Are you looking for strategies to teach students to use learning materials appropriately? If so, keep reading.
1. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate use of school-related learning materials: (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., failing to use school-related learning materials appropriately) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., using learning materials as directed).
3. 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.
4. Give time at the beginning of each day to help the student organize their school-related learning materials.
5. Praise the student for using school-related learning materials properly based on the duration of time the student can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.
6. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., appropriate use of school-related learning materials) 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 using school-related learning materials properly 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. Select a peer to model appropriate use of school-related learning materials for the student.
10. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, instructions they do not understand.
11. Praise those students in the classroom who use school-related learning materials appropriately.
12. Give time at several points throughout the day to help the student organize their school-related learning materials (e.g., before school, break time, lunch, end of the day, etc.).
13. Give the student sufficient workspace (e.g., a bigger desk or table at which to work).
14. Give storage space for school-related learning materials the student is not using.
15. Minimize distracting stimuli(e.g., place the student on the front row, give a table or quiet ·space away from distractions, etc.). This should be used as a way to lessen distractions, not as a punishment.
16. Talk regularly with the student to encourage organizational skills and appropriate use of school-related learning materials.
17. Designate the student organizational duties in the classroom (e.g., equipment, software, learning materials, etc.).
18. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
19. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
21. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
