I am so happy to post here! I just got accepted a job teaching 6th in a middle school. I am new to middle school but have taught 4th before. I won't see my room until next week sometime hopefully and I think I may be teaching math but won't know that officially until next week either. My main questions are organization ones. What is the best way to keep track of 4-5 different classes. Do you have homework/in bins for each class? Do you keep a file for every student? I'm sure this is necessary, just trying to picture what kind. And what about the first day?
What great news. Congratulations, Lovetoteachkids! A mailbox set-up or a file crate or two with folders for each class would work.
I've used a color coding system in the past and I know some other teachers here use that as well. Each period gets a color. For example, 1st period is red. You can store all their materials in a red folder or paper bin. If possible, you could have your students all have red folders as well, but that's not as necessary. This is really to help keep you organized. If you only have one bin for handing in papers you can have students write the color or first letter of the color after that name so you can easily sort them. Like, Mary Smith - R. (for red) OR you could simply collect papers after every period and put it in their color folder. That's what I did.
