A Guide to Using the Internet for Homework Assistance

Homework can make the smartest parent feel like an idiot. There is even a show now, Are you smarter than a fifth grader, that pretty much reminds us that we aren't. In reality we are all smarter than our children, but the majority of the curriculum they are being taught we no longer use as in our daily lives as adults. Believe me there have been many nights when I have thrown my hands up in frustration, either because I could no longer remember a certain concept my daughter needed help with or because I am not a teacher and was unable to properly explain it to her. However, today because it is the age of the Internet there are many resources parents can utilize to assist their children when the need arises.

321know.com is great site for free math assistance. This site has a huge database of math related information and breaks it down by subject and grade level. When Clicking on a topic visitors have the option to either view lessons or play games relating to the subject. 321know.com does sell learning discs on their site, but much of their site is available free of charge.

Math.com is another fantastic site for math help. With explanations of the most basic to the most complex concepts, this site is sure to meet your needs. Math.com has games, test preparation, studying tips and a store filled with many useful learning tools.

Mathgoodies.com is a forum based site where you can ask and answer questions relating to your math homework. Mathgoodies.com also has worksheets, puzzles and lessons to aid in developing a better understanding of certain difficult concepts and also reinforcing concepts that are already learned. A majority of the assistance on this site is free. Some of the items must be purchased, however the prices are extremely reasonable.

For subjects like history, geography, philosophy, literature and science. General information sites usually do the trick. Infoplease.com is an interactive and child friendly site with almanacs, atlases, a dictionary, thesaurus, and an encyclopedia. There are many other sites as well for general subject information. Encyclopedia.com, Bartleby.com, Wikipedia.com and Countryreports.org are just a few worth checking out.

Scholastic.com is a fantastic site if your child needs help with any subject. It is a fun and interactive site that is geared towards children and has a section called the "Homework Hub" filled with games, tips and advice. Of course you can purchase books and software at scholastics which always has reasonable prices and they also have message boards so you can communicate with other users.

Funbrain.com is a site that is used by many educators, and is currently used at my daughters school. Your kids will absolutely love this site and most of the activities are free. Funbrain.com does give you the option to purchase homework help packets by grade for reasonably inexpensive. This site has games and related learning assistance for every subject. My daughter really enjoys doing the online MadLibs and reading the web books they have posted on their site. Funbrain.com has a section listed under curriculum that is dedicate to assisting parents in helping their children with homework and learning.

Many schools systems also offer homework assistance on their own website now as well. Additionally the US government has a website for kids that offers a variety of links and activities ranging from homework assistance to links for the kids page on government sites like NASA. The site is called Kids.gov and it definitely worth a look, your kids will love it.

There are plenty of resources out there, so you can re-educate yourself, while educating your children. There is no need to pull your hair in frustration, just head for the good old family computer.