Homework Help Resources: Free Books & Practice Sites | Student & Parent Guide

A Student & Parent Guide

Homework gets easier when two things are in place:

1. Clear explanations you can reread, and

2. Enough practice to build fluency and confidence.

The internet is full of “homework help,” but not all of it actually helps students learn. Some sites only give answers, some are unreliable, and others hide the best features behind paywalls.

This guide brings together reliable, mostly free resources including full textbooks, digital libraries, and high-quality practice sites across major subjects. It also includes simple workflows and tips to help students use these tools effectively (without overwhelm) and to help parents know what to trust.

Note: Availability and free-tier limits can change over time. Most resources below are free to access, with optional paid upgrades.

1) Free Books & Textbook-Style Resources (Open Educational Resources)

These are best when students need full lessons, structured explanations, and reference material not just quick answers.

A. Full, Free Textbooks (Highly Recommended)

OpenStax (Middle School–College)

https://openstax.org

• Free, peer-reviewed textbooks written by educators

• Subjects: Math, Science, Economics, History, Psychology, Statistics

• Excellent alignment with school and college courses

Great for: Algebra–Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics

CK-12 (K–12)

https://www.ck12.org

• “FlexBooks” with modular lessons

• Includes explanations, examples, practice, simulations, and visuals

• Can be customized by topic or grade

Great for: Math, Science, Integrated Middle School Courses

LibreTexts (High School–College)

https://libretexts.org

• Massive open library of textbooks and course materials

• Especially strong in STEM and social sciences

Great for: Chemistry, Calculus, Engineering, Sociology

Open Textbook Library

https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks

• Curated list of open textbooks across disciplines

• Mostly college-level, but useful for advanced high school students

  
  

BCcampus OpenEd

https://open.bccampus.ca

• High-quality open textbooks

• Strong for upper-level and specialized subjects

  
  

B. Free Books, Classics & Reference Libraries

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org

• Over 60,000 public-domain ebooks

• Classic literature, poetry, and historical texts

Great for: English classes and independent reading

Internet Archive / Open Library

https://archive.org
https://openlibrary.org

• Massive digital library

• Many books available to borrow online for free with an account

Great for: Hard-to-find textbooks, research, and historical works

National Academies Press (NAP)

https://nap.edu

• Research-based books and reports, many free as PDFs

Great for: Science reports, policy research, advanced projects

C. Course Notes & Learning Materials (Textbook-Level)

MIT OpenCourseWare

https://ocw.mit.edu

• Free lecture notes, assignments, exams, and readings

• Challenging but excellent for motivated learners

  
  

OpenLearn (The Open University)

https://www.open.edu/openlearn

• Free short courses with readings and activities

• Ideal for review and enrichment

  
  

OER Commons

https://www.oercommons.org

• Search engine for free curriculum by subject and grade

• Helpful for finding targeted resources

  
  

2) Free Practice Sites (Skills, Quizzes & Problem Sets)

Practice sites are most effective after the concept is understood. They help build speed, accuracy, and confidence.

A. All-in-One Practice (Multiple Subjects)

Khan Academy (K–12 + Some College)

https://www.khanacademy.org

• Lessons, videos, practice problems, mastery tracking

• Excellent for math and science

  
  

Quizlet (Free Tier)

https://quizlet.com

• Flashcards for vocabulary, definitions, and formulas

• Students can create their own study sets

  
  

Anki

https://apps.ankiweb.net

• Spaced-repetition flashcards

• Excellent for long-term memorization

  
  

Schoolhouse.world

https://schoolhouse.world

• Free tutoring, study groups, and practice communities

• Strong for math and SAT prep

  
  

B. Math (Basics to Advanced)

• Desmos – Graphing calculator and activities
  https://www.desmos.com

• GeoGebra – Geometry, algebra, and graphing tools
  https://www.geogebra.org

• DeltaMath – Targeted math practice (access varies by teacher)
  https://www.deltamath.com

• NRICH – Rich problem-solving tasks
  https://nrich.maths.org

• Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) – Contest-style thinking
  https://artofproblemsolving.com

