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8 Tips to Help Your Middle Schooler With Homework

As a middle school educator, I often think back to my time as a sixth, seventh, or eighth grader and remember the things that were most challenging and rewarding about those years. One of the things that fell squarely into the “challenging” category was the conflict I had with my parents as I worked to complete my nightly homework.

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Now that I have spent more than a decade as a teacher and principal at Friends’ Central Middle School , I see homework completion from a very different perspective. Drawing on my own memories and my professional experience, here are some simple tips for helping your middle school-aged child with homework. The objectives of these tips are to reduce conflict and empower children with their learning throughout high school and beyond:

8 Homework Tips for Middle School Parents

1. eliminate distractions.

Enough said! No loud music, texting, social media, video games, or watching TV/videos during study times. There is a multitude of research on our inability to truly multitask. One of the best things we can do for our children is to model this and enforce putting aside distractions (including our own phones, for example) when doing important work.

2. Never Take the Reins

When faced with a difficult assignment that your child is working on, it can be tempting to physically take the paper or computer from your child to help complete the work, to proofread, or more. Resist this urge! By all means sit next to your child and join, but taking the paper or computer dis-empowers and sends the wrong message to the child about who is ultimately responsible for the work.

3. Ask Questions, Avoid Directives

Instead of telling your child how to do an assignment or interpreting the assignment yourself, ask your child encouraging, productive questions.

For example, “Read the assignment aloud to me. What do you think the assignment is asking you to do or show? What are the requirements that we should keep in mind before you begin? What resources do you have that will enable you to complete this work?”

4. Don’t Fall for “I Don’t Know” or “I Can’t Do This”

Many middle schoolers will throw up their hands with an “I don’t know” or “I can’t do this” when approaching homework assignments, particularly when material is new or difficult. These phrases are reflexes for some students but are more about emotions than ability. They are really saying: “This is hard” or “I'm not sure where to start” or “I don’t feel confident” or “I don’t want to.”

Resist becoming drawn into your child's emotions and redirect away from the discomfort or uncertainty. Try “Let's start with what you know” or “What could help you figure this out?” Resources could range from class notes to doing a Google search to calling a classmate. By redirecting your child’s emotional energy, we teach children to be resourceful instead of shutting down.

5. Know When to Stop

There comes a point where a child’s confusion, frustration, and/or exhaustion is counterproductive. If your child truly works on an assignment for a solid 30-45 minutes and cannot make progress, it’s time to stop. There isn’t going to be meaningful learning if your child reaches a point of profound frustration or exhaustion.

At this point, encourage your child to meet with the teacher the following day for some clarification or assistance. You could even notify the teacher that your child wasn’t able to complete the assignment and will be seeking help.

6. Asking for Help is a Life Skill

If your child needs additional help, work with him or her to plan how to ask for assistance from the teacher. Many students perceive an incomplete homework assignment as giving up or as failure, and others do not know what to ask when they meet with the teacher.

Self-advocacy is among the most important life skills for any student to learn, especially during the Middle School years. We can set students up for success by reframing asking for help as the opposite of “giving up” and by teaching them how to most effectively as for help.

7. How Do You Solve a Problem Like... Math

It’s tempting as a parent to teach your child how to do a math problem the way you remember being taught or the way that comes most easily to you. Be careful, your “tricks” or methods could be helpful, but they could also compound any confusion. There may be a good reason why a teacher is teaching a particular method to solve a problem, such as laying the foundation for the next concept. If you want to give your child another method, let your child’s teacher know so you can work together without causing additional confusion.

8. Say it (A)loud

If your child is having difficulty with a reading assignment, read it aloud together or separately and then ask questions to help with reading comprehension. It’s tempting to give a plot summary, but that will not help your child develop those skills.

Likewise, the best way to help your child with writing is to read it aloud. Proofreading aloud helps the writer slow down enough to hear (and/or see) grammatical or structural errors. It reveals where one thought ends and the next begins, necessitating punctuation.

Finally, reading aloud helps your child to hear whether the ideas are connected and organized. I’ve had many parents and students tell me that proofreading aloud is the simplest and most effective tool they ever learned for improving writing.

Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School

I hope these simple tips will enable you to eliminate some of the “hot spots” when it comes to homework. Hands on or hands off, there's no right or wrong way to help your child. Just stick with the idea that over the course of each subsequent grade level, your support should be designed to require an increasing amount of self-direction, independence, and self-advocacy on the part of your child. In this way, you are empowering them to master material while forming learning habits that will endure beyond the classroom and the middle school years.

-Alexa Quinn, Middle School Principal

Topics: middle school

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10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School

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Parental support plays an important part in helping students succeed in middle school. But as they grow more independent, it can be hard for parents to know when to get involved and when a more behind-the-scenes approach is the way to go.

Here are 10 ways to keep your child on track for academic success in middle school.

1. Go to Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Preteens and teens do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teachers and their expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies too.

Going to  parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These may be held once or twice a year to discuss your child’s progress. Some middle schools, though, only set up parent–teacher conferences if there's a need to address issues like behavior problems or dropping grades, or if a student might benefit from advanced class work.

For kids with special learning needs, other meetings with teachers and school staff can help parents set up or revise  individualized education plans (IEPs) ,  504 education plans , or  gifted education plans .

Keep in mind that parents or guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school staff any time during the school year.

2. Visit the School and Its Website

Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about their school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, auditorium, and special classes.

Most school websites have information about:

• the school calendar
• contacting school staff
• special events like dances and class trips
• testing dates
• sign-up information and schedules for sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities
• grades and homework assignments

Many teachers maintain their own websites that provide access to textbooks and other resources, and detail homework assignments, and test and quiz dates. Other resources for parents and students are usually available on the district, school, or teacher websites.

3. Support Homework Expectations

During the middle school years, homework gets more intense and takes students longer to do than during the elementary years, usually a total of 1–2 hours each school night.

An important way to help is to make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit, distraction-free place to study that's stocked with school supplies. Distraction-free means no phone, TV, or websites other than homework-related resources. And be sure to check in from time to time to make sure that your child hasn't gotten distracted.

Talk with your child regularly about class loads and make sure they're balanced. It's also a good idea to set a specific start time for homework each night. Helping your child set a homework schedule and consistent homework routine sends a message that academics are a priority.

Encourage your child to ask for help when it's needed. Most teachers are available for extra help before or after school and might be able to recommend other resources.

4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn

A nutritious breakfast fuels up middle schoolers and gets them ready for the day. In general, preteens and teens who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school.

Help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory with breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, and low in added sugar. If your child is running late, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell.

Preteens and teens also need enough sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. In general, preteens need about 9–12 hours of sleep each night and teens need about 8–10 hours.

Bedtime problems can come up at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, texting, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can lead to students not getting enough sleep. Also try to prevent kids from napping after school to ensure they can fall asleep at an appropriate time each night.

Lack of sleep can make it hard for preteens and teens to pay attention in school. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights.

5. Teach Organization Skills

No one is born with great organizational skills — they have to be learned and practiced. Being organized is a key to success in middle school, as it's the first time that most students will have multiple teachers and classrooms, or do extracurricular or after-school activities. Students can benefit from parents helping with organizing assignments and time management.

Class information and assignments should be organized by subject in binders, notebooks, or folders. Teach your child how to use a calendar or personal planner to stay organized and schedule study times. Calendars or planners also should include your child's non-academic commitments to help with time management.

