This article shares thoughts about motivating young adolescents from the perspective of middle level students. The most compelling thread to emerge from the interviews with students was the fact that teachers matter. Teachers have a direct and significant impact on students' motivation to achieve. This article identifies three ways in which…

Discusses the failure of students with learning disabilities to complete their homework assignments, lists criteria for planning assignments to motivate secondary students, and offers suggestions on procedures and outcomes for inviting students to participate in the assignment completion process. An Assignment Idea Chart is provided. (CR)

The effects of reducing the number of daily social studies homework questions to reward lower rates of inappropriate classroom behavior was investigated with 19 mildly handicapped junior high students and their two teachers. The intervention resulted in significant decreases in inappropriate behavior with no changes in homework accuracy or…

This book presents strategies you can integrate into everyday instruction in every subject area and across grade levels. It shows teachers how to motivate and engage students with instructional strategies that promote learning. There are 26 chapters in this book, one for each of the letter of the alphabet. The practical examples make it easy to…

Guidelines are presented to assist special educators in implementing homework practices. They include determining the amount of homework, deciding on the content of homework, selecting the type of homework, explaining homework to students, assisting students with their homework, motivating students to complete homework, evaluating homework, and…

Like its two predecessors, "Preventing School Dropouts" [C1991] and "Preventing School Failure" [C2000], this third edition is a book about teaching. Although primarily written for teachers, tutors and parents may also find this book helpful. It is a collection of carefully selected teaching techniques aimed at helping young adults learn important…

This article offers guidelines for increasing the homework completion rates of students with mild disabilities: (1) vary the amount and type of homework assignments; (2) provide motivating acts so that students complete their homework; (3) use peer-mediated strategies; and (4) involve parents in the homework process. (Author/DB)

Students in an educational psychology course were offered the opportunity to earn a grade bonus by writing test items on content to be covered the following week. Results show both internal (student) and external (manipulable) factors had considerable influence on effort and persistence. A classroom procedure to enhance student motivation is…

Three studies examined the effects of different interventions used with elementary students with learning disabilities and typical students on spelling and math homework completion and weekly quiz performance. Three intervention strategies resulted in significant increases in homework completion: giving students real-life assignments, using…

Two methods to facilitate classroom management and initiate student responsibilities are presented. The first describes student responsibilities for making up missed tests or assignments. The second describes a student scorecard to help students keep track of their grades and act as a motivational technique. (MDH)

In this study, the author compares the views of faculty members who give quizzes and those who do not regarding (a) the potential drawbacks of quizzing and (b) the viability of various quiz alternatives such as graded homework. The results suggest that quizzers and nonquizzers have much in common and that quizzing is simply one of a variety of…

Offers suggestions to make homework more beneficial to students and teachers. Discusses motivating students, planning assignments, grading, communicating teacher expectations, and maintaining consistency with respect to homework. (MDH)

High school teachers often have difficulty motivating struggling students to complete homework--especially in inner-city schools in which many students are discouraged by stressful living conditions. The authors consulted with successful urban educators who were involved with innovative, small high schools in New York City, and asked what…

This book provides practical, commonsense strategies successfully used by teachers to help students become active, responsible learners. In general, these strategies are centered on mutual respect, not bossiness; collaboration, not isolation; commitment to learning, not fear of failure; and the dignity of all, not praise or rewards for a few. Each…

Techniques used by one college teacher to motivate, encourage, and lead students to success in college and beyond include exemplifying education's value, reinforcing effort, offering diversity in assignment types, being persistent with individual students, using student self-assessment, upholding deadlines and standards, being accessible,…