How to Organize a Teacher's Grade Book

Although most teachers organize their grade books using computer software, nothing can replace hand written daily record keeping within the classroom. Having a grade book handy to take notes, jot down grades as they come in and keep attendance and tardiness records is the organized teacher's most valuable tool.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Multi-colored pens
• Gradebook binder

1. Find the right sized grade book for you. If you plan on keeping your lesson plans and calendar in the same book, you'll want some type of ringed notebook.
2. Fill in student names or print out from the computer. Try alphabetizing by the students first name instead of last since that is what you use most often. Also consider assigning everyone a student number that can be written on work for easy record keeping.
3. Add as much personal information by each student name to keep vital records in front of you at all times. Things like allergies and emergency contact names and numbers should be easily accessible.
4. Determine what categories you will have for grades in your classroom such as homework, tests, quizzes, projects and classroom participation.
5. Purchase a multi-colored pen. You can buy them with three, four or more colors.
6. Assign a color to each entry; tests in red, homework in green.
7. Write in the name of assignments and the actual grade in the appropriate color. This will make entering grades in the computer much easier since you only have to go by colors.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your gradebook up to date at all times. Take time each week to enter grades from the gradebook into your computer for easy upkeep. This will make a big difference at the end of the marking period and for progress reports.
• Some teachers enter their grades immediately into the computer and go completely paperless for record keeping. This is fine as long as you keep backup flies of all your grades at all times.