources listed on these pages or want help finding additional resources, feel free to email us at kids@haverhillpl.org or give us a call at 978-373-1586 and ask for the Children’s Department.