One homework step per day. Stars add up to a building set, a book, or a family outing.
Homework becomes a nightly negotiation. Tie it to a reward the child wants and the negotiation moves to the start, once, not every evening.
Should I reward finishing or trying?Reward sitting down and doing the homework, not the grade. You want the habit; the results follow the habit.
Isn't paying for homework a bad idea?A real reward is a family agreement, not a salary. Set up to 3 goals, with one visible at a time — it stays a motivator, not a wage.