Why is it that a new school year doesn't start for a few months and I am already thinking about what changes I want in my classroom when I return? (I'm on leave right now, so I have lots of time to mull things over). What kinds of systems do you use to keep track of who has done homework and who hasn't? In the past, I have collected homework in a basket first thing in the morning, checked off students names on a checklist, and gone from there (decided whether to mark for a grade, completion, or whatever). This doesn't take tons of my time but I'm wondering about something new. Does anyone have suggestions about how I could just check done/not done for my own purposes? I've thought about having a student do it, but I'm reluctant in case kids check their friends as done when they are not. I teach middle school, BTW.
I use student mailboxes. I have a reading seat with built-in student mailboxes for each class, where each student has his/her own mailbox. The students know when they get in class they place their homework inside their labeled mailbox. During independent work time or when the students are collaboratively working and I'm facilitating, I take about 5min. to see who didn't submit an assignment and have them to fill a sheet (I did not complete my homework because...) to keep in their files for my records.
In my 4th grade classroom, I have a responsible student check for homework every week (homework packs are always due on Thursday.) I have all students names on a check mark grid on the wall. It is interesting because this responsible student has actually forgotten to hand in her own work a few times and she is honest and does not give herself a check. Since I am able to put so many columns on one chart, I am able to see how often students turn in their work and I use this to write their report cards and weekly behavior reports. Why do something that you can have a student do for you? This way you are able to do another one of the millions of tasks that we are to accomplish in one day. Phew!
I always just do a check off list for my sixth graders. Sometimes I make them all stand up and they sit down when I read off their names.
One method that always impressed me was in a second grade room. The teacher had a little clothes line under her white board. Each student's name was posted above it. They would arrive each day and hang their homework on the clothesline. You could tell at a glance who completed the work and who did not. Those children would then have to complete it during recess.
I have a checklist with students names listed. The assignments and dates are listed at the top. As part of their morning routine, the kiddos hand in their homework in a basket and mark with a check near their name. Once I really get the procedure down, and we've practiced...a lot....things go very smoothly. At a quick glance, I can see who's done what.
In the past I have had students turn in to a basket as soon as they arrive and then a student later puts them in number order (alphabetical) and they tell me who is missing.
I think a checklist would also work. My problem is. There is sometimes a traffic jam because most students come in at the same time. Also those who are too close to the bell or late have to wait until announcements are over and so they sometimes forget and then we have to ask for it, etc.
I use a checklist for major assignments. What I struggle with is day-to-day homework (like math) where we're taking it up as a class. It takes so much time to walk around and check each person's. I'll be watching this thread for ideas of how to make this go more smoothly! (I teach 8th).
I've used this weekly check-list format with my classes from 3rd grade up to 6th grade. I've tried lots of different things, so this form has evolved over the years and has proven to be the most efficient for me.
My students sit in table groups. Each table group marks their homework on a check list, first thing each morning. They each take a day, marking whether or not the homework was done. They must actually see the page to verify that it is done. For questionable work effort, they bring the work to me and I decide how it should be marked.
These are the marks they use:
0 = No Work/Poor effort
√ =Work completed
√+ =Work completed with extra effort
√- = Work incomplete
At the end of the week the pages are filed in a binder. For most assignments, we correct the homework as a class when we get to each subject area.
I teach fourth grade and I collect homework at the beginning of each class. Kids pass it to the front of the row and if that row has a paper missing, I find out whose it is. That child then gets a note to take home informing the parent that homework was not done. Keeping track of who doesn't do it is not a problem, it is keeping after them until it is done that is the problem for me.
I am also thinking and making changes for next year and homework collection/checking was at the top of my list. I just developed a table that will be attached to manila folder with brads(like you see in the doctor's office for the patients) one for each student. I will start by students that do not have his or her homework will get a citation/mark in their school provided agenda then I will transfer the missed work into the manila folder. The student will fill-in the HW missed and sign and date and when the HW is complete I will check it off and sign. Until I have signed the missed HW as made up the student will have consequence; like not participating in fun Friday. I am looping with my students, so I really needed to change things that did not work because some students would get off not making up HW or would not mind missing recess to make it up. This new system helps me keep track of how many times a student has missed homework on a weekly and within the 9 week grading period. This is also more documentation for the parents at parent-teacher conferences. I think I am going to add a place for parents to sign weekly. I am going to try to attach now. Maybe this will help. I also like the one provided by Risa.
Last edited by Sass in Class; 06-06-2008 at 05:11 AM..
Thanks for your ideas everyone. I think my biggest problem is that my students are not really trustworthy, so I don't feel comfortable having a student be responsible to check off other student's work. What I have been doing doesn't take a huge chunk of my time (I do it during D.E.A.R. in the mornings), but I like your idea Sass in Class, so maybe I'll give that a try.
This year, I just walked around and checked it off on my clipboard,or had students hold it up and I would check it off that way. This year,may be different.A co teacher has a large pocket chart,and when students come in in the a.m., they put their work in their name pocket. She could then quickly look and see whose was missing. I may try it.
I really like some of the ideas posted. I would love to try some, but my biggest problem is space - I don't have the room to do mailboxes or clothespins (awesome idea!).
I have the kids put their homework on my table upon arrival. I then have them stand up, and they sit as I call their names.
My biggest problem was keeping track of absences and missed assignments. A colleague gave me an answer that fits for me. Every child I have has a file in a hanging file cube. A student is assigned to keep track of who is missing that day, collect or write down the assignment missed, and place it in their file.
I will continue to monitor this thread - it has been most helpful! Thanks for all the ideas.
05-29-2008, 08:05 AM
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