This year, I picked up the most useful organizational folder from Amazon.com. I really needed a better way to keep the papers organized that I was bringing home to grade. I had used an accordion folder before, but I really wanted something less bulky. So I bought this Oxford Poly 8-Pocket Folder for $7.65 from Amazon. Grading papers is definitely not my favorite task so I though maybe, just maybe, if I had a better method for organizing papers to grade that it would make it a little more bearable. Here is the folder I bought:
I paperclip the the papers together and place them in the folders. Sometimes I place one class set of assignments in one pocket. I also place multiple assignments in there, and it holds them just as easily. Take a look!
Since the folder has eight pockets, I can easily separate the papers by subject. I am a month into school and still loving using this folder. I would love to hear how you organize papers that need to be graded. Let’s hear your ideas in the comments!
Love your folder idea! I tend to just paperclip them in a dump them in a plastic bin but it really isn't the best way to do it because things always seem to get to the bottom and stay there.
Tara
The Math Maniac
I usually leave the papers in the "turn in" boxes until I am ready to grade. This would be much better! I can also see how it could be useful for copies too….
-Lisa
Mrs. Spangler in the Middle
I use the same system you do sometimes, but I also am a fan of plastic bag organization. Gallon size bags for smaller size papers, jumbo size for the ones with several pages for each child. You can easily see what's in them and they stay neat. I also alphabetize them before I put them in the bag, and make sure everyone has turned in what they are supposed to have turned in. I use a clothespin and plastic basket strategy for that, but that's another story.
I use this. http://www.containerstore.com/shop/office/paperFileStorage/expandingFilesPouches?productId=10024242&N=74538 I hang it on the wall and eventually the students will put their stuff in the correct slot, then I can just grab it and go. Love it!
I leave them in the turn in basket until I'm ready for them. Then I clip like papers together with clothespins. I really need a place to keep those though.
How well does the pocket folder hold up? This seems so much simpler than me carrying my basket back and forth!
I teach middle school so I keep the papers in a separate folder for each hour. Inside the folder, each group of assignments is clipped together. Manilla folders work well for me since they can shrink or grow to the size that I need 🙂
Each time an assignment is turned in, the students know how to get it all in one nice pile and pass it forward and over to the student closest to my desk. That student makes sure everything is organized, and hands in into the tray where I can just grab it, paperclip it, and put it into the class "To Be Graded" folder. This is the first year that I took a lot of extra time to teach my students how to turn in papers neatly and correctly and I will definitely do it again every year! It saves me so much time organizing!
I also have an extra turn in bin for late or absent assignments (by hour) so the students don't need to check in with me about every missing assignment.
Hello Jennifer,
After 4 years are you still using this folder to organize your papers to grade?