Back to School

The start of another school year is underway here in Philadelphia! Get ready for school with these helpful resources for students, teachers, parents, and caregivers to help make the school year easier. Learn new study skills, organization strategies, and test taking tips. Get homework help, take a college prep course, or just learn something new. Explore our curated booklists and browse our collection of school-related web links for to help start the new school year off right!

Homework Help & Study Aids Back to School

Links

  • Bullying Resources
    The National School Safety Center's website contains resources for adults about bullying and other school safety issues.
  • Bullying: Peer Abuse in School
    This in depth article by the U.S. Department of Education provides parents and adults with information and strategies to combat bullying
  • Center for Safe Schools: Response to Sandy Hook Tragedy
    Resources for educators, teachers and administrators to ensure that schools remain a safe haven for children, including a 10-Point School Safety Checklist.
  • CSFP Program Description
    Children's Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia. This fund provides partial-tuition assistance for private school to low-income families.
  • education.com
    A site for school-aged children and their parents with access to education-oriented resources of all kinds. Includes a parents' forum page and information about schools and learning readiness. Topics and content arranged by grade level. Issues like bullying and academic pressure addressed also. Some advertising.
  • GALAEI
    The organization provides services for high school students addressing issues of self-esteem, sexuality and risk reduction.
  • Get your child organized for school
    Tips to help your child manage assignments, clutter and time.
  • Get your kids reading! Fall picks from the Free Library
    Teresa Arnold and Monica Carnesi, Children’s Material Selectors; and Rachel Fryd, Young Adult Materials Selector at the Philadelphia Free Library, give their children's book recommendations to Philly.com
  • Great Philly Schools
    Database of K-12 Schools in Philadelphia.
  • Helping Children with Trauma: Share My Lesson (lesson plans)
    Lesson plans for educators on responding to traumatic events as well as preventive measure for ensuring safe schools.
  • HomeworkSpot.com
    Divided into elementary, middle, and high school. Has a reference section and a section for parents and teachers.
  • Kaplan
    Offers preparation for standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college, and graduate school as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Also offers online college degree programs, private tutoring and admissions guidance. Its eScore site focuses helping parents help their children to learn. BrassRing provides career information and guidance.
  • Learning Games for Kids
    This site features games for preschool and elementary students that build skills in math, reading, social studies, science, art and music.
  • Literacy Enrichment After-School Program (LEAP)
    Become a Teen Leadership Assistant with the Free Library of Philadelphia’s LEAP program.
  • McGruff.org
    McGruff.org is geared towards reading age children from 6-10. It contains a "webisode" on how to stop a bully, a "Get Home Safe" maze and school safety tips.
  • National Youth Violence Prevention Center
    A site for teens featuring articles related to youth violence, including school violence, hate crime, dating violence, and teen firearm violence. Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Federal Partners Working on Youth Violence.
  • Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)
    PAIS is an incorporated not-for-profit association of independent schools in the state. Online Directory of Schools
  • Philly schools pass sweeping policy protecting transgender students
    "Without debate or comments from the public, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission adopted a policy on Thursday, June 16 that immediately allows transgender students to, among other things, be referred to by their pronoun of choice; use their bathroom of choice; and go out for the athletic team of their gender choice, either boys' or girls'."
  • Philly.com- High School Sports
    Get high school sports news and statistics from the Philadelphia region.
  • School Shootings: Helping Teens Cope, a Guide for Parents: New York University Child Study Center
    How to provide the support your teen needs to manage their feelings about school violence.
  • School Shootings: The Conversation You Need to Have with Your Kids: Parents Magazine
    Proactive advice on how to reassure your children after a school shooting.
  • StoryPlace
    The Children's Digital Library, with a Pre-School Library, an Elementary Library, and Book Hive. Online activities, booklists, coloring sheets, all in one great site!
  • Student Center
    A "web community for students, specifically college students, high school students, and teenagers." Includes links to student chat,advice, resources, poetry, music, news and sports.
  • Students at Museums in Philly
    The STAMP pass is open to any Philadelphia high school student, and is valid for one year of FREE admission to a selection of the city’s top museums and attractions.
  • Teaching #BlackLivesMatter
    Developed by San Francisco's Unified School District Library, this site’s focus is “to offer teachers resources to teach the BLM movement and the context in which that movement exists.”
  • Teaching Kids Consent from Ages 1-21
    Although this article was first published in 2013, the advice included is still great. This article has tips broken down by age group from preschool to teen years.
  • Teenspace at Internet Public Library
    Links to dozens of resources to help with school assignments.
  • The Chem Collective: For Students
    Virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, and concepts are all part of this website! For high school students.
  • The Consensual Project
    The Consensual Project partners with schools and universities to bring students a fresh understanding of consent. The innovative curriculum, workshops, and website empower young people to incorporate consent into their daily lives.
  • The Paul Green School of Rock Music
    Website for the School of Rock Music with information on school locations, programs, enrollment, concerts, and more.
  • The Physics Classroom Multimedia Physics Studio
    A collection of GIF animations and accompanying explanations of major physics concepts, and more. For Middle School and up.
  • The School District of Philadelphia
    This offical homepage offers information on the following topics: teacher/staff Resources, student resources, community resources, Cluster-School-District information, employment opportunities and charter schools.
  • Time for Kids
    News for elementary school-age children, up-dated regularly. Available in two reading levels and also in Spanish.
  • Tomorrowsdoctors
    A Guide for High School Students. Wonderful informative page for students interested in this field. published by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
  • U.S. News and World Report School Rankings
    The U.S. News and World Report yearly issue on colleges and universities has long been one of the key sources for college rankings. The web version provides the list of schools for free, for $14.95 you can get the U.S. News statistics on the colleges.

