arrange homework and worry beginning is missing

Because differences are our greatest strength

Homework anxiety: Why it happens and how to help

By Gail Belsky

Expert reviewed by Jerome Schultz, PhD

Quick tips to help kids with homework anxiety

Quick tip 1, try self-calming strategies..

Try some deep breathing, gentle stretching, or a short walk before starting homework. These strategies can help reset the mind and relieve anxiety. 

Quick tip 2

Set a time limit..

Give kids a set amount of time for homework to help it feel more manageable. Try using the “10-minute rule” that many schools use — that’s 10 minutes of homework per grade level. And let kids know it’s OK to stop working for the night.

Quick tip 3

Cut out distractions..

Have kids do homework in a quiet area. Turn off the TV, silence cell phones, and, if possible, limit people coming and going in the room or around the space.

Quick tip 4

Start with the easiest task..

Try having kids do the easiest, quickest assignments first. That way, they’ll feel good about getting a task done — and may be less anxious about the rest of the homework.

Quick tip 5

Use a calm voice..

When kids feel anxious about homework, they might get angry, yell, or cry. Avoid matching their tone of voice. Take a deep breath and keep your voice steady and calm. Let them know you’re there for them. 

Sometimes kids just don’t want to do homework. They complain, procrastinate, or rush through the work so they can do something fun. But for other kids, it’s not so simple. Homework may actually give them anxiety.

It’s not always easy to know when kids have homework anxiety. Some kids may share what they’re feeling when you ask. But others can’t yet identify what they’re feeling, or they're not willing to talk about it.

Homework anxiety often starts in early grade school. It can affect any child. But it’s an especially big issue for kids who are struggling in school. They may think they can’t do the work. Or they may not have the right support to get it done. 

Keep in mind that some kids may seem anxious about homework but are actually anxious about something else. That’s why it’s important to keep track of when kids get anxious and what they were doing right before. The more you notice what’s happening, the better you can help.

Dive deeper

What homework anxiety looks like.

Kids with homework anxiety might:

Find excuses to avoid homework

Lie about homework being done

Get consistently angry about homework

Be moody or grumpy after school

Complain about not feeling well after school or before homework time

Cry easily or seem overly sensitive

Be afraid of making even small mistakes

Shut down and not want to talk after school

Say “I can’t do it!” before even trying

Learn about other homework challenges kids might be facing . 

Why kids get homework anxiety

Kids with homework anxiety are often struggling with a specific skill. They might worry about falling behind their classmates. But there are other factors that cause homework anxiety: 

Test prep: Homework that helps kids prepare for a test makes it sound very important. This can raise stress levels.

Perfectionism: Some kids who do really well in a subject may worry that their work “won’t be good enough.”

Trouble managing emotions: For kids who easily get flooded by emotions, homework can be a trigger for anxiety. 

Too much homework: Sometimes kids are anxious because they have more work than they can handle.

Use this list to see if kids might have too much homework .

When kids are having homework anxiety, families, educators, and health care providers should work together to understand what’s happening. Start by sharing notes on what you’re seeing and look for patterns . By working together, you’ll develop a clearer sense of what’s going on and how to help.

Parents and caregivers: Start by asking questions to get your child to open up about school . But if kids are struggling with the work itself, they may not want to tell you. You’ll need to talk with your child’s teacher to get insight into what’s happening in school and find out if your child needs help in a specific area.

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Surviving Homework Struggles: A Compassionate Guide for Parents

You’re not the only parent to dread those regular homework struggles.

The sighs, the eye-rolling, the frustration or procrastination. Perhaps anxiety and tears.

It’s a scene replayed in many homes.

But take heart, and there are ways to transform homework struggles into positive and valuable experiences for both you and your child without a power struggle.

How This Guide Will Transform Homework Struggles

In this guide, I’m zeroing in on individual struggles and long-term solutions.

My goal is to help you create a homework environment that reduces stress and strengthens your child’s sense of self.

The Hidden World of Homework Stress

What your kids aren’t saying.

When your child scribbles “I hate maths” on her worksheet, it might not be the subject she’s rejecting.

It could be the fear of not being ‘good enough’ that’s the real issue.

Don’t dismiss these emotional clues. Probe gently, asking something like, “What’s the most challenging part of these math problems for you?”

In general, if your child makes sweeping generalizations about specific subjects or their abilities, try to dig a little deeper.

Get specific.

What is it they find difficult or daunting, or lack confidence in?

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Homework Struggles for Parents

Let’s face it; your emotions are in the mix too.

Whether it’s concern, frustration, or even your own difficult memories of school, your emotional state can influence the homework atmosphere.

It’s important to be aware of this. This means you can respond accordingly.

For example, if you feel “triggered” by spelling tests, make sure you choose a day or time to support your child with this work when you are in a positive state of mind.

The Many Faces of Homework Struggles

Reluctance to start: procrastination or something more.

If your child can recite historical facts like a pro but turns ghostly pale at the thought of English homework, there might be more going on than mere subject preference.

Some brains (particularly neurodivergent brains) struggle to shift between tasks, and in particular this can mean a child struggles getting started with a task.

