My students loved getting involved in the class. I taught sixth grade and they were all eager to do anything (well, most of them).
One way I got my students involved was we set up a daily cleaning roster, where a group of students would stay behind on a certain day to do some ‘cleaning’. This involved sweeping, cleaning the boards, wiping down counters and even disinfecting desks. It was on a volunteer basis but if a student committed for a certain day, that’s when they were expected. It taught them responsibility and respect for their environment. I graded papers and organised my planning while they were busy. I also enjoyed the ‘bonding’ session between my students and myself during that time.
I was also given a lot of files from a previous teacher. They were fairly disorganized with numerous duplicates spread throughout a number of files. A few of my students loved coming in and sorting the files for me. They threw away duplicates and placed pages in plastic sleeves. This would have taken me ages had I done it on my own.
These are just two ways in which I got my students involved.
You might be thinking that my students were in sixth grade, but you teach a lower, less responsible grade… try placing an advert outside your door for older students. Mention the job you would like done, the number of students needed and the date and time and see what kind of response you get.
Getting this right can free up a lot of your time! Let me know how you got your students involved!
