The seemingly simple process of doing a homework assignment is actually a series of at least eight tasks:
1) Hearing what the assignment is
2) Writing down the assignment
3) Having the proper materials
4) Making sure the materials travel to the proper destination
5) Knowing how to do (or at least begin) the assignment
6) Doing the assignment
7) Making sure the assignment travels back to school
8) Handing it in!
Students who struggle with organization, attention, and/or processing often require a substantial amount of time in order to successfully accomplish tasks.
An important task to accomplish is to ensure that students know what their homework assignments are. At times they leave class without a full grasp of what is expected of them. It can often take a significant amount of time to make sure students are on the same page. What follows is a snippet of a conversation that reflects the first and second steps of the homework process listed to the left.
?I know that it?s Friday afternoon. I know that you?re tired, but I also know that you need to know what your homework is? I?m trying to understand what happened [in science class]. He gave you these [articles]? He said read them both? He said read one? Were you in class? Do you have any idea? We?re going to say read both, that?s your homework, and you?re both going to write this down, and I?m going to give you both something to write it on.? ? Ms. Oberman, June 2, 2006
