Are you looking for ways to motivate students to use their study time wisely? If so, keep reading.
1. Make sure the student achieves success when following instructions.
2. Make sure the student has tasks to work on during study time.
3. Make sure the student knows the logical consequences of failing to finish tasks during study time (e.g., students who do not finish their work will not be allowed to do more desirable learning activities ).
4. Get the student to time their tasks to monitor personal behavior and accept time limits.
5. Give an incentive statement along with an instruction (e.g., “If you make appropriate use of study time, you may have free time.”).
6. Organize time units so the student knows how much time is available to work and when work should be finished.
7. Give study guides with questions presented in sequential order to enable attention to the reading content presented in the student’s content area textbooks (e.g., American history, biology, health, etc.).
8. Praise the student for trying and finishing tasks based on the amount of work the student successfully finishes. As the student shows success, slowly increase the amount of work required for reinforcement.
9. Give the student more than enough time to finish a learning experience. As the student shows success, slowly decrease the amount of time given to finish a learning experience.
10. Complete a few problems of the task with the student to serve as a model and help the student begin a task prior to independent study time.
11. Give the student shorter tasks given more regularly.
12. Give the student step-by-step written instructions for doing tasks during study time.
13. Give the student the chance to perform tasks/learning activities in an assortment of ways (e.g., on tape, with a calculator, orally, etc.).
14. Minimize the number of instructions in each step (e.g., give the student each additional step after the conclusion of the prior step).
15. Minimize distracting stimuli (e.g., place the student in the front row, give a table or quiet space away from distractions). Use this as a way to reduce distractions, never as a punishment.
16. Minimize the emphasis on early conclusion. Hurrying to finish tasks may cause the student to fail to follow instructions.
17. Give clearly stated instructions in written or oral form (i.e., make the instructions as simple and concrete as possible).
18. Praise the student for trying and finishing class tasks during study 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.).
19. Praise the student for beginning, staying on, and finishing tasks during study time.
20. Show one task at a time. As each task is finished, deliver reinforcement along with the presentation of the next task.
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.
