Did I miss anything while I was absent? This question drives me bananas! Yes! Of course you missed something…you missed a lot of things. Now the challenge is getting the student back up to speed and ready to learn while continuing instruction for the rest of the class. Keep reading to find out how to download free absent student folder pages!
The Problem: Gathering Missed Assignments and Handouts
My responsible students seek me out right away when they return from an absence to find out the assignments they missed. These assignments often include handouts, workbook practice pages, digital activities, and ongoing projects. It takes time to remember exactly what they missed, collect the needed materials, and give them to the student. What happens to the student who doesn’t ask? What if I have a sub the day they return and am not able to pull all of the work together?
The Solution: Peer Facilitated Absent Student Folders
I like to use two pocket folders. One side is for papers handed out in class and a record sheet for homework or in class activities The other side is for items that need to go home such as newsletters or flyers. A free download of the papers I use for my absent folder is available in Free Digital Library.
I put the responsibility of collecting work and recording assignments on my students! Part of our classroom routines instruction at the beginning of the year is to go over what to do when a classmate is absent.
Giving Students Responsibility
After attendance is taken, the person sitting next to the absent person grabs an absent folder and places it on top of the absent student’s desk. This serves two purposes. First, missing work is collected in the folder. Second, the folder on the desktop reminds me who is absent each day.
The folder stays on the student’s desk until they return to school. Each time I distribute something, I pass out enough papers for the entire class. The absent student’s papers are put in their folder. Ongoing projects or homework assignments are written by a peer on the record sheet.
Upon returning to school, the student immediately takes all papers out of the folder and places the folder in the storage area. They put a blank copy of the record sheet in the folder and it is ready for the next student. Some teachers allow students to keep the absent folder until the makeup work is completed. I have found that the folders in my classroom often disappear if they are not collected right away.
After a couple of weeks, this process becomes automatic. I no longer need to worry about gathering assignments for absent students or answer the question “Did I miss anything when I was gone?”. Huge win!
Create Your Own Absent Student Folders
Download the Absent Folder pages (and many more resources) in the Free Resource Library. Become a subscriber and the access code to the Free Resource Library will be sent to your email!
Do you have any tips to catch up students that have been absent? I would love to hear them. Leave a comment below!