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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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New evidence reveals the best way to motivate students in maths

Students all around the world moan and groan when it comes to maths homework, and even when it’s time for mathematics class.

It’s often seen as one of the most challenging subjects in school, and many students who feel they aren’t good at maths tend to steer away from the subject as soon as they have the choice to do so.

They often go for more arts-based programmes at university-level, believing they won’t have any real need for maths out in the world. But often, these programmes require students to take a maths course or pre-requisite, so you can’t really run away from the subject.

Even in the real world, students from all backgrounds will likely have to do some form of mathematics in their personal or working life.

Disliking maths starts early on, when students aren’t able to build on a strong foundation in the subject, and end up resenting it all the way into adult life.

So how can teachers make maths more interesting to engage young minds to actually like the discipline?

For every student who hates maths, there is one who enjoys the subject and relishes working out problems. What sets them apart? It could be their mindset.

A new study reinforces a long-standing belief that being motivated to do math has to do with the mindset – specifically, the growth mentality.

The growth mindset refers to the belief that students can improve on their intelligence, ability and performance, as opposed to the fixed mindset, which refers to the ideology that one’s talents are already set in stone.

According to InnerDrive , “Years of research have shown that mindset is malleable. This means that by helping students to develop a growth mindset, we can help them to learning more effective and efficient.

So many ways to cultivate your own growth! #sketchnote by @woodard_julie based on @DavidGeurin #edchat #profdev #PD #growthmindset #improvement pic.twitter.com/EOPgiqF4Ti — MindShift (@MindShiftKQED) April 7, 2019

Research has shown that the growth mindset is a legitimate theory, and that people’s mindsets can change over time, but a new experiment shows clear evidence that it really is true when it comes to maths.

A recently-published study in the journal Trends in Neuroscience and Education provided proof that teaching maths through methods that encourage a growth mindset not only motivates students to learn, but also changes the way their brains tackle problems.

Here’s how they came to the conclusion; according to EdWeek , “Researchers from the University of Essex, United Kingdom, used an EEG to track brain activity as college students worked through either standard math problems or those previously shown in research from Stanford University researcher Jo Boaler to encourage a student’s growth mindset.”

Approaches that encourage the growth mindset include having multiple methods, pathways and representations (instead of just one fixed method), giving students opportunities to conduct their own inquiries, asking the problem before teaching the method to solve it, and asking students to explain the math in a visual representation, like a chart.

Other ways include using a task that engages students of both higher and lower math abilities, and asking students to reason out their findings for a particular problem.

Students were not aware they were being tested on their mindsets, as the report stated, “Notably, we do not tell participants what mindset theory is and instead simply investigate whether mindset problems affect reported motivation levels and neural correlates of motivation in learners.”

For students who did the standard math problems, they answered more accurately than those who did the ‘growth mindset’ problems.

However, they showed less interest in completing the test, as opposed to the other students who became more motivated as they worked, in comparison.

The report stated, “We find significant increases in motivation for mindset problems compared to standard problems. We also find significant differences in brain activity in prefrontal EEG asymmetry between problems.

“This provides some of the first evidence that mathematical mindset theory increases motivation (even when participants are not aware of mindset theory), and that this change is reflected in brain activity of learners attempting mathematical problems.”

Grade 3 students @JunctionRoadElementary learning about and discussing what it means to have a growth mindset in mathematics. #CCRCEmath #growthmindset pic.twitter.com/Gpy9LhOXiz — CCRCEMathematics (@CcrceM) April 10, 2019

Helen Hindle, Head of a Maths Department in Rainham, East London, explained the differences between growth mindset and fixed mindset in students.

She wrote on GrowthMindsetMaths , “Pupils with a growth mindset believe that talents can be developed and great abilities can be built over time, view mistakes as a opportunity to develop, are resilient, and believe that effort creates success, and think about how they learn.”

Pupils with a fixed mindset, however, “believe that talent alone create success, are reluctant to take on challenges, prefer to stay in their comfort zone, are fearful of others, think it’s important to look smart in front of others, and believe that talents and abilities are set in stone so you either have them or you don’t.”

If schools are teaching students how to learn maths using a fixed mindset, it’s no wonder so many get demotivated along the way.

So if you’re a teacher struggling to get students motivated in math class, a switch in approach that encourages growth mindset could be just what you need.

And for students who feel they were just not born to do math, don’t give up! Changing the way you do math could change how you feel about the subject and inspire you to have more confidence, and in turn, ace your maths tests!

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Daniel Wong

30 Tips to Stop Procrastinating and Find Motivation to Do Homework

Updated on June 6, 2023 By Daniel Wong 44 Comments

To stop procrastinating on homework, you need to find motivation to do the homework in the first place.

But first, you have to overcome feeling too overwhelmed to even start.

You know what it feels like when everything hits you at once, right?

You have three tests to study for and a math assignment due tomorrow.

And you’ve got a history report due the day after.

You tell yourself to get down to work. But with so much to do, you feel overwhelmed.

So you procrastinate.

You check your social media feed, watch a few videos, and get yourself a drink. But you know that none of this is bringing you closer to getting the work done.

Does this sound familiar?

Don’t worry – you are not alone. Procrastination is a problem that everyone faces, but there are ways around it.

By following the tips in this article, you’ll be able to overcome procrastination and consistently find the motivation to do the homework .

So read on to discover 30 powerful tips to help you stop procrastinating on your homework.

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus  3 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

How to stop procrastinating and motivate yourself to do your homework.

Procrastination when it comes to homework isn’t just an issue of laziness or a lack of motivation .

The following tips will help you to first address the root cause of your procrastination and then implement strategies to keep your motivation levels high.

1. Take a quiz to see how much you procrastinate.

The first step to changing your behavior is to become more self-aware.

How often do you procrastinate? What kinds of tasks do you tend to put off? Is procrastination a small or big problem for you?

To answer these questions, I suggest that you take this online quiz designed by Psychology Today .

2. Figure out why you’re procrastinating.

Procrastination is a complex issue that involves multiple factors.

Stop thinking of excuses for not doing your homework , and figure out what’s keeping you from getting started.

Are you procrastinating because:

• You’re not sure you’ll be able to solve all the homework problems?
• You’re subconsciously rebelling against your teachers or parents?
• You’re not interested in the subject or topic?
• You’re physically or mentally tired?
• You’re waiting for the perfect time to start?
• You don’t know where to start?

Once you’ve identified exactly why you’re procrastinating, you can pick out the tips in this article that will get to the root of the problem.

3. Write down what you’re procrastinating on.

Students tend to procrastinate when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

But you might be surprised to discover that simply by writing down the specific tasks you’re putting off, the situation will feel more manageable.

It’s a quick solution, and it makes a real difference.

Give it a try and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate.

4. Put your homework on your desk.

Here’s an even simpler idea.

Many times, the hardest part of getting your homework done is getting started.

It doesn’t require a lot of willpower to take out your homework and put it on your desk.

But once it’s sitting there in front of you, you’ll be much closer to actually getting down to work.

5. Break down the task into smaller steps.

This one trick will make any task seem more manageable.

For example, if you have a history report to write, you could break it down into the following steps:

• Read the history textbook
• Do online research
• Organize the information
• Create an outline
• Write the introduction
• Write the body paragraphs
• Write the conclusion
• Edit and proofread the report

Focus on just one step at a time. This way, you won’t need to motivate yourself to write the whole report at one go.

This is an important technique to use if you want to study smart and get more done .

6. Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines.

As a follow-up to Point #5, you can further combat procrastination by creating a timeline with specific deadlines.

Using the same example above, I’ve added deadlines to each of the steps:

• Jan 30 th : Read the history textbook
• Feb 2 nd : Do online research
• Feb 3 rd : Organize the information
• Feb 5 th : Create an outline
• Feb 8 th : Write the introduction
• Feb 12 th : Write the body paragraphs
• Feb 14 th : Write the conclusion
• Feb 16 th : Edit and proofread the report

Assigning specific dates creates a sense of urgency, which makes it more likely that you’ll keep to the deadlines.

7. Spend time with people who are focused and hardworking.

Jim Rohn famously said that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

If you hang out with people who are motivated and hardworking, you’ll become more like them.

Likewise, if you hang out with people who continually procrastinate, you’ll become more like them too.

Motivation to do homework naturally increases when you surround yourself with the right people.

So choose your friends wisely. Find homework buddies who will influence you positively to become a straight-A student who leads a balanced life.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! It just means that you and your friends know when it’s time to get down to work and when it’s time to enjoy yourselves.

8. Tell at least two or three people about the tasks you plan to complete.

When you tell others about the tasks you intend to finish, you’ll be more likely to follow through with your plans.

This is called “accountability,” and it kicks in because you want to be seen as someone who keeps your word.

So if you know about this principle, why not use it to your advantage?

You could even ask a friend to be your accountability buddy. At the beginning of each day, you could text each other what you plan to work on that day.

Then at the end of the day, you could check in with each other to see if things went according to plan.

9. Change your environment .

Maybe it’s your environment that’s making you feel sluggish.

When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Or is your distracting computer within easy reach?

If your environment is part of your procrastination problem, then change it.

Sometimes all you need is a simple change of scenery. Bring your work to the dining room table and get it done there. Or head to a nearby café to complete your report.

10. Talk to people who have overcome their procrastination problem.

If you have friends who consistently win the battle with procrastination, learn from their experience.

What was the turning point for them? What tips and strategies do they use? What keeps them motivated?

Find all this out, and then apply the information to your own situation.

11. Decide on a reward to give yourself after you complete your task.

“Planned” rewards are a great way to motivate yourself to do your homework.

The reward doesn’t have to be something huge.

For instance, you might decide that after you finish 10 questions of your math homework, you get to watch your favorite TV show.

Or you might decide that after reading one chapter of your history textbook, you get to spend 10 minutes on Facebook.

By giving yourself a reward, you’ll feel more motivated to get through the task at hand.

12. Decide on a consequence you’ll impose on yourself if you don’t meet the deadline.

It’s important that you decide on what the consequence will be before you start working toward your goal.

As an example, you could tell your younger brother that you’ll give him $1 for every deadline you don’t meet (see Point #6).

Or you could decide that you’ll delete one game from your phone for every late homework submission.

Those consequences would probably be painful enough to help you get down to work, right?

13. Visualize success.

Take 30 seconds and imagine how you’ll feel when you finish your work.

What positive emotions will you experience?

Will you feel a sense of satisfaction from getting all your work done?

Will you relish the extra time on your hands when you get your homework done fast and ahead of time?

This simple exercise of visualizing success may be enough to inspire you to start doing your assignment.

14. Visualize the process it will take to achieve that success.

Even more important than visualizing the outcome is visualizing the process it will take to achieve that outcome.

Research shows that focusing on the process is critical to success. If you’re procrastinating on a task, take a few moments to think about what you’ll need to do to complete it.

