making homework fun

28 Ideas On How To Make Homework Fun For Students

Do your children seem to need continual nagging to complete their homework? If your answer is “yes,” then don’t worry; we’ve all been there. Parents naturally want their kids to advance and do well in class, but after a full day of paper, pens, and books, many students won’t feel like doing their assignments.

No matter what the ages or grades of the students are, academic burnout may happen to any student, which affects overall learning and development. To solve this issue, we have brought 28 ideas on how to make homework fun and interesting for students of any age. Not only for parents but also if you are a tutor, these tricks and tips will come to your use.

28 Ideas on How To Make Homework Fun for Students

Homework enables the students to revise and evaluate the classroom learning and develops a habit of self-study, which in turn helps the students to score better. But it can be energy-draining, challenging, monotonous, and difficult to focus upon for students of any age.

Getting students to enjoy their homework and assignments could be immensely difficult at times. Especially after a long break or vacation, they find it difficult to focus on homework. Simultaneously, the importance of home tasks cannot be ignored. Wondering what the solution is?

It’s easy – why not make the homework fun and engaging? Yes, this is the ALL-IN-ONE solution to create a spark of interest in homework. There is practically a plethora of ways to let students feel enthusiastic while doing homework. However, not every strategy suits every student.

For instance, some students love to go outdoors and complete their homework or study amidst nature. On the other hand, some students simply want to stay indoors and complete home tasks in their study area.

So, while implementing a strategy or adopting ways to make homework fun and interesting, you must make sure you are doing the right thing for the right individual so that the student receives maximum benefits.

Here are 28 brilliant ideas that will guide you on how to make homework fun for elementary, middle, and high schoolers. Take a look:

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1. rewards are magical motivators.

It’s nothing new to provide children with little rewards in the classroom. But when it comes to the concept of homework for students, these approaches are rarely used. Instructors aren’t always aware of what’s offered or if it’s useful, and some parents may create their rewards. A great idea is to offer rewards inside the classroom.

Giving out vouchers, stickers, snacks, toys, or meal coupons that let youngsters earn money by doing their homework is something we advocate. The advantages of these magical motivators include having a friend sitting next to you in class, access to the internet, and unscheduled time in the classroom. If they link accomplishing their tasks to positive classroom experiences, students will be more engaged and motivated both inside and outside of the classroom.

2. Get Some Favorite Snacks

How to make homework fun and captivating? Let’s face the truth: A hungry student will be disinterested, uninspired, and miserable. Give them something healthful and palpable to eat while they do their schoolwork because most young kids are ravenous when they get home from school. Some options are apple slices, popcorn, grapes, crackers, flapjacks, and cheese.

If you want to attempt something a little more systematic, make a list of nutritious after-school snack suggestions and recipes and try them out every day. A delicious, crunchy apple is one of the healthiest nutrients for youngsters’ brain development. Some other nutritious and palpable snacks for students are Pancakes, Butter Popcorn, Fruit-flavored Yogurt, nut mix, sliced pears with ricotta cheese, Banana Smoothies, etc.

3. Beat the Clock

This is perfect for young kids who are reluctant to complete their schoolwork. Try it out, and you’ll thank us later. Young children like competing in races. By creating timed tasks, you may make schoolwork feel more like a race. For instance, keep track of the number of words they can spell properly or the number of arithmetic problems they can do in five minutes. Challenge your child to beat their previous best the next day.

To make it more fun, a little competition with siblings or best friends will work great. Nevertheless, make sure that the competition is healthy and doesn’t turn into an aggressive one. Often, students’ psychology works differently, and they tend to be violent in these kinds of situations.

4. Get A Homework Buddy

Allow your child to have a buddy or two over to study if they struggle with a particular topic or have difficulties concentrating in a quiet, empty room. If a second child is too distracting, set an example by helping your youngster. You may pay bills, prepare supper, respond to emails, or even work on a crossword puzzle or other mental exercise while they are doing their schoolwork.

Working on homework teaches children that work is a part of life, not just school, and fosters friendship without being overpowering.

5. Design an Awesome Workspace

Improve the area where your kids complete their schoolwork to increase efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Have tools and materials available, such as cool notepads or notebooks, colored pens, highlighters, and sticky notes, to assist students in completing difficult projects.

Use calendars, whiteboards, chalkboards, corkboards, or even simply paper and tape to help them visualize and keep track of all they need to complete. You may also decorate it with art and other items that inspire you. For pupils older than 5 years old, you may also hang up some aesthetically pleasing motivating quotations and photos in their study space to help them stay focused and goal-oriented.

6. Make Them Feel Comfortable

The comfort level of the students is the first and foremost thing you have to take care of while making them complete their homework. Not every learner has the same comfort level in the same ways, and these levels tend to differ from one person to another. It’s the responsibility of a parent or a teacher to understand their comfort zone and then plan accordingly.

For instance, provide them with a variety of alternatives or let them design their strategy. You might also inquire as to what time they like to complete their assignment. You won’t need to repeatedly remind people of their duties if you reach an agreement.

7. Incorporate Intervals and Breaks

Some learners might be able to finish their entire load of homework in one sitting. If your class has any pupils that can’t sit still, think about introducing breaks into the assignment process. Weekly study regimens can accommodate breaks.

Give a food break, allow them to complete one level of a video game, or let them talk to a buddy during a quick break. To establish expectations for when and how homework breaks should be taken, teachers might talk about these concepts with parents and students.

This functions in two main ways. It first rewards pupils for finishing their schoolwork. In addition, it gives them a mental break so they can come back to their job reenergized and motivated.

8. Role Plays Work Wonders

Create your little school and let your youngster take the role of the instructor to make enjoyable learning-based games. Assume the position of the student, and have your youngster explain a concept to you in the teacher’s role. This game will help players better comprehend the topic and develop their logical and reasoning abilities. It works especially well with courses that call for theory, like science.

By letting your kid pick their favorite stuffed animals and playthings and placing them in their little classroom, you can make schoolwork enjoyable. Begin by registering, saying “mummy,” “gift,” “Mr. Teddy,” etc. Since kids love to pretend to be teachers, you’ll soon notice that your kid is becoming more self-assured.

9. Make Them Stay Positive and Focused

Ensure to keep the students’ attitudes toward school and the values of their schoolwork are always positive. To keep them inspired and on track, shower your youngster with compliments on how great they’re doing. If they are getting pissed off with the pressure of homework, make them understand its importance and how positively it can impact their learning.

Spend five minutes after each homework session going over your child’s accomplishments. Have a look at our selection of free-to-download home learning packs if you’re out of things to do. To keep them motivated, you can reward or recognize their achievements in front of their peers. This will not only boost their confidence but also will help them maintain a positive outlook toward homework and studies.

10. Take It Outside

Outdoor learning is one of the most feasible ways to do homework with fun in a natural environment. If the weather is good, create a cozy and safe study space outside and let the student finish all the homework outdoors.

Studies also demonstrate that being outside, nearer to nature enhances productivity. The fresh air can aid students’ attention if they have spent the entire day in a classroom. In between jobs, rewarding them with a brief game of football or Frisbee will keep them engaged. You can conduct some fun outdoor Math or English fun homework activities.

11. Altering the homework concept

Many kids feel burdened by their homework assignments. What if, though, you adopt a whole new approach to homework? It can be argued that schoolwork has a lot of unfavorable associations. These concepts usually start early in life and persist into college.

By referring to assignments in different ways, teachers can change these mental habits. Better ways to describe homework include home learning, brain workouts, and study time. You might try using these phrases in place of homework in the classroom.

12. Get Help If You Need

Homework can be frustrating if your child doesn’t understand the material or gets bored easily. Furthermore, excessive pressurizing or insisting on too much can mess up the student’s psychology. To be honest, in extreme cases, none of the methods will work. If your child or student is struggling beyond the normal limit, get them some expert help!

Education Advisors have plenty of advice for students who are not able to cope with homework. They also conduct counseling sessions from time to time in case it’s required.

13. Go for Audio-Visual Resources

Engaging additional senses in the at-home learning process is another technique to cheer up your boring assignments. Focus may be improved by using a child’s perception of touch, smell, or taste in a unique manner.

Sending kids home with instructions for making scented play dough, for instance, improve learning. The dough may be used in classes including math and spatial concepts. Plus, the aroma of scented/colored clays keeps kids focused while they work. Additionally, it enables children to link the smell to what they learned, improving memory and recall.

Another item that teachers might give their pupils as a take-home is a stress ball. Before, during, or after tasks, using a stress ball can encourage creative thinking and anxiety reduction positively.

14. Meditation Can Reduce Stress

Stress is not something that happens only to adults. With the increased competition in academics, young learners nowadays are suffering from severe stress, which ushers’ negative impacts on their mental health. Sometimes, both the little children and older students can’t express this stress and fail to explain how they are feeling.

Homework pressure often creates such challenging situations which disrupt the emotional equilibrium of youngsters. In situations like this, meditation can reduce stress and improve focus. Positive thinking, fear and the tension and anxiety that lead to depression may all be lessened by meditation. Being aware without judgment is one of the foundational elements of meditation, and this attitude of acceptance may ward against unpleasant thoughts.

15. Make It a Group Effort

Since time immemorial, team working is super effective for any activity. The same applies to homework as well. If students sit for the home task in a group, they will be able to wrap all the assignments up quickly.

Now the question is – how? Teamwork involves group discussions as well as brainstorming, which gives rise to new ideas. Students try to develop new ways to complete homework through mutual discussion.

16. Take Help from Learning Apps and Libraries

If your child struggles with their homework, it can be difficult for you as well. Games and visual examples in amusing math practice applications may be a terrific way to give your youngster practice with things he is having trouble with. Therefore, make schoolwork enjoyable for your youngster by downloading an app that simplifies the subject.

There are so many online applications and libraries that will help students enjoy fun and encouraging homework sessions. If the toddler or an older student specifically refers to a particular app or a website, talk to him/her about it properly. Then visit the online resource, and if you think it is a legit and helpful one, let your child or student use it during his/her homework time.

17. Tell Them Not to Take It Too Seriously

There are more important things in life than homework and grades. Too much focus on grades can affect your child’s love for learning. Think about what values you want to instill in your child and make sure the homework is not getting in the way.

If you believe your child’s teacher is giving out too much homework after you see your child demonstrate an understanding of the subject, don’t be afraid to voice your concern. Even if nothing changes, it will show your children that you care and empathize with them. That matters a lot!

18. Storytelling Can Be a Great Idea

Storytelling is a fantastic idea to make children complete their homework without facing any boredom. Especially for specific subjects like Math, History, and Literature, storytelling develops a context that allows the students to grasp things very easily.

If you find a student is finding it difficult to understand a concept and complete assignments on it, you can give a try to the storytelling method a since it works well. Storytelling has the power to captivate learners and keep them engaged irrespective of their age and grades.

