How to Make the Best Student File Organizer For Turning in Classwork
If you are like me, you have tried all the teacher ideas for organizing paper: cubbies, mailboxes, hanging file organizer, magazine files, etc. All of them have their merits, but none of them were really efficient for both turning in and collecting classwork. A few years ago, my teacher buddy asked me to make her a paper file organizer she had seen. Hands down that file organizer is the best file organizer to use for turning in homework, classwork, tests, etc. (Elementary, teachers, save your mailboxes for papers to go home.)
I am not really sure what this file organizer is called, but I know offices often use them for filing. I call it the Number System. In order to save everyone time, I number my students by alphabetical order. Instead of writing their names on everything, for mailboxes, folders, etc. I just used their numbers. At the beginning of the year, I learn student names by practicing the class list in order – and I learn the names in order, so it is easy to check if everyone is there or in my fire drill line. If you are a self-contained elementary teacher, no worries – the entire class will learn the list in order, so if you forget the students have your back, lol.
For turning in papers, the Number System is really simply a set of numbered folder pieces. I staple 4 together and save them in chunks – otherwise the Number System won’t fit in any cupboards if you ever want to put it away. Keeping the system “bite-sized” also helps if you want to split up the turn-in areas – maybe the counter isn’t long enough, or there just isn’t enough room for students to get back to one area.
Why is the Number System the Best?
You can see missing papers with just a glance. As students turn in papers, tests, etc., it is very easy to see where papers are missing. Simply look at the number in your file organizer and you know who hasn’t turned anything in.
You (or a student helper) can collect up the papers in 15 seconds. Seriously. Just sweep your hand down the row and they end up in a stack. Add a clip and you are finished!
The papers are in alphabetical order – just like your gradebook! That alone saved me a million hours. No more searching for the name on the left and double checking I had the correct row and column in my gradebook. With the papers in order, I just needed to go down the column, skipping anyone who hadn’t turned the work in.
What if a Student Leaves or Joins the Class?
The most important thing for me was to make sure the Number System matched my gradebook. If I didn’t have an empty space (because a student moved), I just added the new student as the next number. If I had an empty space, I put the new student there – even if it was not alphabetical. (Just be sure to put the student in that same spot in your gradebook.)
How Do I Make this Amazing File Orangizer?
It is so simple – and cheap! All you need aside from normal classroom supplies are file folders – 1 folder for every 3 students in your class, plus make sure you have a few extra numbers in case you have new students during the year.
Use a ruler to divide any manila -type folder you like into thirds. You can use plain colored ones or fancy designs. I recommend using at least two with a high contrast between the designs to make it easier for students to find their slot.
Supplies
File Folders in the colors/designs you prefer - In my opinion, solids are best because you will alternate the patterns. There are packs of folders in primary colors + green or neon colors at the office supply stores. There are almost always other colors available around back to school time, but they will probably cost more. Also, make sure the folders are sturdy, because they will be used heavily.
Scissors
Stapler
Ruler
Pencil
Marker or Print the numbers on copy paper or large sticker labels
Steps
1. Trim off the tabs on the folders. This is not “necessary” but it makes the whole organizer more even.
2. Holding the folder horizontally, measure 3 14/16” for both side edges and place a dot. Do at least two rows of dots so you can connect them.
3. Use the ruler to make a straight line connecting the dots from the fold to the other side. (*You need the fold, so be sure to draw the line correctly.)
4. You should have two straight lines going from the folder to the side where the folder opens. Cut along those lines – you will end up with 3 strips of folded paper.
5. Repeat until you have enough folded strips for every student in your class plus a few more.
6. Arrange your folded strips into the pattern you would like to use.
7. Number the strips in the order your plan to use them. Place the numbers all the way to the right (before the opening – do not seal the back and front of the strips.) Use a thick marker or large sticker labels. You want the number to be as big as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to see them. That is why I prefer to either print the number on paper, then cut and glue them – or buy sticker labels. (Labels are really nice, but if you are on a tight budget, white copy paper works just fine. It just takes a little longer because you have to glue them.)
8. Now you need to staple the strips together. Stapling is the trickiest part. Take numbers 1 – 4 and lay them out so that you can see the numbers on each strip. You will staple the back of the top strip to the top of the bottom strip. Open the #1 strip. With your fingers, grab the back of #1 and the top piece of #2 (they should be laying on top of each other.) Staple them together. I use two staples – one down toward the fold on the left and one near the top on the right.
9. Once you have the first two strips stapled, you will continue to staple 3 and 4. You will staple 2 to 3 just like you did 1 and 2. It gets a little tricky because the strips are layered. Just be sure to keep the strips together – you want them to stay even. 3 and 4 will staple together the same way.
10. Continue stapling until you have enough sets of 4 numbers to cover your whole class plus a few. I would rather make extra while I am doing them than have to make more mid-year. If I have 25 students, I would simply round up to 28 and make 7 strips of 4.
Once you have enough strips, organize them as you plan to connect them. I prefer to arrange the strips into a pattern. I staple the strips together to make sure they stick, but you could glue them. I printed stickers to add to the completed files, but you could use a thick marker.
You can watch how to complete this file organizer below, or watch it from my YouTube channel.