The bigger the task, the more overwhelming it can feel. Open-ended tasks like essays or creative writing can be particular culprits.

The secret?

Help your child break it down.

If they are writing a story, think of a title together and then take a break. Then, spend time planning the storyline and take another break. Next, write the introductory paragraph.

“I Just Can’t Do It”: Understanding Blockages

When a child claims, “I can’t do it,” often what they’re really saying is, “I’m scared of failing.”

Instead of demanding they get on with it, try asking, “What’s holding you back from giving it a go?”

It’s vital to understand the blockage so that you can make an effective plan.

Perhaps they are worried about getting it wrong.

Perhaps they can’t get motivated because they have ADHD and find the task boring .

Or perhaps they just feel overwhelmed and need extra help with the planning stages.

All of these blockages require an understanding and empathetic response, additional practical support, and a step-by-step, methodical approach to getting the task done.

Identifying the Real Issues With Homework Struggles

Not all homework struggles are the same.

Remember, each child is unique, so a one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely to cut it.

From learning styles to emotional triggers, identifying the specifics will inform your action plan.

Homework Struggles and Wider Social Emotional Issues

Your child’s difficulties with homework might not exist in a vacuum.

Could social issues at school, issues with a specific teacher, or even undiagnosed learning challenges be contributing?

Think of yourself as a detective.

Take time to observe, listen and make notes until you have uncovered the full picture.

TAKE THE QUIZ!

Sparking Independent Learning

Fueling passion projects as an antidote to homework struggles.

Engaging in a passion project can boost your child’s motivation.

When kids work on something they love, they’re more willing to learn and it builds their confidence as learners. This enthusiasm often spills over into their academic tasks, including homework.

For instance, a project on endangered animals isn’t just fun for a child who loves the natural world. It helps with skills like research, planning, and presentation. These are abilities they can then apply to schoolwork. They see the value in acquiring knowledge and become proactive learners.

Working on a passion project together can also improve parent-child relations. You get to understand your child’s interests better, making homework time more cooperative.

Beyond Homework: Encouraging a Love for Learning

Homework is important, but it’s just one aspect of education. Cultivating a love for learning goes beyond the classroom.

Everyday activities can be teaching moments. Whether it’s cooking dinner or assembling a bookshelf, you can spark curiosity. Show your child how math and science are part of these tasks.

Trips to museums or nature walks can enrich their knowledge. These outings make learning a fun, family activity.

Reading together can also be powerful. Choose topics your child is interested in. This builds a habit of seeking knowledge for pleasure, not just for grades.

The aim is to show learning as a lifelong journey. This perspective can transform how your child views homework and school.

Your attitude toward learning as an adult will impact your child heavily.

Be curious, ask questions, and explore. You’ll be laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

The Homework Struggles Parental Toolkit

The power of the right questions.

When you’re supporting your child through homework issues, asking the right questions is transformative. Skillful questions guide your child toward finding their own answers, growing essential problem-solving skills.

When faced with homework challenges, steer away from giving direct solutions. Queries like, “What’s the first step?” help your child think critically.

By asking questions, you also encourage reflective thinking. It opens up dialogue about their reasoning and approach, building communication skills.

For example, if your older child is stuck on a history question, you could ask, “What context do you have?” This nudges them to examine facts and synthesize information.

Questions like, “How would you approach this differently?” can help them learn from mistakes. It cultivates resilience and a growth mindset.

Positive Reinforcement: What Works

Positive reinforcement plays an important role in shaping your child’s attitude toward learning. The key is to build intrinsic motivation while being mindful of the role that external rewards play.

Specific and genuine praise, like “You worked hard on that problem,” helps cultivate internal motivation.

This type of reinforcement focuses on effort , and aims to build a love for the learning process itself.

External rewards, such as treats or stickers, can be useful but come with caveats.

While they provide immediate motivation, reliance on them can make children dependent on external validation and still not feel internally motivated to learn. This could be problematic as they grow older, especially in early adulthood when rewards will be less frequent.

To strike a balance, consider using intermittent rewards . These are given unpredictably and can help sustain interest without creating dependency.

In the long run, the goal is to shift the focus from external rewards to intrinsic motivation. This encourages a genuine love for learning , benefiting not just academic performance but also lifelong personal growth.

Preventing Homework Struggles: Timings of Homework Sessions

The timing of homework sessions is crucial for preventing struggles. Setting a specific time for school work can enhance focus and productivity.

Younger children often benefit from completing assignments soon after school, when information is still fresh. (But make sure they have had at least 30-60 minutes of free time to decompress from school.) Waiting until the end of the day can make it challenging for them to concentrate, affecting the quality of their work.

For older kids and teenagers, it’s equally important not to leave study time for late at night. Cognitive functions decline as we tire, making late hours suboptimal for absorbing new information.

The most important thing is to find a consistent time that works best for your child. This helps them internalize a routine, making it easier to complete assignments and engage in meaningful study time.

Strategies for Different Age Groups

Primary school homework struggles: getting the basic right.

Consistency is key when dealing with primary school homework battles. Young children especially benefit from a structured routine.

Making homework a regular, yet brief, part of their day can work wonders. Aim for a consistent time slot, turning it into a habit as natural as brushing teeth.

