We missed you!

With over 70 students in a secondary setting, it can be difficult to keep up with giving students the make-up work they need if anywhere from one to four students are absent on a given day. This can be especially difficult if different students are absent from class due to extracurricular activities or sickness, as is common during the current flu season.

One way to help with this is to use a “While You Were Out Form” to keep track of what students missed in class, what was due, and what important dates are coming up. I first saw this idea from a teacher at a nearby school, and she had modified it based on a free printable from Teachers Pay Teachers. I based my form off of hers with some slight adjustments. My form has a spot for important announcements, a summary of the day’s activities, a list of make-up work times, assignments that were due, and homework that was assigned. If I have multiple students out on a day, I simply fill out one of these forms and run copies of it before writing individual student names. To the form, I am able to staple any worksheets/materials from the day. When students return, you can have it set up so that they go to a certain location to pick up their form (with attached work).

This is helpful for a couple of reasons. One, it allows the absent student to have a clear, written record of what was missed and one packet of worksheets that were given out. Secondly, it also allows you to not have to take-up class time by repeating the previous day’s happenings to multiple students. Plus, by doing this, you may forget to mention one or more things to a given student. This helps promote consistency and efficiency in giving the students exactly what they need. Of course, if they have any questions they can certainly ask you or a fellow classmate. This is just a way that helps you help them.

Click here to access a free copy of my version of this handout!

Keep serving your students. :)