Executive Functioning Homework Interventions
Challenges with planning, organization, shifting, and motivation can impact homework.
Planning | Organization | Shifting/Transitions | Motivation
| Planning | |
| Create a comprehensive schedule for the week/month/semester (include study time and extracurricular activities) |
|
| Practice sequencing by asking child to explain how to do a task (e.g. how to make a sandwich) | |
| Determine a step-by-step plan of action | |
| Engage in activities to practice sequencing | Examples:
|
| Play Games that require planning | Mazes Unblock Me app Flowfree app Snap Circuits Electronics kit |
| Create a photo sequence of what a task should look like from start to finish | |
| Organization | |
| Apps to assist with organization for homework and studying | My Homework app Trello SimpleMind |
| Provide organizational system that is simple and allows easy visual access | Organize Homework |
| Section tasks into specific details to make them more manageable (e.g. instead of clean your room, try pick up your shoes, put away clean laundry, etc.) | |
| Create an electronic to do list with reminder alerts | |
| Create a picture checklist of tasks to accomplish for each segment of the day | |
| Shifting / Transitions | |
| Take a break when stuck | |
| Introduce a transition activity to assist with changing from a much enjoyed play activity to a work activity | Example: do a small puzzle, mazes, dot-to dot, or color a picture at the table, then introduce the work activity |
| Designate a set time or end point to work on each item to help transition more easily from one item to the next | |
| Motivation | |
| Schedule weekly meeting with teacher to gain confidence in talking with an adult and asking questions | |
| Encourage to set goals, identify specifics to attain a goal, and a way to check-in with someone weekly regarding progress toward the goal | |
| Link to something of value | |
| Encourage child to try a task 3 times | |
| Remain in close proximity and engage in tasks together | |
| Assign a mentor for helping with homework completion | |
| Designate target points to accomplish throughout tasks | |
| Help get started on tasks by obtaining child's input for a plan of action | Choiceworks Schedule Board for task completion app |
| Set phone alarm for a specific time to begin and go to a designated place that is removed from other distractions | |
| Use reward apps to help with motivation for doing tasks | ChorePad app |
| Access resources to determine ways to motivate | Learning and Study Strategies Inventory for High School (LASSI-HS) |