Homework Hotline

About Homework Hotlines

A homework hotline is designed to help students with homework assignments. Certified teachers, college students, or other experts who volunteer their time to answer questions and assist students usually staff them. A hotline expert will never complete the homework assignment or just give you answers to the questions or problems, but they will provide help and explanations that may assist you in understanding the concepts. This will hopefully enable you to understand and complete the assignment.

Most of these hotlines are free and are supported by public school systems or government or other charitable funding. They may have sponsors such as education foundations, corporations, or businesses.

How Hotlines Work

Homework hotlines are typically available during the week (some are available on Sundays) at specified afternoon and evening hours. Hotlines are usually closed when school is not in session, during breaks in the school year, and during the summer. Calls are usually limited in length, such as a maximum of 30 minutes.

Some hotlines are focused on specific subject areas, such as math or science, while others offer a complete range of subject help. Hotlines may be local, state, or national. If you have a local or state homework help line, it's usually to your benefit to contact that line rather than a national one, as they may be able to access the specific assignment you're having trouble with.

Some homework hotlines work in conjunction with public or cable television broadcasting. These homework help shows feature real teachers and student callers working through difficult assignments. The shows may also feature contests, brainteasers, and helpful homework tips.

Before Calling In

When calling any homework hotline, you should be prepared.

Before you call:

• Review the material your teacher has explained or assigned.
• Have your assignment in front of you.
• Have the textbooks or other necessary books in front of you.
• Highlight any specific sections or problems, which are causing trouble.
• Have all your materials -- such as scrap paper, pencils, and calculator -- available.
• Call from a well-lit area so you can see your work.
• Make the call from a quiet spot so you have no problems hearing the hotline volunteer.

Staying Safe

When you call a homework help line, you should not have to give your full name, address, or other personal information. Some state hotlines will ask you for the name of your school, which can help them find the correlating assignment or curriculum. Most hotlines ask you to give your first name only so they can speak to you on a name-basis during the call.

Be wary of any hotline that asks you to divulge personal details. Tell your parents, teacher, or a trusted adult of anything that doesn't seem right when using a particular hotline .

Finding Hotlines

You can look for a homework hotline near you by talking to your teachers, local library, community center, or by doing an Internet search. Many hotlines have related websites that offer homework tips and other academic resources that may be beneficial.

More Resources

• Homework Hotline
• Atlanta Homework Help Line
• Chicago Homework Line
• Alabama Homework Help Line
• Indiana Homework Help Line