From Baggie to Board

Another reason I'm enjoying the baggie idea! At the end of the week, when I'm going through them for participation points, I also choose great work to display on our bulletin board!

For some reason, I was having the hardest time figuring out the best way to post the kids work, I needed something that would be flexible enough to be updated constantly. After a few failed attempts with plastic sheet protectors, staples, etc... I had an epiphany! I used clothespins and yarn to make mini clotheslines up on our bulletin board (the Great Work Grows Here poster is from the Dollar Tree, love it!) I happen to have a picture of each of my students, which I glued to the clothespins!

Must Dos, May Dos and Baggies

One of the biggest struggles I had this year was planning for my early (and late) finishers.
I spent a lot of time teaching the class that while I am very proud of their work, I don't want to hear "I'm done! I'm done!" I give them a smile to acknowledge their great work and calmy say Must Dos or May Dos.
Now, my slower workers we're another story! When I first started, I literally had at least one or two kids crying when they didn't finish their work, so sad! This is where the baggies came in!
I have Must Do board and a May Do board, anything we work on, I model and put up on the boards so the kids have a visual (they can even borrow mine if they need help finishing something). The kids put their work in their Baggies (gallon size ziplock bags with their names on them) .... I usually say "this is a must do, it goes in your....." and they answer "baggies!"
I collect the baggies on Fridays, take them home and check them for participation points, 1point for having an assigment and 2 for having it done, and I give them a sticker of course! last quarter I even gave them a listening grade on thier report cards! Hooray for quick assessments!