Dr. Lenz's Resources

Plan, present, and evaluate assignments that students understand and value

Assignments take up a large share of every school day, yet students often do not understand what an assignment asks of them, why it matters, or how it will be judged. The Quality Assignment Routine gives teachers a clear, research-tested process for designing assignments that are meaningful, explaining them so every student knows what to do, and evaluating the results together with students.

What the routine helps teachers do

• Plan quality assignments using the Quality Assignment Planning Sheet, so each assignment has a clear purpose and connects to what students are learning
• Present assignments explicitly so students understand the task, the steps, and the expectations before they begin
• Evaluate assignments with students so feedback becomes part of learning rather than just a grade

What the routine teaches students

• REACT: a memory device students use to get ready for an assignment
• PACE: a memory device students use to check their own work before turning it in

The manual also describes two applications of the routine: Assignment Expert Teams and Personal Choice Assignments.

Built on research

In research studies, teachers who used the routine showed significantly more planning, presentation, and evaluation practices than when they did not use it and than a comparison group. In middle school classrooms (grades 6 to 8), both teachers and students were significantly more satisfied with their assignments.

Who it is for

Teachers in upper elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms, including classrooms with academically diverse learners and students with learning disabilities.

By Joyce A. Rademacher, Donald D. Deshler, Jean B. Schumaker, and B. Keith Lenz. Part of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Content Enhancement Series. Originally published by Edge Enterprises, Inc.