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Uncategorized   |   Nov 19, 2011

Fun Folders: a meaningful, student-centered way to assign homework practice

By Angela Watson

Founder and Writer

Looking for an easy homework system that gives kids enjoyable and meaningful assignments? Try Fun Folders! This page will tell you how to create, implement, manage, and assess a homework program.

What are fun folders?

Fun Folders are a homework system I created several years ago by writing open-ended activities on file folders.  Students pick out a different folder to take home each night.  They complete the folder’s activity on a sheet of notebook paper and fill out the tracking form reflection on the front of the chart so they know which folders they’ve completed.

What kinds of homework activities are in fun folders?

Anything you want! Though my Fun Folders were always based on state standards, I used stickers, kids’ magazines, photos, and all sorts of other things as inspiration for creating interesting activities. I’d save up new materials as I found them, and then about once a month, I’d make new Fun Folders while relaxing in front of the T.V. in the evening. They were actually very enjoyable to create–much better than grading homework worksheets! The slideshow below shows some photographs of Fun Folders so you can get an idea of how they work:

9 reasons to convince parents and principals that the fun folder system works!

•  The system allows families to see the wide variety of skills in the curriculum and become more familiar with state standards.
• It ensures that each child practices one or more state standards nightly (objectives are always written on the back of the folders).
• There is no busywork assigned just for the sake of having homework.
• It allows for differentiated homework practice. Folders are leveled, with a thirty-minute timeframe for completion so that students who work at a slower pace do not have to spend an unreasonable amount of time on homework, and all charts have challenge activities to make the activity more rigorous as needed.
• There is an easy-to-remember routine: homework is in the same general format each week and takes about the same amount of time to complete each night, providing the child has no incomplete class work to take home.
• It eliminates photocopies, saving teachers time, saving schools money, and saving the planet’s resources!
• It doesn’t penalize students for not understanding concepts or not having someone at home to help, because Fun Folder work is not given letter grades (charts are shared with the class, credit is awarded for completed tracking forms and attempts to complete the activities, and actual Fun Folder work is collected for portfolios.)
• It allows for distributed practice, meaning that students must retain their knowledge of skills and concepts all year to complete the Fun Folders (rather than completing homework only the current chapter, testing, and forgetting!)
• It’s fun for kids!!

How fun folders fit into a class homework program

Fun Folders can be the entire homework program or just part of it. In the 2002-2003 school year, I used them as the main homework assignments all year; the only other homework students had was to read self-selected materials nightly. In 2005-2006, I gave more traditional homework at the beginning of the year and used Fun Folders after our state standardized testing was done in early March.

I continued using Fun Folders even after I started making homework due on a weekly basis instead of nightly, with assignments always given and collected on Fridays so students had a full 7 days to complete them. I had each child pick 1 folder of each type (math, reading, and writing) and complete the folders by the end of the week (in addition to self-selected reading and spelling practice as needed).  They loved it and I could tell they were really benefiting from the skills practice.

In later years, I sometimes used the Fun Folders as extra practice and reinforcement, optional homework, and even centers because the kids enjoyed them so much.

Collecting and assessing fun folders

Typically I had children share their work each morning with a partner, then turn in the work for my review and trade folders. This system gave students accountability for their work and allowed them to talk about what they learned. I often heard students say things like, “Yeah, I did that folder! This part was tricky–let me see what you did,” and “I want to do that folder tonight! How did you figure out the first part?” It was great to hear the kids exchanging strategies and generating more enthusiasm for homework practice!

When I collected homework weekly, I would often have little mini-conference with each child as I looked through their work on Fridays. Fun Folders were graded on completeness and were not checked for accuracy (though I could easily skim over them and notice if there were any glaring errors–since I made the folders, I had a good idea of what was on them!) I have always marked homework as either complete or incomplete, and Fun Folders were no exception. Completed Fun Folder work was saved in student portfolios, which students filed and organized themselves.

Keeping folders organized/using tracking forms

My folders were kept in a file box, which was almost empty most of the time because the children have the folders in their binders to be taken home.  I used a  tracking form  that was simply glued to the front and back of the folder (or stapled just to the front so state standards were visible on the back.) There was a space for each child’s assigned student number. After completing the folder, they would write a short reflection sentence next to their number (I liked…, I learned…I thought this chart was…, etc.) This would not only give me and the other kids feedback about how the chart worked, but gave students a record of which charts they had completed so they wouldn’t take the same chart twice.

Leveling the fun folders

The first year that I used Fun Folders, I had the Talented and Gifted (TAG) inclusion students, so differentiation was very important. I leveled my folders with a little check mark next to the title on the side of the file folder.