Your child should know how to make a daily to-do list to prioritize tasks and manage time. It can be as simple as:

• swim practice
• walk the dog
• study for social studies test (30 minutes)
• finish math worksheet
• read over science class notes (15 minutes)
• put clothes away

6. Teach Study Skills

Planning is a big part of helping your middle schooler study for tests now that they're juggling work from multiple teachers.

Be sure you both know when tests are scheduled, and plan enough study time before each. When there's a lot to study, help figure out roughly how much time it will take to study for each test, then make a study calendar so your child doesn't have to study for multiple tests all in one night.

Remind your child to take notes in class, organize them by subject, and review them at home each day.

Help your child review material and study with easy techniques like simple questioning, asking to provide the missing word, and creating practice tests. The more processes the brain uses to handle information — such as writing, reading, speaking, and listening — the more likely students will remember the information. Repeating words, re-reading passages aloud, re-writing notes, or visualizing or drawing information all help the brain retain data. Remind your child that it usually takes a few tries to remember something correctly.

In math or science, doing practice problems is a great way to review for tests. Your child can ask the teacher about online practice resources.

And remember that getting a good night's sleep is smarter than cramming. Studies show that students who skip sleep to study are more likely to struggle on tests the next day.

7. Know the Disciplinary and Bullying Policies

Schools usually list their disciplinary policies (sometimes called  the student code of conduct ) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations — and consequences for not meeting them — for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language.

The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have policies about  bullying , such as the school's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and how to report bullying.

Your child should be aware of what's expected at school and know that you'll support the consequences if expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home. That way, kids see both settings as safe, caring places that work together as a team.

8. Get Involved

Volunteering at your child's middle school is a great way to show you're interested in their education.

Some middle school students like to see their parents at school or school events. But others may feel embarrassed by it. Follow your child's cues about what works for you both, and whether your volunteering should stay behind the scenes. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy — you're just trying to help the school community.

Parents can get involved by:

• serving as a grade-level chairperson
• organizing and/or working at fundraising activities and other special events, like bake sales, car washes, and book fairs
• chaperoning field trips, dances, and proms
• attending school board meetings
• joining the school's parent–teacher group
• working as a library assistant
• mentoring or tutoring students
• giving a talk for career day
• attending school concerts, plays, and athletic events

Check the school or school district website to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even giving a few hours during the school year can make an impression on your child.

9. Take Attendance Seriously

Middle schoolers should take a sick day if they have a fever, are nauseated, vomiting, or have diarrhea. Otherwise, it's important that they arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up can be stressful and interfere with learning.

Middle schoolers may have many reasons for not wanting to go to school — bullies , tough assignments, low grades, social problems, or issues with classmates or teachers. Talk with your child — and then perhaps with an administrator or school counselor — to find out more about what's causing any anxiety.

Students also may be late for school due to changes in their body clocks. During adolescence, the body's circadian rhythm (an internal biological clock) is reset, telling a teen to fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning. Keeping your teen on a consistent daily sleep schedule can help avoid problems like tiredness and tardiness.

For students who have a chronic health issue , educators will work with the families and may limit workloads or assignments so students can stay on track. If your child has a chronic health issue, a 504 education plan can support learning at school. Talk to school administrators if you are interested in developing a 504 plan for your child.

10. Talk About School

Staying connected with preteens and teens as they grow more independent can be a challenge for parents, but it's more important than ever. While activities at school, new interests, and expanding social circles can play bigger roles in the lives of many middle school students, parents and guardians are still their anchors for providing love, guidance, and support.

Talk with your child every day, so they know that what goes on at school is important to you. When preteens and teens know their parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously too.

The way you talk and listen to your child can influence how well they listen and respond. Listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking while you talk. Be sure to ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no" answers.

When preteens and teens know they can talk openly with their parents, the challenges of middle school can be a little easier to face.

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How to Help Students Develop the Skills They Need to Complete Homework

Middle and high school students can learn to work more efficiently by using strategies that improve their executive function skills.

The effects of homework are mixed. While adolescents across middle and high school have an array of life situations that can make doing homework easier or harder, it’s well known that homework magnifies inequity . However, we also know that learning how to manage time and work independently outside of the school day is valuable for lifelong learning. From the homework wars  to students who have little time for homework to students who don’t even know where to begin, everyone can agree that kids who can self-regulate and engage in independent rehearsal are better positioned for whatever the future holds.

How can we empower students to overcome barriers to doing homework well?

Executive Functioning

Homework is partially an assessment of executive functioning. Executive functioning and self-regulation take time to develop. They depend on three types of critical brain function: working memory, mental flexibility, and self-regulation .

Let’s break this down to consider how to improve their efficiency.

Working memory: Don’t hold everything in your head; it is not possible. When doing homework, students should write down their ideas, whether they are notes while reading, numbers when working through a math problem, or non-school-related reminders about chores, such as remembering to take the dog for a walk. Clearing working memory for the immediate task at hand allows the brain to focus as the strain is reduced.

Mental flexibility: As students build their independence and grow their homework routines, seeing an array of strategies, or more than one way to solve a problem, is important. Consider the results when a child gets stuck and doesn’t know what to do to get unstuck or when one keeps trying the same failed approach. Chunking homework helps simplify the process. When stuck, a student looks at a smaller piece, which makes it easier to see other solutions. More practice with mental flexibility happens when others model thinking in different ways, and students practice flexible thinking with partners by asking them: What is another way? Use this bubble map to chart out multiple ways.

Self-regulation: Learning how to prioritize work and stick with it by not giving in to impulses is a skill that students develop over time . One way to teach self-regulation is to have students practice control by concentrating for short periods of time with the goal of building up to longer, more sustained periods of time as the year progresses. For a child who struggles with reading for an extended time, start with five minutes and then build from there.

Another self-regulation tip is creating a plan to overcome distractions. What happens when the child stumbles? Three minutes into reading and a student is reaching for their cell phone. Recommend that they practice moving the cell phone away from the homework area, and summarize before returning to the reading. Stops and starts are frustrating and often result in lost homework time. Have students practice responses to distraction, and make this part of their homework. When a student struggles to stay on task, they should be encouraged to remove any distraction in order to regain focus.

Use classroom assessment as a tool to plan for and support student homework. Record the following information for students:

• Do they write, read, and/or solve problems in class? For how many minutes independently?
• What is the quality of their work? Are they actually learning, or are they just going through the motions?
• Do they know how to strategize on their own or get help from a peer when they’re stuck? Observe them and take notes, and/or have them reflect on this question.

We cannot expect that students will independently practice a skill they don’t engage with during class. If it doesn't happen in the classroom, it's not going to happen at home. The teacher should be able to realistically gauge how much and what students might achieve at home. A suggestion to build independence is to use task analysis . Here is a model . For students who struggle with getting homework done, at first they may not actually do homework; rather, they practice the routines of setting up and getting started.

Direct Instruction

The following are some techniques that help students with homework:

• Mindful meditation to gain focus
• Prioritizing and estimating time
• Filtering out distractions

Peers as Partners

Class partnership routines need practice. With strong partnerships, kids learn how to support and learn from each other. Access to teachers will never match the unlimited access to peers. The hours that students who achieve at high levels put in after class are often spent alone rehearsing the content or with peers who push each other to improve.