Visualize the following:

• What resources you’ll need
• Who you can turn to for help
• How long the task will take
• Where you’ll work on the task
• The joy you’ll experience as you make progress

This kind of visualization is like practice for your mind.

Once you understand what’s necessary to achieve your goal, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get down to work with real focus. This is key to doing well in school .

15. Write down why you want to complete the task.

You’ll be more motivated when you’re clear about why you want to accomplish something.

To motivate yourself to do your homework, think about all the ways in which it’s a meaningful task.

So take a couple of minutes to write down the reasons. Here are some possible ones:

• Learn useful information
• Master the topic
• Enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you’ve completed the task
• Become a more focused student
• Learn to embrace challenges
• Fulfill your responsibility as a student
• Get a good grade on the assignment

16. Write down the negative feelings you’ll have if you don’t complete the task.

If you don’t complete the assignment, you might feel disappointed or discouraged. You might even feel as if you’ve let your parents or your teacher – or even yourself – down.

It isn’t wise to dwell on these negative emotions for too long. But by imagining how you’ll feel if you don’t finish the task, you’ll realize how important it is that you get to work.

17. Do the hardest task first.

Most students will choose to do the easiest task first, rather than the hardest one. But this approach isn’t effective because it leaves the worst for last.

It’s more difficult to find motivation to do homework in less enjoyable subjects.

As Brian Tracy says , “Eat that frog!” By this, he means that you should always get your most difficult task out of the way at the beginning of the day.

If math is your least favorite subject, force yourself to complete your math homework first.

After doing so, you’ll feel a surge of motivation from knowing it’s finished. And you won’t procrastinate on your other homework because it will seem easier in comparison.

(On a separate note, check out these tips on how to get better at math if you’re struggling.)

18. Set a timer when doing your homework.

I recommend that you use a stopwatch for every homework session. (If you prefer, you could also use this online stopwatch or the Tomato Timer .)

Start the timer at the beginning of the session, and work in 30- to 45-minute blocks.

Using a timer creates a sense of urgency, which will help you fight off your urge to procrastinate.

When you know you only have to work for a short session, it will be easier to find motivation to complete your homework.

Tell yourself that you need to work hard until the timer goes off, and then you can take a break. (And then be sure to take that break!)

19. Eliminate distractions.

Here are some suggestions on how you can do this:

• Delete all the games and social media apps on your phone
• Turn off all notifications on your phone
• Mute your group chats
• Archive your inactive chats
• Turn off your phone, or put it on airplane mode
• Put your phone at least 10 feet away from you
• Turn off the Internet access on your computer
• Use an app like Freedom to restrict your Internet usage
• Put any other distractions (like food, magazines and books unrelated to your homework) at the other end of the room
• Unplug the TV
• Use earplugs if your surroundings are noisy

20. At the start of each day, write down the two to three Most Important Tasks (MITs) you want to accomplish.

This will enable you to prioritize your tasks. As Josh Kaufman explains , a Most Important Task (MIT) is a critical task that will help you to get significant results down the road.

Not all tasks are equally important. That’s why it’s vital that you identify your MITs, so that you can complete those as early in the day as possible.

What do you most need to get done today? That’s an MIT.

Get to work on it, then feel the satisfaction that comes from knowing it’s out of the way.

21. Focus on progress instead of perfection.

Perfectionism can destroy your motivation to do homework and keep you from starting important assignments.

Some students procrastinate because they’re waiting for the perfect time to start.

Others do so because they want to get their homework done perfectly. But they know this isn’t really possible – so they put off even getting started.

What’s the solution?

To focus on progress instead of perfection.

There’s never a perfect time for anything. Nor will you ever be able to complete your homework perfectly. But you can do your best, and that’s enough.

So concentrate on learning and improving, and turn this into a habit that you implement whenever you study .

22. Get organized.

Procrastination is common among students who are disorganized.

When you can’t remember which assignment is due when or which tests you have coming up, you’ll naturally feel confused. You’ll experience school- and test-related stress .

This, in turn, will lead to procrastination.

That’s why it’s crucial that you get organized. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Don’t rely on your memory ; write everything down
• Keep a to-do list
• Use a student planner
• Use a calendar and take note of important dates like exams, project due dates, school holidays , birthdays, and family events
• At the end of each day, plan for the following day
• Use one binder or folder for each subject or course
• Do weekly filing of your loose papers, notes, and old homework
• Throw away all the papers and notes you no longer need

23. Stop saying “I have to” and start saying “I choose to.”

When you say things like “I have to write my essay” or “I have to finish my science assignment,” you’ll probably feel annoyed. You might be tempted to complain about your teachers or your school .

What’s the alternative?

To use the phrase “I choose to.”

The truth is, you don’t “have” to do anything.

You can choose not to write your essay; you’ll just run the risk of failing the class.

You can choose not to do your science assignment; you’ll just need to deal with your angry teacher.

When you say “I choose to do my homework,” you’ll feel empowered. This means you’ll be more motivated to study and to do what you ought to.

24. Clear your desk once a week.

Clutter can be demotivating. It also causes stress , which is often at the root of procrastination.

Hard to believe? Give it a try and see for yourself.

By clearing your desk, you’ll reduce stress and make your workspace more organized.

So set a recurring appointment to organize your workspace once a week for just 10 minutes. You’ll receive huge benefits in the long run!

25. If a task takes two minutes or less to complete, do it now.

This is a principle from David Allen’s bestselling book, Getting Things Done .

You may notice that you tend to procrastinate when many tasks pile up. The way to prevent this from happening is to take care of the small but important tasks as soon as you have time.

Here are some examples of small two-minute tasks that you should do once you have a chance:

• Replying to your project group member’s email
• Picking up anything on the floor that doesn’t belong there
• Asking your parents to sign a consent form
• Filing a graded assignment
• Making a quick phone call
• Writing a checklist
• Sending a text to schedule a meeting
• Making an online purchase that doesn’t require further research

26. Finish one task before starting on the next.

You aren’t being productive when you switch between working on your literature essay, social studies report, and physics problem set – while also intermittently checking your phone.

Research shows that multitasking is less effective than doing one thing at a time. Multitasking may even damage your brain !

When it comes to overcoming procrastination, it’s better to stick with one task all the way through before starting on the next one.

You’ll get a sense of accomplishment when you finish the first assignment, which will give you a boost of inspiration as you move on to the next one.

27. Build your focus gradually.

You can’t win the battle against procrastination overnight; it takes time. This means that you need to build your focus progressively.

If you can only focus for 10 minutes at once, that’s fine. Start with three sessions of 10 minutes a day. After a week, increase it to three sessions of 15 minutes a day, and so on.

As the weeks go by, you’ll become far more focused than when you first started. And you’ll soon see how great that makes you feel.

28. Before you start work, write down three things you’re thankful for.

Gratitude improves your psychological health and increases your mental strength .

These factors are linked to motivation. The more you practice gratitude, the easier it will be to find motivation to do your homework. As such, it’s less likely that you’ll be a serial procrastinator.

Before you get down to work for the day, write down three things you’re thankful for. These could be simple things like good health, fine weather, or a loving family.

You could even do this in a “gratitude journal,” which you can then look back on whenever you need a shot of fresh appreciation for the good things in your life.

Either way, this short exercise will get you in the right mindset to be productive.

29. Get enough sleep.

For most people, this means getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. And teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night to function optimally.

What does sleep have to do with procrastination?

More than you might realize.

It’s almost impossible to feel motivated when you’re tired. And when you’re low on energy, your willpower is depleted too.

That’s why you give in to the temptation of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube videos more easily when you’re sleep-deprived.

Here are ways to get more sleep , and sleep better too:

• Create a bedtime routine
• Go to sleep at around the same time every night
• Set a daily alarm as a reminder to go to bed
• Exercise regularly (but not within a few hours of bedtime)
• Make your bedroom as dark as possible
• Remove or switch off all electronic devices before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime
• Use an eye mask and earplugs

30. Schedule appointments with yourself to complete your homework.

These appointments are specific blocks of time reserved for working on a report, assignment, or project. Scheduling appointments is effective because it makes the task more “official,” so you’re more likely to keep the appointment.

For example, you could schedule appointments such as:

• Jan 25 th , 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Math assignment
• Jan 27 th , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Online research for social studies project
• Jan 28 th , 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Write introduction for English essay

Transform homework procrastination into homework motivation

Procrastination is a problem we all face.

But given that you’ve read all the way to here, I know you’re committed to overcoming this problem.

And now that you’re armed with these tips, you have all the tools you need to become more disciplined and focused .

By the way, please don’t feel as if you need to implement all the tips at once, because that would be too overwhelming.

Instead, I recommend that you focus on just a couple of tips a week, and make gradual progress. No rush!

Over time, you’ll realize that your habit of procrastination has been replaced by the habit of getting things done.

Now’s the time to get started on that process of transformation. 🙂

Like this article? Please share it with your friends.

Images: Student and books , Homework , Group of students , Consequences , Why , Writing a list , Organized desk , Gratitude

January 19, 2016 at 11:53 am

Ur tips are rlly helpful. Thnkyou ! 🙂

January 19, 2016 at 1:43 pm

You’re welcome 🙂

August 29, 2018 at 11:21 am

Thanks very much

February 19, 2019 at 1:38 pm

The funny thing is while I was reading the first few steps of this article I was procrastinating on my homework….

November 12, 2019 at 12:44 pm

same here! but now I actually want to get my stuff done… huh

December 4, 2022 at 11:35 pm

May 30, 2023 at 6:26 am

October 25, 2023 at 11:35 am

fr tho i totally was but now I’m actually going to get started haha

June 6, 2020 at 6:04 am

I love your articles

January 21, 2016 at 7:07 pm

Thanks soo much. It’s almost like you could read my mind- when I felt so overwhelmed with the workload heap I had created for myself by procrastination, I know feel very motivated to tackle it out completely and replace that bad habit with the wonderful tips mentioned here! 🙂

January 21, 2016 at 8:04 pm

I’m glad to help 🙂

January 25, 2016 at 3:09 pm

You have shared great tips here. I especially like the point “Write down why you want to complete the task” because it is helpful to make us more motivated when we are clear about our goals

January 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Glad that you found the tips useful, John!

January 29, 2016 at 1:22 am

Thank you very much for your wonderful tips!!! ☺☺☺

January 29, 2016 at 10:41 am

It’s my joy to help, Kabir 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 12:57 pm

Always love your articles. Keep them up 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 1:21 pm

Thanks, Matthew 🙂

February 4, 2016 at 1:40 pm

There are quite a lot of things that you need to do in order to come out with flying colors while studying in a university away from your homeland. Procrastinating on homework is one of the major mistakes committed by students and these tips will help you to avoid them all and make yourself more efficient during your student life.

February 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Completely agreed, Leong Siew.

October 5, 2018 at 12:52 am

Wow! thank you very much, I love it .

