K-12 Math Homework Help Websites

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Free K-12 Math Websites

These 12 websites will help your child learn math and help them with math homework. Math is the bane of many students. They (and their parents) often want to pull their hair out as the struggle through a problem or concept while doing homework. Help is right here. The web offers a broad range of references, illustrations, videos, games and even homework helpers.

There are many more math websites than I have listed here. They provide detailed explanations, practice, and games on specific topics to help your kids. Take a look at my website, LearningReviews.com > Math, for info and links to more than 100 of them. There, I categorize the math websites by topic, such as fractions, addition, and calculus.

Take a look at my K-12 Top 12 list below for a 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.

Note: No personal information or email addresses are collected from children on these sites. While all of these resources are free, be cautious about using links on them to other sites. Many of these links are to associated fee-based products and services.

Don't pull your hair out

Math help is just a click away from anywhere in the world.

#1 A Maths Dictionary for Kids 

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 show you how to solve 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

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 Cut-the-Knot.org 

Strength: Mathematical games and puzzles

Cut-the-Knot.org provides more than 900 games, activities and puzzles for students at all grade levels. Alexander Bologmony is in the process of making newer versions of these activities on another site, CTK Games for Kids. There are nearly 100 games on the new site.

The activities on Cut-the-Knot.org are organized by subject area. Each activity is accompanied by a mathematical explanation for the solution.

#6 Visual Math Learning 

Strength: Detailed explanations and illustrations for pre-algebra and algebra

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

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curated content from YouTube

#7 Illuminations 

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

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.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

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 

Strength: Step-by-step problem solving for 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.

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by lravidlearner

I am the designer of LearningReviews.com and a parent, teacher and student -- always a student! I have more than 20 years of experience as a computer... (more)

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