Numbering Supplies and Papers

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I’m excited about this weekly organization linky party from Elizabeth and Kristen. I LOVE all things organization. Last summer Elizabeth hosted a weekly linky that was the first I’ve joined and she was always so helpful. I’m excited for another summer of fun linkies.

I love that Kristen mentioned numbering things. I found that having student numbers has always been a big help.

I started out using numbers just to help me put things into a grade book but it morphed into so much more.

Here are some tips involving numbering that I’ve learned over the years.

Number Everything

The time it takes to number everything is worth it.

I usually have volunteers help me because there is so much to do at the beginning of the year. It saves so much teaching time to have everything numbered. Kids don’t argue over who a crayon belongs to. Wayward glue stick caps can be handed to the kid that didn’t know he lost it- saving complaints of dried out glue later.

Give incentives

After going through hundreds (Yes, hundreds) of pencils in the first month of school, something had to be done. After that I handed out one pencil per trimester. If they wanted more than that, they had to supply it. The washi tape helped me keep track of what I gave them.

My favorite part of numbering supplies is watching kids hand things to their owner. They start to teach each other to keep track of their supplies.

The way that numbering really made my life easier this year wasn’t as much about supplies as it was about papers. Here are some ways that numbering papers can help.

Teach students to put their number in the top right hand corner.

When the kids put their number in the top right corner, you can thumb through and find what you are looking for easily.

Have students line up in number order to turn papers in.

This was a realization that changed my life. Having tests turned in in number order helped me enter grades quickly.

Have students line up in number order to RETURN papers.

I had three groups of students this year. I couldn’t keep a cubby for each of them. So, since the papers were turned in in number order, I just had them line up in number order and it was quick and easy to return tests when I wanted to go over them. If I had a lot of papers to pass out or return, they’d line up in number order and pick them up off the table.

The best part was this could be done in one minute rather than the five it would take to wander around a class handing out papers.

Call out missing numbers when papers from home are turned in.

This helps save time checking things off. I just keep them in number order and check in everyday until I have a complete set.

Have student line up in number order during a fire drill.

Since the kids knew how to do this quick during class, it was easy to have them do once they got to our location during a drill. I walked down the line and counted off the kids to make sure no one was missing. In a real emergency, I want to know as quickly as possible if someone is missing.

Call out numbers on the bus during a field trip.

I like to count heads when we get on the bus, off the bus, etc on a field trip. I just call out a number and that child raises their hand. This is quick enough that I can do it as often as I want.

At first I thought I’d mention a couple of numbering tips and blog about something else, but I had more to say that I thought.

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Comments

Elizabeth S. says

June 28, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Numbering helps everything. I never thought to number all the way down to crayons. But, how smart?? Now, when that wayward crayon ends up on the floor and nobody wants to claim it, well, we know who to call, right? So smart. Thanks for linking up with us 🙂

Elizabeth

Fun in Room 4B