Happy Saturday, Friends!
I want to share with you all how I organize graded assignments or signed papers that my kids turn in. Friday’s are crazy because we have a spelling test and a reading passage due. With so many assignments getting tuned in throughout the week, it can be easy for stacks to accumulate or cluttered turn in bins begin. I also struggled with remembering who still owed me what assignment.
I created this simple management system that works for me and my classroom. If you struggle with any of the above statements, I hope this method or an adaptation of this method works for you!
1. Find a spot that will be your designated “Turn in Station”. I have a spot in my classroom that has room for the kids to somewhat form a line behind one another so there isn’t a collision when turning in. You can use mailboxes like the picture shown above, or a stack of bins. The main point is to make sure that each slot has a number on it.
2. Create a Turn in Board like the 1st picture. Have the same amount of numbers on the board corresponding to the amount of spots on the mailbox. Make sure you have enough room to write.
How it works:
Let’s say that we are taking a reading test and they all finish at different times. Depending on the assignment, I have them bring it to me so I can check if they showed text evidence. The walk over to the Turn in Board and see where the name of the passage is located. They see “The Cold Winter” is next to number five. Then they walk to the mailbox and find the slot with number 5 next to it.
Each mailbox has a small clipboard inside of it.
The child pulls out the clipboard from the number they are supposed to be turning in.
Kids grab the mini-clipboard out of the slot and highlight their name the clipboard.
Each clipboard has a stack of papers with my classroom names on it.
The kids highlight their name to show that they completed the assignment.
They then highlight their name on their paper to ensure they wrote their name.
I keep a cup of Scentos markers to encourage highlighting. I wrote a blog post about a year ago to explain how much of a success it was.
On a large template was created on a Powerpoint, then I printed 4 to a page so I could save paper and have the sheets small enough. There is a stack of these near the mailbox. I write the assignment name at the top so they are certain they are turning their assignment into the correct bin.
Click {HERE} to download the templates for FREE.
Just insert text boxes and type in your names.
All I have to do is pull out the clipboard and easily see who owes me what. If I want, I can take the paper that have been turned in out, and grade what I have without forgetting who owes me what.
Or, I can wait until they are all graded.
I hope this sparks some sort of idea for organizing your papers if it has been a struggle for you in the past! I would love to hear what kind of system you use!
Lindsay Rodriguez
July 8, 2015 at 3:58 pmOh my goodness! I think you just saved my life! I cannot wait to implement this idea during the upcoming school year! 😍😍😍
kdxpenguin1987
July 27, 2015 at 2:56 pmYes, thank you SO much for this! No more paper trays/bins that take up a considerable amount of space! 🙂
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August 3, 2015 at 8:44 pmThank you so much for this! Is there any easy way you could tell me how to insert text boxes so I can just type in the children's names? It doesn't seem to be an option I can find.
Thanks for your time
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Anonymous
January 25, 2016 at 3:08 amThank you very much for sharing this! I'm planning on trying it with my first graders. I was wondering what font you use for the kids' names and for the title.
cctexgirl
January 25, 2016 at 10:30 amTHANK YOU!!!
Diva Small
April 18, 2016 at 4:44 amA genius idea! I have a question,though…I have more than 22 students, Is the assignment sheet editable?
HTH
July 14, 2016 at 5:10 pmyou misspelled grammar on your board……..
Amber Calderon
July 14, 2016 at 9:31 pmHey!
I know! I let the turn in bin be a classroom job, and sometimes misspellings occur! Thanks for the heads up, though! If only every classroom was perfect, am I right?! haha
Sally. Arnold
July 18, 2016 at 2:48 pmFor cheap clip boards maybe a piece of foam core and a buffalo clip???
Amber Calderon
July 29, 2016 at 4:32 pmThat sounds like a good idea but may be flimsy! I got the small clip boards for like $2 at Walmart! Worth the investment since you know kids are so rough! They may split those foam pieces!
#Fall into Great Resources – Peppy Zesty Teacherista
August 15, 2016 at 3:58 am[…] I have one kid that is the ‘homework manager’ she is in charge of checking the {TURN IN BOX} every day and then checking with the kids whose names are not highlighted to see if they in fact […]