Kids hate their homework and look up for excuses to avoid them every now and then. This is because the learning process often turns so dull that they find it boring and to some extent hectic. This is the present problem with theeducation system. If the learning process was more fun, then students would get more interest in their education than they usually do. They must be taught that knowledge is power and shown how to wield that power.
Much of these responsibilities lie on the teachers who play a major role in assigning the homework and in motivating students to do the homework. To start with they must understand the importance of homework and convey that sense to the students. Making things less mundane always work. Here are a few strategies which they can try.
How to motivate students to finish assigned homework:
- Keep things interesting:
This particularly works for kids. When teachers figure out what caters to their interest and incorporate those features in the homework, they’ll promptly find it more interesting and intriguing. For instance, kids are fond of cartoon and superheroes. So if the math problem uses the names of their favorite character, maybe they’ll enjoy solving it, thinking they are doing something important. Similarly, the educating process must not be boring but creative for older students.
- Don’t turn the homework into real work:
Just because you have to assign homework, don’t pile up a whole lot of assignments at once. Instead, ask students to work on a small portion of a chapter or a small number of mathematical problems, something that won’t take them longer than an hour or so. This way, they won’t feel tired just by looking at it and will give it a go.
- Hold quiz classes:
This will work as a pressure and those students are usually negligent about their homework will actually pay attention this time. Teachers can hold regular quizzes in their classes before they start something new. The quiz is to be based on the previous day’s homework. Those who didn’t do the homework won’t be able to answer and no one enjoys looking dumb in front of the whole class. Fear of humiliation can be a good and effective motivation.
- Assign daily homework in small quantities:
Some teachers go for weekly homework while some assign enormous homework every day. Both processes have their own drawbacks. If you assign homework over the weekends, chances are students have already forgotten what they learned at the beginning of the week. A lot of stuff happens over the week and it is but natural if the mind fails to register each and everything. So the practice must be regular, they must be in constant touch with the new things they learn. Again, burdening students with a whole lot of homework will have a similar effect. They might finish it, but will not do everything attentively. It’ll turn into a mechanical process rather than a learning experience for them. Balance is the key here.
- Show them why it Is important:
Now teachers have a tendency to coerce students into completing their homework. However, a better and healthier process would be to show them why the homework is important for their future. Once you make them understand that it’ll do them good in the long run and is not just a way invented by teachers to torture students, they’ll definitely take their homework more seriously.
- Be friendly and supportive, don’t be mean:
As a teacher, this is something important to be remembered. Establishing and maintain a cooperative, friendly relationship with students is very important. Studies show that students are more inclined to follow the instructions of a friendly mentor than a rude one. Reasons are obvious. So be your fun self with students, make jokes once in a while, hear out their grievances, and tell them inspiring stories: the strategy is to make a place in their heart and then you’ll be able to persuade or motivate them to complete their homework. This also means if they fail to do the assignment at any point, don’t be harsh but try to understand their reasons. Maybe learn something from the “Captain†in “Dead Poets’ Society�
- Assign homework in groups:
Students like doing group work when they get to spend time with their friends. Use that to your advantage and assign homework to groups of students, let them pick their friends. This way, the groups will try to be better than one another and will actually do the work, learning things in the process.
- Reward students for good work:
Nothing works better than incentives! Give immediate rewards to students who perform well and this will motivate them to better themselves. Encourage healthy competition. The gifts can be in grace or kind. Maybe you can declare prizes like pens or tickets to an important game once in a while. Alternatively, you can add bonus points to their annual grades or make them the class captain for a week based on their performances.
- Ensure you’ve taught them everything that’s included in the homework:
It’s very important that the teacher completely supports students with the learning process. You must first teach them every detail before assigning homework. They shouldn’t have to figure things out by themselves. Be available to students if they need further help beyond classroom teaching. Motivate them to use other sources like books from the library or essays and ideas from online homework help websites.
- Create Hope:
The key to encouragement or motivation is hope. Some students feel like they won’t be able to do the homework, which is why they don’t even try. The teacher’s job is to inspire students and tell them, convince them that nothing is beyond their capacity, they only have to try. Make them believe in themselves and let them know you’re there to help them out in every possible way. Once they start hoping for a brighter academic future, they’ll start putting in efforts themselves.
Following these tips, not only will you be able to motivate students but you’ll also become an ideal mentor, someone that students will look up to and will later thank for their academic success! Apart from helping teachers, these tips cal also make parents understand “How to help your Children finish their Homework on timeâ€.