As another school year winds down, teachers everywhere are preparing to close out their classrooms—both physical and digital. This time of year always brings a unique blend of relief, nostalgia, and that nagging question: How do I wrap up my digital files so next fall starts smoothly? Are Google Drive folders still the go-to, or has something new taken their place? And does anyone even turn in their laptops
for the summer anymore?
Let’s talk about organizing your digital classroom for a stress-free summer. Whether you’re using Google Drive, OneDrive, or that old folder on your desktop labeled “To Sort Someday,” now’s the perfect time to tidy up. Here’s what you want to accomplish before you lock your classroom door for the last time:
- Archive this year’s files. Create a folder labeled with the year ("2025-2026") and move all student work, lesson
plans, and shared documents inside. This keeps your main drive clutter-free and makes it easy to find materials later.
- Double-check sharing permissions. Remove access for students who are graduating or moving on. No one wants surprise edits in August!
- Download what matters. Back up essential files to an external drive or cloud service. School accounts sometimes reset over the summer, and you don’t want to lose your hard
work.
- Device returns? Policies vary—some schools collect all laptops and tablets, while others let staff keep them over break. If you’re turning in your device, double-check that everything is backed up and signed out.