19. Create A Homework Mood

Creating a mood for homework is a bit difficult for younger students but setting the right environment can help them complete the tasks as quickly as possible. However, it’s not an issue for the senior students but can be a bit overwhelming for the little kids.

You can select a comfortable location for them to study and use their favorite stickers, lights, etc., to decorate the space. Keeping in mind the results as well as their abilities to take the pressure, set goals and establish rewards. It’s vital to make them understand the goals and disclose a bit about the rewards but don’t let them know exactly what’s going to happen. This will create an enthusiasm to complete the homework in no time.

20. Turn on Some Music

The psychological effects of music are undeniable. Music brings concentration and helps to focus on a particular work pleasantly. Then why not use it for your children’s homework? Science dictates that music is the best aid for studying.

Play some soft music while the student is doing his/her homework and this will help to create an ambiance. You can also play cool, energetic, upbeat music since it radiates energetic vibes and the student will find immense energy as well as positivity to complete the tasks.

21. Ask Them to Do the Tough Tasks First

One more cool thing to try out is doing the tough tasks first. It’s a perfect strategy if the student has a list of various tasks of different levels of complexity. You will be able to realize how much time he/she needs to complete the tasks and edit afterward if needed.

Completing the more complex tasks at first enables a student to think and decide critically. The remaining time can be enjoyed with much lower stress while doing the easier assignments. If your child gets bored very quickly you can try this method out.

22. Get Creative

Wondering how to make homework fun creatively? Homework doesn’t sound exciting to students. To be more specific, solving sums after sums or writing science projects doesn’t sound fun alone. Rather, if you mingle these tasks with an artsy adventure, the same old boring homework sessions become interesting.

For instance, you can ask them to paint out the math problems, prepare a model for their science projects, or act a portion of the history or literature books. Some other effective ideas may include creating a range of paintings while explaining a paragraph to a child, making clay characters, and doing some moves with the music.

23. Doing Homework at School

Nowadays, as the syllabuses are changing, students have too much pressure from homework to deal with. After coming home from school, it’s quite natural for them to feel exhausted. At times it becomes impossible for a kid to keep their eyes open for homework.

The best remedy here is to complete the majority of their homework at school. Your child also doesn’t have to stay up all night looking for answers or trying to understand how to remember academic facts. They can use their free time at school to complete some of the homework to stay relaxed later. Also, completing homework with peers involves so much engagement and fun.

24. Ask Them to Work on Different Subjects in a Session

Are you trying to know how to make homework fun without putting in much effort? Plan a routine for your child so that they can work on different subjects in a single session. Try to mix and match the subjects to make them feel comfortable with the pace of the study.

Working on a maximum of 3 subjects a session will help a student to get rid of the homework quickly without considering it as a pressure. Ensure they are not in a rush to complete one subject after another. Make it as systematic and orderly as you can to avoid any unwanted confusion.

25. Get Academic Help

Getting a little homework help is a feasible way to make homework fun. Nevertheless, you must make sure that none of you, the teachers, or the program facilitators are not spoon-feeding them, or else it will affect the student’s development in terms of learning.

If there is a math problem that is too difficult to solve or a paragraph with heavy words, you or the tutor can give your helping hand to the student so that he/she can complete it on his/her own. For instance, you can give a clue to solve the sum or narrate the context of the paragraph.

26. Planning Is the Key

Planning is a powerful habit to make homework sessions fun and organized. Not only at school, but also this habit will help a student throughout his/her life. It’s required for a student to be extremely serious about homework in a studying period and systematic planning can help in completing all the assignments on time.

If your child is in high school or middle school, you can guide him/her to make homework routines. However, elementary school kids and preschool students need their parents’ or teachers’ assistance to make advanced homework plans.

27. Ask Them to Write on Their Favorite Topics

Working on something you love will make you feel more connected to the work. The same applies to both the kids’ homework and older students’ homework. If you are thinking about how to make doing homework fun, you can ask them to write a paragraph or a short essay on their favorite topics.

To implement this strategy, first, talk to the students on a one-on-one basis and try to know their individual preferences in terms of writing. Then assign them a task where they will write whatever they want on their favorite topics. This will act as a warm-up session before doing the homework.

28. Provide Choice

One of the key reasons why younger and older students become disengaged with their homework is they find it meaningless. This is where the mentors and the parents have to play the biggest role. They need to make the student understand why homework is important and how it can benefit them in the future.

This will make the kids’ homework sessions more engaging and they will be able to connect emotionally or personally. How to make homework fun in this way? It’s simple, provide the students with more choices while assigning the homework. For instance, if there is a tough project, they can choose to work alone on it or work with partners.

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Elementary school homework tips.

Homework gives elementary students a way to practice the concepts. But you have to be very careful while making them do the home tasks as at this age they don’t develop an understanding regarding the benefits of homework. To them, homework is just something that parents and teachers use to restrict them from doing what they want.

Below are some effective tips on how to make homework fun for kindergarten students.

Make sure kids have a creative, engaging, and well-lit place to do the homework.
Give the kids delicious snacks from time to time so that they don’t get distracted due to hunger.
Encourage the children to complete their homework by giving them small rewards or recognizing their efforts to make the entire process more manageable.
Instead of dictating to them what to do and threatening them, be a mentor, a leader, and a motivator.
Create a homework routine for elementary students manually or use desktop app for planning your homework. Don’t forget to keep short breaks in between.
Try to keep distractions to a minimum. This means no phone calls, loud music, and TV during homework time.

Set good examples for them but without comparing them with anybody. Have you ever seen your little one saving money? Point that quality out, praise him/her for it, and set it as an example.

Middle School Homework Tips

Middle school students develop a fair understanding of the importance of homework. So, you are not supposed to face much trouble to make them complete their tasks. Check out these middle school homework tips below. These tips will work wonders if you are looking for ways to make homework fun for 7th graders or 8th graders.

Designate a specific amount of time for homework. This will help them to complete work on time.
Help them prioritize which tasks to do on a priority basis. In this way, they will develop the ability to make decisions.
Continuously encourage them to evaluate their work so that they can find the mistakes and correct them on their own.
Put away the phone to prevent them from being distracted from time to time.
When needed, help them to complete homework instead of spoon-feeding the whole thing. Give clues to solve a sum, point out some important areas, or explain them in a paragraph so that they can complete the next tasks by themselves.
Don’t pressurize or force yourself to do homework. Parents need to know when to stop, especially when they are feeling exhausted, frustrated, and confused.

High School Homework Tips

When it comes to homework, high school students are better able to manage their time, stay focused and finish their tasks. This enables them to understand the value of homework. They don’t do any tantrums and get less distracted because they understand the consequences of not completing home tasks on time. But if you want to know how to make homework more enjoyable for high school students throughout the school year, here are some effective tips:

Tell them to write down their homework every day in a notebook, or a planner to keep it more organized.
Ask them to write their homework with a blue pen on a white sheet to remember their writing. Also, it’s the best combo to do homework faster.
Help your teens to divide their homework schedule in a planned way and keep short breaks to freshen up their minds. For instance, if they work for 30 minutes, they can take a 5 minutes break.
Doing homework with buddies is a proven method to complete homework on time and also in an accurate manner.
If they get stuck while doing any specific homework, ask them to take help from online resources, libraries, video demonstrations, and journals.

Homework Dos and Don’ts

Let’s face it – nobody loves homework although it’s super important for your child’s learning and development. While high school students understand the importance and need of doing school assignments at home, elementary and preschool children can’t develop the understanding at their age.

Several things are to be kept in mind while expecting homework from students in proper time. To make the students complete their homework happily, we have brought some amazing dos and don’ts that parents or teachers need to follow:

Homework Do’s

1. monitor the answers.

After your child has completed his/her homework, check it once to find what went right and what went wrong. If you find any mistake in his/her work, try not to point that out directly. Instead, give your youngster clues so that he/she can find out the mistakes now.

2. Remove the Distractions

Thinking about how to make homework more fun for your child? Remove the distractions from the study room first including social media on the computer, mobile phones, unnecessary toys, etc. Remember, a decluttered environment is the reason behind a decluttered head. They will be able to focus more on the homework when there isn’t a pile of distractions around them.

3. Be A Cheerleader

Always be your child’s motivator when he/she is doing homework. Students may not be correct always but humiliating them may make them demotivated and frustrated at the same time. Celebrate small successes such as completion of the tasks within time, the maximum number of correct answers, the maximum time the child has devoted to homework, etc. Give treats like candies, stickers, pens/pencils, and colored boxes to celebrate their success.

4. Work in Collaboration

The parents and the children need to work together in terms of homework. There must be a proper channel of communication between both parties so that the child’s overall performance can be monitored.

Homework Don’ts

1. don’t force them to homework.

Forcing a student to do the homework can bring immensely negative results. Children won’t like homework – it’s quite normal but forcefully making them do it is tremendously fatal as it will develop a permanent fear or discomfort that will hamper their overall growth.

2. Don’t Show Them Your Frustration

Kids have a lot of tantrums. Especially, the tantrums increase while doing homework. Often teachers and parents get frustrated but showing them the frustration is not at all a good idea. Not only will the child become stubborn but also, they will develop a fear of doing assignments or getting help from you. If you want to make homework fun for 6th graders or students of any other grades, don’t show your frustration in front of them.

3. Don’t Compare with Their Peers

Comparison is something that demotivates a child to a great extent. It develops a deep resentment in their mind which doesn’t fade away even after growing older. Comparing their grades or skills with their peers is probably the worst idea to make students do homework.

4. Don’t Keep Electronic Devices in Front of Them

Yes, you can give the students electronic gadgets for a few minutes as small rewards but don’t keep the devices in front of them all the time when they are doing homework. This may loosen their concentration and will make them distracted from their respective tasks.

How A Homework Planning App Can Help a Student?

A homework app is the best time-management tool that enables students to organize everything they need to do throughout a week, month, academic year, or semester. It’s an easy way to keep your homework sessions organized. In case you are still thinking about how to make homework fun for your child, software with proper features of homework planning can help him/her out.

The academic pressure on school children sometimes becomes too difficult to handle, especially when there is so much to do. This is where student planners for their home assignments are found to be beneficial. Here is an explanation of how an efficient home assignment planning tool can help students finish their tasks on time:

1. Gives Students A Break

It might also be helpful to make sure that kids have some downtime to unwind and not become overburdened with assignments. If teachers are assigning homework through software, they will see how long a piece of homework will take to be completed, and they can allocate the tasks accordingly scheduling breaks in between.

2. Reduces Stress

Homework pressure may not sound like a big deal to you because you have already left those days behind but to your child, it’s a headache. The fear of being scolded by parents/teachers is one of their biggest concerns to them. Thanks to digital planners, these tools know exactly how to help each student in a customized way.

3. Increases Productivity

How to make homework interesting? Students who use a school planner are more productive and can manage their time more effectively. Students today struggle with procrastination because the internet age offers so many diversions. However, if they have noted down the tasks they must complete, they will be more motivated to complete them.