Creating a designated workspace can also be beneficial. It sets the scene for focused work, minimizing distractions and disruptions.

Introduce short breaks to keep them engaged. Children’s attention spans are limited, so a five-minute break can refresh and reset their focus. Movement breaks are particularly important.

The goal isn’t just to complete homework. It’s to instill good study habits and a positive attitude toward learning, laying the groundwork for future academic success.

High School Homework Struggles: The Juggling Act

Teenagers have a more complex world to navigate. They juggle academic responsibilities alongside social and extra-curricular commitments and many have a hard time coping.

A robust organizational system is crucial.

Whether it’s a physical planner or a digital calendar, having a centralized place for tracking assignments and activities helps them manage their time effectively. They make getting started easier for the brain, so that not too much time is spent procrastinating.

Color-coding subjects or activities can assist with building organizational skills. It provides a quick, visual way to gauge their commitments and deadlines.

Time-management apps or techniques can also aid in prioritizing homework assignments. Methods like the Pomodoro Technique can make homework more manageable and less daunting.

Encourage regular check-ins on their calendar. This keeps them accountable and helps prevent last-minute stress.

The aim is to empower your teen with skills they’ll carry into adulthood.

Mastery over their homework schedules this school year sets the stage for future personal and professional success.

Working in Partnership with the School

Reaching out to teachers.

If you have concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Timing and approach matter.

Parent-teacher conferences or scheduled face to face meetings are the best avenues. In-person communication is the best way to develop a positive relationship built on mutual understanding.

Open, respectful communication sets the stage for a collaborative relationship. Be prepared with specific questions or examples to discuss, making the conversation more productive.

Homework Struggles: Effective Strategies for Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Consistency between home and school is crucial for your child’s success. When you and the school send unified messages, it reinforces expectations and guidelines.

Regular communication with the teacher helps maintain this consistency.

Consider periodic check-ins or updates to discuss progress and potential areas for improvement.

When both parties are aligned, it creates a supportive environment. This makes it easier for your child to adapt, thrive, and achieve academic success.

The Homework Struggles Balancing Act: Pushing and Holding Back

When it’s okay to push.

Education is important, but there’s a fine line between encouragement and undue pressure. Being supportive is about motivating your child while respecting their limits.

Positive reinforcement and setting achievable goals can make the learning process more enjoyable. This strikes a balance between maintaining academic focus and preserving well-being

If Your Child Refuses To Do Homework

When your child outright refuses to do homework, it’s a clear signal to pause and evaluate.

Resistance stems from underlying issues, be it academic challenges, stress, or a lack of interest.

Instead of immediate consequences, open a non-judgmental dialogue. Ask questions like, “What’s making this hard for you?” or “How can we make this better?” This makes your child feel heard and supported.

If your child completely refuses to do homework, collaboration with the school is crucial to take the pressure off you and your child and ensure a close partnership.

Open dialogue with teachers can lead to tailored solutions, such as a temporary reduction or removal of homework. This creates a supportive network around your child, addressing the issue from multiple angles and setting the stage for a more positive relationship with schoolwork.

The Warning Signs: Your Child’s Mental Health Comes First

If you notice signs of stress, anxiety , or depression linked to homework struggles, it’s essential to pay close attention.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a step back. Evaluate the workload and its impact on your child’s mental health. Too much homework is counterproductive in every way.

If concerns persist, consider seeking professional advice .

Homework Struggles: Closing Thoughts

The never-ending journey.

Just like parenting, adapting to the changing demands of homework is an ever-evolving journey

You will need to continue to learn, adapt, and grow alongside your child.

You’re now well-armed with strategies and insights to transform the homework experience from a tug-of-war to a harmonious, enriching activity for both you and your child.

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34 Quotes to Perfectly Wrap Up the School Year with Inspiration

Dr Lucy Russell is a UK clinical psychologist who works with children and families. Her work involves both therapeutic support and  autism assessments . She is the Clinical Director of Everlief Child Psychology, and also worked in the National Health Service for many years.

In 2019 Lucy launched They Are The Future, a support website for parents of school-aged children. Through TATF Lucy is passionate about giving practical, manageable strategies to parents and children who may otherwise struggle to find the support they need. Lucy is a mum to two teenage children. She lives in Buckinghamshire   with her husband, children, rescue dog and three rescue cats. She enjoys caravanning and outdoor living, singing and musical theatre.

UK parents, looking for expert parenting advice?

Dr. Lucy Russell’s Everlief Parent Club offers a clear path towards a calmer, happier family life. This monthly membership includes exclusive workshops, direct support from child psychologists, and access to our private Facebook community.

Together, we can move towards a calm, happy family life and boost your child’s wellbeing. Become a member today !

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ADHD Child Refuses to Do Schoolwork: Top Tips to Help | Beyond Booksmart

By Sean Potts and Jackie Hebert

Let’s be honest… No student loves homework - and for good reason. When we consider the full school day, extracurriculars, and various social components that are all part of a typical school week, it’s no wonder why students want to relax and recharge when they finally get home. However, part of growing up is learning to roll up our sleeves and do those essential things we might not want to do - and for students, this means working through that algebra worksheet or history reading despite being drained from the 10+ hour day they just had. 