November 2, 2018 at 10:45 am

You are helping me a lot.. thank you very much….😊

November 6, 2018 at 5:19 pm

I’m procrastinating by reading this

November 29, 2018 at 10:21 am

January 8, 2021 at 3:38 am

March 3, 2019 at 9:12 am

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! Please keep up your excellent work!

April 12, 2019 at 11:12 am

We should stop procrastinating.

September 28, 2019 at 5:19 pm

Thank you so much for the tips:) i’ve been procrastinating since i started high schools and my grades were really bad “F” but the tips have made me a straight A student again.

January 23, 2020 at 7:43 pm

Thanks for the tips, Daniel! They’re really useful! 😁

April 10, 2020 at 2:15 pm

I have always stood first in my class. But procrastination has always been a very bad habit of mine which is why I lost marks for late submission .As an excuse for finding motivation for studying I would spend hours on the phone and I would eventually procrastinate. So I tried your tips and tricks today and they really worked.i am so glad and thankful for your help. 🇮🇳Love from India🇮🇳

April 15, 2020 at 11:16 am

Well I’m gonna give this a shot it looks and sounds very helpful thank you guys I really needed this

April 16, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! keep up your excellent work! May you give more useful content to us.

May 6, 2020 at 5:03 pm

nice article thanks for your sharing.

May 20, 2020 at 4:49 am

Thank you so much this helped me so much but I was wondering about like what if you just like being lazy and stuff and don’t feel like doing anything and you don’t want to tell anyone because you might annoy them and you just don’t want to add your problems and put another burden on theirs

July 12, 2020 at 1:55 am

I’ve read many short procrastination tip articles and always thought they were stupid or overlooking the actual problem. ‘do this and this’ or that and that, and I sit there thinking I CAN’T. This article had some nice original tips that I actually followed and really did make me feel a bit better. Cheers, diving into what will probably be a 3 hour case study.

August 22, 2020 at 10:14 pm

Nicely explain each tips and those are practical thanks for sharing. Dr.Achyut More

November 11, 2020 at 12:34 pm

Thanks a lot! It was very helpful!

November 15, 2020 at 9:11 am

I keep catching myself procrastinating today. I started reading this yesterday, but then I realized I was procrastinating, so I stopped to finish it today. Thank you for all the great tips.

November 30, 2020 at 5:15 pm

Woow this is so great. Thanks so much Daniel

December 3, 2020 at 3:13 am

These tips were very helpful!

December 18, 2020 at 11:54 am

Procrastination is a major problem of mine, and this, this is very helpful. It is very motivational, now I think I can complete my work.

December 28, 2020 at 2:44 pm

Daniel Wong: When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Me: Nope, my super-comfortable bed is one step away. (But I seriously can’t study anywhere else. If I go to the dining table, my mum would be right in front of me talking loudly on the phone with colleagues and other rooms is an absolute no. My mum doesn’t allow me to go outside. Please give me some suggestions. )

September 19, 2022 at 12:14 pm

I would try and find some noise cancelling headphones to play some classical music or get some earbuds to ignore you mum lol

March 1, 2021 at 5:46 pm

Thank you very much. I highly appreciate it.

May 12, 2023 at 3:38 am

This is great advice. My little niece is now six years old and I like to use those nice cheap child friendly workbooks with her. This is done in order to help her to learn things completely on her own. I however prefer to test her on her own knowledge however. After a rather quick demonstration in the lesson I then tend to give her two simple questions to start off with. And it works a treat. Seriously. I love it. She loves it. The exam questions are for her to answer on her own on a notepad. If she can, she will receive a gold medal and a box of sweets. If not she only gets a plastic toy. We do this all the time to help her understand. Once a week we spend up to thirty minutes in a math lesson on this technique for recalling the basic facts. I have had a lot of great success with this new age technique. So I’m going to carry on with it for now.

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How to Do Math Homework Fast (An Expert Guide)

• Post author By Ankit
• February 5, 2024

“Math homework” are the two words that can worry students. As a student, finishing your math homework quickly and correctly is important for getting good grades. 

However, spending hours working on hard equations or proofs can seem challenging. The good news is that with the right tips, your math homework doesn’t have to take forever.

But, getting through math homework quickly while learning the material is important for doing well in school. Whether you’re studying algebra, geometry, calculus or more, this post will give you plans to work smarter, not harder. 

Using these time-saving tips, you can stay on top of your daily homework and have more time for other subjects, activities, or relaxing!

This blog post will provide tips on ‘how to do your math homework fast”.

Also Read: Unveiling 5 Reasons Why Math is Important

Table of Contents

Importance Of Math Homework For Students

Math homework is crucial in helping students develop critical academic and life skills. By regularly assigning math homework, teachers provide students with many benefits that will serve them well both in and out of the classroom.

• Practices What Was Learned in Class

Doing homework allows students to practice and review the math concepts they learned that day. This helps them to learn better.

• Shows What Students Don’t Understand Yet

Homework shows students which math areas they don’t fully understand. This allows them to ask queries and get help with concepts they’re struggling with.

• Improves Problem-Solving Abilities

Math homework contains word problems and other questions that need critical thinking. Working through these helps students get better at studying facts and solving problems.

• Teaches Time Management

Regular math homework teaches students how to manage their time and be responsible for finishing work alone.

• Gives Feedback on Progress

Graded homework shows students how they’re doing. It shows them what they’ve mastered and where they need more practice.

• Builds Work Habits

Finishing homework consistently builds good work habits in students at an early age. This valuable skill will help them throughout life.

• Improves Academic Performance

No doubt, submitting homework regularly can help you do better in school than those who skip it often. 

• Personalized Learning

Educators can personalize homework to focus on areas where individual students need more work. This personalized practice improves math skills.

• Prepare for More Homework Later

Regular math homework prepares students for the larger amounts of homework in middle, high school, and beyond. It helps build endurance.

So, from the importance of math homework, it is clear that it helps students learn vital skills that will help them in the future.

7 Tips For Setting A Math Homework Routine

Math homework can seem overwhelming, but having a constant routine can help you stay on top of it. Setting aside regular time to focus just on math work can make it feel more manageable.

• Find a calm place to work with few things to distract you.
• Choose a specific time every day to do your homework.
• Break problems down into smaller steps.
• Take short breaks when stuck to clear your head.
• Review notes and examples from class before starting.
• Have reference books handy to look up concepts.
• Reward yourself when finished to stay motivated.

Thus, staying organized, breaking problems into smaller pieces, and giving your brain breaks will make your study time more productive. However, having the right materials nearby can help avoid wasting time searching. Most importantly, build in rewards for completing work to develop positive habits.

Top 10 Mistakes Every Student Makes With Their Math Homework 

Here are the top mistakes that every student makes with their math homework:

• Not showing the steps used to solve problems
• Skipping important steps in solutions
• Making simple calculation errors due to working too fast
• Not including measurements in the final answer
• Misinterpreting what the actual question is asking
• Using the wrong formulas to solve problems
• Having messy and unclear handwritten work
• Not confirming solutions make logical sense
• Entering test answers inaccurately from faulty work
• Delaying starting assignments until the deadline is close.

Now, let’s move on to the tips to do your math homework faster.

How to Do Math Homework Fast?

Here are the top tips to help you do math homework faster.

1. Learn Main Ideas First

Before solving many math problems, learn the main ideas and formulas. This gives you a solid base before applying the knowledge through practice problems. Learning the concepts makes math easier.

2. Break Down Big Problems

With a big, complex problem, don’t just dive in. First, break it into smaller, easier parts to tackle one step at a time.

Identify the different pieces involved and map out the logic to solve it. Small bites make big problems less scary and easier to understand.

3. Focus on Key Details

Don’t get overwhelmed by all the formulas and details in math. First, aim to grasp the core 20% of concepts and patterns that make up 80% of problems.

Focus on these key ideas is a great point. The smaller details can come later. Don’t let minor stuff bury the big stuff.

4. Work Backward

If stuck on a problem, work it backward from the given solution. Identify the last step required and the one before that, and slowly reverse engineering the solution. Mapping from the end can tell the right series of steps.

5. Look for Patterns

Carefully look for patterns and similarities between problems. If you just used a certain method or formula, see if a similar problem scenario exists where applying the same technique works.

Patterns usually exist if you think structurally about the relationships. Use what you know about the math.

6. Focus on Important Concepts

Not all concepts are equal. Spend more time understanding the 20% of concepts, formulas, and principles that make up 80% of problems.

Identify these core ideas and focus on fully grasping them. More practice reveals which concepts often appear and are essential. Don’t forget to prioritize those for maximum benefit.

7. Review Class Notes

Don’t just use the textbook. Also, review notes from lectures and examples done in class. The teacher may have highlighted specific ideas, explained concepts, or provided useful tips not in the readings. Studying your notes reinforces what was directly taught.

8. Explain Concepts Out Loud

Explaining concepts verbally to yourself or others forces you to articulate your understanding in words. If you can thoroughly explain an idea in your own words, you will likely grasp it.

If you struggle to explain, that signals fuzzy comprehension needing more review. Speaking out loud about concepts helps to solidify them in our minds.

9. Take Breaks When Stuck

When stuck on a problem for a while, continuing to bang your head against the wall is often fruitless. Recognize when you’ve hit a roadblock and take a break.

Shift your attention before returning to the problem with a fresh perspective. Thus, forcing yourself to keep going often leads to frustration.

10. Stay Motivated

Solving math problems can require lots of time and repetition before concepts click. Understanding progress often happens slowly over time, not all at once.

To stay motivated, it’s important to celebrate small achievements along the way. Periodically reward your efforts, and soon you’ll complete another assignment.

11. Study in Groups

Study with classmates to discuss concepts, compare notes, and work on practice problems together. Learning together provides extra views you wouldn’t get studying solo. Teaching others also supports your learning. Do not forget to make use of most group study options.

12. Find Alternate Explanations

If textbook or class explanations don’t make sense, look for alternate presentations of the material online.

A fresh explanation that better fits your learning style can greatly help comprehension. Finding new metaphors, visuals, analogies, or approaches is good. There are many ways to share the same idea.

13. Learn Shortcuts and Tricks

Learn handy shortcuts, tricks, and estimations that make solving certain problems faster and easier. For example, approximating long division using easier rounding and multiplication. Look for simplifying plans that don’t sacrifice accuracy but do increase efficiency.

14. Make Summaries

Make flashcards , charts, or cheat sheets summarizing the most important formulas, theorems, equations, properties, etc. Keep these quick references handy when doing homework to refresh your memory. Quickly looking up information saves time versus struggling to recall it.

15. Use Math Tools

Use available math apps, online calculators, graphing calculators, equation editors, etc., that automate, visualize, or assist with math problems.

Let helpful technology tools do some of the work when appropriate, like graphing complex equations on a calculator.

16. Use a Timer

Use a timer to pace yourself or create timed challenge sessions to get through homework efficiently. For example, set a 25-minute timer and see how many chapter review questions you can complete.

As we all know, time limit boosts productivity. Take short breaks between focused work sessions.

