Ditch the Notebooks: A Bellwork System That Actually Works

Let’s be honest— “Do Now” notebooks can be a nightmare. Pages get torn, lost, or mysteriously vanish into lockers. Trying to grade them? That’s a whole different headache. Flipping through spiral-bound chaos or collecting stacks of papers just to check one warm-up question quickly drains your energy and time. But without accountability, “Do Now” becomes just another box to check—students stop taking it seriously, and the routine loses its power. That’s why I made the switch to a digital Bellwork system using Google Classroom, paired with my auto-grading spreadsheet. It not only keeps students on task and responsible, but it also saves me hours each week. No more chasing papers—just fast, effective feedback and a calm, structured start to every class.

By the way, whether you call it Bellwork, a Do Now, a Bell RingerScience Starter, or even a Warm-Up, the purpose is the same: to give students a focused, meaningful task as soon as they enter the classroom. The name might vary by school or teacher, but the goal is always to establish a smooth, structured start that transitions students into learning mode.

In this post, you’ll learn exactly how I run a streamlined, digital Bellwork system in my middle school science classroom—from daily routines and Google Classroom setup to grading with an auto-scoring spreadsheet that keeps students accountable and saves me time.


How to Establish Your Bellwork Routine

1. Set the tone with a consistent start
Every day, students walk in knowing exactly what to do. I display a daily Bellwork slide (or “Do Now,” or “Science Starter,” whichever term you prefer) on the classroom screen. It shows:

  • The date
  • Today’s agenda
  • Homework reminders
  • The daily Bellwork prompt

For my Bellwork Slides, I use a single Google Slides file for the year—each afternoon I copy the next day’s slide, add a GIF to grab attention, and have it ready to project at the beginning of class the following day.

2. Use Google Classroom to reinforce learning
In Google Classroom, I create a Bellwork topic under Classwork. Each morning, I post a Bellwork Question—often a quick recall from yesterday or a teaser for today’s topic. The title includes the date and an emoji to help me track and grade.

3. Turn consistency into a meaningful grade
Students answer the question as they settle in. I review responses as a class and over time count the Bellwork submissions as a quiz grade. After three weeks, I deduct points for any missing work—adjusting incorrect answers becomes part of the review process. I require that every Bellwork question be answered in complete sentences.

4. Manage efficiently with a digital archive
By keeping one Google Slides deck, I maintain a full-year record of Bellwork and agendas. It helps so much with planning and continuity!


🔧 How to Use the Bellwork Tracker Spreadsheet

I have included my Bellwork Tracker spreadsheet with each of my pre-packaged Bellwork resources for units. The spreadsheet allows you to easily track student participation in the daily Bellwork, and it automatically calculates grades based on codes that you input (“M” for missing, “INC” for incomplete or incorrect, and “FS” for not being written in full sentences). This makes it easy to monitor progress and assign a grade for Bellwork without the usual paper chase.

Here’s how to use my spreadsheet:

Step 1: Make a Copy for Your Class

Start by copying the TEMPLATE tab for each class period. Rename each tab (e.g., “Period 1,” “Period 2”) to keep things organized.


🧑‍🏫 Step 2: Add Your Student Roster

In column A (under “NAME”), type each student’s name—one per row starting at row 4. Avoid editing rows 1–2 as they include date and weekday headers.


📅 Step 3: Align Bellwork Dates

Row 1 contains Bellwork dates, and Row 2 displays the corresponding weekday. You can update or extend these headers as the school year progresses.

Pro tip: Make sure the dates match your actual Bellwork schedule. Days with no Bellwork can be left blank or skipped entirely.


📝 Step 4: Enter Participation Codes

Use a short code to mark Bellwork completion:

  • Leave the cell blank if the student completed the Bellwork

  • Type INC for incomplete or incorrect work (5 points off)

  • Type FS when the student did not answer in full sentences (5 points off)

  • Type M for missing Bellwork (10 points off)

  • Type A when the student was absent from class

🔢 Step 5: Let the Spreadsheet Do the Math

The “Total” column (last column) calculates an automatic grade or participation score based on how many Bellwork assignments are marked as incomplete/incorrect, not in complete sentences, or missing. This saves you from hand-counting or estimating!


📈 Step 6: Check Student Accountability

This visual tracker helps you:

  • Quickly identify patterns of missed work

  • Share data with students or parents

  • Export scores quickly for gradebooks or progress reports


Why This System Works

  • 📌 Promotes structure: Students settle in quickly, giving you time to take attendance and launch the lesson without chaos.
  • 🎯 Reinforces learning: Daily review of past or upcoming concepts keeps content fresh and ready for deeper exploration.
  • 📓 Realistic: No more flipping through notebooks!
  • 📝 Efficient grading: Emoji-coded posts and Google Classroom feedback make it easy to spot missing work and hold students accountable.
  • 🚪 Parent + Student friendly: Parents can see daily prompts and slides; students can revisit past Bellwork or catch up when absent.

Tips for Success

  • Pick a visual theme: I use nature-themed Google Slides and animated GIFs—engaging visuals help students focus.

  • Stick to a routine: Use the same launch pattern every day so students know exactly what you expect.

  • Align prompts to learning goals: Whether reviewing yesterday’s lesson or introducing today’s key concept, make every prompt purposeful. Check out my pre-packaged Bellwork prompts here!

  • Track digitally: Google Classroom posts and Slides archive provide proof of work, help with grading, and records for absent students or parent-teacher conversations.


Switching to a digital Bellwork system has completely transformed the way I start class—no more lost papers, rushed grading, or unclear expectations. With Google Classroom and my tracker spreadsheet, students know what’s expected every day, and I can quickly see who’s on track. It’s efficient, consistent, and easy to manage, even on the busiest teaching days. If you’ve been frustrated by the chaos of paper Bellwork, I hope this system gives you the tools and confidence to make a change that benefits both you and your students.

Meet-Karla

Hi! I'm Karla.

I help middle school science teachers feel confident, save time, and engage their learners!

Sunrise Science is trusted by over 84,000 teachers who want to make middle school science come alive—without reinventing the wheel every day. Check out my best-selling Cornell Doodle Notes, full unit bundles, and middle school science resources!

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