4. Easier for Parents and Teachers

A homework app with intuitive features of planning helps to complete an assignment within time in a systematic manner. Younger students who still rely on the help of their parents and teachers to do their schoolwork often fail to inform them about their homework status. Having homework software can easily sort this problem out and reduces mentors’ work and hassle.

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How to make homework fun with clarifi.

To assist students to achieve their highest potential, Clarifi is a homework software that acts as an ideal digital homework attention coach. We are dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals. The pupils may complete their homework independently with the help of this digital planning app for homework.

It is a straightforward and uncomplicated desktop program that gives them more confidence to finish their assignment as quickly and effectively as possible. It is the only research-backed desktop application that enables children who are easily distracted to do their schoolwork without a parent watching over them. Monitoring student behavior is the only way to be sure they are doing their assignments.

However, keeping track of pupils’ activity is a time-consuming and important duty. However, Clarifi is available to make this procedure as easy as possible. With the aid of this program, students can effortlessly enter each homework assignment and keep track of the due dates for each one based on the class or the current day.

They receive prizes from the automated coach for maintaining concentration and doing their homework. When all pupils turn in their schoolwork on time, they will receive diamonds as a reward. This element motivates pupils to develop the positive habit of finishing their home assignments on time. Clarifi is an easy digital homework attention planner that provides kids with the ability to filter out distractions, improve their executive functioning, and keep all of their assignments organized in one location.

Clarifi guarantees to raise their capacity for concentration and focus as well as their academic performance. It incorporates functions that provide users the means to remain centered, motivated, and organized while finishing their schoolwork on their own. When kids use the app, it is specially designed with cutting-edge technology that blocks all other apps.

Generating an undistracted and focused environment for students with Clarifi is the answer to “how to make homework less boring.”

Students Can Now Complete Homework with Fun!

With these tricks and tips, students can now efficiently engage themselves in homework. Learners need to study and complete their homework/assignments with a positive mindset and not forcefully. As soon as a student starts doing his/her homework strenuously, the interest is eventually lost, leading to mistakes and burnout.

But with the tricks mentioned above, homework sessions can now be immensely fun and interesting. Whether you are a teacher, parent, or student, these are some tried and tested ways to complete home tasks engagingly. Stay tuned to Clarifi for similar informative blogs like this. If to need help with your children’s homework and know more about how to make homework fun get in touch with Clarifi today.

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How to Enjoy Homework

Last Updated: April 19, 2023

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. This article has been viewed 52,262 times.

Homework can often feel stressful and boring. Unfortunately, if you're in school it's a part of life. If you consistently dread doing homework, you should look into ways you can enjoy the task. This way, school will be more pleasant for you overall. You can start with subjects that interest you, give yourself breaks and rewards, and work on changing your mentality regarding homework in general.

Planning Homework Time

Step 1 Choose a time of day when you feel energetic.

It may help to take a few days to measure your natural ebb and flow of energy. You may find that, during late afternoon, you feel a sudden slump in energy. However, as it gets closer to the evening hours, you may suddenly have a boost in energy. Therefore, instead of doing homework after school, try to do your homework after dinner each night.
You'll feel happier and more productive if you're studying during a time when you're experiencing a peak in energy. Homework will seem to go by faster, and you will not struggle as much to concentrate.

Step 2 Plan to start with subjects that interest you.

You can alternate between subjects you like and dislike. This can help give you motivation while moving through subjects that bore you. For example, if you love science but hate history, do half of your science assignment, then half of your history one, and then return to science.

Even small changes can make homework time more enjoyable. You could, for example, move your desk near the window. Natural light may lead to a more calming environment, and you can occasionally look up and enjoy the view.
You can also think about studying outside the house. If you love hanging out at a local coffee shop, try doing your homework there. You can get a latte or a coffee as a treat as you move through your homework.

You may have to experiment with different songs. Some songs may be distracting. If a song makes you want to get up and dance, for example, it may not the best to include on a homework playlist, as you will lose focus in your homework. Some people find that classical music is very helpful when studying.
Not everyone can concentrate with music in the background. If you find music is making it harder for you to study, you may want to nix the playlists and focus on other means to enjoy your homework.

Giving Yourself Motivation

Good examples of what to do during your breaks are taking walks, meditating, stretching, or getting yourself a snack.
Many people find it's most effective to work in short spurts. You may want to plan to work in half hour to 45-minute intervals, for example, and then take a 5 to 10-minute break.
Be careful with breaks, however. Make sure you time your breaks wisely so they don't end up running over. If you allow yourself a 10 minute Facebook break every 40 minutes, set a timer on your phone to make sure you do not end up procrastinating on social media for hours.

Be careful who you include in a study group. While you want to be able to enjoy yourself, you also want to get work done. Choose people who are serious enough students that you won't end up distracted all night.
Together as a group, you can brainstorm ways to have fun. For example, you can agree you'll do homework in silence for 40 minutes and then take a 15 minute break to chat.

Be careful, however, not to do sloppy work. If you're trying to break a record, you may speed through your homework. Strive to work efficiently rather than quickly.
Talk to your parents to see how the topic your studying may affect them in the present day.
Be careful not to get distracted in this extra research or you’ll lose focus on your homework. Set a timer for yourself so you don’t spend too much time doing it.

Changing Your Mindset About Learning

Step 1 Cultivate a sense of achievement.

It can help to make a to-do list. Your studies are items you can check off the list, allowing you to relax and unwind. You'll also feel a sense of achievement with each item you check off your list.
Stop and think about what you've accomplished when you finish your homework. Try to feel proud of yourself for getting your work done. You'll learn to work towards this sense of accomplishment in the future.

If you dislike your writing assignments, pause and consider how good writing skills can help you get a job. If you dislike your computer class, try to keep in mind that basic computer skills will be important in college and the working world.

Expert Q&A

If you have a friend who's a serious student, ask him or her for tips on how to make homework fun. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you are reviewing for a test, review it for 15 minutes then give yourself a break. Go back to studying for 15 minutes and then take another break. This method can help you to process the information, which in the end should result in better results! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Khan Academy Blog

Making Homework Easier: Tips and Tools for Parents

posted on September 20, 2023

By Stephanie Yamkovenko , group manager of Khan Academy’s Digital Marketing Team.

Homework can present challenges for parents and children alike. You naturally want to provide support for your child’s learning journey and ensure they are reaching their full potential. In this blog post, we will delve into practical strategies to assist your child with their homework. From fostering understanding and offering encouragement to breaking down tasks and implementing rewards, we will explore a variety of effective approaches to help your child achieve academic success.

Step 1: Set Up Your Child for Success

Your child’s study environment can have a significant impact on their homework performance. Create a space that is free from distractions like the television, smartphones, or noisy siblings. The study space should be comfortable, well lit, and have all the necessary materials your child might need, such as pens, papers, and textbooks. If your child’s workspace is noisy or uncomfortable, they may have difficulty focusing on their homework, resulting in lower productivity.

For example, if you live in a small apartment, consider setting up a designated corner with a small desk or table where your child can focus on their work. You can use dividers or screens to create a sense of privacy and minimize distractions.

If the only place to do homework is in the dining room or kitchen, try to establish a routine where the area is cleared and organized before study time. This can help signal to your child that it’s time to concentrate and be productive.

Remember, it’s important to adapt to your specific circumstances and make the best of the available space. The key is to create a dedicated study area that promotes focus and minimizes interruptions regardless of the size or location of your home.

Try Confidence Boosters for Your Child Here!

Step 2: make it fun.

It’s important to make homework fun and engaging for your child. Here are some examples of how you can do it:

Use games : Incorporate educational games like card games, board games, or puzzles that align with the subject your child is learning. For instance, use Scrabble to practice spelling or Sudoku to enhance problem-solving skills.
Turn it into a challenge : Create a friendly competition between siblings or friends by setting goals or time limits for completing assignments. Offer small rewards or incentives for accomplishing tasks.
Make it interactive : Use hands-on activities or experiments to reinforce concepts learned in class. For science or math, conduct simple experiments at home or use manipulatives like blocks or counters to visualize abstract concepts.
Use technology : Explore online educational platforms or apps that offer interactive learning experiences. There are various educational games, virtual simulations, and videos available that can make homework more enjoyable.
Incorporate creativity : Encourage your child to express their understanding through art, storytelling, or multimedia presentations. For example, they can create a comic strip to summarize a story or make a short video to explain a concept.

Remember, by making homework enjoyable, you can help your child develop a positive attitude towards learning.

Step 3: Use Rewards

Rewards can be a powerful motivational tool for children. Offering positive reinforcement can encourage them to complete their homework on time and to the best of their ability.

Here are some examples of rewards our team has used with their children:

Extra screen time: “I use Apple parental controls to add screen time on their iPad.”
Access to a favorite toy: “My eight year old has a drum kit, which drives us all up the wall. (Thanks, Grandma!) But when they’ve been doing a lot of school work, we put on headphones and let him go nuts.”
Praise for a job well done: “Specific, measurable praise is what works best.”
Trip to the park: “A trip to the park is good for everyone, especially for the kids to run around with the doggos.”
Movie night: “I know every word and song lyric in Moana ; we now reserve showings for good behavior.”
Stickers or stamps: “Gold stars were such a thing growing up in the 80s; turns out they still work.”
Stay up a little later: “An extra 30 minutes feels like a whole day for my young ones; use this reward with caution as it can become the expectation!”

So, celebrate your child’s efforts and encourage them to continue doing their best.

Step 4: Break Down Difficult Tasks

When facing daunting homework assignments, follow these step-by-step instructions to break down the tasks into smaller, manageable chunks:

Understand the requirements and scope of the task.
Break down the assignment into individual tasks or sub-tasks.
Splitting the middle term
Using formula
Using Quadratic formula
Using algebraic identities
Determine the order in which tasks should be completed based on importance or difficulty.
Start with the easiest task. Begin with the task that seems the least challenging or time-consuming.
Progress to more challenging tasks: Once the easier tasks are completed, move on to more difficult ones.
Take breaks: Schedule short breaks between tasks to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
Check completed tasks for accuracy and make any necessary revisions.
Finish the remaining task(s) with the same approach.
Celebrate small achievements to boost confidence and keep motivation high.

By following these steps, you can make daunting homework assignments more manageable and less overwhelming for your child.

Step 5: Get Targeted Help

If your child is struggling with homework, it might be worth considering seeking personalized assistance. You have the option to search for professional tutors or explore online tutoring platforms, such as Khan Academy’s AI tutor, Khanmigo .

This AI tutor can offer personalized guidance and support tailored to your child’s specific needs, helping them grasp complex concepts and practice essential skills. Incorporating this approach can effectively complement your child’s learning and enhance their homework performance.

Enhance your child’s learning and boost homework performance!