17. Be Well-Rested

Don’t do important math work when tired or drained. Problems that normally make sense suddenly seem impossible. Ensure you’re awake and focused before attempting math, especially cumulative material. Adequate rest enables better understanding and memory.

18. Do Hardest Problems First

When your mind is fresh, like in the mornings, do the hardest homework problems first. After easier problems drain mental energy, complex concepts and multi-step issues become more difficult.

Prioritize tough stuff first while attention is highest. Momentum will then help you push through the rest.

Thus, follow these tips and do your math homework quickly.

Many students have problems completing their math homework on time. It can be frustrating and make you feel overwhelmed. But some simple plans can help you get through them more efficiently.

In this piece, we share a few practical tips to help you finish math work faster. Applying these tips can improve your productivity, understanding, and grades.

Rather than struggling alone, try out some of our advice. Little changes to how you approach homework could make a big difference in staying on top of class. With more time and less stress, you can aim higher and truly absorb what you’re learning.

But by working smarter, not just harder, you can master the subject and maintain your schedule. Stay positive and be proactive with these solutions. In no time, you’ll breeze through math work, feeling focused and in control.

How can I speed up my math homework without sacrificing accuracy?

Prioritize understanding the concepts first. Break problems down into smaller steps. Focus on the key ideas and practice lots. You will get faster with familiarity, but keeping things accurate should stay important.

What’s the most effective way to organize my math homework to save time?

Start by reviewing the work to find the easier and harder problems. Do the easier stuff first to feel good and confident. Group similar problems together. Use tools like coloring or highlighting to keep things visually neat.

How do I avoid getting stuck on one problem for too long?

Set a time limit for each problem and move on if it passes. Mark the tricky stuff and revisit later. Use materials like textbooks and online tutorials, or ask peers or teachers for help. Sometimes, taking a short break and coming back fresh also helps.

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How to Find Motivation to Do Math Homework

Almost every student has their own issues when it comes to doing homework. Even brilliant students who are always excited about learning sometimes want to escape the practice. But like any other thing, finding your inspiration and setting goals is critical in achieving success.  The following guide takes you through how to motivate yourself when doing math homework.

• Reward yourself

Rewarding yourself after successfully completing a task is one of the best ways to motivate yourself. So, whenever you have a marathon of homework to complete, set a reasonable time to complete it, and promise yourself something special when you meet that deadline. Rewarding yourself can be relative depending on the person involved and the volume of the task. However, it can be as simple as taking 30 minutes off to play your favorite game, getting a drink with friends, or watching your favorite movie/series.

• Give yourself a nice treat before work

Don’t wait until accomplishment before you reward yourself; before the start of work, be in the best of mood. You can get inspired by enjoying nice music, eating well, or probably watch some funny videos. But don’t allow these activities to eat into your working time. According to research in Japan, watching pictures or videos of newly born animals can inspire you much before every work.

• Get a study buddy

To prevent getting bored or loneliness from eating you up, it is advisable to get a study buddy with is at your level or above you. Keeping each other company enhances efficiency and even quality of work, as you can share ideas along the line. Note: always look for a serious person who is ambitious and focused to prevent adding salts to injury. If the person you choose to study with is not serious, he will cause distraction or even talk you out from doing your mathemthics homework.

• Choose a study environment

Many students usually overlook the importance of having to choose a befitting place for doing your homework. Find the best study environment free from distractions and serene enough to keep you going. For example, instead of sitting at your desk for several hours being bored by your math homework, form a study group and make studying math a fun process.

• Work on your most productive time

Everyone has a particular time they become productive. Some work best in the dawn or morning, while others prefer working in the afternoon or evening. Which is yours? Knowing your most productive period enhances your ability to stay focus and become self-motivated to complete a task.

• Remind yourself why you are in school

You are in s school for a purpose. Apart from kids who attend school because their parents say so, every adult has an ambition and aim for schooling. Different people pursue education for various purposes, so what is yours? Is it for career advancement? Better career opportunity? Broaden your knowledge? Or you help the society you are living in. Always remind yourself of that ambition to keep you going.

• Listen to music

You may be wondering why music, and wouldn’t it distract you? Well, the answer is, it depends on the type of music you listen to. When working on your assignments, you can listen to classical or motivational music. It keeps you internally motivated as you do your task.

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Tips on how to get better grades in math, how to stay motivated at the end of the school year, contact info.

In my opinion

Motivation in Mathematics (and any other subject!). How does it work?

Are students motivated to do Mathematics? Does making Mathematics more relevant lead to higher levels of motivation? Do teachers kill a child’s curiosity for Mathematics? These are questions that have been circulating in educating for a while. It seems, however, that we struggle to answer these questions of motivation.

Before I attempt to answer these questions, it is important to define motivation. Motivation is best known as intrinsic motivation. This type of motivation is the highest quality motivation because it is integrated into the self – a part of identity. For example, I am sure you have heard someone utter words like ‘I have a maths brain’ or ‘I am a maths person’. These types of statements indicate that Mathematics is a part of their identity, and they freely choose to do math. The idea of choosing to do something freely characterises motivation – when alternative options are available, a person freely chooses to engage in a certain behaviour.

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Despite free choice being central to the idea of motivation, I might start with non-examples of free choice. Non-examples of free choice can be called controlled motivation. Controlled motivation means that students might still do Math, but given the choice, they would not freely choose Math. For example, controlled motivation might be a student doing math because their parents have set rewards for getting an A, or set some form of punishment if Math is not completed to a high standard. Another example might be if this student is in a high performing class, and they pressure themselves to keep up with their peers, even though they may not be able. Yet, another example might be if a student puts pressure on themselves to be the best at Math because they have high expectations of themselves. Despite all these examples, there is one underpinning factor: Math is not chosen freely, it is attached to a fear-based mechanism – a form of control. But do students ever freely choose to do Math?

Freely chosen means to be chosen, despite other alternatives being available. This is important because this is an indication that someone is motivated, and will continue to engage in that activity, but to reach this level of motivation is multifaceted. Recently, an article by Greg Ashman stated, “The only way to build long-term motivation is to teach a subject really well so that students start to grasp it.” This statement is accurate, but there is more to being motivated than only competence. Motivation also includes autonomy. Autonomy is when ideas are accepted, manifesting in an outward behaviour. For example, if a teacher said to a student “Would you like to do Math? The student might respond “sure”. This, while simplistic, shows that autonomy is not always choice, but accepting the ideas of others, without feeling pressure. IN addition to autonomy and competence, relatedness also informs motivation, as meaningful connections with others can support motivation. This might include best friends doing Math together even though one may not be disinterested in completing exercises. Having a deep and meaningful connection with peers or a teacher can help internalise Math for a person. In saying this, without all three elements – competence, autonomy, and relatedness, motivation for Math is likely to continue to wane.

Are students motivated to do Mathematics?

It depends. How have they organised their Math experiences and how far does this go into their identity? Understanding how previous experiences of Math can help understand why student’s may like, or not like, Math. Experiences are layers, layers that connect with each other, not only like a puzzle connecting pieces, but like a 3-dimensional puzzle connect with previously completed puzzles as well. Subsequently, if these experiences are negative, then it would be difficult to maintain motivation because the experiences that have been connected in a student’s mental model tells them that in the past, they have been unsuccessful in Math and it is unlikely to be different this time. Alternatively, if these experiences are positive, then it is likely that this student would be motivated to do Math and they would demonstrate persistence because their experiences tell them they will eventually be successful.

Moreover, I see in classrooms that students who are competent, have friends in class, and accept doing Math without feeling pressured, are highly motivated. This type of student is more likely to do Math homework, have better Math problem-solving strategies, and manage their emotions around Math better than others.

Does making Mathematics more relevant lead to higher levels of motivation?

Controversially, I would argue no. This is because relevance is personal. Relevance can only be determined by the recipient of instruction, not the person delivering the instruction. Accordingly, this argument might quickly digress into the personalisation of relevancy for Math, but this can be an unreasonable load for teachers. For students who do not see the use of Math in their proximal environment, it is probably unlikely that focusing on relevance or ‘real world’ math would be effective. I would also argue that pressuring students to do Math because they require it for daily experiences like purchasing food may have an unintended effect of undermining their motivation to do Math. The alternative, however, is not giving students the choice if they want to do Math, but maybe a change of rationale concerning the need for Math might be beneficial.

Do teachers kill curiosity for doing Math?

Curiosity is an inherent tendency of human beings, but if the conditions do not support curiosity, then it is likely to diminish curiosity and vitality. This starts before students reach school, and continues as student progress through school, and beyond that. The curiosity and joy for Math can diminish based on a range of factors some related to teacher, parents, the proximal social environment, and a child’s personality. Despite these factors, Math motivation can improve if teachers and parents work together to support students in becoming competent, foster deep and meaningful connections, and allow students to endorse doing Math.

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5 Ways to Motivate Students to Learn Math Effectively

Students generally feel less anxious and more excited to explore concepts when they connect the math they’re learning to real-life situations.

Teaching high school math is no easy feat. Stress factors such as students’ math phobia and anxiety, gaps in math skills, and stress associated with adapting to the technological environment have considerably impacted students’ and educators’ physical, emotional, and mental health.

Reflecting on teaching my math students, I focus on the question “Why do I want to teach?” to inspire and motivate my students to share my passion for math. Here are five strategies I’ve used to encourage students to learn math more effectively in our classroom.

1. Transformational Teaching

Teaching has the potential to transform the lives of students as they look for opportunities for growth. This transformation happens in my classroom when my students feel less anxious about math and more excited to explore concepts by connecting them to real-life situations. Using hands-on activities and experiential learning to engage with my students, I encourage them to collaborate with their peers, build their math skills, and think more critically about what they’ve learned.

When my students were learning about finance, interest, and percentage, for example, I designed a project where my budding entrepreneurs would work on a dream project, like starting a car garage, a restaurant, or a gym. First, the students wrote a proposal for a project to consider the loan they needed for it, the interest they would be paying, and how long it would take to make a profit.

It was interesting to note how they created models and worked on mathematical calculations to finance their project. I also learned several ways to present finances and appreciated the strategies that students came up with to make a profit as soon as possible. At the end of the project, the whole class celebrated the accomplishment of the task with a pizza party.

2. Engage and Encourage

Students are always looking to be inspired to reach their fullest potential and achieve their learning goals. I use visual aids and activities to differentiate individual student needs and encourage student choices to show their understanding. I use graphic organizers such as KWL charts to create a visual of what we are about to learn, making connections with prior knowledge to current learning and outcomes. Students also utilize the Frayer Model to reinforce key ideas about a concept, such as slope, by defining it and sharing ways to calculate it.

Fridays are extra-fun in my classroom, where my students are engaged in exploration and rigor with creative problem-solving. Making learning relevant and building connections help me create an environment where my students feel inspired to express their thinking and participate by sharing their ideas openly.

