The Library Hot Five features the best sites the Web has to offer, brought to you weekly by Sharon the Cybrarian. Look for easy-to-use lesson plans, ask-an-expert lists, and curriculum connections. Check out our staff favorites, holiday highlights, science discoveries, special attractions, and ready references! You can also receive this list each week via email by signing up for the Library Hot Five mailing list!

1. 10 Best Practices in Mathematics Instruction

Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado provides this short list of attributes adapted from Improving Student Achievement in Mathematics.
2. Connected Math

Help students develop an "understanding of important concepts, skills, procedures, and ways of thinking and reasoning in number, geometry, measurement, algebra, probability, and statistics."
3. Curious and Useful Math

This site is loaded with tricks and rules for quickly calculating certain types of math problems. There are also some entertaining trivia and math facts. Ask a question or participate in the online forum.
4. PBS Mathline

To view lesson plans and activities, select a grade range and topic. Teachers can get quick access to their most relevant content for subject, grade level, and location by personalizing this site. Videos and online materials to help students learn about probability and statistics.

School Appropriate: Classroom Connect has determined, at the time of review, that the Library Hot Five sites are appropriate for students, teachers, and parents.

Sources: The information is reliable, the author (or organization) is a recognized authority, and the author can be contacted.

Content: The information is current, accurate, and organized; it's free of grammar and spelling errors; it's useful for the chosen grade level; all hyperlinks work.

Design: The graphics are simple and easy to load; the site is easy to navigate; the plug-ins are easy to load; the information is appealing to look at; the site has easy-to-read type.

Educational Value: The site engages the user; it’s interactive; the site incorporates state curriculum standards.