Homework can be a challenge for both parents and children. But with the right approach, you can help your child overcome difficulties and support their learning. Encourage and understand your child, create a comfortable environment, break down difficult tasks, use rewards, get professional help when needed, and make it fun. With these tips and techniques, you can help your child achieve success, develop a love for learning, and achieve academic excellence. Remember that each child learns differently, so it’s essential to adjust your approach to meet their unique needs.

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Parenting And Family

10 Ways to Make Homework Fun

By Rachel Pinn Updated On March 23, 2020

As adults, we often think of homework as a bad thing; tasks we are required to do after school that take precious free time away from our home life. But for kids, that's not the case! Starting in pre-K, kids are taught that homework can be fun, and it seems like the processes that adults find daunting are seen as play for little kids. So how do we capture that interest, spark and joy that our littlest students come home with, and keep it for as long as possible into our children's elementary and even teen years? Let's make homework fun again!

Designate a homework workspace for each student. This can be an area at the kitchen table, a spot in your home office or their own lap desk. It's not always possible to have a dedicated space for work 24/7, so it's perfectly fine to have a desk caddy with the tools your student needs ready to go when homework time comes.

Calming jazz, symphonies or upbeat rhythms can do a lot for productivity. Lyrics can often get in the way of certain types of homework, so it's best to consider the type of work before selecting. Spotify and Pandora have a lot of free options for listening while working.

As kids get older, homework can become more and more intense. Make sure to build in check-ins and breaks to make sure they're giving their eyes and brains a rest. Perhaps a snack, drink or short dance party is just the thing to refresh them for the rest of their work.

Color and light are important to a workspace. If your child's favorite color is green, snag some green contact paper or construction paper and put it on their workspace. Make sure the space is well-lit as well, because squinting is no good for homework effectiveness.

Colorful pens, paper, pencils and other tools make doing homework more fun. These can even be a reward themselves, as getting to head to the dollar store or shop online for desk accessories can be just as fun as using them.

When you're working with your student, give them your full attention. Put away your work, your cell phone and other distractions while you help them prepare for some dedicated homework time. If you have to make dinner or get back to work, make sure to at least bookend the time with a few minutes before and after the homework period, which shows you're invested in their success.

Communication

Homework often requires a bit of communication with your child's teacher in order to squeeze the full learning out of it. There may be parts of a lesson that your child doesn't understand, in which case it's a good idea to make sure you communicate with teachers so you can assist where needed.

It can be hard to teach kids to filter out distractions and get to work, but sometimes a reward can help get them there. Maybe it's dinner at a restaurant they've been wanting to visit, "points" toward a new toy or even something as simple as an extra book at bedtime. Find what motivates your student, and let that motivate them toward homework success!

The best way to learn is to teach, so once your student completes their task, have him or her explain it to you. Let them tell you how he or she thought about the problem, how they came up with the solution and how they got there. That act of explaining will cement those learnings in their mind.

The key here is that if tasks ever become too challenging for your student, stay positive. Don't bring up thoughts of your own childhood; rather, move on to something else and come back to that challenge later. Remind them that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning. and if everything was easy for us, it wouldn't be fun at all.

READ THIS NEXT: 11 Painfully Hilarious Homework Tweets from Parents

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Making School Fun at Home

This article was previously published on 7/30/2019.

12 Ways to Make School Fun at Home for Students of All Ages

Back to school will look different this year as families and schools continue to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19. Getting kids to enjoy (or even accept) doing their homework can be a struggle at any age, especially in the fall when students adjust to smaller classes, alternate schedules and a continuation of virtual learning that began in the spring.

For some families, new ways of learning are further complicated by parents’ work schedules and a lack of technology access. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 1 in 5 kids are unsupervised after the school day ends. And millions of families don’t have internet access at home.

During challenging times and busy parenting schedules, there are still ways to make learning at home fun, safe and constructive for students. Over the years, our trained youth mentors and program facilitators have developed lots of strategies and ideas to make homework more fun. Get tips on how to make virtual learning and homework fun in high school, middle school and elementary school so you can help your kid succeed at every age.

Ideas to Make Homework Fun for Elementary, Middle and High Schoolers

Many kids find homework assignments boring or simply get restless when asked to sit down and study – but that doesn’t mean they all need the same kind of motivation. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to homework help by using these age-appropriate tips.

Elementary School Homework Tips

Little kids frequently have trouble focusing on virtual learning and homework, especially when there are so many distractions and fun things to play with at home. The solution? Make learning more like playtime.

Create fun focus spaces. Kids often work on homework in their rooms or wherever there’s a little spare table space – but kids’ rooms and common areas are usually filled with distractions. Before this school year starts, create a special “homework zone” in part of the home that’s more peaceful. (A “homework fort” is always a hit with young kids, as long as it’s well lit.) Stock this area with lots of colorful school supplies so there’s no reason to leave until their homework is all done.
Beat the clock. Young kids love racing to the finish. Make homework more like a race by setting up timed challenges. For example, count how many words they can spell correctly or math problems they can solve in the span of 5 minutes. The next day, challenge your kid to beat their own record. (A little competition can work great with siblings, too.)
Try learning apps. Support the subjects your kid studies in school with apps that make learning about it more fun. This tip is especially helpful for subjects that you or your kid struggle with. Some of our favorite educational apps include DragonBox for math, Spelling Stage for spelling, and DuoLingo , which offers learning-based games in Spanish, French and many other languages.
Team up with tunes. Just like the Alphabet Song teaches kids their ABCs, there are plenty of songs out there to help specific subjects stick. Search YouTube to find songs covering a range of subjects, including the planets in our solar system, the days of the week and months of the year, U.S. states and capitals, how to add or subtract, and pretty much any other educational topic you can imagine. If you can’t find a song on a given subject, try making one up together.

Middle School Homework Tips

In middle school, students gain more independence to work alone or with peers. Encourage their developing maturity with a little structure and loads of support.

Use power hours. Power hours challenge kids to focus for a certain amount of time. Once the timer goes off, they can take a quick break before diving in again. Offering little rewards after productive power hour sessions is a great incentive at this age, too.
Plan study dates. If your kid struggles in a certain subject or has trouble focusing in a quiet, empty room, let them invite a friend or two over to study. Just remember to follow current safety and social distancing guidelines. If another kid is too much of a distraction, set the tone by working alongside your child. While they do homework, you can pay bills, make dinner, reply to emails, or even work on a crossword puzzle or another brain game. Doing “adult homework” creates a sense of companionship without being too overbearing – and it can help kids learn that work is a part of life, not just a part of school.
Make a routine. Lack of routine can be stressful for kids. Setting a regular schedule for homework, or the school day for kids learning at home, can help reduce resistance and improve consistency. Beyond planning time for homework, come up with other little rituals that can help your kid focus, from putting on their current favorite album in the background to using prizes and other incentives to reward good work, like a small treat for every complete assignment.
Stay positive. Your attitude has a huge impact on how your kid sees the world, especially in the formative middle school years. Keep tabs on your own attitude toward your kid’s homework. If you see helping your kid with homework as a chore, your kid will probably feel that way about it, too. Instead, try to see homework help as a fun, productive time when you both can learn and hang out together.

High School Homework Tips

When students reach high school, having parents hanging around to nag them about homework doesn’t always help. Instead of implementing these homework strategies for high schoolers yourself, show this list to your teenager and help them come up with a plan they can stick to. Then, take a step back. Check in with your teen every week or so to see if their plan needs tweaking.

Get organized . High school is the perfect time to start preparing for the life you want to lead after you leave home. To achieve your goals, you have to make plans and stick to them. It’s the same with homework. When you get your assignments for the week, month or semester, take some time before jumping in to sort through the deadlines and requirements. Then, come up with a schedule and a realistic plan of attack. Use a day planner, calendar app, or time management app like Asana to make to-do lists for yourself – trust us, it feels great to cross stuff off your list.
Reward yourself . It’s easier to work hard when you know there’s a reward at the end of it. Set a study timer, and if you’ve focused on homework until the timer goes off, reward yourself with a favorite snack, a funny video, an epic solo dance party or a little social media time.
Upgrade your workspace. Spruce up the place you do virtual learning and homework to fuel your productivity, imagination and problem-solving skills. Keep tools and supplies on hand to help you work through challenging assignments, like colorful pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and cool notepads or notebooks. Decorate with art and other objects that inspire you, and use calendars, whiteboards, chalkboards, corkboards, or even just paper and tape to help visualize and keep track of everything you have to do.
Turn up the beats. Spotify has tons of playlists dedicated to productivity, from ambient noise to instrumental hip-hop. Find a few go-to playlists that help keep you focused and put one on whenever you have to zone in. Explore movie soundtracks and other kinds of instrumental music to avoid distracting lyrics.

Homework Help from BGCA

Every day, thousands of kids and parents rely on Boys & Girls Clubs of America for homework help and out-of-school support, especially in the crucial hours after school lets out and during the summer months. Explore our website to learn more about our programs , find your nearest club or support BGCA today.

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7 Ways to Make Homework Fun (Seriously!)

Make homework fun by changing the way you look at it

Your kids just spent all day at school. And now you’re asking them to do what? Homework? Hey, that’s kind of like having school at home. After an entire day of paper, pencils, and books, your child may resist (and that’s putting it politely) getting down to business during the after-school hours. Don’t stress out. Whether your child has to study a vocab list, do a few zillion math equations, or finish a few extra assignments, we’re sharing seven tips that can magically transform homework from a super-struggle to some serious fun!

1. Work Together Why not be hands-off when it comes to your kid’s homework, while still working beside one another? Return emails, answer your co-worker’s texts or work on the PTA fundraiser, modeling focused work to your child as the two of you spend QT together. If you think this seems like you’re not paying attention to your child or you’re slacking when it comes to parenting—you aren’t. Instead, you’re creating a shared workspace where the two of you can get business done together.

2. Get Creative Sitting like a statue and calculating problem after problem on a math worksheet isn’t exciting, so consider turning a study session into an all-out artsy adventure! As your kid reads a chapter from the assigned text, use the opportunity as a chance to put on a play. If not acting, paint out math problems, sculpt letters or turn American history into a song.

Other ideas (perfect for older kiddos) include more sophisticated setups like creating a series of paintings explaining a text the child is trying to interpret or interpreting a poem using their musical notes. Kindergarten-aged kids set can get back to basics and finger paint letters, make clay characters from a story or bang on pots and pans to learn about patterns or counting.

RELATED: 11 Math Games That Equal Tons of Fun

4. Take It Outside If there’s an outdoor space where they can spread out and study in your home, encourage it. A study showed that workers saw a 45% increase in productivity after being outside for about 30 minutes. Plus, offering up 10-minute breaks in the sun is a huge perk.

