Does your child's math homework have you stumped? Does he need help with a science project? Direct him online to the growing number of homework help sites and help him find answers to his burning questions. Online homework resources range from sites staffed by experts to reference sites.

A site may have teachers or professionals that your child can email to ask a question. If she has a question about the planets, she can then find an expert astronomer to ask. Help your child check the site to see when she can expect an answer — it may take a few days or weeks.

Reference sites range from atlases to encyclopedias. They are a place your child can go to access information to help answer their questions. If your child is doing research on sea animals, he can use a reference online such as an almanac or an encyclopedia to help complete his homework and develop his research skills.

Check your local library's Web site, too. Some, like the Boston Public Library, offer reference material as well as online help from real people. To access the online help features, you may need to enter your library card number.

There are Web sites that are subject specific and grade-level specific. Some sites give free advice, while others charge a fee. Help your child learn that it's important to evaluate the source of any information she gets online and show her how to find the "About Us" section of a Web site. Inform your child that these sites are tools to help them answer questions and that she will need to cite and acknowledge others' work correctly.

The following Web sites will assist you in finding resources to support your child to successfully complete his homework assignments. While the sites recommended are for kids it is always a good idea to supervise your child while he is online.

Fact Monster: Homework Center
This kid-friendly site from Information Please, a Pearson Education company, sorts information by subjects, homework skills, reference sources and tools. Find information on how to write a research paper, and how to cite sources. Browse the almanac and find an interactive periodic table or click on the atlas to find country, state and city profiles.

Discovery School: Online Homework Helper
This site offers two homework help options, Nutshell Math and Cosmeo, both available on a free-trial basis and a paid subscription basis for longterm use. Nutshell Math provides explanations for math problems and textbooks. On Cosmeo, you can search by subject, grade and keyword for topics of interest. The site has an extensive video library and interactive media.

Kid Info
This Web site, created by an elementary school teacher, has compiled a list of homework help, reference resources, and search engines for kids. You can do a search or click through the topics to find information about subjects, such as insects or the history of toys.

Education World: Study Skills and Homework Help
This Web site for teachers lists several resources to help find homework help. Check out the Research Toolbox in the study skills section to find references from maps and converters to museums and libraries. Read reviews of homework help Web sites and read articles about homework help.

Pitsco's Ask an Expert
Expert volunteers are standing by at this site for teachers, parents and students to help answer your questions. Choose a category and find the expert who is right for your question.

HomeworkSpot.com
This site is a free homework information portal that provides access to K-12 homework-related sites. It's organized by topic and grade level for ease of us.

Updated November 2007