Table 3- The Homework Plan for Michael Adams

I, Michael Adams, together with my parents, teachers, my guidance counselor, and Dr. Jones, agree to carry out to the best of our ability, the following homework plan:

I. Keeping Track of Assignments

1. My teachers will write the assignments on the board every day. They will also give a copy of all the assignments for the week to Mrs. Smith, my guidance counselor, each Monday. She will keep a copy and mail a copy home to my parents.

2. I will write down the assignment from the board every day before I leave each class. I will write it on the back of the section divider for the section of my loose leaf binder for each class. I will read over what I have written down to make sure I understand it. I will ask the teacher to explain any assignment which I do not understand.

3. During my last period study hall, I will read over each assignment which I have written down and make sure I understand what I am being asked to do. I will make a list of all of the materials which I need to bring home and gather them from my locker. My study hall teacher agrees to give me a hall pass to go to my locker and find any materials which I need during last period.

II. Bring Home Materials

1. I will bring home all of the materials which I have gathered and the binder in which I have written my assignments down.

2. My mother agrees to ask me nicely one time without nagging to see my list of assignments. I agree to show it to her without a big hassle or an attitude.

3. As a backup in case I forget to write the assignment down, I will pick a study buddy in each of my classes, get that person's phone number, and post those phone numbers on the refrigerator door.

III. Schedule and Setting for Doing Homework

1. From Sunday through Thursday, I agree to work on homework from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. If I finish early, I will show my completed work to a parent, and if they agree that it is completed, I can do whatever I want.

2. I will do my homework at the big desk in the den. I can listen to soft music with headphones, but no loud rock. If I find myself getting distracted, I will take a short break, do something physical (not telephone), and start working again.

3. My mother will remind me once without nagging to start on my homework at 6:00 P.M. I will start without an attitude.

IV. Daily Plan for Organizing Homework Completion

1. With help from my mother, I will make an organized plan for each night's homework. This plan will guide me in what subject I will do first, second, etc. It will also divide up homework time between assignments due tomorrow and long-term assignments. My mother agrees to permit me to determine the order of doing homework.

2. My plan will estimate the time needed to complete each assignment, as well as how I will check each assignment over for accuracy, completeness, and legibility.

3. The plan will specify how often I will take breaks during homework time, how long the breaks will be, and how large assignments will be divided into smaller units.

4. The plan will specify where I will put the completed assignments and how I will make sure I turn the work in.

V. Medication. I agree to take a dose of Ritalin at 5:00 P.M. on Sunday through Thursday, to help me concentrate on homework.

VI. Turning in Assignments

1. As I finish an assignment, I will put it in the section of my binder for that class.

2. I will do my best to remember to hand in each assignment.

VII. Feedback - My teachers agree to tell me how I did within two days after I hand in an assignment. They also agree to mail my parents feedback about how many of the last week's assignments were turned in on time when they send the next week's assignment list. The guidance counselor will collect these materials from the teachers and mail them out.

VIII. Rewards- My parents agree to let me make 20 minutes of long distance phone calls to my girlfriend each night that I do my homework. If I do my homework for five nights in a row, they agree to let me make 45 minutes of long-distance phone calls on the weekend.

Table 4- Memorization Techniques for Different Learning Styles

From Davis, L., Sirotowitz, S., & Parker, H.G. (1996). Study strategies made easy. Plantation, Florida: Plantation Press.

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