Naperville Public Library offers help with homework
By Susan Greenwood www.naperville-lib.org October 12, 2012 11:30AM
Updated: November 15, 2012 6:33AM
It’s 9 p.m. and your children’s homework has you stumped. Math today is more advanced than when you were in school and that English paper isn’t coming together.
Relax, the Naperville Public Library can help. Whether you need immediate help with tonight’s homework, want longer term tutoring or need to practice standardized tests, the Naperville Public Library has the resources.
Let’s start with needing immediate homework help. The online service Live Homework Help via Brainfuse is the answer. Stumped with an algebra problem? You can talk with an expert math tutor. Not sure how to put that paper together? Visit with an expert English tutor who can help with organization.
Tutors are available for many different subjects and provide help to students in grades K through 12 and college. In addition to the live, online tutors, Brainfuse offers free practice ACT and SAT tests. Access to Brainfuse is available on our website, www.naperville-lib.org. Click on the Quick Links tab on the top of the page and then click on Online Resources. Brainfuse is part of the Online Resources list.
Next, let’s tackle help that requires longer term tutoring. Our website has a link to the very popular AAUW Tutor list. The list is a very efficient chart that matches tutor skills with grade level (elementary through high school) and subject. For example, it quickly allows you to find a tutor for your high schooler who is looking for individual help preparing for the ACT or SAT tests.
The chart is even divided into different sections of Naperville making it very easy to find a tutor located in your neighborhood. This list is available in the Parents area under the Kids tab on the top of our website.
For getting help with standardized tests, there are a lot of different resources. Kaplan offers free ACT and SAT practice tests on many Saturdays all year long. Registration required. Online you can also find free practice tests available through Brainfuse.
Want to hold the resource in your hand and use a book for more information? The library owns almost 100 titles. Find them by typing “college entrance achievement tests” in the search box on the top of the website homepage.
We can help with other standardized tests, too. Have a fourth- or fifth-grade student? Go to our website and access Learning Express Library. Here your students can practice their reading, math, and writing skills. Select the tab labelled “Elementary School” and find the tests that you want. The Kids area on the library website also has other resources.
You’ll find these links in the Parents section.
Another and probably the easiest way to access these resources is just to come in and talk with our staff at the Adult and at the Children’s Services desks. Each building has both desks staffed with experts who want to help you get an “A” on that exam and get into the college of your choice.
Susan Greenwood is the community relations coordinator at the Naperville Public Library. Contact her at 630-961-4100, Ext. 2223, or greenwood@naperville-lib.org.
