Explain to your students the importance of doing homework. According to Robert Harris of Virtual Salt, students may do poorly when they do not understand the reasons behind doing assignments. Stress the benefits of doing homework, such as learning knowledge they can use in their future careers. Tell your students to always turn in their homework on time. Explain that turning in late work is not fair to the students who did turn the work in on time, and a habit of turning in late work can cause them trouble in their future jobs.
Avoid assigning too much homework. When students have hours of homework to complete every night, they may become burned out quickly. Assign homework assignments that will not take more than 30 minutes to complete, so your students have time to enjoy being kids after school.
Reward students who finish their homework on time. Give them extra credit on their next exam or place a sticker on their finished homework assignment. Reward them with verbal praise also, but only if the praise is sincere.
Be careful with your word choices when you give your students negative feedback. Demeaning comments can make students feel inadequate and deter them from finishing their homework. When you give your students negative feedback, be specific. Tell them which parts of an assignment they need to improve on and which parts they succeeded in.