Class-to-Home Connection

While some students struggle with executive functioning, others rush through their homework. The most important step in having homework count is to make it seamless, not separate from class. Homework flows from classwork. Especially with a mix of synchronous and asynchronous work, now there is no homework, just work done for our classes. Consistent instructional goals with engaging and meaningful tasks help students see the value in working beyond the last bell.

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A Guide to Helping Your Middle Schooler Thrive in School

Help your middle schooler learn to manage her time effectively..

Now that your child is a tween, with increased academic demands bumping up against changing hormones , is disorganization inevitable? Will you be plagued with late-night study sessions, overdue assignments, and missed events? Not necessarily. With guidance, your middle schooler can learn to manage her time and set priorities. Your first step: get her to buy in. She won't respond well if she feels she's being babied, so have her weigh in. What are her big challenges? How might she resolve them? Offer up these strategies as good options:

A Time and a Place for All Things On average, your middle schooler will need to set aside an hour or two each night for homework. Doing it at the same time and in the same spot each day is important. Associative abilities are fairly well developed by this age, so having a time and place reserved for work will help your child focus. And a regular pattern can mean fewer complaints when it's time to start. Choose a time slot that suits his personality. If he needs to burn off steam in the afternoon or is busy with extracurriculars, then he'll need to do homework after dinner. If he likes to chat online with friends after dinner, then homework time should come right after school. At the beginning of the year (after back-to-school night is a good time), sit down together and discuss a homework plan. Ask him where he's most comfortable studying and when. Maybe he used to like to work at the kitchen table, but now needs the quiet of his own room — or vice versa. Your role: reality checker. Without dismissing his ideas, guide him toward a workable plan. Be open to further discussions once the school year is underway. Most young teens will underestimate the amount of time needed to finish their work by about half. To help yours become a better guesser, have her note how long it takes to complete assignments in different subjects at the beginning of the year. Compare the actual amount of time to what she had anticipated. Then adjust homework time accordingly.

Calendar Control Today's middle-school student is under a great deal of scheduling pressure. He may have class blocks that change each day, days that change each week, and a significantly bigger homework load — and that's just the academics. He'll also encounter new clubs, sports, social events, and digital distractions. So help him learn to pace himself. Visual reminders often work well. Using color codes or magnetic pictures, include all of each day's major activities — school, sports practice, dinner, homework, even TV and leisure time. As your child becomes accustomed to the schedule, slowly let him take more responsibility for filling in his own events. Make sure this includes planning for long-term assignments as well. Show him how to block out some time each day leading up to an exam or the due date for a big project or research paper .

4 homework apps that are helpful for middle schoolers

When tweens hit middle school, completing homework assignments and keeping work organized becomes more challenging. Instead of one main teacher, middle schoolers now have multiple teachers with different expectations. With busy after-school schedules, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders may not be sitting down to complete homework or study for upcoming tests until later in the evening. While some middle schools offer homework clubs at the conclusion of the school day, what happens when students need help after hours and parents and caregivers aren’t up on the subject matter?

• Yup — Math Tutoring

Quizlet: Learn with Flashcards

Helpful homework organizational apps for middle school.

Sure, there’s Google, but unfortunately, the popular search engine isn’t always the answer, and many teachers frown on the use of Wikipedia. Thankfully, there are middle school homework apps available to help kids untangle the math questions they’re stuck on or uncover the symbolism in a book they’re reading . Here are four of the best homework apps for middle school students to put on the back-to-school list and download.

Yup — Math Tutoring

Once kids start middle school, most parents are out as far as providing help with math homework. While Yup – Math is not free, the app can be an asset during the school year because math is a trouble spot area for many middle schoolers. Through the Yup — Math app, teachers are available for homework assistance 24/7 and can help tweens and teens with geometry, algebra, and any other mathematical questions. Students can upload a photograph of a particular problem and one of the teachers will provide assistance. Yup — Math offers a free two-week trial and does offer various pricing plans.

For homework problems for multiple subjects including science, history, math, and literature, Google’s Socratic is ideal. If students are stuck on certain questions, they can upload an image and Socratic will provide the information to help answer it. Users can find videos, step-by-step directions, and study guides to help answer and understand the homework problems they’re having an issue with. Socratic is free to download.

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Studying for tests in multiple classes can be problematic for middle school students. Quizlet is used by many teachers in class to help students master certain concepts and necessary vocabulary. The free app is also available for download outside of school and is a great study tool. Users can create their own flashcards for an upcoming test or quiz. The app offers study sets in addition to making your own flashcard options. Quizlet is extremely useful for mastering foreign language vocabulary and preparing for vocabulary tests in Language Arts and English classes.

Ask middle school students what homework assignments are the most problematic, and math usually comes up. Math becomes difficult for many students in middle school. Instead of struggling with those one or two problems kids just can’t solve on their homework, try Photomath. The app is free to download and does include in-app purchases. Photomath includes a multi-functional scientific calculator and step-by-step directions for solving problems. Multiple explanations allow kids to find the problem-solving solution that works best for them. Like Yup – Math, users can upload a picture of the problem. If you want step-by-step directions for specific homework problems, the premium plan is necessary. For non-subscribers, the problem will still be solved, but not with as much explanation.  Photomath Plus is an upgrade for this app and requires a fee.

Moving from elementary school to middle school can be an organizational nightmare for some students. Keeping multiple classes, assignments, due dates, and upcoming tests and quizzes organized can be a trouble spot. Organizational issues often carry over into the classroom. Late assignments, lost homework, and forgetting to study for tests and quizzes impacts grades. Since middle schoolers are often tied to their smartphones, they will be more apt to utilize a digital planner as opposed to the traditional notebook planners. If your middle schooler has difficulty staying organized, these are helpful apps for keeping students on target in their different classes.

• myHomework Student Planner – free with in-app purchases
• Show My Homework – free
• istudiez Pro – free with in-app purchases
• My Study Life – School Planner – free

Making the transition from elementary school to middle school is a major milestone for tweens. The stepping stone to high school is a pivotal one where sixth, seventh, and eighth-graders learn how to navigate managing multiple courses. As subjects become more difficult, homework questions will pop up. Homework apps designed to help middle and high school students find solutions to difficult problems and study for tests and quizzes should be on the school list.

Math is especially problematic for many students. So, it’s a good idea to have Yup — Math and Photomath in the wheelhouse before homework issues arise. Quizlet is a helpful option to assist kids in studying for tests. Apps are also available to help students keep their homework, long-term assignments, and test dates organized. If your tween had difficulty staying organized in elementary school, installing a homework organizing app prior to the start of classes in middle school is prudent. Homework can be challenging for middle schoolers and utilizing homework apps are a practical way to help tweens complete assignments while also gaining an understanding of the concepts. These homework apps don’t just provide answers. The apps provide users with explanations as well and most are free to download.

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Marking baby milestones is certainly not a new trend. Parents have been capturing baby's first steps and words for ages. Baby milestones are always a big focus because they pinpoint important developmental achievements of little ones as they grow. The lack or delay of certain baby milestones is often a red flag for pediatricians, which is why so much attention is placed on them.

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To allow your tween or teen to have a cellphone is a tough call. While the wonders of technology are enticing, kids seem to fall down a rabbit hole much like Alice did when they get a smartphone. Life quickly becomes a battle between parent and child regarding screen time. For parents deciding why kids should have cellphones, the pros need to outweigh the cons.

