Elementary School Tips 2 From a fourth grade teacher in Michigan: ìSimple is best. To keep track of papers/assignments for absent students I have a file folder labeled ëmake-up work.í It is in a readily accessible place to students. I assign the absent student to another student for the day (a person from his group, seated near him, or a special friend who may be missing him that day). It is that person's responsibility to put any hand-outs, assignments, etc. for the day into the folder along with a sticky note identifying him as helper. When the student returns to school, he goes directly to the folder for missed work, papers, and assignments. If he needs direction, he is to see the person who put the work into the folder. This gets me ëout of the loopí and helps all involved to develop a sense of their responsibility toward their own work and the well being of their classmate. Best of all, I don't begin my day by scurrying around looking for papers or looking up what we did the day/s the person was absent.î