High School Drama by FLPTeens

You think your school is bad?! Read these books filled with teenage drama, gossip, and growing pains.

The perks of being a wallflower cover
Big Mouth & Ugly Girl cover
Cold as ice cover
Don't you dare read this, Mrs. Dunphrey cover
Jumped cover
Silent alarm cover

View the full list

Stand and deliver cover
High School Films (12 items)

Get ready for a new school term by watching films about or that take place in high school.

How to do your best on tests cover
Back to School - Students (7 items)

Helpful resources for students to make the school year easier with study skills, homework help, organization strategies, and test taking tips.

99 ways to get your kids to do their homework :(and not hate it) cover
Back to School - Parents and Caregivers (7 items)

Helpful books to make sure your children have a successful year.

Akeelah and the bee cover
Back to School - Films (16 items)

School doesn't have to always be a drag... watch a couple of these funny school films.

Arthur's back-to-school surprise cover
Back to School - Children (53 items)

A list curated by Children’s Librarians to help your young ones get ready and accustomed to school.

Born on a blue day : inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant : a memoir cover
Voices on the Spectrum (19 items)

Inspiring journeys into extraordinary minds

Electronic Resources

Blog Posts

Back to School 2019: Becoming an Attendance Hero with Read by 4th!

School is back in session! If you’re a caregiver, your mind is probably buzzing with questions like: Is my child a strong reader ? What subject will my child fall in love with this year? What new friends will my child make this…

Read by 4th back to school
Ah, the First Day of School...

Today is a big day, Philly! It marks the first day of school for the School District of Philadelphia , as the 2019-2020 school year is now officially underway! To celebrate, a few of our trusty Free Library staff members are sharing…

Free Library Staff back to school
Go Back to School with the Free Library!

The calendar still says August, and the weather forecast still says summer, but the new school year is just around the corner— School District of Philadelphia will ring the bell to begin classes on Tuesday, September 3! …

children's programs databases digital collections family programs reading Teens online learning Read by 4th back to school LEAP Homework Help library card
Better Together: The Free Library Partners with Schools

Now more than ever , students and teachers at our schools need the information and skills that librarians and libraries can provide. This year, the Free Library is working to spread the word about the information, ideas, and resources…

children's programs Free Library Staff Parkway Central Rare Book Department school back to school Rosenbach community neighborhood libraries library resources
Back to School Resources | The Artemis Literary Database

Who remembers having to visit the library and look up magazine articles in the long, long row of green hardbound Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature ? No disrespect against the Reader’s Guide— it’s still a…

databases How-To Teens back to school Homework Help digital learning
Comic Books Go To College!

