Are you looking for strategies to teach students to be prepared for learning experiences? If so, keep reading.
1. Praise the student for being ready for a learning experience at a specific time: (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.).
2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., coming late/early to a learning experience) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., arriving at a learning experience at a specific time).
3. Create classroom rules: • Come to class on time. • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
4. Select a peer to model being ready for a learning experience at a specific time for the student.
5. Praise the student for arriving at a learning experience within a given period. As the student becomes more successful in being punctual, slowly lessen the duration of time the student has to take part in a learning experience.
6. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., coming to class on time, having appropriate learning materials, etc.) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
7. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for being ready for learning activities at a specific time at school.
8. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.
9. Provide the student a specific responsibility to be performed at the beginning of each learning experience to urge them to be on time.
10. Select a peer to escort the student to learning activities.
11. Make sure that the student’s daily schedule follows an established routine (schedule).
12. Restrict the number of interruptions in the student’s schedule.
13. Make sure the student has sufficient time to get to a learning experience.
14. Make sure that the student knows how to get from one learning experience to another.
15. Utilize a timer to help the student get to learning activities at specific times.
16. Praise those students in the classroom who are ready for all learning experiences at a specific time.
17. Give the student oral signals when it is time to change learning activities (e.g., “It is time for the red group to have reading.” “Now it is time for the red group to put away learning materials and move to the next learning experience.” etc.).
18. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
