Assistants need their own desk or area where they can go over their tasks and organize their materials. For me, the easiest way to organize for their tasks uses small, plastic tubs. Each can hold the day’s activity folder, books, tools (pencils,etc.) and other supplies. The assistant can carry everything to their meeting place and be organized when the first group arrives.
Why do I mention it now? Sales. School supplies: folders, notebooks, totes, crayons, erasers, pencils, etc. are on sale at truly affordable prices.
Two ways to organize groups using folders
(1) Think of using individual folders with pockets for every assistant. Use a different color for math, language, science, writing, etc. so you, as well as the assistant, can easily locate their folders. Two math assistants? two red folders. Three language assistants? three yellow folders. Want them to last? Buy the plastic variety (with pockets); they’ll last all year without needing to be tapes back together.
(2) Organize the groups by color. Provide a matching color folder for each group. Monday’s two assistants will have 4 folders; different colors for each group. Example: The RED group has their task in a red folder. When they finish, their work goes into the red folder so the teacher can scan their work and get it back to them through the assistant. Corrections can be made, papers sent home, etc. through the RED group. The same for the 3 other groups and for each assistant. This means buying extra folders, but it does keep things organized!