In this blog, we’re going to explore homework refusal and what you can do as a parent to nudge your student toward a healthier relationship with their homework. We’ll organize this exploration through four key questions: 

• What is homework refusal? 
• What causes homework refusal?
• How do you overcome homework refusal? 
• What outside support is there for homework refusal? 

Let’s dive right in.

1. What is homework refusal?

Homework refusal is when a student develops a strong avoidance of homework to the point of regularly refusing to complete their school work. A typical student who struggles with homework refusal may procrastinate to start their assignments, freeze up when they sit down to work, struggle to resist distractions after school, and release outbursts of anger or frustration when confronted about homework. 

Over time, these issues often devolve into worsening grades, frequent conflicts at home, and increased stress levels for caregivers and students. As a result, the parent-child relationship can become strained due to nightly battles over homework that make time at home increasingly unpleasant for the whole family. So now that we understand what homework refusal is, how does it develop in the first place? 

2. What causes homework refusal?

Homework refusal is a pattern of avoidance that’s developed to cope with the stress of completing homework. Understanding the core cause of homework refusal starts with identifying what exactly about homework is so stressful for your child. We’ll explore a few common reasons for this stress so you can identify which is most relevant to your situation. It’s also important to remember that attributing homework refusal solely to inherent character flaws (like laziness or apathy) is almost always counterproductive. Homework refusal can develop around the same age that other latent challenges around learning or mental health do. In other words, what may seem like laziness at the surface may simply be the tip of a much deeper iceberg with a core problem that exists outside of your student’s control. Let’s explore some of those potential underlying causes. (Note: It’s possible that more than one of these causes is relevant to your student - many can and do coexist.) 

Learning Differences & Disorders

If homework feels overwhelming for your student, it’s possible they might be struggling with a learning or neurological difference or disorder that makes completing homework harder than it is for their unaffected peers. These are the most common:

ADHD & Homework Refusal

One of the most common ones to consider is Attentive-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which generally makes it harder to do difficult or boring tasks because of differences in the ADHD brain’s reward circuit. As a result, those with ADHD struggle with self-management abilities like task initiation , organization, planning & prioritizing, and emotional regulation. You can learn more about ADHD specifically here. 

Dyslexia & Autism Spectrum Disorder Impact and Schoolwork Struggles 

Two other common learning differences to consider include dyslexia, which involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with the world. If you suspect that any of these examples could be relevant to your child, then we encourage you to have them evaluated by a neuropsychologist or other qualified clinician. Identifying the core struggle is a critical step in conquering the issues surrounding homework. Most importantly, remember that a learning difference can make work feel impossible and overwhelming, so the more parents can do to reduce that stress around homework, the more likely they'll be able to actually help their student - which leads perfectly into our next cause...

Micromanaging

When students refuse to do homework, caregivers find themselves with a difficult choice - either directly intervene to make sure homework is completed or disengage and let them suffer the academic consequences that come with missing homework assignments. Both options are unappealing, yet it can be easy to rationalize direct involvement as the best course of action. After all, you want your kid to succeed, right? If you see that a child has trouble staying motivated, organized, and on top of things, shouldn’t caregivers be willing to do whatever it takes to help them overcome that?

Not necessarily! This approach has two big problems: first, it keeps our kids dependent on us instead of helping them learn to do things for themselves. Second, in the context of homework refusal, you have to remember that a student’s avoidance is often a coping mechanism to avoid the stress of homework. When parents start micromanaging homework time by nagging them to start, hovering over them while they work, checking for completion, and enforcing their attention on the task at hand, it's actually making homework more stressful for them. As a result, our noble intention can suddenly have unforeseen consequences. If you’ve found your direct involvement with your child’s work has resulted in more conflict, more stress around school work, and continued avoidance of homework, then the evidence indicates that that approach is likely making the problem worse. Luckily, there are other options parents can do to support this issue that we’ll be covering later on in this article. 

Anxiety 

Although homework can feel stressful (even for the most successful students), it needn’t be at a debilitating level. If your student has developed high emotional responses to homework that involve crying, shaking, hyperventilating, or tantrums surrounding homework, then anxiety may be the core issue at play. If anxiety is the core issue fueling homework refusal , then micromanaging will likely make it worse. Instead, it's important to seek out mental health support for the anxiety specifically and work through the underlying beliefs around homework that are reinforcing your student’s avoidance. 

Perfectionism 

Some students set unrealistically high expectations for themselves and their work, which can make it overwhelming to finish or even get started in the first place. This phenomenon is called perfectionism , and it’s often misunderstood as only applying to the highest performing students. In reality, perfectionism does not mean your work is actually perfect. In fact, that initial expectation can significantly decrease the quality of work as students may feel they can’t reach the ideal they’ve set for themselves and decide there’s no point in trying at all. Breaking down this core belief is central to overcoming the larger issue of homework refusal and can be done with the support of a coach or mental health professional. 

