Motivate students to do their homework by setting them up for success, rather than failure. Tell students on the first day of class, and periodically thereafter, exactly what is required to excel in your course. Examples include statements like, “As long as you finish all your homework, even if every answer isn’t correct, you can receive high marks in the class,” and “Your effort is every bit as important as your achievement.” Homework assignments should be neither too difficult or to easy; students should be challenged but not daunted.
Homework based on group activities can help motivate students to do their homework, because the assignment makes students feel accountable to their peers as well as their teacher. Group activities also help students see their homework as a contribution to a larger goal, rather than individual busywork. For example, assign a group literary assignment by giving each student a group of words to use to construct several sentences. Tell the students they’ll all put their sentences together the following day to create a story. Tell one group of students their sentences will be the setting, tell another group their sentences will be the dialogue, tell another group their sentences will be the rising action and so on until all the elements of a story are covered.
Rewards can also be a motivational tool. For example, tell your class that if they collectively submit their book reports on time, you’ll give the group an extended 10 minutes of recess, or bring a cake as a special dessert at lunch time. For older students, offer to show a movie they enjoy. Group rewards based on all-or-nothing task accomplishment often prove successful, because goal-oriented students motivate less-interested peers in participating for the good of the group.
Praise your students for all their accomplishments, major or minor. Do so privately as well as in group settings, immediately after the accomplishment has been made. Let students know you believe in them and expect excellence as a result of their own intelligence and capability. Boost their self-esteem by reflecting a positive self-image back to them. Students will complete their homework in order to continue to warrant your faith in their success.