Aggie Homework Helpline
The Aggie Homework Helpline (AHH) is an initiative to help provide quality, free online tutoring to PK-12 learners and families. The mission of the AHH is to connect Texas families and school district partners with Aggie tutors and education interns who are committed to improving learning outcomes for PK-12 students.
How it works
On-Demand Tutoring appointments through the AHH can be scheduled between 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. CST Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tutoring has ended for Spring 2023. Thank you to all of the tutors, tutees and families that participated!
AHH will resume tutoring in mid-September. We will announce the official date in late-August.
What can a tutor help with?
All tutors possess …
- Background checks
- Child protection training
- Ongoing training
- Fellow tutoring parter each session.
OUR TUTORS DO HELP WITH …
- Homework
- Reviewing for a test
- Practicing and retaining concepts
- Practicing reading skills
OUR TUTORS DO NOT …
- Take tests
- Assist during tests/quizzes
- Provide answers to homework, tests or quizzes
- Complete homework for students
More About our Homework Helpers
*As an added measure of security, PK-12 students will not interact one-on-one with Aggie Homework Helpers. Instead, there will be two Homework Helpers, working in tandem, to support one or more students while on the phone or interacting via Zoom.
Types of Homework Help
RECURRING HOMEWORK HELP (GRADES K-6 ONLY)
Recurring Homework Help- Recurring tutoring sessions are set up with our current partners: Bryan ISD, Hearne ISD, Brazos Valley Boys & Girls Club, and Annointed Abilities. AHH currently provides tutoring to a subset of Bryan ISD and Hearne ISD 9th-grade students through a partnership with the Heart of Texas GEAR UP. If you are a parent/guardian whose child attends one of these locations and is interested in having your child participate in Aggie Homework Helpline, please contact Dr. Monica Neshyba at neshyba@tamu.edu.
ON-DEMAND HOMEWORK HELP - EDUCATION INTERNS (GRADES PK-12)
On-demand tutoring sessions are best for families and PreK-12 learners who want the freedom to receive support at a moment’s notice. This type of tutoring session does not require recurring appointments with a homework helper. Whenever a learner needs quick or one-time homework support, just reach out to an on-demand tutoring session.
Our Aggie Homework Helpers in our On-Demand program include education interns who support elementary, middle, and high school students in most subject areas. These School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) undergraduate students are studying to become teachers and other professionals who will work with children and families. Interns have a variety of emphasis areas or majors that they are studying, including special education, bilingual education, secondary math, secondary science, etc., and are volunteering their time with the Aggie Homework Helpline as a component of practicum requirements for one or more courses that they are currently taking at Texas A&M University (TAMU).
On-Demand Tutoring appointments through the AHH can be scheduled between 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. CST Monday-Friday and 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CST on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Homework helpline step by step
RECURRING AND ON-DEMAND HOMEWORK HELP ONLINE BY ZOOM
STEP 1 of 3: Each tutoring session is offered through a secure Zoom meeting for a scheduled timeframe (30 minutes or an hour).
- Each time you have a recurring tutoring session, just log-in to your assigned Zoom link.
- Each time you need an on-demand tutoring session, you must take 2 minutes to sign up for a tutoring session with a Homework Helper; you will receive a confirmation of the tutoring session via email and text.
STEP 2 of 3: With the materials you provide during the session (worksheets from school, online worksheets, teacher given practice, etc.), the tutor can help your child with difficult concepts that his/her teachers cover in class. The PK-12 learners and the Homework Helper can draw, write, make pictures, and share math formulas on a Zoom whiteboard.
STEP 3 of 3: Once the PK-12 learner has wrapped up your online Zoom session, the Homework Helper and the PK-12 learner should leave the Zoom meeting and close your browser.
RECURRING AND ON-DEMAND HOMEWORK HELP BY PHONE
STEP 1 of 3: Each tutoring session is offered through a secure ‘Zoom phone number’ for a scheduled timeframe (30 minutes or an hour).
- Each time you have a recurring tutoring session, just call in to your assigned Zoom phone number.
- Each time you need an on-demand tutoring session by phone, you must take 2 minutes to sign up for a tutoring session with a Homework Helper; you will receive a confirmation of the ‘phone’ tutoring session via email and text.
STEP 2 of 3: With the materials you provide during the session (worksheets from school, online worksheets, teacher given practice, etc.), the tutor can help your child with difficult concepts that his/her teachers cover in class.
STEP 3 of 3: Once the K-12 learner has wrapped up your Zoom “phone” session, the Homework Helper and the K-12 learner just hang up from the call.
