The organization and scheduling of the classroom, and adjusting for individual student differences, means that all students do not require the same amount of time to complete activities. As one means of dealing with this issue many teachers provide students with independent work folders. These folders contain learning activities which are individually tailored to the students' needs for practice. The material in the folder is work which students can practice without additional assistance from the teacher or the paraeducator. The work in the folder must be directly related to the current learning objectives for the students.
Students utilize the time between activities to work in the folder.
This might include the time when the student finishes an assignment ahead of other students, or when a student has a question and is waiting for the teacher or paraeducator to respond. The folders allow the student to work productively while they are waiting for the teacher or other students. Paraeducators can play an important role in correcting and maintaining the work in these folders. While a lesson is being presented the paraeducator can use a number of strategies to help keep all students actively engaged in the learning activity. Make sure that students understand the activity and have all materials necessary before beginning.