in focus
By Sarah Robinson
Easing School Stress
Where to go when your child’s schoolwork is too much to handle
E
ven before the COVID-19 pandemic, school is different for students today than 10 or 20 years ago. You may have even found yourself thinking, “Since when did they change math?” when helping your kid with their algebra homework. Luckily, there are a ton of resources in Pickerington for students who need some extra support, and even for adults who are looking to learn something new. Pickerington Magazine has rounded up a few places to go if you and your child need some academic assistance ASAP.
Photo courtesy of the Pickerington Public Library
Pickerington Public Library www.pickeringtonlibrary.org As Hermione Granger would say, “When in doubt, go to the library.” “The library has books and online resources that break down concepts in ways students can understand,” says Colleen Bauman, community engagement manager for Pickerington Public Library, “from the common core methods for subtraction through step-by-step instructions for using the quadratic equation.” The first stop for students looking for school help at PPL is the Homework Help Center. The center offers both virtual and in-person assistance, providing students
with support and introducing resources such as databases and reference materials to help them study independently. This year, the library is also offering grab-and-go STEAM kits to engage kids in math and science with a variety of activities at home such as building a boat and viewing the constellations. The number of students seeking help at the library has decreased this year due to the pandemic, says Bauman, but that doesn’t mean the library is taking a step back. “Those who do seek our help have new and unexpected academic challenges: they are learning content through interactive videos and worksheets, they are completing assignments that require learning new computer skills and they are faced with being accountable for their own time management to get work done,” she says. “Our goal at the library is to help bridge the gap between how they are used to learning and how that has changed this year.” In addition to student resources, adults can find resources for everything from book clubs and crafting classes to career guidance and navigating their taxes.
Library Resources
PPL has a plethora of resources to help students with any subject. Resources below can be found on the Homework Help tab on the library’s website, www.pickeringtonlibrary.org. Grades K-6 Studying, Review Guides and Research • FactMonster • Gale in Context: Elementary • World Book Kids • Crash Course Kids Reading and Vocabulary • Vocabulary.com • ABCYa • BookFlix • TumbleBooks Math • MathPlayground Grades 7-12 Studying and Review Guides • Study.com • Khan Academy • Crash Course Math • MathIsFun • MathHelp • MathBitsNotebook • StatTrek • Desmos Test Prep • LearningExpressLibrary Reading and Literature • SparkNotes • Shmoop • CrashCourse: Literature • YALSA Bookfinder Research and Writing • Purdue Owl Citation Guide • Writing Center at UNC • Point of View Reference Cente • Academic Search Premier • EbscoHost Middle Search Plus • Explora Secondary • WorldBook Student
Youth Services Library Assistant Brienne Hatfield with a winter book bundle. 16
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