Headed to college this fall? Wish you were still in school? Totally over school but still want to read about it? Live vicariously through some strong ladies starting college in these sometimes fun, sometimes dangerous graphic novels…

recommendations YA Literature comics and graphic novels back to school
Picture Book Highlights | Back to School Edition

It's that time of year again—the start of a new school year! For all little ones, this is always a time of excitement and some nervousness. It’s only natural though, as new experiences can be hard for everyone. Maybe…

Children's books recommendations early literacy back to school Picture Book Highlights
Back to School Resources from the Free Library

The calendar still says August, and the weather forecast still says summer, but the new school year starts earlier this year on Monday, August 27 !  After a summer full of books and fun activities at the Free Library, check out all…

children's programs Teens back to school LEAP
Camp Play and Learn

Are you ready for the new school year? Do you have a child  entering 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade in the Fall? Get a back-to-school boost with Camp Play and Learn! At Camp Play and Learn, children will stretch their minds and…

Summer Reading school back to school summer
Back to School Resources for Teens at Parkway Central and Beyond!

Summer absolutely flew by and it’s now time to get back into a new school year. If you’re wondering how you’ll cope with all of the assignments and homework coming your way, the Free Library of Philadelphia has got you…

Teens digital media back to school digital learning
Start Your School Year Off Right with These Free Online Resources!

Is everyone ready for the start of another school year? At the Free Library of Philadelphia, we spent the last few weeks of our summer brushing up on the wonderful online resources available on our website to get up to speed for a…

databases How-To Teens school Digital Literacy online learning back to school LEAP Homework Help digital learning
Hit the Books with the Free Library!

Now that the summer is drawing to a close, children, teens, and even adults are prepping for the start of the coming school year. We at the Free Library of Philadelphia are prepping, too! That is, we’re organizing events and…

children's programs College Prep Teens early literacy literacy school back to school LEAP
So You Didn't Start Your Summer Reading Assignment Yet...

It’s August and the first day of school is approaching fast. You’ve finally unearthed your Summer Reading lists , determined to read the book(s) and complete the assignments. There are two categories: people who have the…

Summer Reading back to school
Jumpstart Camp: Free Back to School Prep

It may feel like summer has only just began, but at the Free Library we are already prepping for back-to-school and the arrival of our Jumpstart Camp program. Jumpstart is a three-week camp that meets Monday through…

children's programs Summer Reading literacy back to school Homework Help neighborhood libraries
Back to School Resources for Teens at Parkway Central and Beyond

Summer absolutely flew by and it’s now time to get back into a new school year. If you’re wondering how you’ll cope with all of the assignments and homework coming your way, the Free Library of Philadelphia has got you…

Teens school back to school
First Day of School

It’s school time again! For some, this will be their very first first day going to school. The first day of school is a day of many feelings: excitement, curiosity… and a little trepidation. It’s natural to…

Children's books Pre-K recommendations early literacy school back to school
Get Your School Year Off to a Great Start with These Online Resources!

Is everyone ready for the start of another school year?  At the Free Library of Philadelphia, we spent the last few weeks of our summer brushing up on the wonderful online resources available on our website to get up to speed…

databases How-To Teens school Digital Literacy online learning back to school LEAP Homework Help
Need help funding your education? Visit the Regional Foundation Center!

Back to school (BTS) is in full swing. How will you fund BTS next year?  Now is the time for many families across the Philadelphia area to begin evaluating the best possible financial options and finding ways to offset…

databases Regional Foundation Center school Financial Literacy back to school
Bulk Up on Back to School Resources

At the dawn of every school year, all the librarians put on their letterman jackets, sew days of the week labels into our socks, and start thinking really hard about we can help you—students of every age—succeed in the…

databases How-To school Digital Literacy back to school

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