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If you don't have kids, it's so easy to judge how someone else parents theirs. "I would never do that to my child," or "My child wouldn't behave that way," or whatever thought pops into your head the second you see a child having a meltdown in the aisle at Target. But when you have children, it's interesting to watch what parenting style another parent uses on their kid.

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• For Teens: Homework Help - Middle School

Homework Help - Middle School

Culturegrams: kids edition.

A collection of country reports that teaches upper elementary-aged children more about the world around them. Each report is an indispensable resource of up-to-date, engaging cultural information, complete with images, historical timeline, fun facts, and sections on history, population, "life as a kid," and more.

View a guided tour of this database.

Britannica School

Nonfiction content geared for K-12 students. Includes over 132,000 encyclopedia articles, 103,000 images, 7,500 multimedia elements, more than 27,000 eBooks and novels and essays. Tools include translation for 50+ languages and read-aloud functionality.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

eBook K-8 Collection

This collection aligns with Common Core guidelines for grades K-8 in English language arts and literacy, history/social studies, science and technical subjects.

This database is provided by the  Michigan eLibrary  (MeL).

Explora for Middle School

Magazines and reference books for middle school students. Includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents. Subjects include history, current events, science, sports, and biographies. Also includes photos, maps, and flags.

This database is provided by the  Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Gale in Context: Biography

A single stop for biographies on notable figures in literature, science, history, government, business, art, gender and multicultural studies, religion, entertainment, popular culture, sports and much more. Includes full-text magazine and newspaper articles and photos.

Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints

A one-stop source for information on hundreds of today's hottest social issues, featuring continuously updated viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into an engaging and user-friendly online experience.

Middle Search Plus

A full-text database providing popular middle school magazines and reference books. Covering subjects such as history, current events, science and sports, it also includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents, plus over a million photos, maps and flags.

Magazine list | Subjects | Other sources

NoveList K-8 Plus

Find just the right book by subject, age, awards won, Lexile reading levels, Common Core standards, books made into movies, and much more. Read reviews, learn about the author and create your own reading wish list.

Designed for middle and high school students and adults who have a basic foundation in English grammar and reading but need adapted reading material for a variety of subjects. It offers resources to help build background knowledge, conduct research and improve study skills.

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioWeb: webapp02 Version 4.18.0 Last updated 2024/03/26 09:51

Homework Help: Middle School

Explore an array of resources that will help you with everything from chemistry and history to English and math.

Learning Aids for Middle School

Find resources on core school subjects in our extensive online databases, which feature e-books, videos, lesson plans, and more. 

E-Books and Core Subject Resources

FreedomFlix Bring history to life with video clips and e-books, with popup features such as maps, timelines, virtual tour clips, primary source videos, and audio clips. (Grades 4–9)

ScienceFlix An interactive science tool, with videos, articles, and suggested activities. Topics include: Earth Science, Health and Human Body, Physical Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering. (Grades 4–9)

TeenBookCloud A collection of videos and books in a variety of different categories including e-books, read-alongs, graphic novels, videos, and audiobooks. (Grades 6–12)

TrueFlix Online resource that gives nonfiction books and videos on various topics. Also includes project ideas, suggested activities, and links to related websites. (Grades 3–7)

TumbleBooks Library Includes animated talking picture books, story books, and books in other languages, puzzles, and games. (Grades PreK–6)

Research Assignments and Projects

Explora Middle School Search a variety of subjects, including the arts, current events, geography, history, literature, science, and math. (Grades 6–8)

Britannica Academic Offers Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, world atlas and country comparison, news and magazine articles, primary sources, images and video. Select School Edition for all grades (PreK–12) and all reading abilities. Select articles by reading level and listen along to the text. You can use Escolar Online for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish for native Spanish speakers, bilingual students, and students learning Spanish.

Scholastic GO Nonfiction content that includes eight encyclopedia databases, videos, leveled text, newspapers, and vetted websites. (Grades 3–8)

World Book Online Reference Center Select Kids link (with balloon icon) to explore different topics, with pictures, articles, games, science projects, maps, and more. Includes features to listen along to the text. (Grades K–6)

Reading Resources: Middle School

Discover new ways to engage with books, e-books, and more!

Activities with NYPL: Middle School

Find a wide range of in-person and online activities to stay engaged while learning.

Back to School with NYPL

The New York Public Library is here to support kids of all ages, educators, and parents and caregivers with an array of programs and resources, both in person and online. Discover what we’re doing for kids and teens as New Yorkers return to school this fall—plus books, free homework help, learning tools, and fun, engaging activities to help you develop all your skills.

Top 10 Free Homework Help Websites

By: erin dower.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a nonprofit that aims to provide "a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere." The site offers a growing library of high-quality educational videos that can help parents brush up on school subjects or guide their child through homework with evidence and visual aids , which are big concepts in the Common Core. Whether you're looking for a crash course in world history or biology , or even just basic math concepts , there are nicely paced videos on almost every topic. There are even videos to help kids learn computer programming or prepare for the SAT.

Visit Khan Academy

StudyGeek.org is a nonprofit website "where PhD experts help with math homework" — neat! The site offers detailed sections on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics. Each area provides helpful explanations and sample problems specific to all types of math. Study Geek also offers a searchable math vocabulary guide . Their Math Solver tool helps you solve any kind of math problem, and by creating a (free) account on the site, you can "unlock" the step-by-step explanation of how the problem was solved and save math problems to refer to later.

Visit Study Geek

Fact Monster

Fact Monster is part of Family Education Network and is a free reference site for children, teachers, and parents. Fact Monster's homework center offers online math flashcards for kids to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division skills, and a conversion calculator for all kinds of units of measurement. The site also offers an atlas, almanac, and encyclopedia, plus loads of writing assignment advice , including how to write an essay, biography, and bibliography. The U.S. almanac is a lifesaver when your child is writing a report on one of the 50 states!

Visit Fact Monster

BJ Pinchbeck's Homework Helper

A father/son duo started this site back in 1996 when 9-year-old BJ wanted to learn how to build a website alongside his "computer nerd" dad. The site has grown and continues to serve as a great reference to families. It provides hundreds of links to helpful websites for every school subject and focus area, so you can find resources for anything from botany , to Latin grammar , to musical chords . It can also help you find free texts and books online — which is awesome if your child forgot his copy of Beowulf or Romeo and Juliet in his locker!

Visit BJ Pinchbeck's Homework Helper

Parent Toolkit

Produced by NBC News' Education Nation and sponsored by Pearson (owner of FamilyEducation.com), ParentToolkit.com gives you a grade-by-grade look at academics in preschool through high school, reflecting the Common Core Standards that are taking effect in most states. The website's grade-specific "Benchmark" guides for math and English can be helpful to review at the beginning of the school year to get a sense of what topics your child will be studying (and what you may need to brush up on in order to help with homework). Plus they offer some sample math problems and English language arts exercises, as well as some tips for parents to foster learning at home. Similar content is also available in the Parent Toolkit app.

Visit Parent Toolkit

See the Parent Toolkit app

Common Core Works

CommonCoreWorks.org, provides helpful printable "Parent Roadmaps" for Math and English for grades K-12, available in English and Spanish. The Roadmaps offer a closer look at Common Core curriculum for each grade, including sample math problems and English exercises.

CommonCore.org is another website that offers grade-specific math "tip sheets" for parents, which show the "new math" way of solving problems, such as using dots to learn how to count or "bar models" (aka "tape diagrams") to solve word problems.

