These are my students' reading boxes. These are critical to the daily 5. I can't say enough about how important these boxes are. My students have these boxes in their hands all day long. Any free moment they have they get their reading boxes and work on reading their books, word cards or math fact cards. I also put small prizes and personal notes to my students in these. It allows me to differentiate my instruction with every student. If you haven't read the Daily 5 book please download it on the amazon Kindle app and read it. You will never teach the same way again and your students will learn to take ownership for their own academic success.
A teacher at Roberts Elementary posted this very simple, but awesome idea. You use your math number cards that you would have displayed anyway as your student number cards. If you have a counter like mine clear that thing off and get ready to teach your students to be responsible and organized. Each student has a number. I will tape a photograph of each student on their number. Each morning my students are responsible to place their homework folders and other important papers in front of their number. I can see in a glance who has forgotten to do their job or is absent. I can check folders and pass out papers in lightning speed with this system. If a student has an item they are playing with instead of wearing (necklace, watch ect...) those items are placed in front of the student's number and not my desk where they will probably be forgotten until the end of the school year. If I have notes from the office or lunchroom for a student I simply place the note in front of the student's number and I no longer have teacher guilt for forgetting to give out important notes. This system is wonderful and it teaches students to be responsible and keeps me organized.