Dear Teachers Q & A

Should Doing Homework Be Rewarded?

Question: We are tired of nagging our children to do their homework. Do you have any suggestions about how to turn things around? Is giving rewards a good idea? – New Approach

Answer: Few children are happy to do their homework, yet this is an essential task they need to complete. Of course, having the intrinsic (internal) motivation to do homework for the feeling of accomplishment of actually learning something is what we would like children to have.

Rewards are an extrinsic (external) motivation. The danger of giving them is that they may cause children to put forth a minimal effort and even decrease intrinsic motivation. Nevertheless, all extrinsic motivation is not bad, especially if children buy into the goal of doing well at school. So we are giving you some rewards that may help you push your children through dull homework assignments without nagging.

1. Promise a fun activity if homework is completed. It works best if children can choose the activity. It’s rather like the light at the end of the tunnel to inspire kids to get to and complete their homework.
2. Give money for completion of homework when no parental reminders have to be issued.
3. Offer extra time or special activities with friends or family.
4. Offer additional time with their favorite media.
5. For daily success in completing homework, a sweet treat can be given—not an entirely healthy approach.
6. Let the children pick their own reward.

Our homework contract (search for it on our Dear Teacher website) offers a solid approach to getting children and parents to resolve all homework issues. Rewards can be built into this contract.

How to Start a Writing Assignment

Question: My son in fifth grade is not doing well on writing assignments. It’s like pulling teeth to get him started.  I am willing to work with him. What should I be doing? – Helpful

Answer: Your son may well be slow in starting a writing assignment because he is unsure of how to approach the task. This is an area in which you can help him.

A common problem is selecting a topic when this is left up to a student. Sometimes just too many topics appeal. You can help by having him write his top choices on cards. Then discuss together the merits of each topic and eliminate them one by one. If he can’t make a final decision, have him shuffle the remaining cards and then draw one at random.

Getting the first words on paper is often a roadblock in the writing process. It can help to have your son write all of his ideas on cards. Then he can lay them out on the floor and place related ideas together. You will probably have to help your son find the most important idea that will serve as his topic sentence. Once this is selected, the other groupings of topics can be arranged in the order that they will be used.  Within each grouping, the ideas can be arranged in their order of importance. At this point, the paper has nearly written itself.

Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.

         ©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2020