Visit CommonCoreWorks.org

Visit CommonCore.org

Hippo Campus

HippoCampus.org is a free website that offers rich multimedia academic content — videos, animations, quizzes, and simulations. The site offers more than 5,700 free videos collected from various academic institutions in 13 subject areas, including algebra, geometry, calculus, earth science, biology, physics, history, and English. Math Snacks is a series of cool animated videos and games that help teach middle school math concepts using fun, visual techniques. STEMbite is a series of videos that discuss math and science in the real word, such as the math behind barcodes, and the science behind polarized sunglass lenses. Visual learning and real-world application are two important educational concepts in the Common Core Standards.

Visit Hippo Campus

Scholastic Parent & Child

This site offers subject-specific Parent Primers , which help you dust off old spelling rules, revisit the three branches of government, see different geometric shapes, and more. Plus, with their Flash Card Maker you can make your own math and vocabulary flashcards, and with their Spelling Wizard you can make a word scramble or word search that helps kids learn their spelling list in fun ways.

Visit Scholastic Parent & Child

Wonderopolis

Kids say — and ask — the darnedest things! Wonderopolis.org is a neat nonprofit website that answers all sorts of questions submitted by children with fact-filled, kid-friendly articles and fun-to-watch videos. There's the "Wonder of the Day," plus an archive of hundreds of past "wonders." The articles and videos could serve as great inspiration for school assignments, such as science projects or history or English reports. Here are some examples of "wonders" the site answers:

• "Why do skunks stink?"
• "Why is the ocean blue?"
• "What is the world's favorite food?"

Visit Wonderopolis

Ask Dr. Math

"Ask Dr. Math" is a nonprofit forum managed by Drexel University. The site may look dated, but it's still helpful and relevant. The list of math FAQs covers many popular topics, such as dividing by zero, types of fractions, learning to factor, and how to round numbers. You can also browse for answers by age group (elementary, middle, or high school) or search the archive by keyword .

Visit Ask Dr. Math

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The Internet offers highly resourceful homework tools for students of all ages. For junior-high school students recently introduced to Shakespeare’s famous sonnets or the basics of algebra and geometry, they have a wide range of reliable and free online homework tools available to them. The following is a list of links to various resources for the language arts, literature, Spanish, history, mathematics and general sciences.

Language Arts

• ALA Children & Young Adult Books:  Junior-high students can find award-winning books for a school report or recommended reading lists on the American Library Association’s website.
• Merriam Webster’s Word Central:  A helpful online dictionary and thesaurus for students.
• Reading/Language Arts Center:   Created by Houghton Mifflin, the “Reading Scene” shows featured books, related information and activities and comments from other children.
• School Family:  School Family’s website provides a language arts section for middle school students, including reading skill exercises and grammar quizzes.
• Writing Den: This website includes writing tips about sentences, paragraphs and essays.
• www.english-for-students.com : This site provides a large collection of English as a Second Language (ESL) tools & resources for students, teachers, learners and academics.
• Reading and Literacy:  A site containing book reviews, reading programs for children and teens, online reading tools, a book chat forum and reference links.
• Bartleby:  Bartleby is an electronic text archive of classic books and includes fiction, nonfiction, verse and references.
• Bibliomania:  Bibliomania offers world literature information and includes electronic books, stories, plays, articles and poems.
• Cummings Study Guide:  Cummings Study Guide provides an extensive list of literary terms and overviews of plays by Shakespeare and short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, as well as other famous short stories.
• Shakespeare,  Free Shakespeare Resources American History
• FactMonster:  FactMonster offers overviews of U.S. history, including biographies of U.S. presidents and links to relevant documents.
• HippoCampus.org:  Hippocampus.org provides study guides in American Government and U.S. history.
• History Homework Help:  History Homework Help provides backgrounds on a variety of historical topics and includes interactive activities, timelines and quizzes.
• InfoPlease:  Infoplease offers overviews pertaining to U.S. history and descriptions of events, timelines and natural disasters.
• KOL Homework Help, American History:  KOL includes American history materials, such as relevant biographies, timelines, videos and images.
• HomeSchoolMath.net:   HomeSchooMath.net includes geometry games and descriptions.
• Identify Solids:  A game that asks students to correctly identify different geometric shapes.
• Mathebook.net:  This website includes examples of geometry equations for junior high students ecently introduced to geometry.
• Math Warehouse:  Math Warehouse provides geometry games, worksheets and diagrams.
• Middle School Portal 2,  Geometry in 3-D Introduction :   This website includes descriptions of three-dimensional shapes and how to measure solids.
• Symmeter:  An online tool for understanding and measuring symmetry.

Introductory Algebra/Math

• Algebra Tutorials Interactive Animation Games:  Using interactive animation, this website includes algebra tutorials, quizzes and games.
• Math Concentration:  Math Concentration provides free math help for middle school students on a virtual whiteboard and forum.
• The Math Dude:  The Math Dude provides links to free, live homework help, as well as a video series that helps middle school students improve their Algebra skills.
• Math Tutor on the Go:  Math Tutor on the Go offers math tutoring for middle and high school students.

Earth Science/Geology

• Basic Science for Kids:  Basic Science for Kids contains science projects and experiments for kids, along with detailed answers to science questions and unit conversions.
• NASA Education: For Students:   NASA’s website for kids covers stories, pictures, careers, programs, research tools and homework help for elementary and junior-high students.
• Science Fair Project Resource Guide:   The Internet Public Library provides resources to help middle school students create science fair projects.
• Verus Mundus:  Verus Mundus is an educational initiative that supports young students in their understanding of the natural sciences.
• About.com,  Spanish Wordlist :   About.com’s basic and essential “Spanish word list.”
• GoogleTranslate:  One of the best free, online translation tools. Offered by Google.
• Spanish Dictionary :  A translation tool (English to Spanish).
• Spanish Language & Culture:  This website includes grammatical resources and explanations in how different tenses are used.
• Tutor and Mentor:  Tutor and Mentor provides online math tutoring and homework help to middle school and high school students.
• Veinte Mundos:   An extensive and free online resource that includes audio tools, as well as Spanish grammar and vocabulary lessons.

Physical Science & Geology

• Exploratorium:   Provided by the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco, this website includes dozens of online science exhibits and experiments that students can also complete at home.
• How Things Work:  This website explains the mechanics of various topics, including inertia, force exertion and gravity.
• Volcanoes of the World:   Volcanoes of the World offers facts about and maps of major volcanoes. Provided by the USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington.
• Web Elements:  This website includes descriptions of elemental physical properties and their electronic configurations.

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Best Homework Sites for Middle Schoolers

As kids begin middle school, they are often shocked by the differences in atmosphere and the amount of work they are expected to do. Along with more difficult work and more responsibilities comes more difficult homework. Luckily, there are many resources available online that can be a great help when trying to do your homework. The following is a list of some great subject specific resources as well as a list of general homework help resources.

