Tips Archive » Managing Your Classroom » Attendance

• Seating Charts (13 tips)
• Take a Number (5 tips)
• Taking Attendance (5 tips)
• Classroom Layout (1 tip)

Seating Charts

Assigning Seats

From Kristin Zerbe, an English teacher at John Dickinson High School in Wilmington, Delaware:

"Before the first day of school, I make up seating charts for each class period in alphabetical order keeping the seating boy/girl as much as possible. Instead of having the students stand up while I call out their seat, I place an index card on each desk. The cards list the period number and the student assigned to that particular desk. I write the directions on the board asking them to find their card and I greet the students as they enter the room. They know I mean business when they enter and we don't have to waste time assigning seats. This procedure also helps me learn their names fast as they are sitting in alphabetical order."

Digital Seating Chart

From Mary Patterson, a sixth grade science teacher at Hamilton Middle School in Cypress, Texas:

"I use a digital camera to create a modern seating chart. I take each student's picture, laminate the pictures and cut them apart. Then, I stick Velcro dots on to the backs of the pictures and onto a laminated poster board. This way, I can easily change their seats around during the year. My substitutes love me for this! I also have a library of student photos for future use and awards."

A Variety of Uses for Seating Charts

From Nicole Honour, a World Geography and AP Government teacher at Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School in Keystone Heights, Florida:

"I laminate my seating charts and use them in a variety of ways. With my laminated charts, I can check daily attendance, record homework, monitor participation and document student behavior. I also use my seating chart as I distribute textbooks. I write the textbook number next to the student's name on my chart. I put a sticker next to each child's name and as I do a check for covered books, I put the sticker on their bookcover. This also lets me test myself on their names. I am amazed that I really do know all their names after only two days! Never underestimate the power of a sticker. My high school students go crazy over them!"

Velcro Mats

From Lana Schaefer, a preschool teacher:

"My students sit on the floor for group activities. In the past, I've used mats or carpet squares to designate where they should sit. They are a chore to move and the children continually shift about on them. In searching for a solution, I took colored hook side Velcro, cut it into four-inch strips and wrote each child's name on one. The strips cling to the carpeted floor and can even be vacuumed over. Now the children no longer move about."

Drawing Seats

From Dana Wells, an eighth grade history teacher at Immokalee Middle School in Immokalee, Florida:

"I give each child a playing card as they enter the classroom. The students must match their cards with laminated hints that I tape to the desks. The hints are clues to the cards such as H-4 (four of hearts), S-8 (eight of spades), D-9, and C-10. The children must use their critical thinking skills to figure out the clues and find their seats. I also assign seats by handing out pictures of the presidents and they must match the faces to the names on the desks. These fun activities help my students discover new things each day."

Adjustable Seating Chart

From Mary Westphal, an English teacher at San Gorgonio High School in Riverside, California:

"I trim post-it notes to fit my seating chart board. By using these stickers, I can quickly relocate students to a new seat without messing up my whole chart. I also photocopy the chart weekly and use it to take notes on students' responses, absences, demerits and such. This gives me documented participation when grading time comes."

Seating Charts and Grading

From Amanda Beaudin, a ninth and tenth grade science and health teacher at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, Colorado:

"When I make seating charts, I write students' names on post-it notes and place them on a paper with desks drawn on it. Then, I put the chart in a sheet protector. This works very well because students can be moved quickly and easily when their seating assignments don't work. When I need a new arrangement, I don't have to rewrite every name. This also gives me a fast way to record the students' grades. I use an overhead marker on the seating chart and then record their grades in the gradebook later".

Seating Arrangements

From David Fehringer, a seventh grade math teacher at Hudson Middle School in Hudson, Wisconsin:

"I number all my desks from one to whatever. Then, I place numbers in a hat that corresponds to the number of desks in the classroom. As students walk into the room, they pick a random number. This is where they will sit for the day. This system saves me time because I do not have to make up a seating chart. It also gives the students opportunities to work with different classmates. There is a lot less complaining as the students soon realize that where they sit is just the luck of the draw."

Student Pictures

From Joyce Johnson, an English and English as a second language teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Glendale, California:

"With so many students to keep track of during the year, I have included a small picture of each child on my five seating charts with tape under each for when I change seating. I staple a sheet of transparency film over the chart and can make notes on the transparency with markers for pertinent information. This is also a great help for substitutes, who can quickly put the face and name together for quick reference."

Clear Overlays

From Jean Burgraff, a math teacher at Apollo High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota:

"I put a sheet protector over seating charts, so that I can write things on them with an overhead pen which easily comes clean the next day with a little water."

Post-It Notes

From Carole Cills, a seventh grade science teacher at Howard M. Phifer Middle School in Pennsauken, New Jersey:

"To make seating charts for my classes, I write student names on mini-post-it notes and then stick the notes to the inside of a manila folder. It's so easy to change my seating arrangement and the stickiness of the notes lasts the entire year! I label the outside of the folder to identify the class and I am set for anyone who has to take over my class."

Sharing Seating Charts with Students

From Mary Jo Edwards, a math teacher at East Carteret High School in Beaufort, North Carolina:

"I always assign seats for the purposes of helping me learn names, taking attendance and controling behavior. But getting students in the proper seats the first day (and every time I change the arrangement) was always a headache. This year I tried something new. I made copies of the seating chart and handed one to each student as they entered the room. By the time the bell rang, they had all found their seats and class was ready to begin."