4. Make It a Group Effort Start a study group. Have your kiddo invite classmates to read, write and do math equations together. If your student is old enough to handle organizing and delegating, take a step back and let your kid take on a leadership role. Younger kids may need more help—think of this as a mini-educational play date for them.

make homework fun with an awesome workstation

5. Design an Awesome Workspace Take a page from some of the coolest places on Earth to work. Google, Apple and other tech giants all have fab workspaces for their employees. Why? To increase productivity. Create a communal workstation that all your kids (or all your family) can share instead of sending your little learners off to their room alone. Mix it up with a tall desk (by using a shelf), so your child can stand and work, or swap out desk chairs for a yoga ball or a twisty stool.

RELATED: 17 At-Home Learning Spots to Keep Kids on Track

6. Engage the Senses There is a reason those darned pop-its were suddenly in every kid’s hands. While engaging their sense of touch, smell or sight might seem like a distraction, it helps them focus. Try doing a sensory activity like making your playdough . You can also engage other senses: Stash a stress ball in the homework area to engage the sense of touch or play white noise to break the quiet distracting to your child.

7. Hold Office Hours Your child needs some homework help. Instead of hovering (no helicopters here) or taking over and writing your very own book report, set up office hours—just like your college professors did. Make the living room couch or the dining room table into your “office.” The kids can schedule a time to ask questions or can come to your “open hours.” This lets you help your child without actually doing the work yourself

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Articles / Homework

Smart Homework: 13 Ways to Make It Meaningful

by MiddleWeb · Published 08/04/2014 · Updated 11/17/2019

In the first installment of Rick Wormeli’s homework advice, he made the case for take-home assignments that matter for learning and engage student interest . In Part 2, Rick offers some guiding principles that can help teachers create homework challenges that motivate kids and spark deeper learning in and out of school.

These articles are adapted and updated from Rick’s seminal book about teaching in the middle grades, Day One & Beyond: Practical Matters for New Middle Level Teachers . Rick continues to offer great advice about homework, differentiation, assessment and many other topics in workshops and presentations across North America. Check back in Part 1 for some additional homework resources.

I’ve been accumulating guiding principles for creating highly motivating homework assignments for many years — from my own teaching and from the distilled wisdom of others. Here are a baker’s dozen. Choose the ones most appropriate for students’ learning goals and your curriculum.

1. Give students a clear picture of the final product. This doesn’t mean everything is structured for them, or that there aren’t multiple pathways to the same high quality result. There’s room for student personalities to be expressed. Students clearly know what is expected, however. A clear picture sets purpose for doing the assignment. Priming the brain to focus on particular aspects of the learning experience helps the brain process the information for long-term retention. Setting purpose for homework assignments has an impact on learning and the assignment’s completion rate, as research by Marzano and others confirms.

2. Incorporate a cause into the assignment. Middle level students are motivated when they feel they are righting a wrong. They are very sensitive to justice and injustice. As a group, they are also very nurturing of those less fortunate than them. Find a community or personal cause for which students can fight fairly and incorporate your content and skills in that good fight— students will be all over the assignment.

4. Incorporate people whom students admire in their assignments. Students are motivated when asked to share what they know and feel about these folks. We are a society of heroes, and young adolescents are interested in talking about and becoming heroic figures.

5. Allow choices, as appropriate. Allow students to do the even-numbered or odd-numbered problems, or allow them to choose from three prompts, not just one. Let them choose the word that best describes the political or scientific process. Let them identify their own diet and its effects on young adolescent bodies. Let them choose to work with partners or individually. How about allowing them to choose from several multiple-intelligence based tasks? If they are working in ways that are comfortable, they are more likely to do the work. By making the choice, they have upped their ownership of the task.

6. Incorporate cultural products into the assignment. If students have to use magazines, television shows, foods, sports equipment, and other products they already use, they are likely to do the work. The brain loves to do tasks in contexts with which it is familiar.

7. Allow students to collaborate in determining how homework will be assessed. If they help design the criteria for success, such as when they create the rubric for an assignment, they “own” the assignment. It comes off as something done by them, not to them. They also internalize the expectations—another way for them to have clear targets.

With some assignments we can post well-done versions from previous years (or ones we’ve created for this purpose) and ask students to analyze the essential characteristics that make these assignments exemplary. Students who analyze such assignments will compare those works with their own and internalize the criteria for success, referencing the criteria while doing the assignment, not just when it’s finished.

9. Spruce up your prompts. Don’t ask students to repeatedly answer questions or summarize. Try some of these openers instead: Decide between, argue against, Why did ______ argue for, compare, contrast, plan, classify, retell ______ from the point of view of ______, Organize, build, interview, predict, categorize, simplify, deduce, formulate, blend, suppose, invent, imagine, devise, compose, combine, rank, recommend, defend, choose.

10. Have everyone turn in a paper. In her classic, Homework: A New Direction (1992), Neila Connors reminded teachers to have all students turn in a paper, regardless of whether they did the assignment. If a student doesn’t have his homework, he writes on the paper the name of the assignment and why he didn’t do it.

11. Do not give homework passes. I used to do this; then I realized how much it minimized the importance of homework. It’s like saying, “Oh, well, the homework really wasn’t that important to your learning. You’ll learn just as well without it.” Homework should be so productive for students that missing it is like missing the lesson itself.

12. Integrate homework with other subjects. One assignment can count in two classes. Such assignments are usually complex enough to warrant the dual grade and it’s a way to work smarter, not harder, for both students and teachers. Teachers can split the pile of papers to grade, then share the grades with each other, and students don’t have homework piling up in multiple classes.

There are times when every teacher on the team assigns a half-hour assignment, and so do the elective or encore class teachers. This could mean three to four hours of homework for the student, which is inappropriate for young adolescents.

13. Occasionally, let students identify what homework would be most effective. Sometimes the really creative assignments are the ones that students design themselves. After teaching a lesson, ask your students what it would take to practice the material so well it became clearly understood. Many of the choices will be rigorous and very appropriate.

This is one reason I always recommend that, as a basic premise, we avoid Monday morning quizzes and weekend or holiday homework assignments. Sure, there will be exceptions when long-term projects come due. But if we are really about teaching so that students learn and not about appearing rigorous and assigning tasks to show that we have taught, then we’ll carefully consider all the effects of our homework expectations. Our students will be more productive at school for having healthier lives at home.

▶ More resources from Rick Wormeli:

Although Rick never mentions the word homework in this article about helping adolescent students improve their “executive function,” you will immediately see the connections! At the AMLE website .

NEXT: In our final excerpt from Day One & Beyond, Rick Wormeli shares his approach to homework assessment – with an clear emphasis on maintaining teacher sanity.

His books include Meet Me in the Middle ; Day One and Beyond ; Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom ; Differentiation: From Planning to Practice; Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject, and Summarization in Any Subject , plus The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way .

He is currently working on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on homework practices in the 21 st century.

4 Responses

Pingbacks 0

This is a really great article. It has helped me tremendously in making new and better decisions about homework.

Fabulous sage advice! Although I love every single suggestion you’ve included, I am particularly fond of the elimination of the “homework pass”. As a former middle-level teacher and administrator, I too found the homework pass diminished the importance of follow-up work – a necessary component in determining the level of student understanding.

I do give 2 passes, but they just extend due date by a day. And if not used, they may be returned at the end of the 9 weeks for extra credit.

Rick Wormeli’s ideas and tips in this article continue to be stimulating and useful. That said, it’s been more than a decade since the first edition of his book on grading, homework and assessment, Fair Isn’t Always Equal appeared.

In the intervening years, Rick’s thinking about homework has benefited from his work with teachers and in schools and plenty of debate. In April 2018, he published a new 2nd edition of Fair Isn’t Always Equal that includes an even deeper discussion of homework and its relationship to best practice, differentiation, and the moral obligation of educators to insist on effective homework policies.

Visitors to the Stenhouse page for the new book can preview the *entire* text for free, so be sure to check that out.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the new book:

Tenet: Homework should enable students to practice what they have already learned in class and should not present new content for the first time. Principled Responses:

• I will not assign homework to students who do not understand the content. • I will give homework to some students and no homework or different assignments to others, depending on their proficiency. • I will use exit slips and formative assessment during class so I can determine proper after-school practice for each student. • I will not give homework because parents and administrators expect me to do so, or assign homework because it’s a particular day of the week. • I will assign homework only if it furthers students’ proficiency in the field we’re studying.

Thanks to Rick for giving us permission to share this!

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11 Strategies to Make Homework Fun and Manageable

Posted by Erica Warren on May 11, 2021

Free Advice for Mastering Voice Typing with Google docs

Homework Don'ts:

Never pair homework with a punishment. When this is done, students associate homework with unpleasantries, and it can have a negative impact on future assignments.
Don't call home assignments, "homework." Who wants to take their work home? Besides, when it is called work, it becomes work. Personally, I like to call it, "home fun!"

Homework Dos:

Create enticing names for home assignments. For example, I never teach script or cursive. I teach roller-coaster letters!
Generate excitement about upcoming assignments by sharing your own excitement and enthusiasm for the content.
Bring creative options such as drawing, sculpting, and music into assignments.
Introduce the fun factor to your lessons. Many students enjoy making games as well as playing them, so try to weave these into the curriculum. Encouraging these entertaining options can make academics more memorable too.
Bring color into assignments. Instead of requiring your students to write in pencil or a black pen, encourage them to use an array of erasable colors, highlighters, and pens. Personally, I love to use Frixion pens , highlighters , and markers .
Offer a variety of assignment options. Students possess different strengths, and they also have their own preferred ways of learning . Providing options allows them to share their knowledge and choose an approach that appeals to them.
Limit the amount of homework. Students are often cognitively exhausted after a long day of schooling, and they need time to relax and also get involved in other afterschool activities.
Offering students extra credit for completing home assignments can be very motivating. One of my favorite assignments is offering students the opportunity to make test corrections. This way, students can learn from mishaps and any misconceptions can be corrected.
Offer homework passes: We all need personal days.

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10 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Your Kids

3 minute read

After a full day of reading, writing, math and trying to sit still in a chair, sometimes the last thing a child wants to do is come home and do homework. Why does homework time have to be such a chore for both children and their parents?

With these 10 tips, maybe it doesn’t have to be.

10. Dedicated Homework Area

While most kids tend to do their homework in their bedrooms or at the kitchen table, these places tend to create plenty of distractions.

Try and create a “homework” zone somewhere in your house that is well lit, quiet, and has plenty of table space for your child/children to work. Ensure it has all the supplies they need are organized and easily accessible. If possible, add in some bookshelves where they can place things on or inspirational and fun pictures for them to look at while they are working away.

There’s a reason why techy giants like Microsoft and Google offer some incredible workspaces to staff. That’s because it increases productivity !

9. Set a Timer

Sometimes the hardest part is simply getting motivated to start. Really, who wants to dive into piles of homework when procrastination is so much easier?

With that said, setting a timer for each subject can make things fun. Plus, it offers a breather break once it is done.

Besides, kids just love “beat the clock” games, so why not incorporate this idea when it comes to homework?