Untreated Executive Dysfunction

Executive Function skills enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, get started on work, and manage multiple tasks. When an individual struggles with these types of tasks on a regular basis, they're experiencing Executive Dysfunction - a catch-all term for the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties that impact one's ability to succeed in their academic, professional, and personal lives. These include issues with time management, organization, task initiation, emotional regulation, planning & prioritizing, and impulse control. Up to 90% of those with ADHD struggle with Executive Dysfunction, which impairs goal-directed behavior such as completing homework. However, you don’t need to have a diagnosis of ADHD to struggle with these skills. Many other issues, including the ones we covered so far, can cause issues in those areas. Regardless of the cause, strengthening Executive Function skills can make homework much more manageable. 

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a type of behavior disorder defined by children being uncooperative, defiant, and hostile toward peers, parents, teachers, and other authority figures. If the issue of refusal extends beyond homework, this may be a core cause to consider. Seek out a clinician who specializes in this issue, as it’s not an easy one to navigate alone as a parent. Treatment for ODD often includes psychotherapy, parent training, and could involve medication to treat underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD, as well.

3. How do you overcome homework refusal?

Now that we’ve covered the most common causes of homework refusal, let’s explore some of the most practical solutions available to overcome it.

If your ADHD child refuses to do schoolwork or has trouble finding motivation, simple methods like dividing homework into smaller tasks, rewarding little achievements, scheduling breaks, and modeling behavior can make a big difference in their motivation to complete assignments. It can also prove helpful to seek outside help from professionals like therapists, coaches and counselors.

We’ll break these solutions up into three categories: parenting strategies, Executive Function strategies, and seeking outside support. Let’s start with parenting solutions first.

5 Parenting Solutions for Homework Refusal

1. reconsider what your parenting role could look like .

As we explored earlier, there are a number of reasons why caregivers ideally shouldn’t be deeply involved in their student’s daily homework routine if that student is working through homework refusal. So that leaves an important question: what might the most useful caregiver role be? 

Answering this question starts with talking to your student about what they think is a fair level of involvement with their homework. Is it simply checking in to make sure they know what needs to get done or are they okay with a more involved role that includes setting the environment up for success? The answer will depend on the student, but the important thing is to involve your student in the conversation. If you can speak to them at their level and involve them in the process of establishing your role, you’re already showing them that you’re their ally - not their enemy. Over time, you can evaluate that role in action night-to-night and see how it impacts their ability to get homework done. If something isn’t working or needs to change, return to the initial conversation to come up with a new plan to experiment with. If this doesn’t work or the refusal is still extreme, then you’ll know it’s time to look for outside support, which we’ll cover near the end of this article. 

2. Set Clear Homework Expectations (and get your child’s buy-in!)

On the opposite end of micromanaging, there’s also the potential for enabling bad habits. This is why it’s important to set clear expectations around homework but also involve your child in creating those expectations. Talk through what seems reasonable and what happens if work isn’t done - and make it clear that you simply want them to succeed. Also, understand that each kid is different regarding how they feel about and approach their school work. Some may find English to be easy but have no patience at all for algebra, some may love math but get frustrated even just thinking about writing an essay. Whatever the case may be for your child, it’s important to know your child’s strengths and challenges, and what conditions allow them to learn best. This includes considering the frequency of breaks while working, how they can transition into work time, what environment allows them to be most productive, and which assignments give them the most trouble. After a month or two, you should have a clearer indication of what’s working, what’s not, and whether your child needs additional support beyond what you can provide.  

3. Celebrate Small Wins 

Completing all their homework may look like a typical night for some students, but for a student with homework refusal, it’s a big deal to even take out their materials to get started - or to have a conversation about what needs to be done. Celebrating these types of small wins with rewards or encouragement can be a great way to motivate students by reminding them that homework time doesn’t have to be such an excruciating experience. Small wins can include trying out a new tool or strategy, sitting down to focus for a given time, or starting homework without a fight. Whatever the wins might be, be sure to acknowledge them so your student knows you see the changes they're making, no matter how small. It reminds them that progress happens often a little bit at a time and even those small increments can feel really great when you shine a light on them.

4. Model What You’d Like to See 

If your child gets upset at the idea of homework, then simply staying calm through their emotional outbursts and demonstrating a solution-oriented attitude can go a long way. When kids see that their caregivers are calm, collected, and ready to find solutions, it can lay the groundwork to help them regulate themselves and mirror that calmer approach. At the very least, this technique helps caregivers be mindful of keeping their own emotions on a even keel during a challenging interaction with their child.

5. Connect with Your Child’s Teacher

As you’re working through these changes, work on building a good relationship with your child’s teacher and involve them in the process of change. Start off at the beginning of the school year by sharing your goals and worries with them, and stay in touch as the year progresses to share what you’ve been working on at home and where they can help in the classroom. Your relationship with your child’s teachers will pay off during the good times, but even more so during the challenging ones. 

6 Executive Function Strategies for Homework Refusal

Executive Function strategies are helpful for all students regardless of whether they’re a child with ADHD that refuses to do school work or any other core reason for refusing homework. We know they’re effective because our coaches use them in video sessions with the students they work with and they’ve seen how transformative they can be for all areas of a student's life, including homework. One reason that they’re so effective is that they rely on the belief that when there’s a way there’s a will . In other words, when students know how to get their homework done (the way), they’ll be more motivated to actually do it in the first place (the will). Hopefully, these strategies will help pave that road for your student’s own transformation, too.  

