21 Strategies to Help Learners Who Have Trouble Finishing Homework Tasks

Are you looking for strategies to help students who have trouble finishing homework tasks? If so, keep reading.

1. Chart homework tasks finished.

2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong (e.g., not turning in homework tasks) and (b) what the student should be doing (i.e., finishing homework tasks and returning them to school).

3. Urge the student to lessen distractions to finish homework (e.g., turn off the radio and/or TV, have people whisper, etc.).

4. Take proactive steps to deal with a student’s refusal to perform a homework task to prevent contagion in the classroom (e.g., refrain from arguing with the student, place the student at a carrel or other quiet space to work, remove the student from the group or classroom, etc.).

5. Select a peer to model finishing homework tasks and returning them to school for the student.

6. Urge the student to realize that all behavior has negative or positive consequences. Urge the student to practice behaviors that will lead to positive outcomes.

7. Urge the student to set up an “office” where homework can be finished.

8. Get the student to assess the visual and auditory stimuli in their designated workspace at home to ascertain the number of stimuli they can tolerate.

9. Create an agreement with the student and their parents requiring that homework be done before more desirable learning activities at home (e.g., playing, watching television, going out for the evening, etc.).

10. Make sure that homework gives drill and practice rather than introducing new ideas or information.

11. Designate small amounts of homework initially. As the student shows success, slowly increase the amount of homework (e.g., one or two problems to perform may be sufficient to begin the homework process).

12. Provide consistency in assigning homework (i.e., designate the same amount of homework each day).

13. Make sure the amount of homework designated is not excessive and can be finished within a sensible amount of time. Remember, secondary students may have six or seven teachers assigning homework each day.

14. Assess the appropriateness of the homework task to determine (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.

15. Praise the student for finishing homework tasks and returning them to school: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., classroom privileges, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) provide the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

16. Praise the student for finishing homework tasks based on the number of tasks the student can successfully finish. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of tasks required for reinforcement.

17. Praise those students who finish their tasks at school during the time given.

18. Send home only one homework task at a time. As the student shows success finishing tasks at home, slowly increase the number of homework tasks sent home.

19. Show the tasks in the most attractive and exciting manner possible.

20. Find the learning materials the student continuously fails to take home. Give a set of those learning materials for the student to keep at home.

21. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

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