Are you looking for strategies to teach kids to take pride in their schoolwork? If so, keep reading.
1. Connect with parents to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for improving the quality of their handwriting at school.
2. Give the student self-checking learning materials, requiring correction before turning in tasks.
3. Assess the appropriateness of assigning homework to the student.
4. Provide consistency in task format and expectations.
5. Make sure the tasks measure knowledge of content, not related skills such as reading or writing.
6. Teach the student note-taking skills.
7. Get the student to practice a task with the teacher, an aide, or a peer before finishing the task for a grade.
8. Praise conscientiousness in improving handwriting (e.g., double-checking spelling, proper positioning of letters, spacing, etc.): (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.).
9. Teach the student instruction-following skills: (a) listen carefully, (b) ask questions, (c) use environmental signals, and (d) rely on examples given, etc.
10. Give parents information regarding appropriate ways in which to help their child with homework (e.g., read instructions with the student, work a few problems together, answer questions, check the finished task, etc.).
11. Give frequent interactions and encouragement to support the student’s confidence and optimism for success (e.g., make statements such as, “You’re doing great.” “Keep up the excellent work.” “I’m really proud of you.” etc.).
12. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
13. Praise conscientiousness in improving accuracy and quality of tasks (e.g., double-checking spelling, proper positioning of letters, sufficient spacing, etc.): (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.).
14. Make sure the student has a number line and alphabet strip on their desk to use as a reference for the correct form of letters and numbers to lessen errors.
15. Create levels of expectations for accuracy and quality of performance and require the student to correct or repeat tasks until the expectations are met.
16. Reinforce all measures of improvement.
17. Record the tasks and let the student listen to questions as often as necessary.
18. Ask parents to set aside an established duration of time each evening (e.g., 45 minutes, one hour, etc.) for homework rather than allowing the student to watch TV or play as soon as the homework is finished.
19. Utilize lined paper that is also vertically lined to teach the student appropriate spacing skills.
20. Let the student put a task away and return to it at a later time when they might be more successful.
21. Consider using assistive technology designed to help students to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to concentrate. Click here to view list of assistive technology apps that we recommend.
