Attendance and Lunch Choice

Last time I eluded to this picture.  But what is it?

This is how I manage attendance and lunch count in my classroom.  It's situated right near the classroom door so when the boys and girls walk in, it's the first thing they (should) do.  While the board isn't complete yet--I still need to make the first card that contains each students' name (in the past I have put a picture on it too) to place in the front.

This is what the envelopes look like up close.  Each student is assigned a number (typically it goes in ABC order) and will remain theirs all year.  Inside each envelope are four cards.  Name card, cold lunch, choice #1, and choice #2.  

At the end of each day the name card is placed at the front, resetting the lunch cards.  I have a Lunch Card Organizer who has the task of telling me attendance each morning, counting up how many choice #1 and #2, and then resetting the cards daily.  


I love how hands-off this job is for me and I love that the kids really enjoy doing this one.  I usually do the name cards in white so I can see from afar if we have absences also.


I've learned my lesson in from years past not to do anything permanent before the first day of school--preferably before the first week.  I had a lot of move outs/ins this last year so the numbers never really worked out alphabetically but no big deal.


This upcoming week I'll place the month's lunch menu up just below "Welcome".  This way the kids can check or recheck lunch choices and make sure they know what they are selecting.