ASSEMBLING DAILY FOLDERS

A question I get all the time is how I assemble my daily folders.  So, I decided to show you a couple different ways I've assembled my folders over the years.

Due to teacher requests, I have a couple different variations of my daily folder covers.  They look similar and have the same graphics, but they are just named differently.

For example, I have...

TAKE HOME FOLDERS

HOMEWORK FOLDERS

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION FOLDERS

ASSESSMENT FOLDERS

No matter what version you have there are a couple ways you can assemble your folders.

ASSEMBLY OPTION #1

Here I printed the covers on full page label sheets.  I cut out the cover, peeled off the sticky back, and stuck it on the front of a folder.  (I have tried both plastic and paper folders.)

Here are the full-page labels I used:

For extra durability I used these sticky lamination sheets to put over the label.

I had to cut them down a little before sticking them on.

ASSEMBLY OPTION #2

Another way I've put together my folders is by printing the covers on regular computer paper and then laminating them to make them durable.

I've used just the regular school laminator, but I've also used my at home one too.

I like to use my at home laminator because I have the option to laminate with the 5 mil lamination, which makes the covers extra durable.

After I laminate and cut out the covers there are two different ways I attached the covers.

First, I simply just staple the covers on in the areas that are easy to staple and won't mess with the pockets and brads of the folder.

Then, in any areas I couldn't staple (usually the bottom area of the cover) I add some Velcro dots to finish securing them to the folder.

Here is an example of the sticky Velcro dots I use.

These are just a couple ideas on how to attach your folder covers.  Through trial and error I've found what works for me and the wear and tear my folders get on a daily basis.

If you have different ideas on how to attach the covers add them in the comments below!  

Homework Folders

At the beginning of the school year I make each student their own daily folder, also known as their "Take Home Folder."

I've had a lot of teachers reach out and ask if I can make my "Take Home Folders" into "Homework Folders."  So here they are!

This folder works as a great communication devise between home and school!

The homework folders should be brought home every night by the students and returned to school the very next day.  The folders have important information such as school notes, notes from home, classroom newsletters, money, homework, graded work, etc. in them.

The student's daily behavior can also be noted in their homework folder on the monthly behavior calendar.

At the end of each school day you can have your students mark either a green, yellow, or red dot on the appropriate date on the behavior calendar.  This dot communicates to their parents the type of behavior they had that day at school.  If the color yellow or red is marked on their calendar, write a brief description of the negative behavior that student displayed.  The purpose of this is to encourage a discussion between the parents and their child over the misbehavior.

By having your parents sign or initial each night on the behavior calendar this communicates to you that the parents saw their child's homework folder and the information inside of it.

Have your students turn their homework folders into a tub each morning.  When they turn them in have them place the folders in numerical order.  This makes it easy for you to flip through and see who is at school, who forgot to turn their folder in, etc.

Here's a peek inside the homework folders!

Here's the steps on how to put together your very own Homework Folder:

Step 1:

Use plastic brad folders to make the homework folders.  The plastic folders hold up much better than the paper ones.

You can find the plastic folders at Walmart or even Amazon!

Step 2:

Pick a cover with a different clipart character for each of your students.  Add their name, their student number, and your class information to the cover.  Print each cover and laminate it.

**If you don't want to make a personalized cover for each of your students I also have these pencil people covers!**

You can make these folders for the girls in your class.

And these folders for the boys in your class.

Step 3:

Attach the covers to the front of your folders.  You can use staples, tape, Velco dots, etc. to attach the covers.

Step 4:

Add additional pockets to your folders.  These plastic pocket sleeves can be purchased at Wal-Mart.  Then add them to the brads of the folder.

Step 5:

Use the 1" x 2 5/8" labels to label the behavior calendars and homework pockets.

Step 6:

Use the 2" x 4" labels for the graded work pocket.

Go over the labels with clear tape to ensure the labels stay on and do not get damaged.

Step 7:

Place any additional important handouts (like the school calendar) in a clear plastic sleeve and add it to the brads of the folder.

Step 8:

Pick out a left and right pocket label for your folders.  Print, laminate, and cut out the labels.

Step 9:

Attach the labels to the left and right pockets of the folder by stapling them on.

*You can also just print the labels on 2x4 labels*

Step 10: 

Add a pencil pouch to the brads of the folders for money, small notes, etc.

Don't forget to take the pencil pouches and plastic sleeves out of each student's folder at the end of the school year so you can reuse them year after year.

Step 11:

 Add the behavior calendar to each student's folder.  The monthly behavior calendar can also have school events, classroom events, due dates, test dates, etc. on it as well.  This will help parents easily see what's going on at your school and in your classroom.

Step 12:

Send home these introduction notes the first time you send home the homework folders.  The notes explain what a homework folder is, what is inside the folder, and the guidelines to take care of it.

The folders are then complete and ready to use all year long!

You can grab everything you need to make your own Homework Folders by clicking HERE!

Also check out the matching classroom labels by clicking HERE!

There are 7 different size labels to choose from!

Student Behavior Checklist - Great to use at Parent/Teacher Conferences

Getting things prepared for Parent/Teacher conferences can be overwhelming.  I always like to include a packet of paperwork that shows parents what the benchmarks are at this time of the year in first grade and how their child is doing compared to those benchmarks. Reading level, reading fluency, comprehension, and fact fluency are just some of the benchmarks I include in my packet of paperwork.  My parents find this information that I give them to be very beneficial in knowing how their child is performing in first grade.

However, one of the top questions that parents have is: "How is my child's behavior?"  That's when I decided to come up with a work habits and behavior checklist.  The checklist includes 21 specific work habit/behavior topics that I could evaluate their child on.  I rated the students on each topic as either: "Does this well," "Does this okay," and "Needs to do better."

This checklist really helped me breakdown each child's behavior and make it easier to explain to their parents what they do well in and areas they can improve in.

I like to give these checklists out at each parent/teacher conference (one in the fall and the other in the spring).  You can compare the two checklists during the spring conference to see if the child's behavior has improved or declined.

I copy all the paperwork I give out to parents during conferences and keep a copy for me and allow the parents to take home the additional copies.

I store and organize all the paperwork I give out at conferences in these plastic parent-teacher conference folders I made.  Each folder has a student number on it so I can reuse them year after year.

This checklist is so easy to fill out that you could not only use it for conferences but for end of the week student behavior evaluations, end of the month student behavior evaluations, etc.

Grab a copy of my Evaluation of Work Habits and Behavior Checklist from my TpT store by clicking HERE!  It's now editable!

New and Improved Blurt Chart!

I had to redo my old Blurt Chart because my class size has grown from 22 to 25! AHH!  Anyways, I made this super cute polka dot Blurt Chart so I thought I would share it!

 

New Blurt Chart:

 

 

I use Velcro dots to make the stars easily go on and off of the chart.

 

 

 Old Blurt Chart:

 

 

 

 

Here is how the Blurt Chart Behavior Management System works in my classroom:

The B.L.U.R.T system discourages students from interrupting the teacher from teaching or interrupting other students from learning.  Each day the students start with three stars next to their number on the chart.  Anytime a student Blurts out, makes a Loud noise, interrUpts the teacher from teaching, a student is out of theiR seat talking to others, or Talking too loud they will lose a star.  If a student loses all three stars they will receive a consequence.

 

Click HERE to download the Blurt Chart from my TpT Store!

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