The assignment is a part of the lesson which tells the pupils what they are to do or what they are to accomplish the next day.  It is an essential phase of the teaching – learning situation in the classroom. It is a means of developing good habits of study.  It is the starting point of a learning activity.  The teacher should know how to make effective assignments because the success of the next day’s lesson depends to a large extent on the assignment will help the prospective teacher take care of this important phase of the teaching-learning situation.

            The value of the assignment in the teaching learning process has been long recognized by educators.  It is integral part of the lesson.  Good teachers plan their assignments that are clear, worthwhile and purposeful.  To be able to make such an assignment is not easy specially for beginning teachers.

            The assignment is the chief means to stimulating and directing learning activities inside or outside the classroom.  It helps in creating favorable attitudes toward the task to be done.  Pupils take pride in their accomplishment which serves to motivate the students to do better.  The assignment can be means of developing good study habits and independent work.  It becomes a deterrent to waste of time since a well-planned lesson gives specific tasks and goals to be accomplish.

            An effective assignment involves planning and thinking between and among the pupils and the teacher.  The teacher takes time to arouse the interest of the pupils in the activities through proper motivation.  Projects and activities are initiated, planned, and analyzed with the pupils.  The teacher merely steers or guides the thinking of the pupils.  We may suggest some procedures or sources of information but the choice is left to the pupils.

            Teachers who have problems regarding poorly made assignments may find solutions from this list prepared by the students who were asked the reasons why they prepared their assignments consistently.

1. 1.The assignment is something we can do; it is within our ability in amount and difficulty.
2. 2.There is always something different, not the same kind of work all the time
3. 3.We like the up-to-datedness of the subject-much of it deals with the here and now.
4. 4.Much of the subject is near to our lives; it deals with problems that are real to us.
5. 5.The teacher always allows part of the class period for study.
6. 6.We know what we are supposed to do.
7. 7.The teacher is sure to check up on us and find out whether or not we did the work.

The modern assignment is a case of involvement.  Pupils are never too young to give

good suggestions.  Sometimes, the students have wonderful ideas that the teacher have neglect or has failed to see.  The remark, “how would you like to do this?” is much better than “I want to do this.”  Let us try this “is more pleasant to the pupil’s ear than do this.”

 

By: Pheobe Hazzlee I. Valeroso | Teacher III | Sisiman Elementary School | Sisiman Mariveles, Bataan