8. Ensure There’s a Routine

There’s nothing more kid’s love than a solid routine. In fact, children thrive on them. So, if possible, ensure your child’s homework is done on the same day(s) and time weekly.

Most importantly, be consistent about it!

7. Fun Snacks

A child can’t learn on an empty stomach. In fact, if homework time happens to be right after school, before dinner, or before bedtime, ensure to offer a fun healthy snack for them while they work away.

6. Add in Some Tunes

While music may not always be possible during homework time, if there is an opportunity to add in some tunes while working away, then why not?

For younger children, music may also be able to help them with their homework. For instance, music can help with learning colors, the alphabet, and shapes.

5. Stay with Them

While there’s plenty to do around the house, sitting down with your children as they are working away offers them a sense of comradery . While you don’t want to give your children answers or do their homework for them, being at the table makes you easier to approach for guidance.

So, grab your favorite book, work on the household budget, or pay some bills on the laptop. You can still be productive while offering homework support to your kids.

4. Study Dates

Speaking of comradery, there’s nothing more fun than working on homework with your favorite buddy . Having said that, ensure the friend they invite over doesn’t offer too much of distraction to the task at hand.

A little reward after homework time can be a huge motivator for kids. Whether it’s stickers on a chart, some television time, or the opportunity to play outside with friends, your kids will look forward to zipping through their homework to get to what’s next.

2. Learning Apps

It’s all about apps these days and guess what? There are a ton of educational ones for kids to help make learning fun!

An app might be especially helpful for those subjects that your child may be having issues with or ones you can’t personally help them with.

1. Be Positive, Stay Positive

Encourage your kids to stay on track with homework by being and remaining positive about school . Place assignments or tests that they’ve done well with on the fridge, offer encouragement, and talk about homework milestones they have accomplished with friends and family.

While homework can be a struggle for parents and kids alike — some more than others — creating an environment where homework can be fun will make all the difference. At the end of the day, it will be beneficial for your child, their grades, and your sanity.

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Teaching Trove

Making learning fun

How to Make Homework Fun for Kids

Blog , Mathematics

Homework is one of those things that you will either agree with or disagree. Agree, because you know it’s a way to help children to reinforce skills or it’s a good way to prepare them for content they will be covering or maybe you are using it for enrichment and extension. Disagree, because you are always chasing up kids who didn’t do their homework or struggling to find time to mark homework or even set homework, particularly if you are creating a worksheet for it.

We can’t dispute the fact that research shows that homework has little impact on academic success in elementary grades. There is, however, the suggestion that homework has benefits in other areas. It can teach self-responsibility. The child needs to find time to sit down and complete their homework and then remember to pack it and hand it in. Parents can also benefit from their child’s homework. It can help them learn about and become more involved in their child’s education.

Homework, however, can be very stressful for both parents and children. After a long day at school, today’s children not only have to come home to homework but need to participate in so many extracurricular activities. It’s exhausting being a kid!

Homework Games

If you need to assign homework you can make it more interesting and less stressful for both parents and children by using homework math games. After all, games are fun!

Make homework for your year 1 or second grade kiddos fun by sending home math strategy games. These math games are perfect for mental math practice. Such an easy way for students to learn math strategies for addition and subtraction and have fun doing it! #homeworkideas #additiongames #mathgames #additionstrategy #mentalmathstrategies #subtractiongames

Consolidate Basic Number Facts

I designed these games because I wanted to help my students consolidate the basic number facts – addition and subtraction. I didn’t want to be giving them worksheets but rather I wanted them to have some fun as they were really consolidating those addition and subtraction facts. Each game is designed to consolidate a single thinking strategy so if you have been focusing on teaching doubles plus one facts at school you can send home the doubles plus one game. It makes it so easy to reinforce these basic facts.

Accountability

The left-hand side of the game has the thinking strategy to prompt the child as well as the answers to each number fact. Before the child starts the game this side of the game is folded over. When the child lands on a number fact they must write it down and answer it – now you have your accountability. If they don’t know the answer they can open up the side and ‘sneak a peek’ before closing it again. My parents love them because it gives them the math language that we use in class and the strategy needed to help their child work out the answer. My kids love them because it’s a game.

There is no die needed for the game just a coin. Why a coin you may ask. Well if you flip it and it lands on heads you move two spaces, tails you move five. Any small object can be used as a marker.

I have also included a game with mixed facts. It has a recording sheet that asks the student to not only record the equation but to say what thinking strategy they used. This really helps them gain mastery of the addition and subtraction facts.

I hadn’t considered it but one of my customers said that she also uses the games in her math journals. They’re also great for using in math rotations. I also like to print them out and give them to students that I tutor – the ones that need more time consolidating the basic facts and could do it easily with their parents. And don’t forget those kids that you know are going to forget the number facts over a break.

The Summer Slump

The summer slump is real! Kids forget so much of what they learned the year before.

One way to help reduce this ‘learning loss’ is to send home a summer pack containing games of all the strategies you’ve covered during the year. If you’ve got some kids who are already showing great fact fluency just send home the game with a mixture of strategies. Include both addition and subtraction for extra practice.

The addition strategies covered are :

Counting on 1
Counting on 1 and 2
Counting on 1, 2 and 3
Doubles + 1
Doubles + 2
PLUS a game that includes a mixture of strategies.

The subtraction games focus on :

Counting back 1
Counting back 1 or 2
Counting back 1, 2 or 3
Take from 10
Doubles Takeaway
Build on Doubles
Subtracting 9
Subtracting 10

You can also grab a pack of multiplication games. They cover each fact from multiplying by zero and one to multiplying by twelve. The pack also includes two mixed multiplication games.

Grab a Pack of Games

Pick up your set of homework games in the website store or the Teachers Pay Teachers shop. Just click on a pack below.

Success! Now check your email to get the key to unlock the Trove.

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Editable games for word work centers makes it so easy to differentiate your word lists…

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Education and Communications

How to Have Fun While Studying

Last Updated: October 14, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker . Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 748,694 times.

If you find studying boring and difficult, why not make it fun? From making your environment more conducive to improving your concentration, there are various ways to make studying more than just a boring task.

Studying Alone

Step 1 Try interactive learning software.

Studying with Others

Step 1 If you have an older sibling at home, you can study together so you have company.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

Take a glass of water before starting to read. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 1
Plan something fun to do after studying so you will look foward to that thing. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 1
If you are finding a subject boring because you are struggling with it, seek help from a tutor, older brother or sister, a parent, a friend or anyone you can trust to help you to learn it more easily. At college/university level, you may need to assess deeply if you have made the right choice or whether it would be better to change subjects or even courses. Don't despair - there is always help. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3

Don't ever promise yourself you'll just watch one show, just listen to one song, just check one email, or "just do one" anything. You'll end up losing track of time and get hooked into the TV, iPod, emails, or whatever it is. Thanks Helpful 145 Not Helpful 20
For music: you can get too much into it and pay more attention to the rhythm than the study. Turn it off if this is happening to you. Not everyone can tolerate music or noise while studying. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
Don't overeat to reduce stress and get adequate sleep during times of cramming, swotting etc. No need to make yourself ill - it's another of life's lessons about taking everything in your stride and coping well. Thanks Helpful 69 Not Helpful 24
Note that if you have heavy, continuing stress, it could be time to talk to a doctor. Thanks Helpful 65 Not Helpful 29
Don't get down over study hurdles. Everyone can have mental blocks, gets fed up and needs for time-out from any activity, even for a period of time. Be gentle on yourself, take a break and get yourself back together again before you give up on your studies. Also, seek assistance if you have special learning disabilities; there are excellent, trained assistants in many schools and universities on call to help out. Have faith - they're there to help you, not to tell you that you can't do it. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2

↑ https://www.unicef.org/serbia/en/open-digital-educational-tools-interactive-online-teaching-and-learning
↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/10-ways-fun-study.html
↑ https://share.upmc.com/2019/08/healthy-snacks-to-power-studying/
↑ https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/learning-environment/
↑ https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/study-and-training/help-with-study/how-to-study-better/top-10-study-tips
↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/how.html
↑ https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters
↑ https://usm.maine.edu/agile/using-flashcards
↑ https://www.utep.edu/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/blog/november-2017/4-memory-techniques-for-successful-study-sessions.html
↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/alphabet_matching
↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/metacognitive-study-strategies/

About This Article

While studying can feel boring and difficult, there are ways to have fun while doing it. Try making your studying more like a game by using interactive learning software or having a family member or friend quiz you. If you’re creative, try writing a song about the general points that you need to study. You can also make some colorful flashcards that you can decorate during study breaks, or read your textbooks in a funny accent or weird voice. Another creative way to study is to pretend you’re the teacher and lecture your siblings or stuffed animals on your test material. To learn how to make studying fun with friends, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Tips for making homework more fun.

If you’re wondering how to make your kids do their homework, try adding some fun to your weekly routine. School-aged children often find their take-home assignments less exciting than playing with toys or watching television. Because of this, it can be a real struggle for parents and guardians to get their children to sit down and focus.

Luckily, we have some homework tips and tricks for making it more engaging. When learning feels like playtime, children of all ages can be more cooperative and willing to get the work done.

10 Tips for Making Homework Fun for Kids

Consider the following tips to make homework fun for your child:

1. Work Together

After a long day at work and school, homework time can feel like a drag for both parents and children. Using this time to be productive is a great way to inspire your kids to complete their assignments. While your child sits at the table and begins their work for the evening, sit with them and check off some items on your to-do list, such as:

Returning emails
Answering text messages
Doing your online banking
Reading and sorting your mail
Paying bills

By working at the same time as your child, you can model how to focus on tasks that are not especially exciting. Plus, you will be there for them if they have questions about their work, and you get to spend extra quality time together.

2. Create a Study Group

Another way to make homework more fun is by creating a study group for your child. You can invite some of your kid’s classmates over for a homework session. The group can read together and assist each other with homework questions. There are many benefits of studying in a group environment , including the following:

Sharing common goals
Using each other’s strengths
Being accountable for more than one’s self
Hearing about concepts in multiple ways

If you have young children, lead the kids through the study group and keep them on track. For older children, you can be more hands-off.

3. Ensure Your Child Isn’t Hungry. Have a Snack!

Some believe a child’s attention span is their age multiplied by three or four minutes . That means a five-year-old child can focus on one task for around 17 minutes. And after a full day of school and activities, it can be even more challenging to focus for that amount of time.

Kids deal with many distractions, but being hungry does not have to be one of them. Have a healthy and delicious snack to eat before homework time, like the following:

Apple slices
Peanut butter

4. Use Rewards and Incentives

If you don’t know how to motivate a child to do their homework, consider introducing rewards into your homework routine.

These incentives do not need to be big or expensive. The following can work wonders:

Television shows
Time on their tablet
Video games

Having something fun to look forward to is a great motivator for children. They may be more inclined to focus on their assignments to get them done so they can have their reward, even if it is small.

