A Cognitive Approach to Task Initiation
Assignment Pyramid
Unfortunately, many students who are often described as being "lazy" or "unwilling", are really just in need of learning a cognitive planning strategy.
So, you know what I say? Build a pyramid! The below Assignment Pyramid illustrates a cognitive planning strategy to address issues with task initiation and completion.
Time Management Skills
Whether we stop to realize it or not, time-management skills are incredibly important to all of us. They play a critical role in our ability to accomplish our daily responsibilities in an efficient and effective way.
For some, these skills come so easily they are part of a mental routine. For others, the struggle to plan and attack an assignment or task can be incredibly difficult and must be written down.
Effective time management requires strong planning skills. These are not skills we are born with; they are learned over time, through instruction and practice.
When a student has several missing assignments it's important to find out why; you don't just let the number grow!
Sometimes students need a visual and perform better with a printed list, a tangible they can physically touch and write on. When warranted, this Weekly Assignment Planner (or something similar) can easily be added to an IEP and utilized by school staff.
Bonus: It helps with progress monitoring and parent communication!