Saturday, March 9, 2024

Have Your Students Organize Their Work with "Ketchup," "Mustard," "Mayo," and/or "Pickle" Folders!

Are you looking for an organizational system that helps your students keep their paperwork organized?  Are you tired of dealing with lost assignments, crumpled papers, and messy desks?  Then look no further!  These “Ketchup,” “Mustard,” “Mayo,” and “Pickle” folders will help create organized, responsible, independent learners!

Ketchup Folder

Here’s How They Work:

Each folder stands for:

Ketchup = Catch-Up on your Work

Ketchup Folder

Mustard = Must-Do Work

Mustard Folder

Mayo = May-Do Work

Mayo Folder

Pickle = Pick your Work

Pickle Folder

Pick and choose from my premade folder covers and labels to create the folder system you would like to implement in your classroom.  Choose from multiple left and right pocket label options to place on the inside pockets of each folder.  

Printable Folder Labels

The labels come in two sizes.  The larger labels can be printed on full-page label sheets.  You can also print them on regular paper and tape them in the folders.  

Ketchup Folder Labels

The smaller labels can be printed on 2 x 4 labels.

Catch Up Work Folder Labels

In my classroom, each student had a red Ketchup folder.  Any unfinished work, such as morning work, center work, math worksheets, etc. a student did not have time to finish would be placed inside their Ketchup folder.  It would be placed on the “Must-Do” side.  Any fun activity pages/packets they had to do for fun would go on the “May-Do Side.”  During the day if a student had extra time, they would take out their Ketchup folder and complete any work that was in it.

Ketchup - Catch-up Folders

I had my students keep their Ketchup folders in their desks.  But you can also create a turn-in basket for your folders.  

Unfinished Work Folders

This will help you really keep track if a student’s work continues to build up in their folder.  

Ketchup Folder Basket

This download also comes with basket signs to create your own turn-in basket.  

Pickle Folders

Each sign comes in two different sizes.

Ketchup Folder Basket

I used one of the plastic display stands to place my sign in.

Here’s How to Assemble Your Folders:

Each folder cover is EDITABLE in PowerPoint.  This allows you to personalize each folder cover by simply typing in each student’s name, their student number, your class info, or any other info you would like to include.

1. Use plastic folders to make your classroom folders.  

Classroom Folders

2. Pick your folder cover.  Duplicate the slide to create a cover for each one of your students.  To duplicate the cover, right click on the slide and select, “Duplicate Slide.”

How to Make Ketchup Folders

3. Type in each student’s name, their student number, your class info (or any other info you would like) on the folder.

Ketchup Folder Covers

4. Once all your text is added to the covers, save the file as a PDF and print your covers from that PDF file.

Ketchup Folder Covers

5. Print the covers on full page sticker label sheets like the ones found HERE.

Pickle Folder Covers

6. Peel off the sticky back and carefully stick it on the folder.

Pickle Folder Covers and Labels

7. You can use self-adhesive laminating sheets to place over the cover label if you want your labels to have an extra level of protection.  This is not necessary though.

Ketchup Folder Covers and Labels

8. Decide what size pocket labels you would like to use for the inside of your folders.  The larger labels can be printed on full sheet sticker labels.  Or you can print them on regular paper, laminate, cut, and staple or tape them onto the folder pockets.

Mustard Folders

9. You can also choose to print the smaller pocket labels on 2” x 4” labels.  Add packing tape over each label for extra durability.

Classroom Folder Covers and Labels

10. Create a turn in tub in your classroom for your folders using the premade signs.

Classroom Organization System

Not only are these folders a great organizational tool for students, but they also serve as a great classroom management tool to put into place at the beginning of the school year!

Classroom Organization

BONUS

*You can also use the Ketchup folder cover to create your own classroom absent folder.  

Absent Folder

Place the Ketchup folder on the desk of an absent student.  

Absent Folder Covers and Labels

Throughout the day have classmates collect and place all handouts, worksheets, etc. in the ketchup folder.  Once the absent student returns to school they can take the Ketchup folder home to complete their missed work.  They will then return the folder with all their completed work in it.

Classroom Folder Covers and Labels

Click HERE to download my Ketchup, Mayo, Mustard, and Pickle folder covers and labels from my TpT store!

Ketchup, Mayo, Mustard, and Pickle Folders

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Starbucks Gift Card Holder for Teacher Christmas Gift and/or Teacher Appreciation Gift

Looking for a Christmas gift for your child's teacher?  These Starbucks gift card holders make the perfect Christmas gift for teachers!

Starbucks Gift Card Holder

Print the gift card tags HERE and simply attach a Starbucks gift card to it!