5. Go Outside for a Change in Scenery

By the time kids come home from school, they have spent nearly all day inside. Switching it up can help incorporate some fun into homework time. Find an area outdoors that is not too distracting but still offers a pleasant environment for your child.

The fresh air can help improve concentration and increase productivity. During breaks, you can play a quick game or run around in the yard. These activities can be extra incentives for children.

6. Turn Homework Into a Game

By making homework into a game, children feel less like they are doing chores and more like they are having fun. Kids are more likely to remember information they learned while enjoying the process. But how do you incorporate fun into regular homework assignments?

Here are some ideas for how to make homework a game:

Use small toys or treats for solving math problems
Have them practice spelling using alphabet refrigerator magnets
Have kids write answers on a whiteboard

7. Create a Special Homework Space in Your Home

An awesome way of making homework more fun for kids is creating a special space in your home dedicated to doing schoolwork. Find an area with minimal distractions and foot traffic so they can focus on their assignments. Keep this space highly organized to save time finding materials like pencils or paper.

You can even make setting up the space a special activity for your kids. Allow them to decorate and personalize their area . A few DIY crafts can go a long way. The ultimate goal is to make it a place they enjoy spending time in.

8. Make Homework Time Part of a Routine

It is no secret that children thrive when they have structure . Implementing a reliable after-school routine can reduce stress and offer a sense of consistency in their day. Consider including a set time for homework as part of your household’s after-school routine.

A routine doesn’t have to be boring. Get your child involved in this new daily ritual by having them set up snacks or pick out music to play quietly in the background.

9. Let Your Child Play Teacher

You may be wondering how to avoid yelling at a child to do their homework, especially if they resist or act unruly at the mention of sitting down to work on their assignments. A great way of getting your child excited about doing their homework is letting them play teacher. After all, you wouldn’t yell at your teacher.

Having them teach you and a few stuffed animal friends how to work through their homework questions is a great way to boost their understanding of new concepts. Plus, it’s fun for kids to step into a leadership role, even just for an hour.

10. Utilize Professional Resources

It can be extremely frustrating trying to get a child to do their homework. As parents, it is crucial to stay calm and know when it is time to seek additional support. Reaching out to professional therapy services like Kids SPOT can help you find a solution that makes homework time less stressful.

Kids SPOT offers therapy and support for a wide range of developmental learning and physical challenges. Your child could benefit from working with a professional therapist to overcome their struggles and reach their developmental potential.

Make Homework More Fun With Kids SPOT

Kids SPOT is a comprehensive pediatric program and one-stop-shop where parents can seek holistic treatments for their children.

We believe in providing children with learning challenges or delays with the tools to improve their quality of life. Our goal is to help kids reach their full potential by advancing their level of independence.

Want to learn more about all the services Kids SPOT offers? Contact us today!

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15 Creative Ways to Make Math Fun for Your Students

$Child smiles in math class while teacher makes math fun$

Written by Maria Kampen

Did you know?

Students who used Prodigy saw a significant, positive shift in their opinion towards math in just a few months.

Teaching Activities
How teachers can bring positive to math lessons

Why some kids don't enjoy math

15 secrets to make math fun.

Turn the math classroom into a healthy environment

The bell rings, you tell students to take out their math work, and then...groans of disappointment.

When it comes to learning math, not every student is a fan. But at Prodigy, we believe in making math fun and helping students love the learning journey.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for engaging your math class, because it’s a process that looks different for every student. We’ve put together a list of ways to help every student in your class love math.

Keep reading to find the one that’s right for your classroom!

Teachers can bring positivity to math lessons

$Teacher and student practicing numbers together$

Because every kid is different, they might have different reasons for dreading math class or avoiding their math homework.

Difficulty — If a student is struggling to keep up with their math homework or understand lessons, it’s very easy for them to disengage and get discouraged or anxious.
Boredom — If students aren’t being challenged enough or need extra resources to stay occupied, math work they’ve already mastered can cause them to become bored and disengage.
General interest — Maybe your student really likes reading, science or art more than math facts. They could be prioritizing work in these classes, or simply be uninterested in paying attention to math.
Math anxiety — Testing and grades give some students a lot of anxiety. This stress is exacerbated when they’re struggling to master new concepts, causing them to become overwhelmed and lose focus.

$Smiling students sit in a math classroom during fun math activities.$

Whether they’re bored or anxious, disengaged or struggling, these 15 math class secrets can help you engage every student in your class — regardless of how they feel about math.

Keep reading to find some of the best ways to make math fun and help your students build a love of learning !

1. Math games

Math games are a tried-and-true method for bringing excitement and competition to your classroom. Whether online or in person, math games can engage your students and align to your lesson plan.

Popular math games include:

Card games like War, where two students use multiplication, subtraction or even exponent rules to build cards with a higher value than their opponent’s.
Math stations filled with number blocks and other manipulatives during play-based learning activities for younger students.
Math board games that help students learn basic math facts, while also building socio-emotional skills like turn-taking and collaboration. Try filling a tic-tac-toe board with math facts, or hosting a math bingo game for the whole class!

Prodigy Math Game is a video game-inspired learning platform that transforms math into an epic adventure. Created for first to eighth grade, students can complete quests, earn rewards and collect pets as they learn.

Plus, your free teacher account gives you access to teacher tools that make differentiation , assessments and gathering student insights easier than ever.

2. Visual aids and picture books

If you’ve got a classroom full of visual learners, then charts, picture books and other visual aids can help them make sense of new concepts and provide reference points as they work.

Printables, anchor charts and diagrams are readily available on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers to make classroom set up easy and stress-free. You can even have students make their own visual aids to help them remember key terms and concepts!

Picture books are also a great way to engage students that prefer seeing and reading to math work. Some of our favorites are:

G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David M. Schwartz — Best for students in 4th to 8th grade, this math book explores interesting math concepts for every letter of the alphabet.
Bean Thirteen by Matt McElligot — Ralph and Flora are trying to get rid of the unlucky thirteenth bean, but it keeps coming back! This story is a goofy exploration of remainders and division.
Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base — Search for different plants and animals in the forest where Uno lives. Students have to complete skills, puzzles and multiplication questions to finish the adventure.

Whether it’s reading or drawing, there’s something to help every student learn new math skills!

3. Using modern technology

$Young elementary student uses a computer for fun math activities$

When it comes to teaching math, modern technology can broaden perspectives and give students new ways to engage with the world around them.

Math is Fun offers students games and math puzzles that balance fun with skills-building challenges.

Tablets and smartphones give students new ways to engage with math on their own terms. We put together a list of the 13 best math apps for kids , but our favourites include:

Prodigy Math Game , an adaptive math adventure game.
Dragon Box , a colorful math app that turns concepts like algebra and multiplication into a fun game.
Khan Academy , a non-profit organization that creates video lessons for a variety of different topics and levels.

4. Take a hands-on approach

Every teacher knows worksheets aren’t always the most engaging.

A hands-on approach in the math classroom means finding real-life examples of formulas and concepts, or including student interests in relevant work problems.

Try a beach ball toss with equations written on each section or bake with your students to learn about fractions! Math puzzles like KenKen, Magic Squares and tangram puzzles can also help kinesthetic learners practice their skills.

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives also put traditional math tools online for greater accessibility. Ideal for one-to-one device use or station rotations, it offers manipulation tasks for every grade level.

5. Encourage communication with students and parents

Understanding students and connecting with parents are both equally important, for different reasons. Parent teacher conferences and quick notes home are ways for you to share positive notes and get valuable insights into how students feel about math.

Math journaling is a great way to have students reflect on what they’re struggling with, what they enjoy doing and where they think they need more practice. You might read things that confirm your insights, or find something new!

6. Focus on your students

It’s easy to focus on just getting through your curriculum for the year — after all, isn’t that what students need to learn the most?

But a shift to student-centered learning techniques can help you support the needs of every student in your classroom. Student-centered learning involves kids in decisions about their studies, helps them build a growth mindset and encourages them to make connections between concepts.

Some common student-centered techniques include:

Interdisciplinary learning that mixes math with other subjects
Service learning projects to combine academic goals with community service
Personalized learning through regular formative assessments and pre-teaching
Student-led conferences that involve students in feedback and decision-making about their learning

7. Stick to fixed routines

Building a fixed math class routine can help students feel settled and confident when math class starts, especially if they struggle with math anxiety.

Outline expectations and what students need to show up to class with, whether that’s a sharp pencil and paper, or just a sharp mind.

Pick something to start your lesson with, whether it’s introducing a new concept or reviewing an old one:

Give students a discussion question and ask how they solved it
Put some vocab words on the board and ask students to define them
Challenge older students to analyze a piece of mathematical writing from another scholar

Spend the middle of your lesson teaching or giving your class hands-on experience with new concepts:

Set up station rotation activities and small group instruction
Use blended learning techniques to promote hands-on activities and group work
Give a mini-lesson and then hands-on practice with worksheets or other activities

End class on a high note with quick activities that reinforce learning:

Ask students to summarize what they learned, in writing or out loud
Have students work individually or in pairs to answer a quick wrap-up question
Set up an exit ticket activity so students can show you what they learned, either by submitting a piece of paper or answering a question before they leave

8. Use real objects

$Students play with an abacus during fun math activities.$

There are plenty of math tools that can help students picture abstract math concepts in the real world , including:

Abacus for counting and number sense
Spheres, prisms and other shapes for geometry
Manipulatives like base ten blocks, number lines and clocks
Small objects like gummy bears, buttons or rocks for pattern making
Flashcards for subtraction, addition, multiplication and division facts, or other math vocabulary terms

Incorporate these items into problem-solving activities for more ways to learn.

9. Physical involvement

Techniques that get students moving, out of their seats or just engaging in hands-on learning activities can help a variety of different learners. In your classroom, try:

Writing and acting out skits about math concepts
A scavenger hunt for geometric shapes or patterns
Brain breaks to help students stay focused during long stretches of class
Interactive games like flash cards, dice, manipulatives or “Around the World” with relevant math problems

Think-pair-share activities and flipped classrooms can also help students get hands-on experience and talk through new ideas with peers in real time.

10. Use interesting and engaging questions

If you have two morph marbles, use one in a Prodigy math battle, and then earn two more, how many morph marbles do you have?

Word problems are a great way to connect student interests with your lesson plans. If you’re not sure what students like, send out a quick survey or ask them about their favorite books, TV shows or video games.

They’ll be delighted when they find their favorite Prodigy character or TV show on your next handout, and you’ll have a class full of students actually excited about doing their homework.

11. Address learning issues promptly

If you notice students falling behind (or racing ahead), address it early to avoid any long-term engagement problems.

One-on-one instruction or small groups can help you pay attention to individual learning needs . A mixture of group and individual work can help all learners absorb information in the way they learn best, too.

Use response to intervention (RTI) methods to address small and large learning issues promptly. RTI focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance of students who have learning and behavioural needs.

