How to Help a Child Be Motivated to Do Their Classwork

I have to agree that something is going on. What did they change at school? what isn't working? If my child was told to write sentences I would be very angry. Why should something so necessary for life be a punishment?

I would agree that something needs to be changed in his classroom, like the rewards system. The screen time he gets at home may be the time he settles and centers and to take more of that away might be hard on him.

Kids with autism usually have some sensory issues going on as well, and movement is one of the most important things for them. Doesn't his teacher know that by taking away the times he gets to move will make him less able to do with work at his desk? For many kids, mine included, recess is not a "fun" thing to take away; it is a necessary part of the day. Why would I let the school take away the part of his school day that I pay therapists a lot of money for when he isn't in school? Taking away these things might be counterproductive to what they and you are trying to accomplish!

Sorry, but if there's a problem at school, then enforcement needs to happen at home too. Whether your son loses screen time or something else (dessert, maybe?), he needs to know you take these issues seriously.

I'd also recommend that you investigate if anything happened that triggered this. You don't mention anything about the extent/severity of your son's autism, but for some kids, something we regard as very minor (if someone rearranged the seating in the classroom, for example) can feel like a disaster. It sounds like your son is "on strike." To whatever extent possible, you need to figure out why.

I am a teaching assistant in a 12:1:3 special ed self contained class. Having him write sentences as punishment for minor behaviors is not appropriate punishment.

It sounds like he needs a written behavioral plan in school, one that allows him to earn tokens for completing tasks and behaving appropriately (like not tipping his chair). Enough tokens earns him something. The duration should be short and breaks or rewards frequent.

Let him earn screen time for completing work and having a good day behaviorally, for tokens earned at school, rather than taking away any screen time for a consequence.

Good luck!

Maybe try this. Give him a chart in the morning with his subjects on it (you may need to check with the teacher about how to break it up as they may not do every subject every day - especially science, etc.) Have the teacher put a star next to the subject when he completes that assignment. Each star may equal 30 minutes or so of screen time (or however will add up to the 2 hours he is allowed). That way he is EARNING the screen time at school, not having it taken away. It is visual and may help remind him throughout the day.

Good luck!

I can't speak the to the "why" or how to fix his sudden stubbornness... but I was struck by the example you used. Did you make that up, or is that really an example of an actual thing he was required to do? (write "I will not tip my chair.") THAT is not helpful, in my opinion. I have neurotypical children, and to do that to one of my kids would be like baiting them into misbehavior and rebellion.

As far as restricting screen time at home for unfinished work at school... I can see the benefit in some restrictions there (maybe reduce it from 2 hours to 30 minutes or something?--I'm sure that screen time helps you get through your evening with dinner, right?), but only for actual assignments... not "I will not tip my chair." THAT I would not do. I would discuss that with the teacher and see if there is another way whatever those issues are could be handled. It seems very counter-productive.

Is he rewarded as school for finishing his work? The loss of recess might not bother him because he does not find it rewarding. Would it reward him if he got some sticker or other item that would also affect home rewards? Such as a sticker at school for doing his work, and then he gets his full reward at home. If he does not get the sticker at school, he only gets half time at home. I don't think you should totally eliminate the home reward because you may just end up with him not doing his homework.

I do agree that the sentences for punishment just do not work. I can tell you that when I was in school, this was a punishment. "I will not talk in class" or 'I will not chew gum in class" 100 times. This did nothing to stop the behavior. The kids just tried to do it again later without getting caught.

With three teachers and ten students, they should be able to come up with ways to motivate him. Is the work he is assigned challenging but not frustrating?. Does he have any interests, what would he like to learn about? Animals? rocks?, space?, he may do much better reading and writing about what interests him rather than doing 8 pages of worksheets. Math games on the computer are like playing video games, would he like that? There are reading programs online as well. Maybe you can show the teacher what he can accomplish when he is motivated and it will motivate her.

We have always had the rule, no screen time or playtime until all homework & chores are done. It worked, but my youngest daughter went through a time when she wouldn't do it.

She has ADHD & is extremely bright & capable, but she decided that the class work was "dumb" & wouldn't do it at school. She then brought it home to be done in addition to the homework. Once I talked with her teacher & found out that she wasn't doing classwork (I wondered why she had so much to do at home) he asked that I enforce the rule, even when she did the work at home, because she was suppose to do the classwork in class. She had to sit out recesses at school & was not allowed any screen time at home, could not spend time with friends or any other thing she want to do. This went on for 6 weeks.

Eventually, she decided that doing her work--classwork during school, home work at home & a few chores was worth it to her. Nagging or reminders didn't make a dent in her stubbornness, but once she realized that those privileges had to be earned, by her, & that she was missing a LOT of fun events, she came around. It was a LONG 6 weeks! Good Luck!