Starbucks Gift Card Tag

Christmas Gift for Teachers

These gift card holders are so easy to make for teachers:

Christmas Gifts for Teachers

Simply print these gift card tags on cardstock paper and tape a Starbucks gift card to the tag.  Have your child sign the tag and then give it to their teacher!

Teacher Christmas Starbucks Gift

There are also two additional versions that are great to give to teachers for Teacher Appreciation week!

Starbucks Teacher Appreciation Gift

Starbucks Teacher Appreciation Gift

These make a great Teacher Appreciation Gift.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

Grab these gift card tags from my TpT store or my Etsy shop!

Starbucks Teacher Gift

All four options are available in one download!

Starbucks Teacher Christmas Gift


Monday, November 13, 2023

Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament {Student Made Parent Gift}

Looking for a cute, funny, and inexpensive gift for your students to make for their parents for a Christmas gift?

Ugly Sweater Christmas Ornament

These ugly Christmas sweater ornaments are fast and simple to make and are a great keepsake for parents!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Craft

Here are the steps on how to make these ugly Christmas sweater ornaments:

Step 1:

Christmas Crafts for Students
For this craft you will need multiple craft items for your students to decorate their ugly Christmas sweaters with.  This might include gemstones, stickers, mini jingle bells, sequins, pom pom balls, etc.

Step 2:
Student Picture Ornament
First, take pictures of each of your students.  When taking the picture make sure each student is looking straight ahead.  Also, make sure to include their neck in the picture.

Step 3:
Student Made Ornament
Add each student’s picture to this PowerPoint presentation.  Crop the student’s photo where just their head and neck are in the picture.  *Make sure to keep some of their neck in the picture – this is very important when placing the picture on each sweater template.

Step 4:
Student Crafts for Christmas
Resize the cropped picture to about 2.65 inches in height.  Each student picture should fit inside one of the boxes.  Once you have all your students’ pictures placed in the boxes, save this PowerPoint as a PDF and print the picture page.  Laminate and cut out each picture.  Make sure to leave the neck in each picture!

Step 5:
Ugly Christmas Sweaters Ornament Templates
Next, print the different sweater templates on cardstock paper.  I like to use red, dark green, light green, and white colored cardstock paper.
  
Then, cut out each sweater.

Step 6:
Student Picture Christmas Ornament
Tape each student’s head on one of the sweaters.  
Student Picture Christmas Ornament
I add a piece of tape on the back to place it in the correct spot.  Then, I add a larger piece of box tape to the back to secure the picture.
Student Picture Christmas Ornament

Step 7:
Christmas Craft Ideas
Then, using all the miscellaneous craft supplies have your students decorate their ugly Christmas sweater. 
Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids
They can color with markers, add stickers, use miscellaneous craft supplies, etc.
Student Made Christmas Ornament

Step 8:
Home Made Christmas Ornaments
Using the price tag template, type in each student’s information.  Print the tags on cardstock paper and cut them out.  
Students can color their price tag if they would like.

Step 9:
Student Picture Ornaments
Have your students attach their price tag to their sweater.  I like to have them place the price tag on the sleeve of their sweater.  
Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments
Attach a small ribbon on top of the price tag if you would like.

Step 10:
Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament Craft
Finally, attach a piece of ribbon or string from shoulder to shoulder of the sweater.  You can glue the ribbon or use hot glue for extra durability.  I also like to tie a ribbon bow to the top of the string as well.

Step 11:
Classroom Crafts for Christmas
The ornament is now complete!

These ornaments turn out so cute and are a sweet keepsake parents can put on the Christmas tree each year!

Step 12:
Wrapping Student Made Gifts
Have your students wrap their ornament.  You can grab this printable Snowman gift bag HERE!

Snowman Gift Bags
Now your parent gifts are ready to send home!

Additional Ideas:
Sweater Ornament
Another fun spin to this craft is to have your students use paperclips to make hangers for their ugly Christmas sweaters.
Paperclip Hangers

Paperclip Hangers
Simply bend the paperclip three times (like shown above) to create the hanger.  
Paperclip Hangers
Then, glue the hangers on the back of each sweater.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament Student Craft
This is good to do if you don’t have time or don’t want to take each student’s picture.
Christmas Ornaments Students Make
Here’s an example of how the ornaments turn out with a hanger instead of a student picture.  Both versions turn out super cute!
Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments Students Make
You can also attach the sweaters to a string using these small clothespins.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments Students Make
I found these clothespins at Hobby Lobby.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament Parent Gift
Grab everything you need to make the Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments HERE!

Student Made Gift BagStudent Made Gift Bag

Grab the printable snowman gift bags HERE!