I know many SLPs who NEVER give homework, and only a few who
give homework regularly. Despite the obvious benefits of more efficient
generalization and shorter time in therapy, there seems to be too many
obstacles for most SLPs to consider assigning homework a feasible and
worthwhile task. Obstacles: Poor compliance, resistance from students,
resistance from parents, extra work for SLP… The list goes on and on. And yet,
call me overambitious and naïve, but I am bound and determined to implement a
homework system that encourages compliance, is easy on the parents, and doesn’t
create a load of extra work for me.
My plan: Send home a monthly calendar with one speedy
assignment per day. The assignments will be customized for the student’s goals.
Why it is going to work:
o
Parents will be informed
about the homework plan in the introductory letter at the beginning of the
school year.
-
Clear and direct language
in the directions on the homework calendar communicates to parents the
importance of following through with assignments.
o
The homework calendar will
"live" in the student's speech folder, which should "live"
in the child's backpack (as per the instructions in the introductory letter, on
the calendar, and in the speech folder).
o
Assignments are SHORT,
easy, and fun.
-
Minimal demand and
expectation should facilitate compliance.
-
Practical activities will
educate parents about the types of language stimulation they can provide with
minimal structure. This may enrich the quality of and increase the quantity of
language stimulation at home, even outside the context of homework
assignments.
o
Reward system: Students
will be incentivized to complete homework with a behavioral reward system (upon
completion, at the end of each month) and social reinforcement (verbal praise
for peers who regularly complete and return their homework calendar).
o
Although the calendars are
personalized for each student, assignments are pulled from a "bank"
of goal-specific activities, which should minimize the planning effort on the
SLP's end.
-
A printout of the activity
bank will be kept under each student's tab in the planning binder. The SLP is
able to mark off activities that have been previously assigned, in order to
limit redundancy.
Get a copy of my homework calendar template and activity bank here. Please let me know if you have additional activities to add to the bank!
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