This publication teaches parents and their grades 3-8 children how to create simple essays and multimedia presentations, all designed to produce more interesting and better quality school assignments. Each chapter presents several cogent ideas for turning a homework assignment into a creative computer project, as well as step-by-step instructions on building each part. Throughout the book, peripherals that expand the computer's power -- printers, CD-ROM, scanners, microphones, modems, and video digitizers -- are introduced and their uses are explained. Software programs and online services are also discussed. The chapters are divided into the following five sections: (1) "Author, Author!" --writing and desktop publishing; (2) "Becoming a Knowledge Navigator" -- CD-ROM and online references; (3) "It's Multimedia Showtime!" -- alternative presentation methods; (4) "You Won't Know Unless You Experiment" -- computer simulations and music technology; and (5) "Relief for Everyday Homework Headaches" -- homework and tutoring software. Three appendices include Internet resources; print resources; contact information for mail-order products; a software guide containing title, platform and format, and publisher information, and comments; and a software publishers directory containing company names and contact information. (Contains an index.) (DLS)