In the November issue of ION INFOhio, we featured early learning resources to help young students meet the Third Grade Guarantee, the first step to becoming College & Career Ready. This month we're focusing on the tools LearningExpress Library (LEL)* has to help 4th-12th graders prepare for college and careers.

Elementary and Middle School-LEL gives your students another way to strengthen their foundation in reading

Sample question from one of several 4th grade math practice tests

and math skills. In addition to diagnostic tests, you'll find sample state achievement tests, which help students develop their test-taking skills. Elementary school focuses on reading, math, and writing, while the middle school section adds social studies and preparation for high school.

Job Exploration-Appropriate for middle school and high school, the Job & Career Accelerator lets students survey their interests and then explore careers that match. Upper-level students can even develop resumes and cover letters and review practice interview questions.

College Entrance Examinations-PSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, CLEP, AP Exams. If it's a standardized college entrance exam, LEL has practice tests and preparation help. There's also a section on writing engaging college application essays. 

Occupation Practice Tests-Students who are planning to join the military after graduation can study for the ASVAB. It's just one of dozens of work-specific tests including, nursing licensing tests, electrician's licensing test, the Ohio Civil Service Exam, and the Commercial Driver's License exam. 

Help for You-If you're planning to earn a master's degree and need to prepare for the GRE, check out the practice tests on LEL before you buy a book or sign up for a class. Look under College Students > Graduate School Entrance Examinations to find

An Excel video tutorial available in LEL

practice tests for the GRE and the GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT, if you're so inclined. And if graduate school is more than you had in mind, you can still sharpen your software skills with the Popular Software Tutorials section, which covers everything from Microsoft Excel to Adobe Illustrator.

Regardless of the course you or your students choose, LEL keeps track of progress by asking users to set up a simple log-in account. Users can complete tutorials in multiple sessions rather than rushing to finish in one sitting.

Next month, we'll feature resources to help students develop the robust research skills they need to be College & Career Ready.

* LearningExpress Library is purchased through Libraries Connect Ohio. It is funded through an Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio.  

• January 10--Explore the Top Picks from the American Association of School Librarian's 2012 Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning

• January 24--Digital Badging for Learning in Libraries

All sessions are 3:30-4:30 p.m. EST.  If that time is inconvenient, all webinars are archived for later viewing, and you can still earn a certificate of attendance for CEU credit by answering a few questions afterward.