How to Get Homework Done in Afterschool
How do I get my students to complete their homework? We offer homework help every day in the cafeteria but it seems like some students are just sitting there and never finish.
We all know that homework is the one thing parents want Afterschool programs to get done before the students go home – and this is a reasonable request. To meet this need, many Afterschool programs have all the students sit down in a large room and take as much time as they want to get homework done. The thought behind this strategy is good, but the fact is that it doesn’t really work.
Yes, I just said that unlimited homework time in the cafeteria does not get homework done! Students talk to each other. They get bored. They get distracted. They daydream. And, they don’t get their questions answered quickly enough. How many times have you seen a child laying with their head on the table and their hand in waving in the air waiting and waiting for help?
There is a better way! The problem is that the focus is gone from homework time. If there are three hours to get homework done, homework will take three hours. So, how do we fix this?
Regain Focus
Divide your students into smaller groups and get them into smaller quiet rooms. Then give them only one hour to complete their homework. Stagger their schedule so some students do homework the first hour, some the second hour, and some the third hour. Students will focus on their homework and finish because they know they only have limited time to work.
Get Professional Help
Hire one person like a credentialed teacher to help with homework. With smaller groups, that person will be able to help the students who need help fairly quickly. That person should know how to group students based on their assignments for the day and tutor several at a time if they have similar questions.
Eliminate Distractions
Have pencils and other supplies at the ready so time is not wasted on searching. Keep all the students quiet and engaged. Provide reading books and coloring sheets for those who are finished so they do not get bored and start talking.
You and your students do not need to be slaves to homework. These changes may take time, but by changing your homework strategy you can really improve your program. You can be more effective in helping students complete their homework accurately and you can free up more time for other wonderful activities.
For more specifics on how to make homework time a success you can check out my article, “Seven Secrets to Making the Most of Homework Time” on the Curricubits website.
