This is obviously a difficult situation to rectify considering you are not in the class with your child.  Your child may not be completing tasks because he or she is not focused, has difficulty managing time, or becomes easily distracted.  Surprisingly, you can have a significant impact with regards to your child completing school tasks on time and with care.

     CAUTION:  Your child may not be completing tasks in class due to other reasons other than a lack of focus and time management.  Be sure to investigate why your child isn’t completing tasks.

     Here are some suggestions you can use to help your child complete assignments:

1. Write down, on a special piece of paper, a list of ways your child can learn to follow directions to complete tasks while in class.  For example: listen to the lesson, ask for help, stay on task, and write down homework in the agenda.  You can create this list as a checklist whereby your child can check off what he has done.  This will keep your child somewhat organized in the classroom thus helping him complete tasks.
2. Maintain constant contact with your child’s teacher.  You can do this using your child’s agenda or you can buy a ‘special’ day planner for your child.  Ask your child’s teacher to write down unfinished tasks and due dates. 
3. Create a reward system.  Sit down with your child and create a reward and consequence system whereby your child must be responsible for completing tasks in class (BE SURE not to force your child to complete tasks for the sake of completing them while ignoring a good effort.  Here, we are assuming that your child is capable of  completing or at least almost completing the classroom tasks).  Decide on some rewards that will motivate your child to reach these goals.
4. Clearly point out to your child that if he or she does not work well to try to complete tasks in class, then he or she will have to complete the tasks at home during television, video game, or play time.  This will show your child that there are natural consequences for not completing work.