I have been preaching a paperless math classroom for quite some time now, but I don’t think I’ve quite convinced you to get started. Today, I write to you to give you 5 reasons you should set up paperless systems in your math classroom today!
Now I already know what you’re thinking – “it’s impossible to go paperless in math – kids need to write!” and I don’t disagree with you. Kids need to feel math to do math with manipulatives, paper, and pencils.
What I mean when I say a paperless math class is having paperless systems to keep yourself organized and your students engaged digitally. By the end of this post, you will be convinced to go paperless in your math classroom, and I will help you get there. You can learn more by signing up for my course Google Forms and Sheets for Classroom Data Organization, here!
Without further ado, here are the five reasons that you should go paperless in your math classroom:
1: An organized physical space promotes positive work habits.
Seriously. Have you ever felt more motivated to do work when you’re surrounded by an organized work environment? I know I do. Decluttering your physical space by getting rid of the paper piles on your desk, you are making room to be more productive.
2: Having paperless systems will put less strain on your back.
Raise your hand if you’re tired of carrying paper piles home for the weekend 🙋🏻♀️. I used to be you. I would bring everything, and I mean EVERYTHING home every weekend and over breaks because I wasn’t sure just when I would need it.
The solution: to go paperless with all the excess paperwork we have to deal with as teachers.
3: Sub plans? No problem.
Yes, you read that right – sending sub plans is easy when it’s just an email away. Simply search and send your digital file to your admin or whoever is cover your class and voila!
If you’ve embedded digital activities into your curriculum to engage students, then your life will be even easier. You won’t have to worry about making so many copies of a worksheet that won’t hold the kids attention. Everything will be online!
4: Students need to learn digital skills, why not embed them into your curriculum?
Talk about being productive! Teach students to use technology AND gain a deeper understanding of math? Amazing!
There are so many digital tools out there for students to show their knowledge in a more meaningful way than paper and pencil. Promote student engagement by bringing digital activities like Prodigy and Pixel Art to your classroom!
5: You’re helping the environment.
Did you know that at least 40% of all school waste is paper?* If you even have 1 paperless system in set up for yourself, then you are helping the environment by reducing paper waste.
There are plenty of reasons for you to start using digital systems in your classroom, but these are my top 5 reasons! I am all about saving my sanity and the environment! If you want to learn how to specifically set up your systems for a successful school year, grab my Google Forms and Sheets for Classroom Data Organization course by clicking here!
alexandra
*According to the AFT https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/bmmbschoolrecycle2012.pdf
