Reddit mentions of Pendaflex Two-Tone Color File Folders, Letter Size, 1/3 Cut, Pink, 100 Per box (152 1/3 PIN)

Congratulations! I teach middle-school ELA, and here are some of my systems:

• I invested in some two-tone folders last year, like these. I got a different color for each period, and I set up a system so that when the dark color is on the outside, the papers are ungraded. When the light color is on the outside, the papers are graded, the scores are entered, and the papers are ready to be handed out. A tip I found somewhere on the internet also suggests matching of the color of the pen you use for correcting/grading to the color you assign to each class, but I'm not quite anal enough for that.
  
  
• For make-up work, I have an expanding file like this. (When I taught multiple grades, I had a file per grade.) I just put each set of extra handouts in each pocket, put in the "wrong way", so that the papers stick up out of the organizer. (If you do it the other way, students always think the pockets are empty.) No worrying about labeling file folders; it's purely chronological. I got the idea from a teacher who actually filed them by date (things handed out on the 25th of a given month went into pocket 25, things handed out on the 3rd went into pocket 3, etc.), but that was somehow unworkable for me. I don't remember what the issue was, and YMMV.
  
  
• I also store copies of all my handouts online in public dropbox folders, linked from my website. (You can see it here, but I've barely started setting up for first quarter, so there's not much there) I only make a few extras and then students need to print out their own papers if they're not quick enough for an extra. This saves me from having to make more copies of assignments when I run out of extras. (I swear, some students go through five copies of an assignment before they actually get it completed and turned in!)
  
  
• For receiving late/make-up work, I have a drawer for each period. I know some teachers use just one or two bins (one for late, one for absent), but it takes too long to switch between periods in our gradebook program (Infinite Campus), so I'd prefer to have the assignments already separated by period. Also, we use late/absent/redo tags. They're three different colors, and students complete the tags and attach them when they turn in their work. When I'm running behind in grades, I'll sometimes prioritize grading absent or redo work over late work.
  
  
• A trick I learned from a colleague and love, but somehow forget to use way too often, is taking the time THAT DAY to note absences in the score box for any assignments that are either passed out or collected. If the student is absent when the assignment is handed out, I type in a lowercase "ab". If they're absent when the assignment is collected, I type in an uppercase AB. (If they're absent both days, I go with AB.) This makes it SO much easier to confirm full-credit absent work versus partial-credit late work.
  
  
• Finally, I suggest having a clear system for collecting papers not only for speed in collection, but for efficiency in handing out. My seating fluctuates between groups and rows (and a few other setups). I either have them pass their papers across (it's better than passing forward because they can make eye contact) or have them pile them up in groups. If you're fast enough in grading, you can then pass the papers back in their groups or pass them across in rows for students to pick out their papers. (I discuss the importance of looking only at names, not at grades, and the grades are not always/often on the front of assignments.)
  
  Whew! I think that's enough for today. I hope you find something useful in that verbal dump. ;) If there's anything you want clarification on, just let me know!