Are you looking for techniques for supporting students who have trouble completing classroom tasks? If so, keep reading.

1. Organize time units so the learner knows how long they have to work and when to be finished.

2. Make sure the learner achieves success when following instructions.

3. Prioritize tasks by importance (e.g., task A must be done today, task B can be done today, and task C can wait until tomorrow).

4. Teach the learner organizational and task conclusion skills (e.g., begin with a clean desk, read instructions carefully, collect all the appropriate learning materials, ask for assistance if needed, look for the main idea, follow examples given, answer questions you know first and leave those you are unsure of for last, etc.).

5. Assess the appropriateness of the task to determine (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

6. Give the learner more than enough time to finish a learning experience. As the learner shows success, slowly decrease the amount of time given to finish a learning experience.

7. Make sure the learner knows that classwork not finished and turned in on time must still be finished and turned in at a later time.

8. Urge the learner to realize that all behavior has negative or positive consequences. Urge the learner to practice behaviors that will lead to positive outcomes.

9. Get the learner to orally repeat the instructions to the teacher.

10. Get the learner to explain to the teacher what they should do to finish the task.

11. Communicate clearly to the learner the duration of time they have to finish a task. The learner may want to use a timer to finish the tasks within the given period.

12. Praise the learner for finishing the tasks or tasks during the time given: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

13. Provide instructions orally to increase the likelihood of the learner’s comprehension of class tasks.

14. Make sure the learner knows the logical consequences for failing to finish tasks or tasks during the time given (e.g., students who do not finish their work are not allowed to do more desirable learning activities ).

15. Talk about the learner’s duties at the beginning of each class period so they know what is expected.

16. Provide visibility to and from the learner. The teacher and the learner should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.

17. Minimize distracting stimuli (e.g., place the learner on the front row, give a table or “office” space away from distractions, etc.). Use this as a way to reduce distractions, never as a punishment.

18. Get the learner to gather all the learning materials appropriate to work on a project, task, etc., to lessen the need to search for learning materials and create unnecessary distractions.

19. Complete a few problems of the task with the learner to serve as a model and start the learner on the task.

20. Select a peer to help the learner with class tasks.

21. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.