This depends on the age of the students (grade school vs college) and the purpose of the follow up. Is the follow-up for you, the teacher, or the student? You have to be careful with the students because the assignment they do or fail to do should not open so the rest of the class can see that students performance. I keep an excel spreadsheet and look at it often. As an example, if a student misses more than 2 assignments, I send them an e-mail making sure they know they are missing 2 assignments and what can happen to their grade. I also say that if they need help or assistance to please come see me. I also give instructions at the beginning of the semester with dates for each assignment.

If you want to post information so everyone can see it, here is one idea that works great. I have everyone pick a code name/word (it can be letters or number and letters); it must be something they can remember and I suggest they write it down somewhere. I then keep a spreadsheet or chart with checks for each assignment turned in. It it’s late then I use a “T.” It keeps students informed and let’s me see how they are doing as well.

Big chart, students names on the left side, assignments on the top. Chart is on the wall of the classroom. Each square is blank if a student has not finished the assignment, has teacher’s initials and the date when the student gave or showed the completed assignment to the teacher. Maybe one chart for each week.

I might also consider student-led teacher conferences. Each student gets a list of benchmarks or objectives. Each student has a portfolio of the work they’ve done this quarter. Each student meets with their parent in the classroom to show and explain how they met each benchmark, or why they have a bunch of missing assignments! Direct accountability. It’s a beautiful thing.

If you can get kids to satisfy themselves and their parent that they’ve done a good job, instead of giving you enough paper to keep you happy, half the job of education is done.

Grade papers in a timely manner

Have a clear, concise written policy on late assignments, if points will be deducted, etc. When a student hands in an assigment that’s late, write that on the paper as soon as you have it in your hand so you and the student know that it was graded as such.

Keep a gradebook ledger, and then you can just glance down the row and see who’s missing the grade.