5-Minute Goals

Sometimes big tasks are just too overwhelming to even start. To reduce the burden and motivate students out of inaction, have them choose the first assignment to do and spend just 5 minutes on a timer seeing what they can get done.

When we’re given permission to stop after 5 minutes of work, starting may not seem so overwhelming. We’ve seen this tactic become a springboard to more extended periods of work simply due to the fact that it eliminates the fear of getting started. You may find that the 5 minutes lead your student into becoming immersed in the work at hand and continuing to work past that stopping point. If not, then try pairing this tactic with our next strategy…

Scheduled Breaks

Every homework assignment is its own task to conquer and may deserve its own scheduled break, too. Maintaining constant focus over a few hours and many assignments is challenging, even for adults. After a while, your student may lose steam and not want to do more. This is where structured breaks come in. When your student makes substantial progress or finishes one assignment, encourage them to take a timed 5 or 10-minute break to transition to their next assignment. Scheduling this into the homework session can make the burden seem less overwhelming overall and the individual assignments easier to start, knowing that there will be breaks in between. This strategy works best when the student has a say in how long the break should be relative to the assignment and what the break should consist of. Activities like listening to a favorite song, shooting a dozen freethrows, or grabbing a healthy snack can recharge a student without deraling their progress entirely

Cognitive Pairing

Homework time doesn’t always have to be just doom and gloom. One effective way to make homework time less scary is by pairing work with something fun and rewarding. This could be a pet curled up by your child’s side, their favorite treat waiting for them before they start, or a playlist of music they can enjoy listening to while they work (instrumental tends to be best!) Whatever it might be, pairing homework time with something they enjoy can greatly reduce the urge to avoid whatever assignment needs to get done.

Body doubling

One of the most challenging parts of starting homework is simply the feeling of having to tackle it alone. The chances that your student has a friend or someone from their class they can do homework with is likely high - so why not buddy up with them to get work done? This technique is also called body doubling and can be done with a friend, sibling, or even a caregiver who also needs to get work done, too. On top of making homework time less intimidating, it also can put kids on their best behavior if they’re with a friend that they’re not comfortable melting down in front of. This can be a great way for them to learn firsthand that homework doesn’t have to feel like such an unbearable burden.

The Pomodoro Technique 

The Pomodoro Technique is a method of working in pre-determined chunks of time. It’s essentially a combination of short, productive intervals (like 5-minute goals) and short breaks. For example, your student could work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and then go back to work. Coach and podcast host, Hannah Choi, encourages her clients to pay attention to diminishing returns when using the Pomodoro Technique. In this context, diminishing returns means that the effort being put in doesn’t necessarily yield the same results as it did when first starting the activity. Finding out when your student is most productive can be an effective bit of insight to have when deciding the sequence of the work they have to do. There are a number of apps that have Pomodoro Timers that can be used to set the working and break periods ahead of time ( like this one ).

Soften the blow

Transitioning from something fun or relaxing to a dreaded non-preferred task like homework is often going to pose a challenge. "Softening the blow" is one way to ease into these types of tasks or responsibilities. Some examples of this could be eating a snack, calling a friend, or even just stepping outside for a quick walk before sitting down to start homework. These all can work well as structured transitions. Best of all? In addition to reducing homework refusal, this approach also builds cognitive flexibility and task initiation - two critical Executive Function skills. 

4. What Outside Support Can Help with Homework Refusal? 

If you’ve read through all this and at any point said to yourself “this is too much for me to do alone,” then it might be worth looking for outside support. For homework refusal, one of these three options might be the best choice, depending on your student’s core challenge area. 

Executive Function Coaching

Executive Function coaches work on strengthening the core self-management skills of time management, task initiation, organization, emotional regulation, and planning & prioritizing. Since challenges in these areas can make homework much more difficult to approach (let alone finish), working with a coach 1:1 to apply strategies in their week to strengthen these key areas can prove to be the missing ingredient for overcoming homework refusal. Best of all, coaches provide a different perspective from a parent or teacher and can be viewed as an ally in a student's journey rather than another person telling them what they need to do. You can learn about our approach to Executive Function coaching here. 

Behavioral Therapy 

If your child has more involved core issues such as anxiety, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or other  neuropsychological profiles, it’s worth researching occupational or behavioral therapists near you who specialize in those particular areas. Once those support links are in place, parents, coaches, and tutors all have a much higher likelihood of success at empowering kids to overcome their homework refusal.

Tutoring 

If every Executive Function and behavioral factor are accounted for and homework is still a battle, then a tutor in the subject area your student is struggling in may be the best support option. A good tutor can fill in gaps that are holding a student back in a particular subject and give them a new teaching perspective to make the information really stick. 

The Takeaway

Your student's homework refusal can feel like an exhausting problem with no solutions, but there are a number of approaches you can use to improve the situation at home. A good combination of understanding why your child is refusing homework, what role your parenting plays in the equation, and what strategies and supports you can lean on all provide the foundation your student needs for a lasting transformation. Above all, know that change is possible!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author

Sean potts and jackie hebert.

