Teaching With Terhune: 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!

Here’s How They Work:

Each folder stands for:

Ketchup = Catch-Up on your Work

Mustard = Must-Do Work

Mayo = May-Do Work

Pickle = Pick your Work

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.

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.

The smaller labels can be printed on 2 x 4 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.

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

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

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

Each sign comes in two different sizes.

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.

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.”

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

BONUS

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

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

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.