Tip of the Week

December 14, 2015

An alternative use of timers for homework time

Many students who work with an executive function tutor have explored the uses of timers to aid their homework schedule. Often, students use timers to manage work and break times or to increase accountability while they work. However, timers can also be helpful for students who need practice working more slowly or checking their work. When your child finishes a homework assignment, set a timer for approximately 5 minutes and challenge your child to use that time to check over and improve his work. When the timer goes off, your child will have spent an adequate amount of time catching and revising errors. And, when he sees the improvements he can make, both on the assignment and in his grades, he’ll be more likely to practice careful revisions on a regular basis.