Absent Student Folder: How to Organize Missed Work Easily!

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Do you struggle with how to organize missed work for absent student? Do you have piles of extra papers sitting on your desk, or stuffed in student desks? Are you tired of hearing “What did I miss”?

I’ve been there! Over my years teaching grades 4 to 6, I’ve tried a few different systems and landed on absent student folders to manage work for student absent work.

There are 2 systems that I find work great for these folders depending on your preference and age of your students. I’ll give you step-by-step instructions to set up your system, what you’ll need as well as my personal experience and preferences.

Let’s dive into them both!

Image of absent student folder cover from the Past The Potholes Absent Student Work resource.

Individual Absent Student Work Folders

This is a popular system that can work really well. File folders are placed on the desks of absent students with an absent work form to be filled throughout the day.

Let’s take a closer look…

What You’ll Need

Setting Up Your Individual Absent Student Folders

Label a handful of file folders to identify them as being for absent students’ work.

It would be a great idea to laminate the folders so they last longer, but not necessary.

Photocopy and cut a handful of the notes page. This will be used to record what the tasks are that need to be caught up on so you’ll need a fresh sheet every time.

Find a place to store the unused folders. Make it somewhere easily accessible for both you and students.

The cover of a file folder saying "While You Were Away" placed on the desk of an absent student in elementary to manage all their missed work.

How to Organize Absent Students Missed Work Folders

Every morning, you simply place an empty folder on every missing student’s empty desk. This would be a great addition to your daily morning routines!

Throughout the day, a nearby student records each assignment that will need to be completed on the form. Any handouts are placed inside the file folder.

When the absent student returns, everything they need is ready for them on their desk. They simply need to put it away and return the folder to wherever you store them!

The inside of the individual absent student work folder with the form to fill out and any handouts they missed.
My Personal Experience with Absent Student Folders

Eventually, I decided this system wasn’t for me. I love to GET organized but fail miserably at STAYING organized unless I have the easiest system possible.

While I think the above system is amazing for many teachers, my students just weren’t good at remembering to fill it out and I was terrible at reminding them!

Class Absent Student Folder

This was my first system that actually worked. I didn’t have to scramble to figure out which work a student had missed. I wasn’t running to the photocopier to make more copies for them when they returned.

While this was more work for me as the teacher, I could easily remember to jot down a quick note right when I gave instructions to the class. As I handed out papers, I would just put the extra copies in the binder.

It also meant that I could ensure everything was done and organized properly so students had what they needed and we didn’t have random papers floating around or getting lost. Everything was in that one binder.

What You’ll Need

How to Set Up Your Folder to Organize Missed Work

Create a section for each subject you teach in your binder using the tabs or dividers.

Each section needs a pocket for handouts. I found these section dividers that also have pockets which were amazing for this!

Place a stack of the missed work note pages in the front to be completed throughout the day.

Keep this binder near your desk.

Example absent student work recording sheet filled out in the absent binder.

Managing Work for Absent Students with a Class Folder

Now here’s how to make this work!

Every day, (at least every day someone’s absent), give instructions and hand out any papers to the class.

Immediately after, record a brief note in the binder and place any papers in the page protector.

Your part is done!

When a student returns, they know to go to the folder (NOT come and ask you) to find each assignment they missed. They can grab a copy of any pages they need and know what needs to be done.

Showing Genius Hour work pages in a pocket of the absent student folder to manage and organize missed work.

The Best Way to Organize Make Up Work for Absent Students

I’ve personally used both student work folder systems I outlined above. I truly believe both systems are great, it’s just a matter of preference.

Before that, I had tried keeping papers in a folder labeled for each day of the week but it turns into a disorganized mess QUICKLY! I tried keeping extra copies of everything in a bin. I tried just putting the papers on student desks…

Honestly, the folders are the way to go in my opinion.

Comparing Absent Work Systems

Class Folder

Individual Folder

Centrally organized in one location

Each student’s work is on their desk ready

Teacher takes responsibility

Student takes responsibility

Papers less likely to be lost

Papers less likely to be forgotten

No extra papers to keep track of

Paper can be sent home for parent communication

BONUS TIP

On a side note, I’ve tried using a hanging file system with a folder for each day of the week. It becomes a mess VERY quickly (unless you’re willing to constantly organize and cull papers) and doesn’t give students enough direction in my experience. I would not recommend this system!

How to Organize Missed Work with Absent Student Folders

So there are my two top recommendations for managing work for absent students.

Which system sounds best for you? Do you have any suggestions? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

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