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Online Math Homework Help for Kids

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Interactive Math Help Websites for Kids

Does your child struggle with math or just need help with a few problems? These 12 interactive math websites will help your child learn math concepts and help them with math homework. Math is the bane of many students. The web offers a broad range of tutorials, videos, games and even homework helpers in basic math skills, geometry, algebra and even calculus.

Online math help ranges from elementary school math through middle school and high school math - even college math. There are many more free math websites than I have listed here. They provide detailed explanations, practice, and games on specific topics to help your kids. Check out my LearningReviews.com Math Listing for info and links to more than 350 of them. There, I categorize the math websites by topic, such as fractions, addition, and calculus.

The math website reviews below provide a good sample of what's available for all age levels and math topics. Whether it's addition or algebra, kids can find a lifeline on the Internet.

Images courtesy of cherrina / Creative Commons

Strength: Interactive math dictionary

A Maths Dictionary for Kids is an animated and interactive math glossary. Jenny Eather of Australia has included more than 600 commonly used math terms with well-illustrated examples.

What makes this glossary different is the way kids interact with it. For instance, a student will learn the concept of ascending order by placing a set of numbers in order from smallest to largest. Or learn about prime factors by creating a factor tree.

#2 BBC Maths

Strength: Comprehensive study of all K12 math topics

BBC Maths is one of my all-time favorite math sites. It is a comprehensive site encompassing the British school system at all grade levels and subject areas. Below I'll describe the areas pertinent to U.S. school grade-level math.

Keep in mind that British English uses slightly different spelling and wording than American English (Maths vs. Math), but the concepts and skills are the same. There are actually several sites that comprise BBC Maths at different grade levels. So I'll discuss each one below.

KS1 Bitesize Games focuses on early elementary (K-2) numeracy skills. These includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, telling time, money (British currency), number sequences, place value, measurements, shapes and organizing data. The student selects a skill and difficulty level. Then let the games begin! There is also a printable worksheet for each activity.

The second level of BBC Maths is called KS2 Bitesize, which concentrates on skills that elementary age children (K-5) must master. These skills include higher level numeracy skills, fractions, patterns and simple percentages, shapes, data, and measurements and space.

Each skill has three parts. The first is a revision bite that explains a concept, such as how to multiply. The second part is an activity or game that helps the student practice the skill. (Each activity includes code that you can copy and paste into you website or blog, so that your students can use it from your website.) The third part is a short interactive quiz to assess the student's mastery of the skill.

Secondary Maths is targeted at middle and high school students (roughly grades 6-10). The focus is on skills in advanced numeracy, including fractions, decimals and percentages, exponents, geometry, algebra and handling data.

To help students master these skills, there are activities in several sections. KS3 Bitesize (similar to KS2) focuses on middle school math skills. Second, there's a Maths game show for skill practice. Third, is the Learning Zone Broadband, a searchable database of brief video clips that help teachers illustrate some of the math concepts. The last section is GCSE Bitesize. This area centers on high school level math in advanced numeracy skills, algebra, geometry, measurements and data handling.

Finally, Higher Bitesize provides practice for upper high school (grades 10-12) and AP math skills in algebra, geometry, calculus, and trigonometry.

Wow, maybe I should have devoted an entire lens to BBC Maths.

#3 MathTV.com

Strength: Videos tutorials of math problems

Sometimes there's just no substitute for somebody showing you how to do a math problem. Mr. McKeague and several of his assistants do just that on MathTV.com. This series of videos guides you step-by-step through solving problems in basic math, beginning with fractions and on into more advanced concepts in algebra, trigonometry and calculus.

Each person in the series shows a slightly different way of solving the same problem, to help you better understand it. And there's a Spanish-speaking teacher to show problem solving to students who are not proficient in English.

A video from MathTV.com is also just what a parent needs as a refresher if you're trying to help your kids out. Mr. McKeague has certainly re-taught me a thing or two!

#4 CoolMath4Kids.com and CoolMath.com

Strength: Interactive math games, with advice for parents and teachers

$Cool Math 4 Kids$ For a fun approach with a different twist, check out Coolmath4kids.com. This site provides instruction, challenges and games for K-5 skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals.

The sister website, CoolMath.com, focuses on higher level math skills typically learned in grades 6-10. There is instruction and practice on prealgebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and money and finance.

On both of these sites, you'll also see tips for parents on how to help your kids with math while avoiding meltdowns. And for teachers, CoolMath Karen, a college math instructor, provides some of her teaching techniques and games that help kids to understand and stay interested in the classroom.

#5 Khan Academy Math

Strength: Videos and skills practice

$Khan Academy Math$ Khan Academy provides hundreds of videos to illustrate math concepts in basic arithmetic, developmental math, geometry, algebra, calculus, probability, statistics and trigonometry. The site has grown from providing videos to offering practice problems, and even a whole self-paced course in math and a variety of other subjects.

Many of the videos include a link to practice problems. Solve the problems on your own, or request help with the next step in solving a problem when you get stumped. This step-by-step interactive method is invaluable. When you register (for free), the Khan Academy Practice modules lead you through a guided path of instruction based on skills you have already mastered.

#6 Visual Math Learning

Strength: Detailed illustrated tutorials for pre-algebra and algebra

$Visual Math Learning$ Visual Math Learning is multimedia instruction on math concepts learned in grades 6-10. Wayne Allen Bateman uses written explanations, narrations, and illustration to convey key concepts in math. Instruction focuses on pre-algebra and algebra. There are exercises to help the students practice, as well as puzzles and games.

The lessons in Visual Math are also a useful review for parents trying to help their kids. There are many valuable tools here to help your student understand key math concepts and to hone their skills in them.