Science Resources

• Kids Science Activities – a list of science activities and resources for grades 3 through 12
• Best Science Resources – a list of the best science websites for students including general science, biology, chemistry, physics, and much more
• Science Resources – a list of great science resources for middle schoolers as well as some elementary and high school sites
• Biology Resources – an extensive list of biology resources for students on many different topics

Math Resources

• Online Math Activities – a list of resources for various online math activities for students
• Mathematics – a list of math links for middle schoolers as well as elementary and high schoolers

Social Studies Resources

• General Social Studies – a list of general social studies resources with information on the United States, current events, and fun games
• Social Studies Sources – a list of resources for students as well as teachers, including great homework help

Homework Help Websites

• Homework Help – homework help resources for math, english, science, social studies and more from the Discovery channel education site
• Live Online Tutoring – a site that offers online homework help tutorials as well as live tutoring online (there is a charge for live tutoring)
• Homework Help for Kids – a nationally recognized site offering homework help for kids in all subjects
• Homework Center – a homework help database from the Multnomah County Library
• Live Homework Help – free live homework help from online tutors from the Alabama Public Library Service
• Homework Now – a live online homework help service from the State Library of Ohio, the service offers homework assistance from librarians

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Homework help, achievement in middle school, and later college attainment in China

• Published: 09 November 2014
• Volume 15 , pages 617–631, ( 2014 )

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• Sung Won Kim 1 &
• Vanessa L. Fong 2  

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Based on interviews and surveys conducted between 1999 and 2013 as part of a mixed-method longitudinal study, this article examines relationships between how fathers and mothers provided homework help for 738 eighth and ninth graders in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China, and these students’ likelihood of getting high test scores in middle school and eventually completing regular bachelor's degrees. We found that the relationship between fathers’ homework help and their children’s test scores in middle school was positive, while the relationship between fathers’ homework help and their children’s college attainment was negative. On the other hand, mothers’ homework help was negatively associated with their children’s middle school test scores and positively associated with their children’s college attainment. These results suggest that fathers and mothers are involved in different ways at home. Follow-up interviews with twenty-eight of the survey respondents revealed that their mothers tended to be more supportive and more frequently and regularly involved with their education, while their fathers’ involvement tended to be more sporadic and harsher.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0845748. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The research for this article was also supported by a Beinecke Brothers Memorial Fellowship, an Andrew W. Mellon Grant, a National Science Foundation Fellowship, a grant from the Weatherhead Center at Harvard University, a postdoctoral fellowship at the Population Studies Center of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Demography Fund Research Grant, a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, a Visiting Fellowship at the Centre for Research in Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities at Cambridge University, a grant from the Harvard University China Fund, grants from the Harvard University Asia Center, and a grant from the Harvard University William F. Milton Fund. We thank Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Nancy Hill, Kari-Elle Brown, Stephen Koenig, Yun Zhu, Lisa Hsiao, March Zhengyuan Fan, Emily Bai, Lizzy Austadt, Edward Kim, Dian Yu, Kunali Gurditta, Raysa Cabrejo, Claire Jia, Eli Harris, and Yi Lu for their advice and assistance.

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Kim, S.W., Fong, V.L. Homework help, achievement in middle school, and later college attainment in China. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 15 , 617–631 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-014-9350-9

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Received : 03 April 2014

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Accepted : 01 November 2014

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-014-9350-9

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How to Prepare Students for the Transition to Middle School

For students making the transition from elementary to middle school, it can feel both exciting and scary. As they open this brand new chapter, they’ll face new challenges, responsibilities, and expectations, both academically and socially. Teachers (and parents) can play a pivotal role in helping make this move as smooth as possible. Keep reading for a few tips to help you prepare them for the transition to middle school.

Ways to make the transition to middle school seamless

The transition from elementary to middle school is one of the biggest a student will make during their years in school. Here are a few ways teachers (or parents) can help rising middle schoolers cope with all of the inevitable changes that this move brings.

Talk about how to get organized

For most kids, middle school is the first time they’ll have to switch classrooms and work with multiple teachers. Of course, being organized is the key to successfully managing these additional responsibilities. However, organization skills are not something students are born with. Rather, they have to be learned, and more importantly, practiced. 

The first step on the road to staying organized is teaching students how to use tools, like calendars, planners, assignment binders, or even apps, to manage their assignments and schedules. Using their method of choice, teachers and parents can help students learn not only how to keep track of what’s due, but also what small steps they could take to work on bigger (or longer-term) projects, and plan ahead for weeks when there will be a lot to juggle.

Help them develop effective study habits 

In middle school, classes often become more challenging and require greater depth of understanding. Encouraging the use of various techniques for studying — beyond just re-reading or reviewing their notes — will help give them the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond. For example, you can teach them how to actively engage with the material they’re studying, like summarizing key points in their own words, creating study guides, redoing practice problems, or quizzing themselves with flashcards. Techniques like this often strengthen memory retention and help the learning “stick.”

Encourage students to get involved

Middle school is a great time to start exploring new interests. Encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities. Getting involved — whether it’s trying out for a sports team, running for class office, or joining the drama club — might also help ease the transition for students as these activities are a great way to make new friends, gain confidence in themselves, and develop leadership and communication skills that are essential for high school. 

Provide reassurance and emotional support

The transition to middle school from elementary school can be an emotional time for many students, especially since they’re dealing with more social and academic changes than ever before. During this time, it’s important to remind students that it’s normal to have growing pains, and that it might take time for them to settle in and figure out how to manage it all. Remind students that they’re not alone — in fact, many of their peers are going through the same things — and that parents, teachers, and counselors are there to offer support and help if they need it.

Activities to prepare students for the transition from elementary to middle school

These lessons are perfect for giving elementary students background knowledge about middle school life, and preparing them for their next step.

Elementary to Middle School Transition Lesson: Moving Up To Middle School Game by WholeHearted School Counseling

This activity helps elementary students process how they feel about the big change that’s about to happen in their lives and learn new skills and assets that will help them be successful in middle school.

Middle School Transition Workbook for Back to School by Pathway 2 Success

Help your students prepare for a successful transition to middle school with this transition kit! It can be used with students the year before they transition, or for students who are just starting their first week in middle school. Topics addressed include: changing classes, keys to success, dealing with different teachers, planning ahead, effective studying, homework planning, figuring out your locker, dealing with peer pressure, study halls, lunch time, changing for gym, science labs, and more!

Middle School Transition Task Card Scoot School Counseling Game 4th, 5th, 6th by Counselor Station

Ease your rising middle school students’ worries about their upcoming transition with an engaging, movement-based classroom task card scoot activity! They’ll respond to 30 true or false prompts about the middle school transition during the game.

Middle School Transition Lesson, Activities, & Workbook, Middle School Ready by Music City Counselor

Support your students’ transition to middle school with this engaging lesson! Students explore their feelings and worries about starting middle school, learn helpful tips for success, and set S.M.A.R.T Goals to build their confidence and start this journey off strong!

Middle School Worries – Middle School Transition Lesson by Heart and Mind Teaching

Talk about any anxieties your rising middle schoolers might have about their transition with these common scenarios. This activity takes about 30 minutes to complete, and the goal is for students to identify common worries about transitioning to middle school and possible solutions.

Middle School Transition Scoot by Savvy Counselor

This scoot game is a fun activity for the whole class, and a great addition to your middle school transition lessons.

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More From Forbes

Google and mit offer a no-cost ai course for educators.

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The Generative AI for Educators course is designed to help middle and high school teachers learn how ... [+] to use AI tools to personalize instruction, develop creative lessons and save time on administrative tasks.

Growing up in a family of almost all teachers, I regularly heard the litany of complaints of middle and high school educators about their jobs. They bemoaned the after-hours workload that included writing lesson plans, grading tests and administrative responsibilities, and also contended with large class sizes, disruptive behaviors, difficult conversations with parents and inadequate support and resources.

