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Parents Head Back To Class To Learn How To Help Kids With Homework

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some parents are heading back to class so they can help their children with homework -- And it's not just high schoolers needing help, even the parents of kindergartens feel they need a refresher in some cases.

Parent Joanne Saraceni is back in class with her kindergartner, Nicole.

"We now get the understanding of how they're being taught so we can help them better and not get frustrated," Saraceni told CBS2's Jamie Yuccas.

School districts across the country are offering the classes for free. Teachers say they're very popular, with one on Long Island having more than 60 parents eager to participate.

Parent Jason Mangels said he didn't expect to ever have to go back to school to assist his kids with homework.

"I finished my masters degree five years ago and I figured that was it," Mangels said.

It's not just learning how to use the technology, the way reading and math is taught can be so different for parents, they need a refresher.

Schools launched the classes to help parents learn more about the common core curriculum, which sets national standards for English and Math. But now they touch on a variety of topics.

"We're trying to reach out to parents to say the standard way that we learned is no longer that way. So we need to bring you in with us, bring you into the fold and help you so that you're successful at home in supporting your child," Marie Testa, superintendent for North Bellmore School District, told CBS2.

That's why parents are prepared to continue their education.

"If they're moving at the pace they're moving at now in kindergarten, I can only imagine what it's going to be like by second, third, fourth grade!" Mangels said.

As their children are meeting the challenge, parents are determined to as well. Experts say the biggest differences in teaching are technology and how students learn visually.

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