Whew! Halfway through the list

Let's take a break... If MathTV isn't helping, perhaps Tom Lehrer can

Tom Lehrer - New Math: by fezmovies | video info

4,079 ratings | 1,784,938 views

curated content from YouTube

#7 Illuminations

Strength: Searchable database of math lesson plans, activities and interactives

$Illuminations$ Illuminations is a teacher-oriented site that provides more than 500 lesson plans for math teachers at all grade levels. The site is hoste by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Homeschool parents can make use of these lessons as well.

There's stuff here for K-12 students too. Illuminations has a searchable database of nearly 100 activities and games students can use to hone their math skills. There are even activities for high-school level math -- a rare find, as most sites provide activities that center on K-8 math skills.

#8 FunBrain.com Math Arcade

Strength: Games for K-8 math skills

$FunBrain Math Arcade$ FunBrain.com is another game-based math learning site. It offers several games that focus on K-8 math skills, hosted by Pearson Education, Inc.

Two sections of the site contain math games. The first is their classic math games, listed under More Numbers here.

The second is the Math Arcade. This is a board game where the child picks a grade level and playing piece, then progresses around the board, playing 25 games. A new password is given to her when she wins a round, so that she can leave the game and return to it later.

#9 Math Is Fun

Strength: Illustrations of K-8 math concepts, including algebra

Math Is Fun explores math skills for students in grades K-8, up through algebra. Rod Pierce excels in providing good illustrations of math concepts. You'll see this particularly in the American and metric units of measure and the geometric objects.

There is also an Illustrated Mathematics Dictionary. This reference provides a definition with a problem that illustrates the term. The dictionary includes many interactives students can manipulate to help them understand concepts. Move the legs on an angle and watch as it changes from acute to obtuse to reflex.

Clear illustrations, explanations and interactives all help to make math learning easier here.

#10 Ask Dr. Math

Strength: Large database of archived math questions and answers

$Ask Dr. Math$ OK, you've read and listened to all the explanations. But you have a problem that has you stumped. You don't even know where to start. This is when you need to go to Ask Dr. Math. Ask Dr. Math by The Math Forum @ Drexel is the best known of the online math homework helpers.

Browse their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). You can search their archive of past questions, or browse it by grade level or subject area. If none of past answers to questions help, write Dr. Math.

If you need an answer now, you can use their link to Tutor.com to sign up for 50 free minutes of online help. Be aware that Tutor.com is a fee-based resource that charges up to 60 cents per minute.

Before resorting to a fee-based service, though, try the other free services listed below.

#11 MathNerds

Strength: Fast answers to your math questions

Another helpline can be found at MathNerds.com. This is a nonprofit website of more than 500 volunteer mathematicians at the ready to help when you get stumped.

You must register -- for free -- to use the service and to access their FAQ and archive of past problems and answers. They ask that you make a good faith effort to try to solve the problem first. They will not give you the answer. But they will provide you hints and more extensive guidance if you've worked hard at it and are still struggling.

MathNerds advertises that it answer 97% of all questions within 16 hours. They provide assistance in Spanish too. That's quite a lot of help, and all they expect from you is a "Thank You" for their assistance.

#12 S.O.S. Mathematics

Step-by-step problem solving for high school algebra and calculus

S.O.S. Mathematics offers a step-by-step problem-solving guide for high school math students. The focus is on algebra, trigonometry, calculus, differential equations, complex variables and matrix algebra.

There are also several mathematical tables such as multiplication, prime numbers, logarithm and units of conversion. And you can do a quick review of some basic math concepts, such as simplifying fractions, before diving into algebra.

If the explanations do not help, use a lifeline and head over to the S.O.S. Mathematics Cyberboard forum, where assistance is just a question away. The site is hosted by MathMedics, LLC.

Timez Attack Interactive Adventure Games

Multiplication and Division skills practice

Timez Attack Multiplication and Division

If you child likes to play Nintendo DS adventure games like Super Mario, Timez Attack could be the perfect multiplication and division learning adventure game for him. Kids navigate an underground labyrinth and attack obstacles by answering multiplication questions for times tables 2 through 12. Big Brainz offers a free multiplication game in a downloadable version, under the Timez Attack Teachers menu, after you answer a few questions about your child's school.

This award-winning educational video game has been praised by parents, teachers and students. Timez Attack has also been featured on NBC and FOX news shows, as an entertaining games that keeps kids focused on the task of learning their times tables. Kids who stay focused spend hours learning and more easily master multiplication and division. Addition and subtraction games will be available by the end of 2011.

Online Math Homework Help for Kids

Interactive Math Help Websites for Kids

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

#1 A Maths Dictionary for Kids

Strength: Interactive math dictionary

#2 BBC Maths

Strength: Comprehensive study of all K12 math topics

#3 MathTV.com

Strength: Videos tutorials of math problems

#4 CoolMath4Kids.com and CoolMath.com

Strength: Interactive math games, with advice for parents and teachers

#5 Khan Academy Math

Strength: Videos and skills practice

#6 Visual Math Learning

Strength: Detailed illustrated tutorials for pre-algebra and algebra

Whew! Halfway through the list

Let's take a break... If MathTV isn't helping, perhaps Tom Lehrer can

#7 Illuminations

Strength: Searchable database of math lesson plans, activities and interactives

#8 FunBrain.com Math Arcade

Strength: Games for K-8 math skills

#9 Math Is Fun

Strength: Illustrations of K-8 math concepts, including algebra

#10 Ask Dr. Math

Strength: Large database of archived math questions and answers

#11 MathNerds

Strength: Fast answers to your math questions

#12 S.O.S. Mathematics

Step-by-step problem solving for high school algebra and calculus

Timez Attack Interactive Adventure Games

Multiplication and Division skills practice

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