A joint venture by Google and MIT is seeking to help educators, as well as improving the educational success of their students. The collaboration offers a new no-cost Generative AI for Educators course developed by the Big Tech company and MIT's Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) initiative.

The course is designed to help middle and high school teachers learn how to use generative AI tools to personalize instruction, develop creative lessons and save time on administrative tasks. It provides hands-on practice with various generative AI tools and covers the opportunities and limitations of the technology, as well as how to use it responsibly.

The course embraces Google's expertise in artificial intelligence and RAISE's mission to promote equitable and responsible AI education. Teachers have already started obtaining the credentials and a number of school districts across the country have quickly adopted the program.

Generative AI For Educators

To learn more about the coursework, I turned to both Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, and Cynthia Breazeal, director of RAISE at MIT, who have both spearheaded this project.

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The online course is self-paced and takes about two hours. The teachers who complete the program will earn a certificate that can be used for professional development credit.

The goal is to empower educators to leverage generative AI tools to enhance their teaching practices and student learning, while promoting responsible and ethical use of the technology. The course aims to make AI training more accessible for teachers, as some may lack confidence in using AI tools and desire additional AI-specific professional development resources.

Teachers who complete the course will earn a certificate that can be used for professional development credit in their school districts.

What They’re Saying About This Mission

"Google wants to ensure every educator can take advantage of the opportunities created by AI,” said Gevelber. “AI tools can help teachers easily adapt lessons and materials to different learning styles and levels, and allow them to be more efficient at everyday administrative tasks. This gives educators time back to invest in themselves and their students."

Grow with Google was founded in 2017 to help people grow their skills, careers and businesses. Since the organization’s inception, it has helped more than 11 million Americans develop new skills.

RAISE’s research and impact mission is to advance equity in learning, education and computational action to rethink and innovate how to holistically and equitably prepare diverse K-12 students, an inclusive workforce and lifelong learners to be successful, responsible and engaged in an increasingly AI-powered society.

Breazeal said about this mission, “MIT RAISE believes knowledge of generative AI is a key factor in creating a more equitable future for education." She continued, "This course empowers educators to confidently integrate AI into their teaching, creating richer and more accessible learning experiences for all students."

The course is being offered by several school districts across the U.S., including Anaheim Union High School District, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools and more.

"We are excited to be a part of this partnership with Google to equip our middle and high school teachers with transformative Generative AI professional learning courses. This responds to the need for continuous innovation in our school district,” said Jose L. Dotres, superintendent of Miami-Dade County public schools, in a testimonial.

“By empowering educators with the latest advancements in AI, we're not only uplifting their professional practices, but also giving them evolving tools to enhance the ever-changing landscape of teaching and learning,” Dotres added.

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Upper St. Clair middle school students volunteer their time to help the Children's Home of Pittsburgh

P ITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Middle school students in the Upper St. Clair School District are taking up a tremendous act of kindness and offering friendship in a really unique way. 

Fifth and sixth graders from Boyce Middle School are volunteering to make 500 friendship bracelets. 

Those bracelets will be passed out to everyone in attendance at the Children's Home of Pittsburgh's annual spring gala. 

While the students said that 500 is a lot of bracelets to make, they're taking every opportunity they can to get them done and that includes even making them during recess. 

"When we worked with The Children's Home for our holiday project, we were discussing other opportunities for our kids to volunteer, which is how we got involved with the Spring Gala in April," Amy Autieri, a counselor at Boyce Middle School said. "The Children's Home has been amazed at how much our kids are doing to help their programs and they were happy to have us work with them again this spring."  

Recently, Boyce Middle School worked with the Children's Home of Pittsburgh and raised nearly $2,000 during a Valentine's Day fundraiser. 

The annual spring gala is this weekend, April 20, and you can see more on their website at this link . 

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7 most PRESTIGIOUS & EXPENSIVE districts in (and near) Moscow

1. Rublevka

Rublevka, simply put, is Russia’s “Beverly Hills”: home to rich, famous, and influential Russians who live in luxury, hidden behind tall fences and walls. Technically, it is located outside Moscow, some 10 kilometers to the west via the Rublevo-Uspenskoe Highway, yet the area, and its residents, are nonetheless an integral part of Russia’s capital.

Officially, there is no such an administrative unit as Rublevka. Instead, the name of the area is a social construction, popularised in mass culture as a synonym of being filthy rich, as it is one of the most expensive residential areas in the world. It is also a play of words as – you know it – the ruble is the Russian currency.

In Tsarist Russia, nobility built homes here, only to be replaced by dachas of Lenin, Stalin, and other state officials after the Bolshevik Revolution. In Soviet times, famous scientists, artists, and writers — including Mstislav Rostropovich, Andrei Sakharov, Dmitry Shostakovich — had dachas in Rublevka. Today, Rublevka is inhabited by oligarchs, multi-millionaires, and all-powerful figures. The Russian President’s official residence is in Novo-Ogaryevo – not far from Rublevka.

Although Rublevka is considered the most famous luxury residential area in the immediate vicinity of Moscow, there are many other elite villages and areas in the Moscow Region, most of which are located to the west of the capital.

2. Ostozhenka and the ‘Golden Mile’

The Golden Mile is an unofficial name for one of the most expensive residential areas in Moscow. It is a small piece of land where luxury real estate has been built. It is located between Ostozhenka Street and Prechistenskaya Embankment, a 10-15 minute walk from the Kremlin, with some of the buildings overlooking the Moscow River.

With prices up to $40,000 for a square meter, Ostozhenka is often listed among the most expensive streets in the world. Given that an average apartment there is around 240 square meters in size, the price tag for it can reach as high as $10 million or even more.

“[Before 1989], this area was abandoned, because of the planned construction of the Palace of the Soviets (which was to be built on the site of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour). The entire area was planned to be cleared to make possible the construction of a wide avenue leading to the Lenin Hills [currently known as Vorobyovy Gory],” says Alexander Skokan, an architect and a founder of the Ostozhenka Bureau.

However, the Palace of the Soviets was never built. Instead, luxury houses began to be erected there. Consequently, it may be hard to come by residents in this area, as most of the buildings have been bought for investment purposes.

3. Khamovniki

Khamovniki is the official name of a district located in central Moscow. It starts from Aleksandrovskiy Sad next to the Kremlin and spreads across to the Luzhniki Stadium and Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory) in the western part of the city.

Historically, this is where weavers used to live, who were known as ‘Khamovniki’ in the 17th century. Hence, the name of this historic district.

Today, Khamovniki is one of the most popular areas of the Russian capital among apartment buyers. Yet, it’s also one of the most expensive districts in Moscow, where one square meter of apartment costs approximately $11,000; a price tag far beyond the average in Moscow.

The Moscow River, multiple parks and numerous metro stations make this elite district ecologically clean and also easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Pre-revolutionary houses, Soviet buildings and modern projects are available on this stretch of land. Among others, one of Russia’s greatest writers Leo Tolstoy owned an estate in Khamovniki in 1882 (which is now part of his family estate).

4. Yakimanka

This is a neighboring district to Khamovniki, lying to the Southwest of the city center. Everyone who has ever been to Moscow knows Gorky Park, which covers most of the district’s territory. Yakimanka is one of the most stylish areas in Moscow and it is well known for its clubs, cocktail bars and cozy restaurants, as well as for the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Muzeon Park of Arts.

