As the school year draws to a close, teachers everywhere are faced with the annual task of tidying up their digital classrooms. Whether you’re a Google Classroom devotee, a Microsoft Teams aficionado, or still have that infamous desktop folder labeled “To Sort Someday,” now’s the time to get organized so you can enjoy a
stress-free summer—and start next fall with a clean slate. What’s the best way to archive your files, manage student access, and ensure nothing important gets lost in the shuffle?
Here’s an overview of the steps I recommend for closing out your digital classroom before summer break:
Archive this year’s digital work. Create a folder for "2025-2026" and move all student assignments, lesson plans, and shared resources inside. This keeps your drive
clutter-free and makes it easy to retrieve materials when you return.
Review sharing permissions. Remove access for students who are graduating or moving on. It’s amazing how many shared docs can linger from year to year—cleaning these up now prevents confusion in the fall.
Back up essential files. Download copies of critical documents to an external drive or secondary cloud account. Some schools reset accounts or devices over the summer, so
don’t risk losing your hard work.
Prepare for device returns. If your school collects laptops or tablets, double-check that everything is backed up and you’re signed out of all accounts before handing them in.
Tech Tip of the Week:
Did you know Google Drive can help you spot duplicate files? Just search for type:document and sort by name or last modified. You’ll be surprised how many old drafts you can clear out in minutes. For more practical edtech tips, check out the Ask a Tech Teacher blog.
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