Job Assignments are tasks given to students that provide them with accountability during group activities. Assigning students specific roles while performing group work clarifies the expectation of participation and gives students responsibility and ownership over their learning. Once these roles are modeled, practiced, and established within the classroom, students know what is expected of them and can proceed more efficiently in their learning. Examples of job assignments can include a materials manager (student in charge of materials for the group), time-keeper (student in charge of managing the group’s time), recorder (student who reports to the class the group’s thinking), and task manager (student who keeps the group working on the specified task).

• Decide what jobs are going to be necessary for a group work activity.
• Clarify the roles and specific responsibilities for each job.
• Determine if jobs need to be assigned for that day’s assignment or for a period of time (for longer projects that may last as long as a month or a semester).
• Provide the materials needed to fulfill each role.
• Assign jobs.
• Give feedback on the jobs if/when students struggle.