Students come to fourth grade with different abilities for being organized. They need to be able to manage their papers, desk, keep track of assignments regarding due dates.

Here you see one of the students holding 2 pocket folders. At the beginning of each year I provide the students with these. The yellow one this year is for any writing projects that we do. The orange one is for all other assingment papers. The directions are simple. Papers are to stay in folders unless they are being worked on and then put right back when finished. Students should take folders home in the evening and to school the following day.

For keeping track of assignments and due dates the school provides a real cool agenda. Students copy assignments from a sample agenda page displayed in classroom.

Also displayed in our room is a list of "hints" for keeping a happy desk.

Students follow these suggestions fairly well...with a few reminders and rewards for passing an inspection. Among the requirements for passing are having your agenda "up to date" and an appropriate silent reading book on hand.