Have the students keep the same numbers all year, even if a student moves. If you get a new student, she can take the number of the student who moved. Your gradebook software may allow you to assign a number order that doesn't rely on alphabetical order. If you don't use a computer for grades, put your students in your book alphabetically, but white out the numbers that are incorrect and change them.

Use the same numbers to label everything you have class sets of, such as novels, manipulative sets, student mailboxes, textbooks, etc. Each student is then responsible for the item with his number. This will save you from re-labeling items from year to year.

This is a simple version of student portfolios. Use hanging file folders for the students' work. Each week the students pick a representative paper from each subject area to put in their file. At the end of the grading period you will have several papers from each area to show to parents at conference time. You can sort them out to just 3 or 4 papers that are a good cross-section of the student's abilities.

Use a basket or tray for students to turn in assignments. If you have more than one class or subject, you can label different baskets/trays for each one. This will eliminate students constantly asking what they are supposed to do with finished assignments, and you will have them all in one place when it is time to grade them.

Create a mail center for your students. Shoe organizers work well as you can stack several together until you have the right number for your students. Don't forget one for yourself. Use the mail center for returning papers, handing out announcements, returning lost items, etc. If you label them with the students' numbers, you won't have to relabel them each year.

Buy laundry hangers that fold out into circles and have clips on them. Hang one over each student table or group of desks. Use them to hang artwork or special projects. If you put the students' projects on the hanger that is above them, it is easier to return the projects to the students because they are right there.