Do you have one of these bulletin boards in your classroom? Last year was my first year putting a “While You Were Out” board in my room, and let me tell you… life changing!! I am the WORST at keeping track of the kids that are absent each day and reminding them to make up the work they missed. But, having this in the room takes the responsibility from me and gives it right to my students.
I spend about 15 minutes on the first day of school talking to the kids about responsibility and how this board works. I also make sure to showcase this board to my parents on Back to School night.
Want to make one for your classroom? The title letters and days of the week can be found for free right here. I just used some plain file folders that I covered in contact paper, some black butcher paper, cheap border, and tissue paper pom poms (which you can buy or make yourself if you’re feeling crafty!).
I’m telling you, you NEED this bulletin board in your classroom!! Seriously, life changing. Seriously. Not even kidding.
Happy back to school!!
Jenna,
Would you mind describing how you use your bulletin board? I love the idea and it looks SUPER cute btw!
Chelsea
Hi Chelsea!
So, after I hand out my notes/homework/activities/study guides, I put all the extras in the folder (so if it's Monday, then the extras go in the Monday folder). That way if a student is absent, s/he can just go right to the folder on the day they missed and take their stuff. It's been such a lifesaver for me!! I used to be terrible at remembering who was absent and then remembering where I put the extra assignments they missed! Now, the students are the ones accountable to making up what they missed! Hope that helps!
Thanks for reading!!
OMG, am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo doing this. Thank you sooooooo much for sharing!!! Have a great school year 22/23. 😊
That was very helpful, thank you! I start my first year of teaching in August, so I've been looking up as many ideas and information as possible. Your whole blog is truly wonderful!
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How did you get the file folder to stay closed on the wall my flap wants to keep opening up
Staple it along the sides 🙂
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This is a brilliant idea! I hate trying to keep track of who was absent and which assignments they missed! Thank you!
This is a great idea. I teach 4 different grades. Maybe I could still do the folders, but color code a post it note or something on the specific assignment. I love that this gives kids the ownership.
Great idea! I teach K-6, so I was thinking of color coding and staggering each grade level folder in front of each other for each day of the week.
I like this… I do something similar. I have a "Welcome Back" folder and when a neighbor notices a student absent, they get the folder and place it on the student's desk. Then, when things get past out, the neighbor just sticks the absent student's papers in the welcome back folder. Works great for papers passed back as well.
Keep it up!
I love this idea!!! Thanks for sharing!
At the end of each day, I use my attendance sheet from each class to write the name of each absent student on the paper. That way it wouldn't matter which grade the student was in, they could just look for their name. Works great for those students who care enough to get their work after their absence.
Amazing idea! Unfortunately our school only has a black-and-white printer. Is there a way to get them in black-and-white with the capability to color them in myself?
I see that it is stapled all around. Was it difficult for the students to get the assignment out? How did it look at the end of the year?
On the bottom and sides… every once in a while I might need to restaple a part, but rarely. They hold up year after year 🙂
I have a similar board, but I use four folders- one for each class period I teach. I usually keep all papers in there for a week or so, and I write a name on top for the students that were absent each day. It’s also good for those who lose papers as well, so I keep extras there.
I taught 5th grade math last year. I had a folder for each class- I had 7 different classes. I put my file folders up in a folder pouch. After I gave the kids the assignment, I put names on the papers and put the papers in the folder for their class. It helped me to make sure I had the absence recorded in my book and also helped me to stay organized.