My son won't do his classwork/homework

United States
May 6, 2009 8:07pm CST
My son is in 7th grade and he has been struggling all year with his classwork/homework. I have been in communication with his teachers and have brain stormed with them and I'm running out of ideas on how to get him to do his work. It is mostly the homework that he has a problem with. He has a planner that he has the teachers sign everyday, it also has his homework assignments written in it. Half the time that comes home half signed. I have tried to reward him with small things if he gets the planner signed and assignments done, but that has run it's course. Is there anyone that has a similar problem? what did you do? Any help would be appreciated.
1 person likes this
2 responses
• United States
7 May 09
Rather than a reward, try a punishment system. If he has 3 teachers, he needs to get all 3 of them to sign the book everyday. Allow him to have 2 missed signatures each week - sometimes things happen and it just isnt possible. If he doesnt meet the goal, then he doesnt get tv on saturdays. Or he has to do an extra chore. With a reward system, the person can decide they dont care about the reward, so they will stop doing what is expected. If the punishment is something that they care about, they are far more likely to make sure they get things done. It sounds like he may not be writing down all of the assignments, especially when the teacher doesnt sign it. Is that true? Perhaps you could talk to the teacher about emailing you the assignments for the week. Or maybe there is a page online that the teachers can post all of the assignments. You can check them there. (That way they would be accessible to any other parents who want to check too.) Perhaps knowing what the assignments are, you can ask him about the specific assignment. Set some time aside to do work with him. If he doesnt actually need help with the homework, find some 'homework' of your own to do. Maybe it is paying bills or making a grocery shopping list. You can each do your homework together. You can tell him what you have to do that evening. When you are both finished, you can check to make sure the other person has done their homework. (This will show him that you have homework things to do too. It will also help him get involved in the running of a house, which will also teach him a lot.) Good luck!
• United States
7 May 09
Thanks for your ideas they where great! I'll let you know how it turned out!
@hanah87 (1835)
• Malaysia
27 May 09
Maybe your son have a problem or hard to understand how to do the homework.I also have the same problem before this when i still kid.I hate to do homework.But i try harder to do it and also copy my friend work.However,i get the better result exam too.Maybe you can ask your son to do his homework with his friends.