Handling No Name Papers in the Classroom

One thing that drives me crazy in my classroom is no name papers. I tell my students constantly that they need to put their name on their paper yet I still end up with no names! I’ve tried some things that worked well in my classroom to combat this no-name issue. I’ve found that certain tactics work best with different groups. I have one system that has been super helpful with no name papers and it gets my students to practice self-reflection. It’s also a freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers! 

Try out some of these solutions below and see what works with your class to prevent no name papers!

Before implementing any system, I always have a place where no name papers will go. I grabbed this paper holder at the Target Dollar Spot. Whatever you use doesn’t have to be fancy! I’ve used a magnetic clip on the front whiteboard before and it’s worked just fine. Make sure you have a place to keep the no name papers that is very visible to students. 

Ask students to turn in all their work into a numbered mail box or crate. This way, they have to find their number before they turn their work in. You’ll know who the no name paper belongs to based on what number it was turned into! This system works really well as long as you aren’t collecting a great deal of work at once. I personally can get overwhelmed by all the papers in the crate, but it’s an easy way to tell who each paper belongs to! 

Use a number sorter! This takes up less space than a mailbox or crate and does the same job. Students will find their number, pick up their plastic tab, and place their work underneath it. This would be a little more difficult for little ones initially, but they could definitely learn! You can get one of these sorters on Amazon, Staples, or Office Depot!

If you have additional wall space and your learners are taller, you could use a hanging file system. Similar to the crate or sorter, students will find their folder and place their work inside. You can get these hanging folder holders on Amazon! Also, if you’re looking for other ways to use these file folder storage charts in your classroom, check out Nyla’s blog post about them. I always seem to have a couple of these stuffed in my teacher closet!

The Levels of Understanding system has worked well with my classes and I love that it also encourages students to self-reflect. Not only does this give you some insight into your students’ progress but it helps them with the skill of self-assessment AND it is a reminder to put their name on their paper!

Here’s how it works:

I put these markers next to the bin where my students turn in their papers. When they turn something in, they look at the posters and choose the color that describes them in relation to the work. They they ‘highlight’ their name with that color and turn it in! Often my students would pick a color and then realize that they forgot their name. This has prevented many no name papers!

This has been a great look into my students’ self-awareness and also how comfortable they feel with various skills we’re working on. Win-win!

You could also leave out the level four poster and color if you don’t feel that your students are ready for that yet. If you use this in your classroom, I’d love to know how it went!

Looking for more classroom hacks? Check out this blog post!