In this episode of “Anti-burnout for English Teachers,” I explore the challenges of getting students to see the bigger picture and the importance of completing assignments in a timely manner. In this episode I share strategies for motivating students to complete assignments. To address my students struggle with procrastination, I’ve emphasized the importance of completing assignments as stepping stones to future tasks and outlines her approaches for both honor and non-honor classes. Let’s explore creative approaches, including time extensions, stations days, and emphasizing the connection between assignments. Tune in to discover effective strategies for motivating students and reducing burnout as an English teacher.
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Table of Contents
Challenges in motivating students to complete assignments
- Students’ resistance to writing required page lengths
- Students’ prioritization of other subjects over English
- Perception that cheating or faking work is easier in English
- Need for grades as motivation
Strategies for motivating students to complete assignments
- Setting achievable goals
– Assigning a specific page length to ensure thorough completion
– Using peer or self-assessments to set personal targets
– Allocating extra time as motivation - Creating engaging activities during class time
– Incorporating stations or rotations to provide specific feedback
– Using scaffolded activities, such as analyzing a graphic novel or incorporating visual imagery
– Making assignments exclusive to those who complete initial tasks - Demonstrating the importance of completing assignments
– Explaining how assignments build upon one another and lead to future success
– Emphasizing the connection between formatives and the summative assessment
– Reinforcing the value of the assignment and its relevance to larger academic goals - Providing support and intervention
– Offering access to missed stations or activities for absent students
– Utilizing intervention time for focused completion of assignments
– Providing additional resources or opportunities for improvement - Avoiding excessive grading for process-based tasks
– Differentiating between grading for completion and grading for skill mastery
– Communicating the value of the assignment without attaching a grade
– Using grades for assignments that require application of skills or specific analysis
Conclusion: Motivating students to complete assignments requires a combination of goal-setting, engaging activities, demonstrating the importance of the assignment, providing support, and finding the balance between assessing process and skill mastery.
Timestamped Overview
00:02:44 Students prioritize other subjects over English homework.
00:06:10 Workshops helped students improve narrative drafts.
00:09:14 Graphic novel assignment emphasized, completed in class.
00:12:46 Late work processed less frequently, discomfort felt. Urgency in students to avoid zeros. Motivation for success through step completion.
00:17:12 Strategy pays off, quiz with engagement, peer accountability.
00:20:37 Multimedia assignments encourage creativity and human touch.
More About Anti-Burnout for English Teachers
Are you wanting a classroom strategy that keeps you energized and joyful but want tools and resources to make teaching high school English more manageable? It’s possible, and I’ll share what I’ve learned through my years of trial and error. Let’s build a better classroom!
