Absent Students: What To Do

Here’s what we do:

1. Make ample copies for the year of this FREE absent work organizer and place it in a prominent spot in the classroom.
2. Choose 1-2 responsible students who are in charge of absent work whenever a classmate is not at school. For example, if Lila is your Absent Helper and Carson is absent on the third day of school, Lila has a job that day!
3. At the start of class, Lila would pick up an absent work organizer and begin filling in the assignments done in class and any homework. She would also write in any reminders about upcoming tests or events on this single sheet.
4. Additionally, Lila would grab one of these cute “Absent Folder” signs to place on the absent students’ desk. We downloaded this from Aris at Sailing into Second’s TpT store. Throughout the day, students who sit next to Carson would collect any papers that are passed out and place them under this absent folder. That way, everything stays in one place!
5. At the end of the class period or day, Lila would gather all of the handouts under the “Absent Folder” on Carson’s desk and any textbooks that he might need at home and bring the books and absent work organizer to the office for Carson’s parents (or anyone else) to pick up after school.
6. Easy peasy!

Note: We realize that individual schools have their own absent policies in place, so this may need to be modified to meet your classroom’s needs. For example, if cell phones are allowed at school, a picture of the absent work organizer can simply be texted to the absent student.

Also, at our schools, we, as teachers, are required to post homework online for students and parents to access. However, this doesn’t solve the problem of everything missed DURING school. Let’s face it, that’s what we want the absent students to be catching up on! This absent work organizer has come in handy so many times!