I use discussions in my classroom to explore math concepts and understand my students’ interests. During one of those conversations, I had a group of students who shared their interest in baseball. With the help of my peers, I was able to arrange a field trip for my students to watch a baseball game. This special Math Day included presentations from several speakers in the sports industry showcasing how math is used everywhere in professional baseball, from the pitcher’s average, statistics behind the quality of the pitcher, to the dimensions of the field.

The students enjoyed the whole experience and got a taste of how they could connect their math learning with baseball. Students build positive relationships through the activities that interest them and help them collaborate, feel respected, and participate without the fear of put-downs.

3. Acknowledge and Be Aware

Building on students’ strengths and working on their weaknesses help create an awareness of where my students are and what they need to do to improve. My math classroom relies on learning from making mistakes and falling forward. I use falling forward as one of the strategies from the SAFE framework that I have designed and introduced in a previous article.

As we explore a new concept, I explain that making mistakes is a critical milestone to deeper understanding. I model failure, turn it into a teachable moment about the value of making mistakes, and benefit from a constructive discussion to allow students to learn from this. It is vital for us, as educators, to show our students that when we are learning something new, it is OK to struggle, fail, try again, fail again, and then succeed. I use positive feedback, praise, and compliments to encourage my students to try something challenging. It is always amazing to see the “aha” moments that the students get when they acknowledge and become aware of problems and how to solve them.

4. Collaborate and Connect

I use cooperative learning tools to foster tolerance, develop communication skills, and promote deeper understanding, such as mixing diverse learners in small groups. I pay close attention when I set up groups and guide students to understand their responsibilities, learn from their peers, and treat their peers with respect and fairness.

I used the strategy called “ Try It, Talk It, Color It, Check It ” to do a unit review where students first tried some problems, discussed them in breakout rooms, then used a Padlet to share their work. Students were engaged and worked together to solve problems. Math scavenger hunts are a fun and exciting game to play to explore a concept more deeply.

5. Hold Students Accountable for Their Success

Student accountability matters even more now with remote education, as they need to be self-motivated and responsible for their learning. I focus on building social and emotional tools in my classroom using the Heartfulness approach to create a culture of trust and positivity. These tools help develop students’ self-esteem and confidence and prepare them to take risks in creative problem-solving.

Students receive a weekly checklist with clear expectations and learning goals. I collect student surveys to get feedback and learn how to best support my students’ diverse needs. I use self-reflection to allow my students to assess their progress, reflect on their learning, and seek supporting tools to improve their understanding.

The essential components of excellence in teaching math include being flexible, developing creativity, encouraging fun, and providing an engaging environment that connects learning to real-world meaning. Then every student will love to dream big and be a lifelong learner.

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How to Motivate Yourself to Do Homework

We all know the drill: homework can be a real drag sometimes. It’s tough staring down a mountain of assignments and not knowing where to even start. And let’s not even talk about those last minute all-nighters just to hit ‘submit’ right before class starts.

Feeling stuck and uninspired to do your homework? Get scrolling for quick and easy strategies to motivate yourself to do homework!

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1. Break It Down

If your to-do list seems too large, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Have 10 chapters of your textbook to read? Try reading the first paragraph only. Need to write a 1000-word paper? Start by writing the first sentence. Treat each chunk as a mini-goal that can be easily achieved. Soon enough, you’ll be surprised by how much work you’re able to accomplish already, and the momentum will keep you going.

Looking for a way to stay on top of your workload? Here are some of the best Notion assignment trackers to help you out.

2. Develop Routine & Structure

When motivation fails, discipline takes over. By making doing homework a habit, it’s easier to jump back into your study routine and get your tasks done. Start by creating a daily schedule that works for you and do your best to stick with it. Make use of digital planners, grade calculators, and assignment trackers to make doing homework streamlined and more efficient.

Check out some of the best Notion templates for students that you can incorporate into your work routine!

3. Elevate Your Study Space with Aesthetic Tools

The right visuals can be game-changers for your work sessions. A captivating background or well-designed tool can make the difference between slogging through your work and truly enjoying it. When your workspace is a feast for the eyes, you’re naturally more inclined to hunker down and get things done.

Whether it’s a Pomodoro timer set against a Parisian café backdrop or a virtual escape to Mount Fuji, aesthetics can turn your study grind into something you actually look forward to.

If you’re on the hunt for a one-stop-shop for all your study aesthetics, give Flocus a try. It’s a free browser-based productivity dashboard with customizable Pomodoro timers, inspiring quotes, and personalized greetings. Flocus brings a bit of romance to your daily grind. For more options, check out our full round-up of aesthetic study websites .

4. Form a Study Group

Sometimes, all we need is that extra push from our classmates who are doing the same thing to keep us motivated to finish our homework. Share your concerns, bounce ideas off each other, and lean on one another for support. That said, forming a strong support group early on in your school life can really make all the difference.

Not in the mood to meet up with friends at the library? Join the Flocus Discord server with thousands of productivity lovers and students to help you stay accountable and motivated.

5. Connect to Your “Why”

If you’re feeling unmotivated while sitting on a pile of math problems, why not try thinking about the bigger picture? Reflect on how mastering this specific topic can contribute to larger goals that you might have. The homework you’re doing might seem insignificant right now, but it’s slowly building the way for future successes in life.

6. Progress over Perfection

One of the main reasons why students usually procrastinate doing homework is the desire to do it perfectly — but this unhealthy need for perfection might be what’s killing your productivity and motivation. If you’ve spent the last three hours trying to curate the perfect plan to do your assignment, you’re probably doing it wrong. Just get started, and let the momentum guide you! You can always come back and improve later on.

7. Look for Inspiration

Reading self help books, watching study vlogs, or listening to podcasts are all effective means to learn how to stay motivated and boost your productivity. Don’t worry, motivation also often comes from the most unexpected places — a random sticky note, an unexpected text message, or a line from your favorite TV show character.

Check out our curated list of the best study motivation movies to get going with a dose of inspiration!

8. Rest When Needed

Knowing you have loads of schoolwork coming is stressful enough. Maximize the long breaks between Pomodoro sessions by grabbing a snack, doing breathing exercises , stretching, or taking a nap. Having a good amount of rest is a part of being productive and staying motivated.

That wraps up some of our best homework motivation strategies! With these techniques at your disposal, we can only hope that those long overdue assignments will become a thing of the past.

Did we miss any strategies to stay motivated while doing homework? Which strategy is your favorite to use? Let us know in the comments below!

Gridfiti is supported by its audience – when you buy something using the retail links in our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Read more  about our affiliate disclaimer.

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Studying Math: Get Motivated!

As fall approaches, and the beginning of a new school year for many, let’s take a look at some of our past discussions of how to study math. We’ll start with some perspectives on being motivated to study, since you are not likely to do well if you hate math (as so many students tell us when they write to us). How can you get interested in the subject?

Find out how interesting math really is

Doctor Ian has often answered these questions. The following is a very long answer, in which he put together many of his thoughts on it; I will only excerpt a few parts to get the flavor of what he has to say. You will want to read the whole thing!

The question, in 2001, was a simple one:

I suppose that could be answered as it stands, but it wouldn’t be as helpful as turning it on its head, as indicated by the title. Doctor Ian took that challenge:

Some students, given this request, have written back in response, which led to some good interactions. We still welcome such discussions.

Take charge of your own education

He gives advice about finding books that work for you — not everyone benefits from the same kind of teaching.

Play the game!

Almost two years later, another student asked for an explanation of the last sentence. Here is a small part of Doctor Ian’s answer:

Here are some other answers to related questions of motivation:

After writing this post, I ran across an article that may be important for you if you think your interests are what they are, and you can’t change them:  Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it . This is another aspect of the “growth mindset” concept, which we have discussed in  my post on avoiding careless mistakes .

Why should I care about math?

A common question along the same lines is, Why do I need to learn this? A good answer can help motivate you. Here is a question from 2007:

We have given specific answers relating to particular topics in math, but I answered the bigger question:

You never know

It’s a great achievement of humanity, it teaches you to think.

Sometimes when a student in one of my college’s “social” majors asks me why they need to learn math, I tell them that their math course may be the one course they take in which there are right and wrong answers; they need the experience of being required to think carefully.

Advice for teachers

Let’s close with another question answered by Doctor Ian, this one from a teacher in 2008:

As he often does, Doctor Ian turned the question around:

This is why specific answers to such questions are so hard. We all know that higher-level math is not needed by most people in most of the things they do.

So why study it? Because of the bigger picture:

These techniques are things we try to demonstrate frequently in our answers, modeling for students how to think logically and creatively.

I should add that for many students, the particulars of what they learn are very important in their future. We’ve had many people write and say, “I wish I’d paid attention back in algebra class, because I need it now!”

For detailed answers about the uses of math, see our FAQ,

On the other hand, much of what is commonly taught is not what should be taught. For some personal thoughts on changing the curriculum to better match up with real needs, see

2 thoughts on “Studying Math: Get Motivated!”

I don´t have the drive to do my algebra homework and because of that I have been failing that class for 9 months. I need help

Hi, Clayton.

The best way we can help is with a private conversation. Please use the link Ask a Question , and tell us more about your situation.

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How to find motivation to do homework

How to find motivation to do homework ? Struggling to motivate yourself to finish homework? You’re not alone! This article has strategies to help you stay motivated and reach goals. Create a positive atmosphere and set realistic expectations . Learn how to motivate yourself and find happiness in studying.

Why is Homework Motivation Important?

Strong Homework Motivation is key for academic success. Parents and teachers must foster the right mindset and goal-setting skills . Create a supportive environment at home and engage students in class through group work and quizzes.

Homework should be viewed as an opportunity , not an obstacle. Incorporate positive reinforcement such as regular study sessions and breaks in between. With work ethic and repetition, success will come with time! Plus, you’ll be able to brag to your parents and teachers.

The benefits of being motivated to do homework

Kicking off the article, motivating oneself for doing homework brings loads of advantages. Productivity increases, thus saving time and creating extra leisure. Plus, understanding becomes easier due to the release of positive hormones.

Apart from good grades, essential life skills are acquired such as setting goals and perseverance. Awards and incentives for excellent performance become attractive too, building character and preparing for future endeavors.

It’s key to have a positive outlook towards schoolwork, rather than seeing it as dull or a chore. This will help to pursue education, rather than just doing it out of obligation.

Evidence shows that completing homework has advantages apart from just following assignments. This could be getting accepted to a university or even a promotion. So, it’s vital to never ignore coursework and work on each learning opportunity.

Not doing your homework is like forgetting your parachute on a skydiving trip.

The consequences of not being motivated to do homework

Procrastination can result in unfortunate consequences for students. Poor grades, missed assignments, and deadline delays cause disappointment and anxiety, leading to a downward spiral of bad academic performance. Not being motivated to do homework can also lead to inconsistent learning outcomes and have a negative effect on career goals. To combat this, setting achievable goals and breaking tasks into smaller steps is essential.

Seeking support, collaborating with peers, keeping a study journal, practicing time management skills, and creating an appropriate learning environment can help boost motivation. Studies have shown that poor academic performance is linked to increased stress levels, leading to anxiety and depression.