The district is also home to old factories built in the early 19th century. Most of these buildings have been rebuilt as offices. Elite real estate in this district may also cost up to $20,000 per square meter.

This is another historic and luxurious district, craved by anyone who dreams of settling in Moscow. It stretches from the Moscow Kremlin on the west to the Moscow River in the east, with New Arbat Avenue being its major artery. Here, the famous Spaso House , the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Russia since 1933, is located, as well as other historical landmarks .

As in many other districts in Moscow, Arbat has it all when it comes to real estate: pre-revolutionary houses, Soviet buildings and modern luxury apartment blocks. An average price tag for a square meter of real estate here is $10,000. Yet, naturally, you can find much more expensive housing than that in the area.

6. ‘Presnya’

The Presnensky district, as it is officially known, lies to the immediate north of the Arbat district. Although real estate here is generally not as expensive as in the above-mentioned districts, there are two especially affluent areas that make the average price tag skyrocket: Patriarch Ponds and the Moscow City business center, where the famous skyscrapers are located.

One square meter in one of the towers of the Moscow City business center can cost up to $20,000. Considering there are premium apartments that take a whole or even multiple levels, the final price can be extremely high.

7. Tverskoy, Meschansky, and Zamoskvorechye

Zamoskvorechye.

These three districts — two to the north of the Kremlin and one to the south — are all affluent areas of the city. The State Duma and the Governor-General Building (which today is the Moscow Mayor's Office), among other important buildings, are located in Tverskoy district.

These three districts are similar to each other in the sense that they lack vacant land to make major new development projects possible. Instead, a relatively small number of offers is on the market. The average price of one square meter of housing in these areas amounts to $7,300.

Click here to find out what to sightsee on Tverskaya street.

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Parents of Michigan School Shooter Sentenced to 10 to 15 Years in Prison

Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose son killed four people, each faced up to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter convictions.

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By Jacey Fortin and Anna Betts

Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their teenage son from killing four fellow students in the deadliest school shooting in Michigan’s history, were each sentenced on Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their separate jury trials ended in guilty verdicts in February and March , making them the first parents in the country to be convicted over the deaths caused by their child in a mass shooting.

Involuntary manslaughter charges carry a penalty in Michigan of up to 15 years in prison, and prosecutors asked in sentencing memos filed to the court last week that the Crumbleys each serve at least 10 years. Both have been in jail for more than two years while awaiting trial and will receive credit for time served.

“Parents are not expected to be psychic,” Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., said before issuing the sentence. “But these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train — repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up.”

Before the hearing, prosecutors said that Ms. Crumbley, 46, was asking to be sentenced to house arrest on her defense lawyer’s property, rather than serving prison time. And Mr. Crumbley, 47, said that he had been wrongly convicted and his sentence should amount to the time he had already served in prison, adding that he felt “absolutely horrible” about what had happened.

On Tuesday, each of them spoke in the hearing before the judge pronounced sentence.

“I stand today not to ask for your forgiveness, as I know it may be beyond reach, but to express my sincerest apologies for the pain that has been caused,” Ms. Crumbley said in court, addressing the relatives of students who were killed.

Mr. Crumbley also apologized. “I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently,” he said.

Relatives of some of the victims also spoke during the hearing, describing the overwhelming effects the shooting had on their lives.

“The ripple effects of both James’s and Jennifer’s failures to act have devastated us all,” said Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, 17, who was killed in the shooting at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. “This tragedy was completely preventable. If only they had done something, your honor, anything, to shift the course events on Nov. 30, then our four angels would be here today.”

Steve St. Juliana, whose daughter, Hana, 14, was killed, said that the Crumbleys continued to fail to take responsibility for what had happened.

“They chose to stay quiet,” he said. “They chose to ignore the warning signs. And now, as we’ve heard through all of the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves.”

The Crumbleys’ son, Ethan, was 15 when he carried out the shooting that killed Justin and Hana, as well as Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16. Seven others were injured. Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole . He is still eligible to appeal that decision. His parents may appeal, too.

In the trials of both parents, prosecutors focused in part on their failure to remove their son from school after he made a violent drawing on the morning of the shooting. It included a written plea for help.

They also emphasized Ethan’s access to a handgun that Mr. Crumbley had purchased. And they said that Ms. Crumbley had missed signs that her son was struggling with his mental health, adding that she took him to a gun range just days before the shooting.

Defense lawyers for both parents said they could not have foreseen the unspeakable violence their son would commit.

Ms. Crumbley grew up in Clarkston, a Detroit suburb about 20 minutes from Oxford, her lawyer said during a hearing after the couple’s arrest in 2021 . Before her arrest, she had worked as a marketing director, her lawyer said.

Mr. Crumbley’s job history included work at a handful of small software and technology companies.

The couple once lived in Florida but returned to Michigan several years ago, their lawyers said. They bought their home near downtown Oxford in 2015.

The trials of Jennifer and James Crumbley became a lightning rod for issues of parental responsibility at a time of high-profile gun violence by minors. In recent months, parents in other states have pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct or neglect after their children injured or killed others with guns.

But the manslaughter charges against the Crumbleys were unique, and legal experts said their trials could serve as a playbook for other prosecutors who seek to hold parents accountable in the future.

Ekow Yankah, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said the effect of the ruling on Tuesday might be felt beyond the state.

“This is going to be precedent, most obviously in Michigan and its home jurisdiction, but prosecutors all over the country will see this as a new and viable form of liability,” Mr. Yankah said. “I think we should not underestimate the precedential power of this case, even as we recognize that the facts were quite extraordinary.”

For Matthew Schneider, a former United States attorney in Michigan, what makes this case so different from many others is that most criminal sentences are related to the actions of a defendant, rather than being “about inactions, and how the inactions of a person result in a criminal sentence.”

The sentencing is “very much about making an example of the defendants,” Mr. Schneider said. “This is a shot across the bow to all parents, to all people who have firearms in their house, to keep them locked up, if they could be in the hands of the wrong people.”

Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for the National desk of The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics all across the country. More about Jacey Fortin

Anna Betts reports on national events, including politics, education, and natural or man-made disasters, among other things. More about Anna Betts

FURRY INFESTATION: Middle School Students Walk Out in Protest After School Leaders Allow “Furries” to Terrorize Them – They BITE, SCRATCH, BARK, CHEW ON STICKS, HAVE A KITTY LITTER BOX in Bathroom (VIDEO)

Middle school students at Mt. Nebo School in Payson Utah held a walk out protest today against unhinged school officials that allow “furries’ to terrorize them at school.

The students report in the video below that the “furries” bite, scratch, and bark at them. The furries also chew on sticks in class and a kitty litter box was set up in the girls restroom for them to use.

in the video by LifeIsDriving the children also note that they are required to keep a distance from “furries,” whereas the same rule does not apply for the “furries.”

The protesting youth believe that the school’s tolerance stems from the principal, whose child happens to be a “furry.”

This is insane. The children are the adults here.

Adam Bartholomew reported:

Speaking with the organizer of this mornings student walkout to protest #furries at Mt Nebo Middle School in Payson Utah. @NeboDistrict pic.twitter.com/Mv2pisFdC8 — Adam Bartholomew ️ (@lifeisdriving) April 17, 2024

Here is the full video, via LifeIsDriving .

You can email Jim Hoft here , and read more of Jim Hoft's articles here.

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