By emailing us, you confirm AHH may contact you via email unless expressed otherwise.
HELP WITH A SPECIFIC CONCEPT
Is your student falling behind in a specific subject at school or has he/she missed an important concept that is causing current homework to be an issue? Scheduling a tutor for weekly calls may be right for you.
Complete the form below, and one of our Homework Helpers will create a video to help explain the concept.
View examples of videos we have made to help students in the past.
Helpline Resources for Families
Families will find free resources such as: read-alouds, mini video-taped lessons, guides to skill development, and much more. All of the resources on this site will also support English language learners, learners with special needs, and most of all they are all free. The resources of AHH are created by Aggie education students and faculty. In addition, we’ve found great PK-12 resources around the state and the nation for Texas families.
Texas A&M Resources
- Texas A&M University – Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCHATT) – Telebehavorial Care – helping schools identify and assess the behavioral needs of students and provide access to mental health services.
- Texas A&M University – Literacy.io Student Video Library – educational videos related to science, history, and language arts for students in 2nd through 12th grade.
- Texas A&M International University – Student-Created Virtual Learning – helpful ideas for kids to use and learn from home
Free Tutoring Resources
FREE LIVE TUTORING
- Brainfuse allows children to actually do a live interactive visit with a tutor. It’s in 20-minute increments with a whiteboard, so you can work that math problem – if you are doing physics or chemistry you can do the sophisticated things. This live tutoring service is also available at libraries in Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, and Brazoria counties.
- Gale offers free tutoring help for high-school and college students.
- Learning Express Club offers tutorials for elementary to college kids and even adult education courses.
HOW TO GET FREE TUTORING HELP
The key to access all of these services is to have a library card. In most cases, you can register for a library card in minutes and have immediate access to the online options available. For curbside pickup or equipment rental, you will need to bring in proof of residency. Check with your library for exact instructions on how this might work, each one is a little different.
*Note: when checking some of the program links above, you will see you have to “join” or there is a membership fee. When you go to these sites through the library you will not have to pay for it. So, check with the library system in your area to get access to the program websites.
Find your library below:
- Brazoria County Library System
- Chambers County Library System
- Fort Bend County Library System
- Galveston County Library System
- Houston Public Library System
- Lavaca County Public Library
- Livingston Library System
- Liberty County Library System
- Montgomery County Public Library System
- Polk County Library System
- Rosenberg Library
- Trinity County (library currently closed, but check back)
- Walker County Public Library
- Waller County Public Library System
- Wharton Library
FREE READING HELP FOR KIDS
For younger kids, most public libraries have a free service that will help your kid with reading. Tumblebooks are animated picture books. It reads the book to you the words are on the screen, it either highlights it or it has a bouncing ball so your emerging readers can connect with literacy.
HOMESCHOOL AND VIRTUAL LEARNING MATERIALS
The libraries in Montgomery County use a service called “book butler.” You can submit in the ages of your kids and they will put together a collection of books for you to come and pick up curbside. Houston and Fort Bend County also offers a similar service.
WHERE CAN I FIND FREE WI-FI AND ELECTRONIC RENTALS?
Some of the larger library systems offer free wifi hotspot and electronic rentals. Fort Bend County just started a sign up for renting out wifi hotspots to help parents with virtual learning. Houston has wifi rental too, along with a laptop and iPad rentals on a first-come, first-serve basis. In Brazoria County, you can rent tablets too. *Note here: check with your library to see if they are renting out electronic materials. Remember, most libraries are closed right now and they are all full of electronics that were once for in-person use. While the website might not say they are renting out electronics online, many are taking items they have in the library that was once for in-person use and renting those out. So, call and check to make sure!
FREE STUFF FOR KIDS TO DO
All library systems offer some sort of book reading club or even DIY classes for all ages. Brazoria County libraries just started up a new program called Creativebug that has video DIY classes for use.
* Source: click2houston.com
Statewide & National PK-12 Resources
- CDC’s Mental Health Resources for Parents – tips and resources for coping with stress.
- Child Mind – insights, resources and expert advice on common concerns and tips for facing challenges many families share.
- Interdisciplinary STEAM Activities at Home – creative interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, arts, and math lessons to do at home.
- Lead4Ward – School at Home
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – resource on supporting children during coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Sanford Harmony – At Home Toolkit
- The Kid Should See This – Smart Videos
- U.S. Department of Education – Parent Resources – resources for parents to help your child’s education
- Wonderopolis – Fun Q&A
- National PTA – resources and tools for families and teachers who are navigating working, teaching and learning at home
- PBS for Parents – resources for parents to help your child learn and grow