Educators should provide conducive learning environments, offer resources such as counseling services, and develop positive relationships with students. Promoting self-reflection and goal-setting activities during student-teacher interactions can effectively support students’ motivation to complete their homework tasks successfully.

Understanding the Challenges: Common Obstacles to Homework Motivation

Homework tasks can seem intimidating for students. Finding motivation is tough. Common roadblocks like distractions, disinterest, and low energy can make students unmotivated to finish their homework. This leads to procrastination, bad grades, and poor academic performance.

To keep motivated for homework, focus on time management, setting goals, and staying focused . Ban distractions for effective studying. Set specific goals for each task; this will help you stay motivated throughout the assignment. Ask teachers or peers for guidance if you struggle.

Emotional distress and cognitive constraints are other obstacles to motivation. Stressful life events can affect schoolwork. Counseling services can help ease the burden.

Pro Tip: Plan rewards after completing homework tasks. This creates a positive feedback loop for future assignments. Without goals, your motivation is lost.

Setting Clear Goals: The First Step to Finding Motivation

To boost motivation for homework, set SMART goals . These should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound . Write them down and keep track of progress. Acknowledge what it would feel like when completed and recognize the reasons behind doing the work.

Incentives are key to increasing overall motivation. Edward Deci and Richard Ryan of Rochester University found that extrinsic motivators such as praise don’t motivate intrinsically. So incentives are important for students to foster intrinsic motivation and achieve success.

Who needs a five-star hotel? Transform your study space into a motivational spa retreat!

Creating a Positive Study Environment: Enhancing Motivation through Space

To boost motivation in building a homework routine, create an ideal study space. It should be uplifting and inspiring. A good study area helps maintain focus, increase productivity, and reduce stress.

Motivational posters and fresh flowers make for an aesthetically pleasing space. Plus, a clean and organized workspace aids concentration and decreases distractions. Clutter causes uneasiness and hinders interest.

Personalize your workspace for comfortability and engagement. Dim lights or soft music can make studying easier.

Pro Tip: Add personal touches or rearrange furniture to shift from boring monotony to an encouraging atmosphere. Need some motivation? Look at your grades and let it spark your enthusiasm!

Finding Your Motivation Triggers: Discovering What Inspires You

Discovering what inspires you is essential to stay motivated and productive when doing homework. Unearth the factors inhibiting motivation. Find Your Inspiration Incentives: Uncover What Revs You Up!

Here are some tips to help you:

• Set clear objectives. Think about why a course was chosen, what interests or people drew attention? Create daily goal checklists for priority tasks.
• Identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Understand learning style via self-assessment surveys. Tailor study approach, don’t use common methods subjectively chosen.
• A fellow student shared their experience of struggling with homework motivation. Various online strategies used without reflecting on suitability. Reflect on psychological needs, tailor rewarding activities. Going for runs to release endorphins, happier moods to work hard! Motivation for homework is like a unicorn, hard to find!

Tips for finding homework motivation

Struggling to find motivation for homework? Here are effective techniques:

• Create a routine . Set aside the same time each day and use it solely to focus on work.
• Break assignments into smaller tasks .
• Find an accountability partner . Share progress with someone who cares.
• Use positive reinforcement . Reward yourself after completing each task.
• Remind yourself of your goals and stay motivated .
• Parents, nagging won’t help . Promise ice cream after they finish!

The role of parents in homework motivation

Parents: to enhance your child’s enthusiasm for homework, motivate them! You have an influential role in boosting motivation. Encouragement, structure and interest in their academic progress can all help.

Set a routine for daily assignments and offer rewards or incentives when they finish on time or get good grades. Use positive reinforcement such as praise instead of criticism.

Each day, ask your child about schoolwork. This promotes diligence and shows education is important to the family.

Show them different ways homework is beneficial. Ask them to contribute ideas on topics they want to learn more about. Create a deeper passion for learning.

Establish healthy routines. Demonstrate enthusiasm for academic mastery, not strictness and punishment. Improve the chances of preventing missing out on future opportunities that higher education offers.

A Call-to-action technique like “fear of being left behind” demands immediate attention from parents to incentivize kids passionately towards successful completion of homework tasks. Teachers can’t always motivate us, but at least they can provide plenty of material for procrastination.

The role of teachers in homework motivation

Teachers have a big part to play in motivating students to do their homework. By offering clear explanations, feedback and a positive classroom environment, they can inspire kids to tackle their assignments with excitement.

Personal help like one-on-one consultations or mentorship can help those who are having trouble, building their confidence and making them view schoolwork more positively.

To make sure learning sticks and to avoid frustration, teachers should use different strategies that suit individual students. For instance, interactive methods such as group conversations or project-based tasks create interesting learning experiences which help with homework beyond just memorizing.

Frequent communication between teachers and parents is also key in holding people accountable and getting parents involved in inspiring their children.

It’s important to take into account that each student is different, and this means adjusting the curriculum to fit varying abilities, as well as social and emotional factors like mental health or external pressures.

Research has shown that parent support is a must for successful student achievements. The National Education Association (NEA) reported that when parents get involved, it can bring many advantages, from an improved school climate and attendance to a higher motivation towards homework.

The role of peers in homework motivation

Peer influence is hugely important for homework motivation. It changes students’ values, attitudes, and behaviors towards their work. Peers can be role models or distractions, depending on the impact.

By watching their friends’ study habits, involvement, and grades, students can become motivated to copy or even exceed these standards. Working together helps share knowledge and get feedback. So, both teachers and peers need to create an environment that encourages learning.

Peer pressure can be a blessing or a curse. Research shows it can cause anxiety and bad performance, if it is negative.

A great example of peer influence in action is high school football players. Poor performers were paired with successful ones. This led to improved grades, thanks to the model behavior and social support from their high-achieving peers.

Managing Distractions: Techniques for Staying Focused on Homework

Maintaining Concentance: Strategies to Keep Your Focus on Coursework.

Stay productive and successful in completing homework by managing distractions. Here are five tactics to help you stay on track:

• Make a work area without interruptions.
• Organize your study materials before starting.
• Set reasonable goals and take breaks when needed.
• Stay away from tech distractions like social media notifications.
• Do the hard stuff first when your mind is sharp.

Good habits and limiting disruptions boost motivation and reduce procrastination. Listen to instrumental music or white noise to stay focused. Self-care is important for concentration.

My friend had ADHD in high school. Medication and other treatments didn’t help. So she got an academic coach. The coach gave her techniques like mindfulness, accountability with peers, and time management. That helped her coursework.

Take a break sometimes. Have ice cream and Netflix. Reset!

Dealing with Homework Burnout: Strategies for Recharging Your Motivation

Feeling burnt out or unmotivated with homework? Combat this! Strategies can help recharge your inspiration. Implement a study schedule that suits your goals, and rest . Break down tough assignments into smaller tasks. This will build momentum and confidence. Incorporate positive affirmations & rewards systems . Utilize these strategies to stay motivated and successful in academics. Recharge your motivation – it’s possible!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is it important to find motivation to do homework?

A: Homework is a crucial part of the learning process as it helps reinforce the lessons taught in class and prepare students for exams.

Q: How can I motivate myself to do homework?

A: Setting goals, breaking tasks into smaller chunks, creating a schedule, and using positive self-talk are effective ways to motivate yourself to do homework.

Q: What if I still can’t find motivation to do homework?

A: Sometimes, it can be difficult to find motivation to do homework. In such cases, talking to a teacher, tutor, or counselor can help identify underlying issues and find solutions that work for you.

Q: How can I make homework more enjoyable?

A: Trying different study techniques, incorporating rewards, and studying with friends or classmates can make homework more enjoyable.

Q: What should I do if I am constantly distracted while doing homework?

A: It’s important to identify distractions and remove them as much as possible. This can include turning off electronic devices, finding a quiet study space, and taking periodic breaks.

Q: How can I avoid procrastinating when it comes to homework?

A: Procrastination can be avoided by setting deadlines, breaking tasks into smaller portions, avoiding multitasking, and prioritizing your work.

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10 Strategies for Motivating Students in Mathematics

One of the common challenges that math teachers face in the early stages of their teaching career is motivating students in math . As a highly practical subject, math has a fair share of students who like and dislike the subject equally.

As a math teacher, you might also find students who might need that extra motivation to get them started. Well, whether you’re wondering how you can begin to motivate students in math or want to know more teaching strategies, we’ve got you covered! 

• Why Do Students Have To Be Motivated To Study Math? 
• What Are Some Effective Strategies To Use For Motivating Students In Math? 
• Instilling Growth Mindset 
• Create A Flexible Class Structure 
• Create Classroom Goals 
• Make Way For Curiosity 
• Help Overcome Fear 
• Using Technology In Classrooms 
• Induce Friendly Competition 
• Create a Cohesive Learning Environment 
• Have One-To-One Interactions 
• Be Present, Always! 

Why Do Students Have To Be Motivated To Study Math? 

You might now ask us why students need to be motivated?

For a subject like math, what are the things that go into encouraging students while studying math?

Before we understand how you can get started on motivating students in math, let us first understand the different kinds of motivation. 

• Extrinsic Motivation – The word ‘extrinsic’ means outside or outward. It simply refers to motivation that comes through sources outside the learner’s purview (i.e., the student). It can refer to rewards, gifts, and student performance appreciation. 
• Intrinsic Motivation – Contrary to extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation refers to the factors that motivate students from the environment under their control. Many students might have a desire to perform better than their peers. A few students may have quick grasping power, while the rest may be interested in bettering themselves with a particular concept or a subject. Hence, intrinsic motivation refers to all the factors that lead to motivation inside the student’s control. 

Now that we have understood intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, we will move forward toward highlighting strategies that work best for the learner.

What Are Some Effective Strategies To Use For Motivating Students In Math? 

100+ Free Math Worksheets, Practice Tests & Quizzes

Instilling growth mindset .

One of the most effective strategies to use for motivating students in math is to teach them that they can get better at math gradually. Most students often believe that they can never perform well in mathematics, so they find it difficult, monotonous, and boring to study math. 

As a teacher, you can break their attitude towards math by teaching them that they can perform better and become successful upon practice. When you teach your students that their learning curve will depend solely on how they practice problems, they will eventually come around and start liking the subject. 

However, you should also remember to help your students celebrate their success and keep trying with a positive attitude towards the subject. 

Create A Flexible Class Structure 

We often find ourselves speaking about the importance of studying math. Math helps in promoting an effective way of thinking and learning. However, math as a subject is very different from one learner to the other. There is no model in the subject that all learners will understand in the same way. 

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ByteLearn saves you time and ensures every student gets the support they need

Therefore, an effective technique to help motivate students in math is to create a flexible class structure inside your classroom. Most teachers use the method of rotations and transitions in their classrooms. A few other math teachers also use the grouping method to ensure that there is collaborative learning amongst students. In this way, the students are engaged in learning the subject more flexibly. 

