The NYPL After School team, including Teen Reading Ambassadors, are here to help kids in grades K–6 tackle their homework and get excited about reading at the start of a new year!

Read on for smart and practical suggestions for figuring out math word problems, staying organized, and, of course, reading some great books.

NYPL After School is a free drop-in program for kids aged 6–12 that takes place after regular school hours, Monday to Thursday, when school is in session. Once in-person programming resumes, join us at a participating branch for homework help from one of our tutors or Teen Reading Ambassadors, reading recommendations, fun writing, STEAM, enrichment activities—and even snacks! 

• Stay positive when you're doing your assigned homework. It's not supposed to be a punishment, instead, the teachers want to reinforce what you learned in school! Remember: the faster you get it done, the more free time you have to color, paint, watch TV, and do any other hobbies you have! —Lina Lin, Teen Reading Ambassador, Bloomingdale Library
   
• Using graphic organizers is a great way to develop your thoughts. Students might have a hard time finding the right words or thoughts to use for summarizing the main idea of a story. By using graphic organizers, you can break down the story into smaller pieces, before you know it, you have written an entire summary! —Deoranie Rajkumar, Lead Tutor, Kingsbridge Library
   
• Do you get confused with all of the characters in your book? Make a character list! On a sheet of paper, include the most important characters in the story and a small description of who they are. You can fold it up and keep it with you to look for a character or add a new one to the list. —Izabell Mendez, Teen Reading Ambassador, Macomb’s Bridge Library
   
• Do the assignment you find easiest first! Take a 30-minute break (when needed). Don't give up, stay positive! Try working in quiet spaces to focus. Manage homework time wisely. —Kelechi Akabuogu, Teen Reading Ambassador, Woodstock Library
   
• Try out the Pomodoro Technique for studying and completing homework! Set a timer for 25 minutes and start your task. When the buzzer rings, take a five minute break! This technique helps you divide your work into short sessions to avoid feeling overwhelmed by a big task. —Sophia Tan, Lead Tutor, Seward Park Library
   
• If you are having trouble thinking of sentences using your vocabulary words, try to think about things you do every day, or things your family members do every day, and see if something relates to your vocabulary word.  —Philip Valenti, Lead Tutor, Baychester Library
   
• Read with a friend! You can help each other read, learn new words, AND talk about your favorite parts together!  —Yuneydy Paredes, Teen Reading Ambassador, Bronx Library Center
   
• For reading and writing: Sound out the words you don’t know. Scoop under the words with your finger for reading fluency. Check for capitals at the beginning of each sentence and the proper punctuation at the end of each sentence. Double check your spelling.  —Elizabeth Nisselson, Lead Tutor, Bloomingdale Library
   
• For 3rd—6th graders, I recommend: 1) choosing which subject of homework you’d like to tackle first (easiest to hardest is recommended) to prevent feeling overwhelmed by the work, 2) setting up a small reward for yourself after you finish your homework to motivate you to get it done, and 3) if you find yourself stuck you can always review notes or ask for help. —Ciara Taveras, Teen Reading Ambassador, Woodstock Library
   
• When dealing with a math word problem the reader should understand or circle important information. It can be a helpful reminder to write down everything you’ve circled to the side of the word problem, making the problem easier to solve! —Deoranie Rajkumar, Lead Tutor, Kingsbridge Library
   
• Read whatever you are interested in! It doesn't matter if it's fiction, poetry, comic books, non-fiction, or even magazines! Don't rule out any books. A quote I like is, "Reading is reading and it’s all worthwhile." —Muslimat Oguntola, Teen Reading Ambassador, Baychester Library
   
• Have something to look forward to when you complete an assignment! Whether that be a delicious snack that you’ve been craving, or a fun show or video to watch when you’re done. —Sophia Tan, Lead Tutor, Seward Park Library
   
• A tip to get a child interested in reading is to ask them what they like and what they would like to know more about. Use this to help them find a book! I have firsthand experience with this. When one of the kids [at NYPL After School] is done with their homework they want to pick a book and this is the process we go through. After selecting a couple of books, we skim them and, if they like it, we read it! —Arlin Rodriguez, Teen Reading Ambassador, Bronx Library Center
   
• Use the book to read the book! Take a look at the covers (both front and back), flip through the table of contents or index, peruse all the images! By reviewing the different features of the book you can better understand what the book is trying to tell you! —Deoranie Rajkumar, Lead Tutor, Kingsbridge Library
   
• Pick a space to do your homework that is only for doing homework! This can be at a desk that is free of distractions, and that you can decorate with your own supplies, art, and decorations. Once you finish your homework, you can go into another room to play and relax! —Sophia Tan, Lead Tutor, Seward Park Library
   
• If you are having trouble adding or subtracting numbers, remember you can use objects to represent the numbers, like your fingers, or toothpicks, or pieces of paper rolled up into little balls. —Philip Valenti, Lead Tutor, Baychester Library
   
• Do you want to go on adventures with pirates, try to survive the rough sea after escaping capture during your top-secret mission, or solve mysteries and fight crime? Sounds too good to be true? Reading opens up a whole new world where anything and everything is possible, grab a book and you'll see! —Walaa Alyamani, Teen Reading Ambassador, Chatham Square Library
   
• Make sense of what you’re learning. Take breaks while studying and feel free to start working on something else. Test yourself to check your progress and improve faster! —Jensy Jimenez, Teen Reading Ambassador, Mosholu Library
   
• Find a comfortable location that’s quiet and has plenty of space for all of your necessary supplies. Read the directions carefully so you know what your teacher is asking. Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Check over your work when you are finished. —Elizabeth Nisselson, Lead Tutor, Bloomingdale Library