How to Make Absent Student Paperwork Organized With Ease!

It is that time of year when several of your students are getting sick. You have absent students and lots of papers to organize for them.

We are going to show you variations of our system for making organization a snap for you and your students!

Materials You Will Need To Get Started:

*Paper Folders, Hanging Folders, or a 1" Binder
*Clear Plastic Sleeve(s)

*Divider Pockets (Binder Option)

*Astrobright Paper, Cardstock, or Regular Copy Paper

Options for Organization:

Option #1: One way you can organize all of their papers is to have several identical folders prepared ahead of time. When a child is absent you simply place one on their table. You can have a helper place the items in the folder throughout the day. We have our “Table Captain” do this job.  When the absent child returns, they will take it home or complete any activities that need to be done at school.

Option #2: Another idea is to make one binder for the entire class that is kept in an accessible area.  As papers are handed out, you simply write the absent child’s name at the top and put it in one of the pockets. You can have as many pockets as you feel necessary. I know I have had more than one out at a time. This will eliminate the need for multiple folders. You then staple all of the pages together with the note on the front. This idea works very well with papers that can not be sent home to complete.

Option #3: You can also use hanging file folders in a plastic file tub. As students are absent, you can add the papers behind the student's name/number. When the student returns, they can remove the items from their folder and take them home in the "Absent Work" folder. I will try and remember to take a picture of this one when I return this week.

We hope this gives you some easy ideas of how to set one up! 

If you want to make it easier, grab our file and print and go!  

Absent Folder for Make-up Work
http://bit.ly/AbsentFolder

Happy Teaching!

Planet Happy Smiles: Monday Made It!

Hello Friends!

I am linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!
I had eye surgery last week so I took a few days off to heal but now I am back!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own. 
See our full disclaimer here.

My first project on the list was making a couple of cute bins. My "Read Alouds" basket to hold some of the books we will read during the week & a "Reading Glasses" basket for our variety glasses.

This was super easy!  Dollar Tree for the baskets, ribbon from Hobby Lobby, and my labels!
I LOVE them! I can't wait to use them this year!
Grab them here:


My second project was creating mini erasers to use next year with my class.  I love the little erasers that fit in their hands! The ones in the store can add up! So I decided to make my own. 
I used 5" sewn, felt erasers.

My dad made me a set a very long time ago and they have lasted great! When dad made them for me he used his electric saw and the cuts for each one were almost perfect.  Mine are not perfect but I can take pride in the fact that I did it! The erasers were donated so all I had to do was cut them, print the labels (Thank you HP Instant Ink: post on that click here!) and then laminate them.
Total cost: 20 cents!

Here are the steps:

1. Collect your materials.  I used a utility knife, a kitchen knife, scissors, and a cutting board.

2. Cut the hand-sewn, felt erasers in half using your utility knife.

3. Find the mid-point and cut the long pieces in half. I used the utility knife to get through the top and the kitchen knife to cut through the felt. Now you have four pieces.

4. Trim the felt to make them neat.

For the next steps watch my quick video!

Here are mine finished:

This set will stay at my small group table in their work baskets.

I made a numbered set so I would not have to update them each year.  I am hoping they will last! On this set, I am going to try and attach magnets to the side and each child will get their own.

These will be strategically placed around the room in stations where they won't have their own numbered eraser.

I LOVE the way they turned out!

If you don't have time to make your own, you can always order them! I found these on Amazon and they are super cute! (affiliate links)

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Happy Crafting!

Monday Made It: DIY ~ Pencil Vase

Happy Wednesday, Friend!

This week is a little more stressful to link up ... I started back in my room on Monday and I forgot how tired I am every night.  EEEK!  I started a three day workshop training for math today so I am back full time unofficially. Next Monday starts my first day back on contract. I am still hoping to continue linking up and also creating more DIY projects with direction sheets just for you!

Thanks, Tara for hosting this great link-up!

Our project this week is inspired by this pin I found on Pinterest:

doodles, dabbles, & dreams

Pencil Vase

Here is our version:

It was super easy and cheap to make.  I already took it to my classroom and I love the way it looks in there. It would be a perfect gift for your child's teacher or a teacher friend!
Click HERE or the picture below to get our DIY instructions to make your own vase!

Make sure you check out our other DIY projects and download the instruction sheets to go with them.  We also made a binder cover and spine to help organize all of your DIY instructions!

Here are the links to past projects:

Colored Rice

Brain Sprinkles

Binder Cover

Safety is a key concern and one of our favorite organizational tools just got even better!!!  Now you can get our transportation bundle in a variety of themes!  We added several to the store over the last week!

Here is our original set and so many were asking for it in other themes and colors. So we did it!

Now we have so many more themes for you to choose from!

                          

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We hope you are having a HAPPY week!