Create Classroom Goals 

Another great yet effective strategy for motivating students in math is to set goals. Setting goals is a great way to track every student’s progress and continually improve their academic performance. In addition to overall performance, when goals are set inside a classroom, students tend to be more active and focused in class. 

Several middle school math teachers, who use ByteLearn to set up assignments for their students, often state that they break their goals into smaller chunks. In this way, they are able to track the assignments and find the top areas of improvement for all students. Additionally, you can get insights into the performance of your class and frame strategies to help them achieve better. 

Make Way For Curiosity 

A recent study revealed that over 66% of the respondents stated that students who perform well in math usually ask for clarification during class. It is essential to ensure that there must be a sense of curiosity instilled by the teachers. When students question inside the classroom, there are higher chances that it will make them understand math concepts better and increase achievement rates. 

Help Overcome Fear 

Math and the fear of math are highly synonymous amongst students. Several students fear the subject and often find it challenging to perform well because of their inherent fears. One effective way to get started with motivating students in math is to help them approach the subject without any fear. 

As a part of various teaching math strategies, teachers can get started by creating a positive learning environment.

Using Technology In Classrooms 

For most students, technology acts as a great tool that induces students to learn math. Thanks to the growth of technology, there are multiple ways in which you can make use of technology inside your classroom. One way to make sure that the learners are involved in your math class is to start using ByteLearn. 

ByteLearn is a math digital teaching assistant that lets teachers and learners learn math in a fun and interactive way. ByteLearn is a personalized one-to-one teaching assistant that helps teachers set up their classrooms and create mock assignments for their classes. 

In addition to that, teachers can also make creative quizzes, bell ringers, exit tickets, and so much more. ByteLearn helps in saving your time and makes classroom teaching more engaging.

Induce Friendly Competition 

When asked a few math teachers, they said that one of the main strategies they use to motivate students in math is to create informal competitions inside the classroom. When there’s a competition set up in the class, students often compete with each other and find themselves outperforming each other. 

With competition in place, students not only have an opportunity to learn and grow, but they also tend to achieve more than the others. Students also tend to learn concepts in a logical manner and follow a sequential pattern of learning.

Create a Cohesive Learning Environment 

This is not exactly a strategy, but definitely a duty of every teacher. One way to make students more engrossed in learning a particular subject is to give them a cohesive learning environment. Apart from just teaching the subject, you can move above and beyond by bringing in elements of creativity, thinking, and curiosity inside the classroom. 

You can pose small challenges to students, which they can perform either individually or in groups. You can also go the extra mile and give step-by-step tutoring for those students who really need it with the help of ByteLearn. To know more about the importance of creating a cohesive learning environment, read ‘ Building Cohesion and Empathy in the Classroom .’ 

Have One-To-One Interactions 

One great way to start motivating students in math is to start having one-to-one interactions with your students. A study conducted by Frymier and Houser (2000 ) states that a teacher-student relationship plays an instrumental role in building a liking of the subject. A teacher plays a dual role in the classroom, and a teacher has both casual and relational (oriented towards the subject) roles inside the classroom. 

When a teacher starts having one-to-one sessions with their students, it can add to increasing the overall student engagement. It also helps the teacher to understand the pulse of every student and better their process of creating math lesson plans or even looking for the best teaching math strategies . These interactions are conducted in a consistent manner and can also lead to the student developing a liking for the subject. 

Be Present, Always! 

The last yet most effective teaching strategy for motivating students in math is to be present. As a teacher, you play a very influential role in the lives of your students. Some students might require your guidance and support more than others . Most students might need help at every step, and that is entirely okay.

There are several ways in which you can help by being there for your students. You can walk around in class while they are working on their assignments. You can even pick activities related to different concepts and perform them during the course. Lastly, maintain a positive attitude and serve your students with care.

Takeaway 

Now that we have listed a few effective strategies to get started on motivating students in math, there are many effective techniques out there. However, the underlying factor for making all these strategies work for your classroom is understanding the motives of every learner.

As a teacher, you can understand their motives and ensure that they are engaged efficiently and effectively. While understanding and working on their motives, you must be careful that their interests aren’t affected in a negative way, as this can lead to the development of fear and anxiety towards the subject.

As the new academic year unfolds in a couple of weeks, you can use the strategies mentioned earlier and start motivating students in math and make teaching more engaging. Get started with ByteLearn today!

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Ten Homework Motivation Strategies for Children and Teens

Use these 10 strategies to end the homework wars..

Posted September 6, 2015 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

When it comes to homework, parents get burnt out hearing these hollow and suspicious words: "I did it at school," "They didn't give homework today," "It hardly counts for my grade," "My teacher never looks at my homework anyway," "That assignment was optional." As parents, hearing these words is enough to drive you crazy.

As I write in my book, 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child , parents must not let their emotions get the best of them when their kids are not getting homework done. The strategies below are for helping your child or teen get unstuck:

• Nix the nagging! Pestering creates an adversarial, shaming dynamic that backfires. Instead, try my Calm, Firm, and Non-Controlling approach. Gently empower your child or teen by supportively saying, "I see that you are frustrated. Let's think of ways to help you get back on track with your homework/schoolwork."
• Encourage effort over perfection. Be mindful that kids tend to get intimidated when they have a hard time understanding material. They may get into negative self-talk like, "I can't do this." Even if they're truly thinking this way, parents may instead hear comments like, "I hate this." or "This is stupid." Remind your child or teen that doing his best effort is better than not doing it at all.
• Prioritize. Coach and encourage that the order that homework is done based on urgency, complexity, and workload. At the same time, realize that some students do better by starting with easier tasks and that this can help spark them to tackle more demanding assignments.
• Break it down. Reinforce breaking up homework time into manageable chunks and encourage taking regular breaks. Encourage moving around and walking away for a bit. Remind that an apple really does provide the same effect, and is healthier than an energy drink.
• Think "15 minutes of pain." Have the student set a timer for only 15 minutes. Keep it lighthearted and explain that even if it "hurts" doing the work, she can stop after 15 minutes. Like most things in life, once we push ourselves and get going, it's not so bad.
• Don't be consequence ravenous. Imposing consequences for homework not being done can backfire with defiant behavior. If you use consequences, don't present them with yelling. Keep them reasonable and ask the student to help you be able to move towards rewards (don't go overboard) and minimize consequences. Remember that real, natural consequences are the best motivators.
• Encourage connection. Encourage the student to make or re-establish a connection with his teacher. I have seen hundreds of kids "shoot themselves in the foot" with incomplete homework if they don't have a decent relationship with their teacher.
• Change up the homework/study surroundings. Try putting an inspirational poster by the desk, moving to a different room, or silencing the cell phone. New changes can create more changes.
• Use those study halls. Encourage the use of them as much as possible. Some kids lose sight of that more done at school, means less to do at home.
• Allow for some fun. Notice if your student is racing through the homework just to have fun. Fun time like, TV, phone time, or surfing the web, is welcome, but make sure you put limits on it.

Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D. , is a psychologist and the author of seven books, including 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child.

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• Articles / Homework

Smart Homework: 13 Ways to Make It Meaningful

by MiddleWeb · Published 08/04/2014 · Updated 11/17/2019

In the first installment of Rick Wormeli’s homework advice, he made the case for take-home assignments that matter for learning and engage student interest . In Part 2, Rick offers some guiding principles that can help teachers create homework challenges that motivate kids and spark deeper learning in and out of school.

These articles are adapted and updated from Rick’s seminal book about teaching in the middle grades, Day One & Beyond: Practical Matters for New Middle Level Teachers . Rick continues to offer great advice about homework, differentiation, assessment and many other topics in workshops and presentations across North America. Check back in Part 1 for some additional homework resources.

I’ve been accumulating guiding principles for creating highly motivating homework assignments for many years — from my own teaching and from the distilled wisdom of others. Here are a baker’s dozen. Choose the ones most appropriate for students’ learning goals and your curriculum.

1. Give students a clear picture of the final product. This doesn’t mean everything is structured for them, or that there aren’t multiple pathways to the same high quality result. There’s room for student personalities to be expressed. Students clearly know what is expected, however. A clear picture sets purpose for doing the assignment. Priming the brain to focus on particular aspects of the learning experience helps the brain process the information for long-term retention. Setting purpose for homework assignments has an impact on learning and the assignment’s completion rate, as research by Marzano and others confirms.

2. Incorporate a cause into the assignment. Middle level students are motivated when they feel they are righting a wrong. They are very sensitive to justice and injustice. As a group, they are also very nurturing of those less fortunate than them. Find a community or personal cause for which students can fight fairly and incorporate your content and skills in that good fight— students will be all over the assignment.

4. Incorporate people whom students admire in their assignments. Students are motivated when asked to share what they know and feel about these folks. We are a society of heroes, and young adolescents are interested in talking about and becoming heroic figures.

5. Allow choices, as appropriate. Allow students to do the even-numbered or odd-numbered problems, or allow them to choose from three prompts, not just one. Let them choose the word that best describes the political or scientific process. Let them identify their own diet and its effects on young adolescent bodies. Let them choose to work with partners or individually. How about allowing them to choose from several multiple-intelligence based tasks? If they are working in ways that are comfortable, they are more likely to do the work. By making the choice, they have upped their ownership of the task.

6. Incorporate cultural products into the assignment. If students have to use magazines, television shows, foods, sports equipment, and other products they already use, they are likely to do the work. The brain loves to do tasks in contexts with which it is familiar.

7. Allow students to collaborate in determining how homework will be assessed. If they help design the criteria for success, such as when they create the rubric for an assignment, they “own” the assignment. It comes off as something done by them, not to them. They also internalize the expectations—another way for them to have clear targets.

With some assignments we can post well-done versions from previous years (or ones we’ve created for this purpose) and ask students to analyze the essential characteristics that make these assignments exemplary. Students who analyze such assignments will compare those works with their own and internalize the criteria for success, referencing the criteria while doing the assignment, not just when it’s finished.

9. Spruce up your prompts. Don’t ask students to repeatedly answer questions or summarize. Try some of these openers instead: Decide between, argue against, Why did ______ argue for, compare, contrast, plan, classify, retell ______ from the point of view of ______, Organize, build, interview, predict, categorize, simplify, deduce, formulate, blend, suppose, invent, imagine, devise, compose, combine, rank, recommend, defend, choose.

10. Have everyone turn in a paper. In her classic, Homework: A New Direction (1992), Neila Connors reminded teachers to have all students turn in a paper, regardless of whether they did the assignment. If a student doesn’t have his homework, he writes on the paper the name of the assignment and why he didn’t do it.

11. Do not give homework passes. I used to do this; then I realized how much it minimized the importance of homework. It’s like saying, “Oh, well, the homework really wasn’t that important to your learning. You’ll learn just as well without it.” Homework should be so productive for students that missing it is like missing the lesson itself.