Sean Potts is the Marketing Specialist at Beyond BookSmart and a recent graduate of Ithaca College’s Integrated Marketing Communications program. As a former coaching client and intern at BBS, Sean has spent the better part of the last ten years witnessing firsthand the positive impact Beyond BookSmart's mission has on transforming students’ lives. Jackie Hebert is the Director of Marketing for Beyond BookSmart. Whether it's managing our websites, overseeing our social media content, authoring and editing blog articles, or hosting webinars, Jackie oversees all Marketing activities at Beyond BookSmart. Before joining Beyond BookSmart in 2010, Jackie was a Speech-Language Pathologist at Needham High School. She earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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5 Common Homework Assignment Misses and How to Avoid Them

The pressure of a perfect homework score can overwhelming, so there is something to be said for embracing mistakes as a learning opportunity. However, there is also a strong case for avoiding errors when you can. Some mistakes are common and easily avoided. Here are five things that will hurt a homework score, and how you can coach your student to steer clear of them.

1. Ignoring Instructions

Perhaps the most common mistake of all is ignoring assignment instructions. Whether the homework is language, math, or science related -- if your student doesn't fully understand the instructions, mistakes are almost inevitable. The first step of completing homework should always be reading (not skimming) the instructions.

2. Overusing the Thesaurus

Stuffing an essay with technical jargon or too many five-dollar words won't necessarily make it better. In fact, it may signal to a teacher that the student just combed the thesaurus for big words rather than spending time making a thoughtful argument. Use a thesaurus or dictionary when needed, not as a crutch.

3. Failing to Proofread

A wonderful essay could still lose points if there are misspellings and formatting errors. Every piece of homework should be proofread at least once before submitting. Pro tip: Reading aloud makes it easier to catch grammatical errors.

4. Forgetting to Reference Properly

Plagiarism can happen accidentally. Any time a student references the idea of another author, even if it's not a direct quote, there should be a citation. The best way to avoid missing a proper reference is to include citations along the way. If the student tries to remember where the citations go when they finish the essay -- they could easily forget one.

5. Running Out of Time

Assignments completed right before the due date sometimes have more mistakes. Time management is a crucial part of turning in an accurate homework assignment. Make a homework schedule and stick to it.

Homework assignments are a big part of any student's grade. You can help your young learner improve their scores by setting aside ample time and encouraging them to pay attention to the details.

Get started with a plan for your child today.

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Simple Solutions to Track Missing Work

Tracking & collecting missing work may just be the bane of many teachers’ existence. It can be so hard to keep everything straight & incredibly frustrating trying to hound students to get it turned in.

Aside from simply throwing zero’s in the gradebook and moving on, there’s no simple solution. But I do have some tried-and-true suggestions for how you can take this big problem and turn it into something much more manageable.

To make this plan work smoothly, you’ll need two classroom helpers: an absence secretary and a class secretary. Simply choose responsible students that tend to finish their own work early & ask if they’ll help you out. Once you train a student, I’d recommend keeping the same secretary for at least a quarter before switching up roles.

Tracking What Work is Missing:

*Class Secretary makes a list of what’s missing: When papers are collected, s/he goes through them & sees what is missing. S/he then writes down whose paper is missing on a post-it note or cover sheet. [Ideally, the class secretary would also know who has been absent & would mark which papers are actually late & which are missing due to absence.]

*Keep a running total of what’s missing: Each day, you quickly scan the post-it notes or cover sheet & record missing work in your gradebook. You also record what is missing either in a Word doc that can be printed & posted in the classroom or on a dry-erase board that is posted in the classroom. (If you are a paperless school, you can also use a Google Doc.) This provides a running tally of any work that is missing. For absent work, the teacher records on the document or white board when the assignment is due. ( Click here to have an example form sent to you . )

*Students fill out a form each time they’re missing an assignment: Students who don’t have an assignment finished (whether they’re late or absent) must fill out a (brightly colored) form saying why they don’t have it & when they plan to finish it. They turn this in when the rest of the class turns in their assignment. This makes it easier for the class secretary (and/or you) to see whose paper is missing. ( Click here to get an editable sample form . )

Letting Students Know What is Missing:

* Keep extra copies: Always run off a couple extra copies of worksheets/homework assignments & have a designated spot to keep them. Train students that when they lose a worksheet, they can should check the folder instead of asking you for a new one.

*Absence secretary tracks what you do in class: Your absence secretary should have a form to fill out for each student who is absent that records what was covered in class, any homework, and any assessments they need to make up. These forms are then placed in a designated place (or in the classroom out-box if that is part of your classroom procedure). The absence secretary staples any papers to the form. S/he also is responsible to collect the extra copies & place them in the designated spot.

* Absent students look to see what they missed: Absent students are required to collect their form that the absence secretary filled out for them. They must also check the missing work document/board to see when items are due. ( Click here to get an editable sample form . )

Making Up Assessments

*Create a Testing Center (middle school/high school): If your school doesn’t have a testing center, talk to your administration about starting one. Testing centers can take place in study hall or in a separate monitored room.

When a student misses an assessment, teachers would write on the top of the assessment the date it must be taken by & turn in that test to the testing center. Students are then responsible to go to the testing center during their open periods to make them up.