C. Science (Interactive & Conceptual)

• PhET Interactive Simulations
  https://phet.colorado.edu

• Crash Course (Video Overviews)
  https://thecrashcourse.com

• NASA STEM Resources
  https://www.nasa.gov/stem

D. Reading & English Language Arts

• CommonLit (Grades 3–12)
  https://www.commonlit.org

• ReadTheory (Adaptive Reading Practice)
  https://readtheory.org

• Purdue OWL (Writing & Citations)
  https://owl.purdue.edu

• Hemingway Editor (Clarity & Readability)
  https://www.hemingwayapp.com

E. History & Social Studies

• Library of Congress (Primary Sources)
  https://www.loc.gov

• Smithsonian Learning Lab
  https://learninglab.si.edu

• Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
  https://sheg.stanford.edu

F. Languages

• Duolingo (Free Tier)
  https://www.duolingo.com

• BBC Bitesize / BBC Languages (Availability varies)
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

G. Coding & Computer Science

• freeCodeCamp
  https://www.freecodecamp.org

• Code.org
  https://code.org

• Kaggle Learn
  https://www.kaggle.com/learn

• HackerRank / LeetCode
  https://www.hackerrank.com
  https://leetcode.com

3) “Free Book + Practice” Pairings (Quick Picks)

Math (Middle School–Precalculus)

• Lessons: OpenStax or CK-12

• Practice: Khan Academy + Desmos/GeoGebra

Biology / Chemistry / Physics

• Lessons: OpenStax

• Practice: Khan Academy + PhET simulations

English (Reading & Writing)

• Reading: CommonLit + Project Gutenberg

• Practice: ReadTheory + Purdue OWL

History

• Lessons: OpenStax History

• Practice: Library of Congress + SHEG

Computer Science

• Lessons: freeCodeCamp or Code.org

• Practice: Small projects + HackerRank/LeetCode

  
  

4) How to Use These Resources Effectively (A Simple Workflow)

Avoid jumping randomly between sites. Use this 4-step loop:

1. Identify the exact skill

   • Example: “Solve systems by elimination,” not “Algebra.”

2. Learn it from one trusted source (10–20 minutes)

   • OpenStax, CK-12, or Khan Academy

3. Practice in small sets (10–15 problems)

   • Check answers

   • Redo missed problems without notes

4. Do mixed review (5–10 minutes)

   • Combine old and new topics to improve retention

Pro Tip: Keep an Error Log

Write down:

• What went wrong (concept, arithmetic, skipped step)

• Why it happened

• The correct rule or reminder

  
  

5) How to Spot Good (and Bad) Homework Help

Good resources usually:

• Explain why, not just what

• Show multiple worked examples

• Include practice with feedback

• Cite sources (especially for history/science)

• Match the student’s grade or course level

Be cautious with:

• Answer-only sites

• Solutions that don’t match your teacher’s method

• Unverified forums for factual subjects

• Sites that request excessive personal information

  
  

6) Free Help Beyond Websites (Often Overlooked)

Your Local Library

• Free tutoring programs

• Homework clubs

• Access to paid databases at no cost

Teacher Office Hours & After-School Help

• Bring specific questions, not “I don’t get it”

Study Groups

• Explaining a concept to someone else is one of the most effective ways to learn it

  
  

7) Printable Free Guides (Copy & Paste)

A. Homework Help Resource Tracker

Subject:
Topic:
Best explanation source (link):
Best practice source (link):
What I keep getting wrong:
One example I can redo correctly:

B. 15-Minute Rescue Plan (When You’re Stuck)

1. Rewrite the question in your own words.
2. Highlight what’s being asked (solve, compare, justify).
3. Find one similar example (OpenStax / CK-12 / Khan).
4. Try again without looking.
5. Write a specific question for a teacher or tutor if needed.

Final Thoughts

Homework doesn’t require expensive subscriptions it requires clear explanations, consistent practice, and smart resource choices. By pairing free textbooks with quality practice tools, students can build real understanding instead of just finishing assignments.

For parents, these resources provide transparency and reliability. For students, they offer independence and confidence. Used together, they turn homework from frustration into progress.