Changeable Seating Chart

From Pat Arnold, a sixth grade math teacher at Loggers' Run Middle School in Boca Raton, Florida:

"I have a great tip for making a seating chart. In middle school, we have so many students whose seats and classes constantly change that I found this to be a big help. I laminate an 81/2" X 11" sheet of colored paper. I then set up the chart with removable labels with the students' names at the location of their desks. As their seats change, the labels can be easily moved to a new location on the chart. I also place this inside of a 3-ring sheet protector. I can then use an overhead marker to mark absences, incomplete work, or any other notations for the day over the student's name. This makes recording a simple end of the day task!"

Take a Number

Missing Numbers

From anonymous:

"I keep track of assignments by assigning each student a number. All I have to do is look through the number list and I know who is missing work. It's much easier than using names in alphabetical order. I just call out whatever number is missing work. The student numbers are the same as their book distribution numbers."

Choosing Students by Number

From Kari Augustine, a fourth and fifth grade looping teacher at Cottage Grove School in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin:

"One of my opening week activities is to have each of my students create and decorate a circle with their student number on it. I laminate it and hot glue it to a magnetized orange juice lid. I use the lids on the front chalkboard for activities like voting, who's up for current events and who gets the couch during D.E.A.R time. My students' numbers are assigned alphabetically in the beginning of the year. My number is zero because everyone knows it all begins with zero!"

Student Numbers I

From Ann Schmidt, a third grade teacher at Garrisonville Elementary School in Stafford, Virginia:

"I always put my students in alphabetical order at the beginning of the year. When I do this I give each student a number. They use this number all year and include it on everything they do, putting it right after their name. Since they have numbers I use them for a variety of things. I use their numbers when playing games, getting help, collecting papers, taking attendance, counting for lunch. I put each number on an individual clothes pin. As the students walk in each morning, they put their number on their lunch choice. Then all I have to do is glance to see both the lunch count and attendance."

Student Numbers II

From Linda Spengler, a fourth grade teacher at George Wolf Elementary School in Bath, Pennsylvania:

"I give each of my students a number according to their listing alphabetically. This helps with the following tasks: (1) When papers are put in numerical order I can easily find which is missing and papers are in the same order as my grade book; (2) I assign two students as secretaries and when papers are collected they put them in order; (3) By number is a fun way to line up - 'all odd students get your coats or everyone one to ten sit on the floor' - and varies the activities; and (4) It is useful at those time when I quickly need to get kids in alphabetical order - when going for eye exams or having pictures taken."

Student Numbers and Recording Grades

From Stamata DeCarlo, a life management and home economics teacher at Sul Ross Middle School in San Antonio, Texas:

"I cut down on the time it takes to record grades by giving each student the number corresponding to her/his name in my grade book. Each new year I give students these directions: (1) Make a box on the right hand corner of the folder that you bring to class each day and put the number in this box; and (2) Write this number on the right corner of your paper each time you write your regular heading. Grades will always be posted on the right hand side of the paper. When assignments and tests are picked up, I ask a student to place them in order according to the numbers. Believe me, time is really saved when recording the grades!"

Taking Attendance

Secret Chair

From Yolanda Raman, a second grade bilingual Spanish teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Stockton, California:

"I drew a poster with a cartoon of an empty chair entitled, 'Secret Chair'. Sometimes before class starts, I randomly select a chair and place a sticker underneath it. When the students enter and see the Secret Chair poster in its designated place, they know to check their chairs. Whoever has the sticker gets to go to the treasure box and select a prize. If the student who has the sticker is absent he/she does not get a prize and the others tell the student the next day. Thanks to the 'Secret Chair' attendance has been great!"

Pocket Attendance

From Karen Reynolds, a vocal music teacher at Tri County High School in DeWitt, Nebraska:

"I quickly take attendance by using a pocket chart. I write each student's name on both sides of a card in two different colors. As the students walk in, they flip their name card over. I know which students are absent because their names are in a different color. Writing the names on both sides in two different colors eliminates the need for me to switch all the cards over each day because I only need to turn over the cards of those students who were absent. I color code the heading at the top of the chart so that students who can't remember whether or not they switched their name can see what color it's supposed to be."

Clothes Pins I

From Beverly Tihansky, a sixth grade language arts and math teacher at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania:

"I find time management in my classroom essential. I try to make short work of many tasks. To shorten attendance, my homeroom students enter my room and take their own attendance. I have placed an empty coffee can on a desk as they enter the room. Clothes pins are placed around the rim, each containing the name of one of the students. As they enter they drop their pin in the coffee can. Within minutes I can tell which students are absent."

Clothes Pins II

From Sally E. Dunham, a sixth grade teacher at Mickle Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska:

"For attendance, I use clip-type clothes pins with students' names and desk numbers written on the wooden part, clipped to a small basket or plastic container. As students come into the classroom, they put only their pin in the container. I can tell at a glance who is absent or if a student is taking attendance, she/he knows how to spell the absent student's name. I also keep an attendance pad in each basket so I'm not always searching for it and I can write on the entire pad the period number in advance."

Student Cards

From Misty Hance, a third grade teacher at John Hay Elementary School in Morristown, Tennessee:

"I take attendance quickly by having a poster with pockets in which each student has a number on the pocket (like their number on your roster). Then I place an index card with their name and a sticker or picture on it and their corresponding number. Every morning, I have them bring me their card as they come in the door. I can then use the card to draw for who is going to be a helper, and I know which children are present. I can quickly look at the pockets which still have a card in them to see who is absent."

Classroom Layout

U Layout

From Rob Behm, a teacher at St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada:

"I have taken my children out of their traditional rows and placed them into U's. I make two rows of U's one behind the other with a space in the center to walk through. I don't have any trouble passing out assignments; I just reach over the student in the front U to get to a student in the back U. Most students have a buddy on each side to help them with what they don't understand. Another benefit of this layout is that it opens up room in the middle of the classroom. This allows me to get closer to my students and provides more area for the students to do presentations."