Are you looking for genius tricks for encouraging students to start learning activities? If so, keep reading.
1. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Competitive academic learning activities may cause the student to hurry and begin the task without following the instructions.
2. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., begin tasks after listening to instructions) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
3. Stand in proximity to the student when giving instructions.
4. Make the student ask permission from the teacher to begin.
5. Provide visibility to and from the student. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times to ensure that the student is paying attention.
6. Along with instructions, give an incentive statement (e.g., “On occasions where you begin your work, I will come around to see if you have questions.” etc.).
7. Utilize a timer to help the student know how much time they have to follow through with instructions.
8. Select a peer or volunteer to help the student begin a task.
9. Assess the clarity and quality of directions, explanations, and instructions given to the student.
10. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, and instructions not grasped.
11. Minimize the number of instructions given at one time (i.e., give the student each additional step after the conclusion of the prior step).
12. Connect with the parents to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for beginning tasks after receiving instructions at school.
13. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
14. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong (e.g., not beginning tasks after receiving instructions) and (b) what the student should be doing (e.g., listening to instructions, asking for clarification if instructions are not grasped, taking notes, following one step at a time, etc.).
15. Praise the student for beginning tasks after receiving instructions: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).
16. Make sure that the student is paying attention to the teacher (e.g., making eye contact, hands free of writing learning materials, looking at tasks, etc.) before instructions are given.
17. Consider using assistive technology designed to help students to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder concentrate. Click here to view list of assistive technology apps that we recommend.