If the learning needs are serious, talk to parents and administration about setting up an IEP or 504 plan to make sure students can access support that helps them succeed and stay engaged.

12. Integrate math into other subjects

$Student pours a solution into a beaker during interdisciplinary learning activities.$

Whether it’s statistics in social studies or angles in art, there are endless ways to connect topics and inspire students to learn more.

Incorporate math talk into other subjects as part of interdisciplinary teaching activities to help students stay engaged — especially if the second subject is something they’re more interested in.

13. Keep lessons fun and interactive

Fun math activities can help you keep students engaged and learning, whether it’s short and silly brain breaks between worksheets or station rotations with a mix of small group and individual work.

Be sure to offer lots of opportunities for students to get involved answering questions or helping with hands-on demonstrations. For more interactive lessons, try modern teaching methods like inquiry-based learning that let students follow their own interests and passions!

14. Incorporate technology for personalized learning

One of the best ways to ensure students are excited about learning is to offer personalized learning opportunities and differentiated content. But in a big and busy classroom, that can be time-consuming and tricky!

Screenshot of Prodigy's teacher dashboard.

Prodigy’s free teacher account comes with tools that help you gather insights while students play. Instead of spending hours grading assignments and developing differentiated math practice, Prodigy helps you tailor content for the learning needs of your students.

15. Apply lessons to life

“Are we really ever going to use this in real life?” is a common phrase heard in many math classrooms.

To help students understand the benefits and wonder of math, relate what they’re learning to the real world! Have students research different career paths that use the concepts they’re learning, or invite members of the community to speak about how they use math in their jobs.

Who knows where in life it could lead your students?

Turning the math classroom into a healthy environment

$Students in a classroom working on activities that make math fun.$

No matter what students are learning, a fun and positive environment is a foundation for academic and personal success.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up and try several different techniques to make math fun in your classroom! See which ones students respond to best, then use them to keep your students loving math class.

Prodigy Math Game makes math class an epic adventure with quests, rewards and new worlds to explore. As students play and answer math questions, you can differentiate and collect insights with free and effective teacher tools. Try it today!

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5 Ways to Make Homework Fun
12 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Students of All Ages
5 Ways To Make Homework Fun For Young Kids
How To Make Homework Fun For Your Kids
3 Simple Ways to Make Homework Fun
10 Tips to Make Homework More Fun

VIDEO

#preppy making homework #fypシ
Fun with Bhargav
School Time Olivia #Watermelon Piece Making #colorful #highlights
Funny making homework #stories #story #funnyshorts #funnystories
Making homework list.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
lol I was making homework and I just had to do this

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13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun
Use a timer. 11. Create a special homework space. 12. Remember to be positive. 13. Get help if you need it. Thankfully, there are ways of making homework less boring and that are a little bit more fun for your child. Whether they need to practice spelling, learn their times tables or revise for an important exam, our top fun homework ideas will ...
28 Ideas On How To Make Homework Fun For Students
Working on homework teaches children that work is a part of life, not just school, and fosters friendship without being overpowering. 5. Design an Awesome Workspace. Improve the area where your kids complete their schoolwork to increase efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
How to Make Homework Fun
Break Tasks Down: Divide homework into smaller, manageable chunks. Reward Yourself: Treat yourself after completing tasks or goals. Study with Friends: Make it social by studying with buddies. Use Apps: Try fun and educational apps for learning. Listen to Music: Create a motivating study playlist. Make It Visual: Use colors and visuals to make ...
How to Enjoy Homework: 13 Steps (with Pictures)
1. Choose a time of day when you feel energetic. If you want to enjoy doing your homework, the time of day you start can make a big difference. Everyone has certain times during the day where they feel more energetic or more tired. You're unlikely to enjoy homework if you feel exhausted while studying.
Making Homework Easier: Tips and Tools for Parents
Step 2: Make It Fun. It's important to make homework fun and engaging for your child. Here are some examples of how you can do it: Use games: Incorporate educational games like card games, board games, or puzzles that align with the subject your child is learning.For instance, use Scrabble to practice spelling or Sudoku to enhance problem-solving skills.
10 Ways to Make Homework Fun
Make sure the space is well-lit as well, because squinting is no good for homework effectiveness. Tools. Colorful pens, paper, pencils and other tools make doing homework more fun. These can even be a reward themselves, as getting to head to the dollar store or shop online for desk accessories can be just as fun as using them. Attention
Making School Fun at Home
Make homework more like a race by setting up timed challenges. For example, count how many words they can spell correctly or math problems they can solve in the span of 5 minutes. The next day, challenge your kid to beat their own record. (A little competition can work great with siblings, too.) Try learning apps.
How to Make Homework Fun for Kids: 5 Easy Ways for Parents
3. Learning Apps. Homework can be frustrating if your child doesn't understand the material. Fun math practice apps can be a great resource for visual examples and games that help your child practice concepts he is struggling with. So, make homework fun by getting an app that makes the subject easy for your child. 4.
8 Ways to Make Homework and Learning Fun
Try doing a sensory activity like making your playdough. You can also engage other senses: Stash a stress ball in the homework area to engage the sense of touch or play white noise to break the quiet distracting to your child. 7. Hold Office Hours. Your child needs some homework help.
13 Ways to Make Homework More Meaningful and Engaging
The brain loves to do tasks in contexts with which it is familiar. 7. Allow students to collaborate in determining how homework will be assessed. If they help design the criteria for success, such as when they create the rubric for an assignment, they "own" the assignment.
Is Homework Ever Fun? 10 Ways Teachers Can Make It More Engaging
Incorporate Art. Most students enjoy engaging in creative thinking. Help make homework more fun and relaxing by adding art-focused assignments to the mix. One idea is to give students options to draw, write a song, or play an instrument in response to a certain book. Chris Cotter, director at Alpros, a language school in Japan, adds that ...
13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun
Set up a homework play date. Go outside. Turn it into a game. Let them play teacher. Use a timer. Create a special homework space. Remember to be positive. Get help if you need i t. Thankfully, there are ways of making homework less boring and that little bit more fun for your child.
3 Simple Ways to Make Homework Fun
The trick to make homework fun. These three skills of controlling their own schedule, making homework time a game and knowing how to reward themselves puts kids ways ahead when it comes to making homework fun. Grab our FREE Drama Free Homework quickstart guide HERE. It'll give you the tools you need to start a stress-free homework routine.
How to Make Homework Fun
Bring creative options such as drawing, sculpting, and music into assignments. Introduce the fun factor to your lessons. Many students enjoy making games as well as playing them, so try to weave these into the curriculum. Encouraging these entertaining options can make academics more memorable too. Bring color into assignments.
10 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Your Kids
8. Ensure There's a Routine. There's nothing more kid's love than a solid routine. In fact, children thrive on them. So, if possible, ensure your child's homework is done on the same day (s) and time weekly. Most importantly, be consistent about it! 7. Fun Snacks. A child can't learn on an empty stomach.
How to Make Homework Fun for Kids
Homework Games. If you need to assign homework you can make it more interesting and less stressful for both parents and children by using homework math games. After all, games are fun! Consolidate Basic Number Facts. I designed these games because I wanted to help my students consolidate the basic number facts - addition and subtraction.
How to Have Fun While Studying (with Pictures)
Ensure adequate ventilation. Nothing sends a person to sleep faster than lack of air. Get fresh air into your room regularly - even in winter! Make sure it circulates, even if this means using a fan in winter to blow around warm air; this is better than stale, stagnant air. 6. Have good temperature levels.
10 Tips to Make Homework More Fun
10 Tips for Making Homework Fun for Kids. Consider the following tips to make homework fun for your child: 1. Work Together. After a long day at work and school, homework time can feel like a drag for both parents and children. Using this time to be productive is a great way to inspire your kids to complete their assignments.
10 easy Ways How to Make Homework Fun
9. Study with a partner. 10. Try your favorite snack or drink. 1. Set up a Homework Game Board. To make homework more enjoyable, try setting up a board with different activities kids can do at home. You can use a whiteboard, poster board, or even cardboard boxes. Just make sure that the items on the board are age appropriate.
How to Make Homework Fun
How to Have Fun Doing Homework: 5 Easy Tips. Create a Reward System. Receiving a reward lights up the pleasure center in the brain. This means that regardless of what you are studying, giving yourself a reward makes it more enjoyable. Keep a bowl of M&Ms, fresh cut fruit, or another enjoyable snack.
How to Make Homework Fun
Final Thoughts on Making Homework Fun. If you're ready to have more fun while working on homework, then remember to put yourself first, work hard, and find people to work on homework with! If you're in middle school about to start high school OR are currently in high school, we got your back!
15 Creative Ways to Make Math Fun for Your Students
Difficulty — If a student is struggling to keep up with their math homework or understand lessons, it's very easy for them to disengage and get discouraged or anxious. ... Keep reading to find some of the best ways to make math fun and help your students build a love of learning! 1. Math games
Making homework fun: The effect of game-based learning on reading
From this study, we can conclude that game-based learning can be used to engage students and extend their motivation to read and do their homework. The study included 42 students from two classes. One class, with 27 students, was included in the experimental study, in which game-based learning was employed as part of reading the story.

28 Ideas On How To Make Homework Fun For Students

28 Ideas on How To Make Homework Fun for Students

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2. Get Some Favorite Snacks

3. Beat the Clock

4. Get A Homework Buddy

5. Design an Awesome Workspace

6. Make Them Feel Comfortable

7. Incorporate Intervals and Breaks

8. Role Plays Work Wonders

9. Make Them Stay Positive and Focused

10. Take It Outside

11. Altering the homework concept

12. Get Help If You Need

13. Go for Audio-Visual Resources

14. Meditation Can Reduce Stress

15. Make It a Group Effort

16. Take Help from Learning Apps and Libraries

17. Tell Them Not to Take It Too Seriously

18. Storytelling Can Be a Great Idea

19. Create A Homework Mood

20. Turn on Some Music

21. Ask Them to Do the Tough Tasks First

22. Get Creative

23. Doing Homework at School

24. Ask Them to Work on Different Subjects in a Session

25. Get Academic Help

26. Planning Is the Key

27. Ask Them to Write on Their Favorite Topics

28. Provide Choice

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Middle School Homework Tips

High School Homework Tips

Homework Dos and Don’ts

Homework Do’s

2. Remove the Distractions

3. Be A Cheerleader

4. Work in Collaboration

Homework Don’ts

2. Don’t Show Them Your Frustration

3. Don’t Compare with Their Peers

4. Don’t Keep Electronic Devices in Front of Them

How A Homework Planning App Can Help a Student?

1. Gives Students A Break

2. Reduces Stress

3. Increases Productivity

4. Easier for Parents and Teachers

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How to Enjoy Homework

Planning Homework Time

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Making Homework Easier: Tips and Tools for Parents

Step 1: Set Up Your Child for Success

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Step 3: Use Rewards

Step 4: Break Down Difficult Tasks

Step 5: Get Targeted Help

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