High school teachers often have difficulty motivating struggling students to complete homework--especially in inner-city schools in which many students are discouraged by stressful living conditions. The authors consulted with successful urban educators who were involved with innovative, small high schools in New York City, and asked what strategies they recommended for engaging students in doing their schoolwork. Five effective approaches emerged: assigning work that is worthy of effort, making the work doable, finding out what students need to do the work, creating space and time for homework, and making work public. The article gives examples of how teachers in these successful schools collaborate to implement these five strategies.