Please note that study hall teachers or testing center monitors would need to have good policies to ensure students aren’t cheating (e.g. student must sit in a specific spot, desk must be cleared, other students aren’t allowed to talk to them during testing, etc.)

Collecting & Updating Work That’s Turned In:

* Track daily what’s turned in : Have a designated in-bin that is only for work that absent/late work. Go through that bin daily to update your gradebook & the missing work document/board. This does not mean it needs to be graded right away, just updated that it’s been turned in. These papers could then be placed in a file and graded weekly or bi-weekly. Let parents & students know that if papers are turned in late they are not necessarily graded as quickly.

Alternatively, you can have students turn in absent/missing work to the class secretary who will update the document/board for you. Or students could cross their own name off the list designating they’ve turned it in.

What procedures have you found helpful for tracking missing work? Share them with a comment below.

And to make things a bit easier for you, I’ve put together an editable example of the absence secretary form, “I don’t have my work because” form, and the running total of missing work document.  Click here to get all 3 forms now .

And if you’d like more information about teaching students procedures, check out our free training  How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing

You may also find this related post helpful:  “ 17 Ways to Get Students to Actually Do Their Work “

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I alphabetize papers as they come in, and post “missing” designations in the grading program. Every Friday, I print out a list of missing work and circulate the list in class. If I don’t have time to copy the list, I display it on the Smart board. I also have a spot on the board where I count down the days to the end of the quarter. When students are working, I have the opportunity to speak to the chronic latecomers and get them back on track. I have a deadline for late work, and the grade is set at 50% of the grade they would have gotten had they handed the work in on time. I don’t give homework, so I can make sure that the students understand what they are doing as I circulate.

We have a time for “ketchup & pickles” every 2-3 weeks. (I list missing assignments on the board as needed, but I make sure to update it the morning that K & P will happen.) Students who are missing work are “Ketchups” (catch up on work) & those who are not are “Pickles” (pick a fun activity). Building in this extra time helps me stay caught up without getting stressed!

I have heard this saying but nobody has explained what that meant. I will most certainly have a ketchup and pickles option.

Having a “Late Work” manila folder stapled to the wall is a life saver, as students turn in late work their, and it keeps it separate from other, on-time work. When students are absent, I write their name on that day’s handouts and homework at the beginning of class. I then put those papers into that period’s designated “Absent” folder on the wall, and students pick up their work when they come back. Writing their name on the handouts in my handwriting, also lets me know that when a student turns it in in the “late work” folder, it’s actually not late, they were just absent.

Thanks all! So helpful, including article.

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Secondary Sparks

A Teaching Blog

How to Organize Student Absent Work and Missing Assignments

October 24, 2022 by Michelle Rudolph Leave a Comment

It’s the dreaded question, “What did I miss while I was out?” For years, I was guilty of simply excusing assignments because I couldn’t keep up with the missing and absent work. But, I realized there were valuable assignments students were missing out on (or that they really needed to complete, like exams). After a while, I found a system to organize student absent work that wasn’t overwhelming or chaotic.

Create a Dedicated Space

You know what they say, “Out of sight, out of mind.” If you don’t have a dedicated area, in plain sight, in your classroom for missing and absent work, it’s going to be a struggle to keep up with.

Personally, I organize student absent work with a hanging file folder with pockets. I put the hanging folder on a dedicated wall in my classroom. I use these hanging folders from Amazon . Then, I labeled the folders according to class name.

You can also use the filing crates, a mailbox, or paper tray. Consider the system that will be easy for students and you. If the system doesn’t work for you, then you are less likely to keep up with it.

Teach the Routines

Of course, you can’t organize student absent work if students aren’t aware of the system. Ideally you want to teach this at the beginning of the year, but a mid-year change won’t hurt anyone. No matter what, stay consistent with the expectation you have set. If students know they can get away without using the system or turning in work, they will!

When setting expectations, make sure you explain where to find missing work, where to turn that missing work in, and the amount of times students have to complete the work. You might want to put this on a poster or paper and display near the absent work pick-up location.

Get Ahead…of Yourself

Teachers have an endless to-do list every day. Make organizing student absent work easy by preparing in advance. For example, you might print a few extra pages of an assignment to store in the missing work folder.

Then, when taking attendance or as students are working, jot down absent student names on the top of your extra worksheets. Then, slip those into the missing work folder. I have found putting a name on the page makes it much easier on students because there are less questions about what they need to complete.

Keep it Organized

No matter which system you choose, make sure to keep it organized! You can organize your folders by unit or topic, like “light waves” or “plate tectonics”. You can also organize it by month, week, or day.

Each six weeks or quarter, go back through your files and do a clean out. You can even assign a student helper for this task!

This system to organize student absent work has saved me so much time, energy, and has saved my sanity! It also keeps my students accountable for their own work, which is a huge win.

Need another way to keep students organized? Try using agenda slides!

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Unassuming fashion on the way Crossword Clue

Definition of "modest".

unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements

• he was a very modest man, refusing to take any credit for the enterprise
• drink modest amounts of alcohol
• employment growth was relatively modest

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