Routine for collecting and passing sheets

[Mister Peter]

Seems like a silly topic, but as a new teacher I'm curious as to how different teachers collect homework and pass back graded work. I've been doing it student by student, my class sizes are about 20 students so it's not so bad, but I'd like to do things more efficiently. Do you have an inbox and outbox at the front of class? Do the students know to automatically turn in assignments and pick up graded work? Do you have any advice on how to run things smoothly so the students take responsibility? Any input on the subject would be appreciated!

[Brit]

I use an in box, but I find it causes a lot of traffic. I get my kids to hand stuff back for me. They're little, so grades don't even go on their papers, just stickers. If you didn't want grades to be seen by everyone, but wanted things passed back by kids, I've seen people write the grade in a corner, fold the corner down and put a sticker there to hold it unti lthe kid gets it back.

I find that having kids in groups makes passing out supplies very quick. Wong suggests having kids pass things side-to-side, instead of front to back if your'e in rows. good suggestion.

[dsmms]

To collect papers, I use a 24 pocket chart. Each pocket is numbered and I assign the students a number which corresponds to where they are in my roll book. I can see at a glance who has turned in papers and address it right away. I collect them them in numerical (alphabetical) order so grading and posting is streamlined. I bought the chart from a school supply store. It was worth every penny!

This can also control the traffic problem. Homework is turned in during the first five minutes of class while they are writing lessons in their agendas, sharpening pencils and I am taking attendance and lunch count. When everyone is turning in something at the same time, I have them turn in their work by number . For instance, I will tell numbers 1-5 to turn their paper into the pocket chart; then 6-10, 11-15, etc. This way they aren't trampling all over each other and messing around.

I used this system when I taught third grade. When I started teaching sixth grade, I thought it would be too elementary. I didn't use it for awhile, but I got frustrated with trying to keep papers organized for 5 classes, 130 students. I decided to use it and it works great for middle schoolers too! When they do not have their assignment, I have them fill out a missing assignment form as a place holder and documentation of the assignment not turned in.

I am still searching for a good way to pass the graded papers back.

dsmms

[Hermione]

I teach middle school. I have an inbox which works well for me. I do it one row at a time which helps with traffic. Also, something I do when passing out new assignments is to ask the first person in each row to come pick up papers for their row. That really helps with traffic, as well.
All graded work goes into their notebook so that their parents can see the work at anytime.

[seastarmath]

I have a bin for each of my classes. Kids turn in completed work there. I group my kids into administrative teams as well as learning teams. There is a paper manager who gets papers needed for class, passes back papers for the team, and collects papers to put into the class bin. Kids are always welcome to bypass the paper manager to turn in papers themselves.

[Ima Teacher]

I've done it different ways. I used in & out boxes for each class for a long time. Kids put papers in the "in" box, and then I put them in the "out" box when graded. Students who finished early would pass back the graded papers.

Then I encountered a class where a few kids wanted to take papers from the in box or turn in half-done papers. One boy would throw out papers of people he didn't like. So . . . I bought an "in only" box that had a small slit so they couldn't get papers back out. That didn't take care of the few "half finished" kids, so I have them bring their papers to me and put them in my hand. They're not allowed to put it on my desk. It has to go in my hand. I can immediately give feedback that way, too . . . no name, nice job, thank you, not finished, etc.

As for passing back papers, I still use the "out" boxes, and I still have students pass them back. This is only for practice work and daily work. I pass back all tests myself.

[Karenrbw]

I also have an inbox for each class. I usually don't return graded papers immediately because there is always someone who hasn't turned it in and my policy is if I don't have your assignment by the time I return the rest of the graded assignments - it doesn't get counted. When I am ready to return graded assignments, I ually make a pile for each student and just give them the whole stack back to save time.

[jsfowler]

Each class has a colored crate to turn in their work. Assignments are written on the assignment board with due dates. My students know to put their homework in the crates. As far as passing back assignments, it depends. If I want to go over it with them, I hand it out during class. If it is an assignment I am not going to review with them, I stand at the door at the end of class and call their names to dismiss them.

[smithmt]

I don't take up or grade work...






Just kidding, I usually fight through the grading and I try to do spur of the moment grades when ever possible... of course, I teach theatre so it's easy for me to do.

[MissTeach]

I have an inbox for students to turn work in, but I pass their papers back when the students are working individually. After they look at their papers, they turn them back into the inbox and I keep their work in a folder. At the end of each nine weeks, I send all their work home.