Homework is like eating vegetables; it’s good for you, but you don’t always want to do it. 
As an ESL teacher, checking homework can be a daunting task, especially when some students don’t complete it. But fear not! Here are three tips to make checking homework fun and effective.
Pair work
A common problem is when the class splits into those who did their homework and those who ‘accidentally’ forgot. But it’s not the end of the world! To deal with this, pair up the students who did their homework with those who didn’t. The homework-doers get to ‘play teacher’ and check their partner’s work. This not only helps the students who didn’t do their homework to catch up, but it also reinforces the concepts for those who did.
‘Remix’ the homework
Make an activity that is slightly different from homework (i.e. the ‘remix’) and do it together in class. You can tweak it by changing the context, modifying the questions, or rephrasing it while keeping the main pattern or structure. This way, everyone gets to practise the same concepts, and the non-homework-doers won’t feel left behind. And, to make it less time-consuming: use ChatGPT! For example, if homework comprises ten sentences that students have to complete with the correct verb, copy your initial sentences and ask ChatGPT to rephrase them using the same verbs.
Levelled-up homework
Do homework together in class but with a twist. Extend the homework assignment by making it more challenging and interesting for the students who did it. For instance, ask follow-up questions or encourage agree/disagree discussions. You can also use horizontal or vertical development: Take any sentence or paragraph from homework and ask students to imagine what happened before or after it, or extend it by adding more context. This will not only keep those who did their homework engaged, but it will also pique the interest of those who didn’t.
With these three tips, you can make it fun, engaging, and effective for both the students who completed the homework, and those who didn’t. So go ahead and spice up your homework-checking routine – your students will thank you for it 
!
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