Helps students to focus on the task rather than the amount
Increases incentive to do work
Makes assignments more manageable for slower or struggling students
Increases students’ sense of accomplishment
Improves student success
Makes goals more attainable for students
When should I do it:
When a student is slow working
When a student is struggling and having difficulty grasping concepts or completing work
When a student regularly turns in assignments incomplete
When a student is unmotivated
When a student seems overwhelmed
When a student is discouraged
When a student experiences little success on assignments
When a student needs encouragement to keep trying
When a student needs to experience successes
How do I do it:
There are numerous ways to reduce an assignment depending on the subject matter and assignment, for example:
Assigning odd or even problems only
Assigning only half
Assigning only what the student can finish in a certain amount of time
Assigning only enough to ensure the student has practiced the main or essential concepts
Having a student write some answers and verbally give others
Having a student do a certain number of questions on their own and doing the rest with a partner
Etc.
When reducing assignments, try to only give the student the questions or problems they need to cover the main or essential concepts, letting less important or peripheral concepts and ideas go
Focus on what the student absolutely needs to learn and know
