It can be unruly dealing with worksheets, handing them out, correcting them, keeping the correct ones, returning the incorrect ones as well as getting them home. I am sharing two tips I use to keep track of my students’ math work, maybe it can help you too.
1. On their math folder, label one side “To Do.”
2. On the other side, label it “Done.”
Each of my 2-3rd grade students have their own math folder, with their name on the front. I purchased the semi-durable plastic folders for about $.75. They will have this folder for at least two years. At the beginning of each week, I put in this folder their math planner and a couple of worksheets, usually a worksheet related to what we have been working on as a class (most recently money), as well as a worksheet or two of math skills appropriate for the student’s level. These all go on the “To Do” side. When a student finishes a worksheet, they put it in the “Done” side and when math time is over, they put their folder in my “Done” basket, otherwise it goes in my “To Do” basket.
When it’s time for me to correct the work (or a volunteer), I collect the folders in my “Done” basket. Then I correct the work, and if it’s accurate enough I put a star on it and leave it in the “Done” side. If it needs some more work, then I move it to the “To Do” side. At the end of the week I gather up all the work in the “Done” side of the folder, staple it together and send it home. It’s a simple way for me to keep track of all the papers as well as my students quickly seeing what they need to do. I have a classroom “math professor” who’s job is to get the math folders from my desk and hand them out. Thanks for reading and I hope my thoughts triggered some way to make your teaching life a bit easier!
My next post will be on my method of providing math folder work that is differentiated!