12. Integrate homework with other subjects. One assignment can count in two classes. Such assignments are usually complex enough to warrant the dual grade and it’s a way to work smarter, not harder, for both students and teachers. Teachers can split the pile of papers to grade, then share the grades with each other, and students don’t have homework piling up in multiple classes.

There are times when every teacher on the team assigns a half-hour assignment, and so do the elective or encore class teachers. This could mean three to four hours of homework for the student, which is inappropriate for young adolescents.

13. Occasionally, let students identify what homework would be most effective. Sometimes the really creative assignments are the ones that students design themselves. After teaching a lesson, ask your students what it would take to practice the material so well it became clearly understood. Many of the choices will be rigorous and very appropriate.

This is one reason I always recommend that, as a basic premise, we avoid Monday morning quizzes and weekend or holiday homework assignments. Sure, there will be exceptions when long-term projects come due. But if we are really about teaching so that students learn and not about appearing rigorous and assigning tasks to show that we have taught, then we’ll carefully consider all the effects of our homework expectations. Our students will be more productive at school for having healthier lives at home.

▶ More resources from Rick Wormeli:

Although Rick never mentions the word homework in this article about helping adolescent students improve their “executive function,” you will immediately see the connections! At the AMLE website .

NEXT: In our final excerpt from Day One & Beyond, Rick Wormeli shares his approach to homework assessment – with an clear emphasis on maintaining teacher sanity.

His books include Meet Me in the Middle ; Day One and Beyond ; Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom ; Differentiation: From Planning to Practice; Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject, and Summarization in Any Subject , plus The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way .

He is currently working on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on homework practices in the 21 st century.

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Tags: Day One & Beyond grading homework homework homework guidelines homework policies Rick Wormeli why homework

MiddleWeb is all about the middle grades, with great 4-8 resources, book reviews, and guest posts by educators who support the success of young adolescents. And be sure to subscribe to MiddleWeb SmartBrief for the latest middle grades news & commentary from around the USA.

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This is a really great article. It has helped me tremendously in making new and better decisions about homework.

Fabulous sage advice! Although I love every single suggestion you’ve included, I am particularly fond of the elimination of the “homework pass”. As a former middle-level teacher and administrator, I too found the homework pass diminished the importance of follow-up work – a necessary component in determining the level of student understanding.

I do give 2 passes, but they just extend due date by a day. And if not used, they may be returned at the end of the 9 weeks for extra credit.

Rick Wormeli’s ideas and tips in this article continue to be stimulating and useful. That said, it’s been more than a decade since the first edition of his book on grading, homework and assessment, Fair Isn’t Always Equal appeared.

In the intervening years, Rick’s thinking about homework has benefited from his work with teachers and in schools and plenty of debate. In April 2018, he published a new 2nd edition of Fair Isn’t Always Equal that includes an even deeper discussion of homework and its relationship to best practice, differentiation, and the moral obligation of educators to insist on effective homework policies.

Visitors to the Stenhouse page for the new book can preview the *entire* text for free, so be sure to check that out.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the new book:

Tenet: Homework should enable students to practice what they have already learned in class and should not present new content for the first time. Principled Responses:

• I will not assign homework to students who do not understand the content. • I will give homework to some students and no homework or different assignments to others, depending on their proficiency. • I will use exit slips and formative assessment during class so I can determine proper after-school practice for each student. • I will not give homework because parents and administrators expect me to do so, or assign homework because it’s a particular day of the week. • I will assign homework only if it furthers students’ proficiency in the field we’re studying.

Thanks to Rick for giving us permission to share this!

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25 Powerful, Motivating And Inspirational Math Quotes

Do you have students in your class who like math and think it’s fun? Or, do some of your students groan when you tell them it’s math time? If your students need reasons to love math, then check out these tremendous reasons to love math . But, teaching math is also part inspiration and one way you can get kids excited about math is to share inspirational math quotes with them.

Math quotes for the classroom are an excellent way to motivate and inspire, so I’ve compiled 25 inspirational math quotes. You can use these quotes to inspire yourself or your students. Create a math-rich environment by posting the math quotes around your classroom. Or, write them on the board each day and discuss the meaning of the quote. Most important, share math quotes to have fun!

25 inspirational math quotes

1. “Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.” – Albert Einstein

2. “The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.” – Charles Caleb Colton

3. “Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” – Shakuntala Devi

4. “In mathematics the art of proposing a question must be held of higher value than solving it.” – Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Philipp Cantor

5. “The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.” – Paul Halmos

6. “Obvious is the most dangerous word in mathematics.” – Eric Temple Bell

7. “Mathematics is the music of reason.” – James Joseph Sylvester  

8. “You don’t have to be a mathematician to have a feel for numbers.” – John Forbes Nash, Jr.

9. “Life is a math equation. In order to gain the most, you have to know how to convert negatives into positives.” – Anonymous

10. “Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes.” – Mickey Mouse

11. “It is clear that the chief end of mathematical study must be to make the students think.” – John Wesley Young

12. “One of the endlessly alluring aspects of mathematics is that its thorniest paradoxes have a way of blooming into beautiful theories.” – Philip J Davis

13. “Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics.” – Dean Schlicter

14. “Just because we can’t find a solution it doesn’t mean that there isn’t one.” – Andrew Wiles

15. “Mathematics is the gate and key to science.” – Roger Bacon

16. “Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.” – William Paul Thurston

18. “Nature is written in mathematical language.” – Galileo Galilei

19. “Mathematics is a language.” – Josiah Willard Gibbs

20. “Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein

21. “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss

22. “It’s fine to work on any problem, so long as it generates interesting mathematics along the way – even if you don’t solve it at the end of the day.” – Andrew Wiles

23. “If you stop at general math, then you will only make general money.” – Snoop Dogg

24. “Mathematics is the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit.” – Stefan Banach

25. “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” – Bernard Baruch

Did I include your favorite math quote? What would you add? In the comments below share your best inspirational math quotes.

More fun and easy math activities to inspire your students

There are also many other fun ways to get kids excited about math. If you’re looking for some fun math activities, check out these:

• How to Teach Times Tables and Keep it Fun
• How to Make 5 Mental Math Strategies Fun
• How to Motivate Kids Who Hate Math
• How to Play Easy Math Games Using Dice

And if you’re after even more ideas, then check out my Bumper Book of Math Games and Activities . You’ll get more than 138 pages of math strategies, games and activities. It’s suitable for students in grades 1 – 4, contains easy to follow information and instructions and can be used with individuals, small groups, or your whole class.

Click here to grab your copy of the math eBook.

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Thanks for nice collection of math quotes. My favorite here is: “Nature is written in mathematical language.” – Galileo Galilei

Mathematics is just like eating ice cream

“math isn’t always hard, you only need to understand”- by elijah(me)

by the way my favoraite here is no.s 9, 12, and 14

If you play with Mathematics It becomes your hobby.

Saw this in an old Math book:

“Mathematician are of divine descend. They have the power to create”

Another one of my own: “The physical mysteries of the universe can only be unlocked through Mathematics”

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How to Get Homework Done when You Don't Want To

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Ashley Pritchard, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 247,768 times.

Homework can be a drag, but it's got to be done to keep your grades up and stay on track during school. Going somewhere quiet, making a plan, and giving yourself breaks can all help you stay focused and on task to get your work done quickly. Try to keep your assignments organized and give yourself credit for completing hard or boring work, even if you didn’t want to.

Getting Motivated

• Keep a list of your assignments and check them off as you finish them. This can give you a sense of accomplishment that can motivate you to keep going.

• Make it the rule that you work for a certain amount of time, or until a certain amount of work has been accomplished. Afterward, you can hang out. Stick to this schedule.
• Try this out and see if it works. If you're too distracted by having friends around, make a date to hang out after homework instead.

• Make sure you keep the competition to yourself. Competing with your friends isn’t fun, especially over homework assignments and grades.

• Learning something that will probably help with future assignments, even if you don't know what they are yet.
• Proving to your teacher that you understand the homework so that they don’t keep assigning it over and over.
• Improving your GPA.
• Getting a good grade.

• Try not to reward yourself with food, as that can lead to snacking when you aren’t really hungry.

Staying Focused

• For instance, tell yourself that if you finish your first assignment in 20 minutes, you can go on your phone for 5 minutes.

• Make sure you stand up and do something when it's your break, or you won't get your wiggles out.
• Set a timer on your phone or use a kitchen timer to let yourself know when it's time to switch tasks.

• If you don't have control over the subject, try to find connections between the topic and something you care about. Find aspects of the subject that interest you.
• For instance, if you have to study History but you care the most about fashion, investigate the styles of the times and places you are studying. Learn how political and economical developments changed the way people dressed.

• You can find playlists on Spotify and YouTube that are made for studying and doing homework.

• When you're struggling to focus, sign out of your email and all social media so you don't check them as a reflex.

Creating Good Study Habits

• If you have many textbooks and worksheets, stack them and put them to the side.
• Get things like pencils, erasers, calculators, rulers, and paper.

• Having a planner will make it less tempting to procrastinate, as long as you have broken up your studying into manageable chunks.
• Your planner can be paper, or you can get one on your phone. Just make sure it has space for task lists as well as events.
• Once you have completed a task, cross it off or put a check next to it. Seeing that you're getting your work done will make you feel better, which in turn will motivate you to keep up the good work.
• Don't put more than you can do in one day on a list! Split up your week's work so that every day has a manageable amount.

• If you have a job or extracurricular activities that change your daily schedule, determine a weekly schedule that you stick to as much as possible.

• Sometimes just explaining what you have to do will help you understand it better.
• Talking to another person is a great way to brainstorm ideas. They may ask you questions or provide comments that can help you organize your ideas.
• Other times, the person you are talking to will notice something about the prompt that you overlooked.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

• Try asking a family member to help you remember when to start your assignments so you don’t forget. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• If you’re really struggling with a topic, consider going to a tutor for extra help. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• Getting motivated can be tough. Just try your best, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

Tips from our Readers

• Set up a dedicated study area at home with your needed supplies, to establish a consistent homework routine. Having everything in one prepared place helps minimize distractions.
• Use a planner to schedule out all your assignments. Break them into small, manageable pieces so it's less overwhelming. Checking tasks off as you finish motivates you along.
• If completely stuck on an assignment, reach out and talk it through with someone. Verbalizing it can provide new insights to move forward.
• Take short activity breaks every 45 minutes. Get up, stretch, grab some water. It refreshes your mental focus so you stay engaged.
• Incorporate a fun personal interest into an assignment when possible. Writing about something you care about keeps you absorbed.
• When you really need to concentrate, eliminate enticing distractions like your phone. Logging out keeps you on track.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/comm/files/smarttalk_staff_guide.pdf
• ↑ http://www.wcsu.edu/housing/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2018/05/Handout-V6N6.pdf
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/worry-wise/201410/how-prevent-homework-procrastination
• ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. Academic & School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/organize-focus.html?WT.ac=p-ra#
• ↑ https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sites/default/files/homework_tips.pdf
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html#

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