As the start of second semester often brings new material and course requirements, students can spare themselves many sleepless nights and poor grades by exploring their tutoring options ahead of time.

For Macomb Township students, a variety of tutoring options and study resources are available free of charge. From third-grade math to college prep, Macomb's schools and libraries offer resources for all subjects and grade levels.

Here are a few of the resources currently available:

Live Homework Help

Available to anyone with a Clinton-Macomb library card, Live Homework Help is available through the library's website from 4-11 p.m. everyday.

"They login with their library card, then there are a whole variety of subjects they can pick from and they are connected to a live tutor," said Larry Neal, CMPL director. "So it is a trained professional who knows that subject area. They are supposed to be tutoring, so they're not supposed to be giving them the answer, but helping them work through the problem."

Tutoring is offered for subjects such as math, English, social studies, science, standardized testing and adult services, and dozens of subtopics are offered in each subject category. Assistance is also offered in writing resumes and cover letters, prep work for the GED and computer literacy tutoring.

College test prep and foreign language help are available 24/7.

Tutors, supplied through Tutor.com, are certified in their respective subject areas.

Internet Study Aides

• Michigan Electronic Library

The Michigan Electronic Library can be accessed by anyone with a Michigan driver's licence number. It offers full-text e-books as well as tests and tutorials for AP and ACT preparation as well as occupation practice tests.

• Project Gutenberg

Not finding what you need at the library? Project Gutenberg offers more than 38,000 e-books users can download to their PC or portable device. From biographies on Frederick Douglass and Queen Victoria to the Harvard Classics, this website offers a wide variety of texts that are far easier to search than those found on a library shelf.

• ACT Prep

While there is a fee to access some of these resources, practice test questions, test tips and more are available for free.

School Specific

• L'Anse Creuse High School North

Mu Alpha Theta math tutoring is available Tuesdays, from 2:30-3:15 p.m., in room 205.

The Homework Club meets Wednesdays, from 1:30-2:20 p.m., in the cafeteria.

• Dakota High School

National Honor Society tutors volunteer in the media center after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. NHS students also do private tutoring on an as needed basis. Dakota students interested in private tutoring should contact NHS co-advisor Kristen Avey.