Green check mark folders were easy folders with very basic fact practice or below-grade-level work. Blue check mark folders were appropriate for everybody and comprised 90% of the folders I made. Red check mark folders required more time and higher-level thinking questions than were typically required of third graders.  Students were allowed to choose any folders they wanted and picked appropriately the vast majority of the time.

Students were taught that they could stop working on a folder if it took longer than 30 minutes to complete, as folders were designed to take between 10-20 minutes.  Parents were to indicate next to their signature on the homework assignment sheet/student agenda book that thirty minutes had passed and the student had been working diligently but was unable to finish.  There was no penalty for this.

A note about the origin of fun folders

The inspiration for this program was the Choose-A-Chart program designed by a fabulous third grade teacher in Canada, Michael Moore. Michael has since removed his website and all teaching resources from the web, so I can’t link to his original idea anymore, but there is some information saved at  Real Classroom Ideas  if you’re interested. There are a few differences between his charts and my Fun Folders:

• Mr. Moore used chart paper and mine are done on file folders, which I chose because it takes me too long to write in large print on charts (as you can see, my  small  print is messy enough!) and I thought they might be a bit cumbersome compared to the folders.
• Mr. Moore starts fresh each school year, making brand new charts customized for his particular group of students, and uses their names often in the charts.  While this was my original intention, I had put so much work into my charts that I thought it would be a shame to re-make them all  each year. Almost every chart was re-used from year to year to save time.
• Because I wanted to re-use my charts, and the fact that I used a lot of stickers and papers glued onto them, I laminated my charts.  Mr. Moore rightfully points out that this is expensive and a bit wasteful, but I have been able to be more creative with the materials I use to enhance the charts because I know the laminate will protect them. Most charts lasted 3-5 years.
• All of my charts include state standards listed on the back and optional challenge activities for those families who want extension ideas for homework assignments.

Angela Watson

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Pinning this for TBA…Love it!

Thank you, Laral! 🙂 I’m not sure I follow the TBA pins…what is the link?

Love this idea! How many file folders have you made? How many do you a typical class would need to send one a week home for the whole school year?

Hi, Anj! You need 1 per student to start, plus a few extra so that everyone has a choice and no one has to re-do a chart they’ve already taken. For a class of 25, 30 is a good starting point. I used to spend a Sunday afternoon creating 5 or 6 new once a month–the kids would get so excited when I cam in on Monday with new folders! Eventually I would start taking the older, easier ones out of the rotation and adding in new things the kids had learned. The second year I used them, I only created about 15 new folders the whole year.

I love this idea! I’m implementing centers in my classroom this year and these would be perfect! I couldn’t find the power point you mentioned to see some folder examples. I’m a second year teacher and could use some help with folder activity ideas. Thanks!!!!!!

Hello Angela, I was so happy when I stumbled on this old post of yours! I remember seeing something very similar to this years and years ago on the now defunct website of a Mr. Moore, a Canadian teacher, and have been trying to find his new site. I think he did his on chart and butcher paper but the same concept. I’m hitting my head and asking myself why I didn’t think of using file folders! THank you! –

Yes, Mr. Moore! His site has been gone for at least a decade. I have searched for him everywhere online, and found nothing. He called them Choose-A-Charts.

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Free Printable Student Binder

Student binder printables can help students keep all of their important school and class information organized, setting them up for success from the moment they head back to school!

The student binder printables are baaaaaaccccckkkk! 🙂 Over the past few months, one of the most common questions I have received is, “When are you going to update the student binder?!” Well, I’m thrilled to say that it is here! This year’s binder still features two color scheme options and many, many printable pages that will help you stay organized throughout the school year!

(And even if you’re not a student, there are still some of these printables that you could use too, so don’t run off just yet! 😉

[You can see all 300+ pages of free printables that we offer on the blog in our Free Printable Library !]

Student Binder Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here .

Before we jump into the binder tour, here are a few of the items you’ll need to put together your student binder:

• A 3-Ring Binder (I like this one and this one .)
• Colorful Tab Dividers (I like these ones with pockets and these ones without .)
• White Tab Dividers
• 3 Ring Binder 3 Hole Punch (I have  this one .)
• I like to use a label maker + clear tape to label my divider tabs.
• Printer- I have this kind . I prefer to print my binder printables at home, but of course you could always send them off to your local print shop or office supply store to be printed as well.

Free Printable Student Binder Pages

A pretty binder cover.

The first thing that any binder needs to have is a pretty cover, and this binder is no exception! I made it bright and colorful with plenty of room for the owner’s name and/or contact information. I printed my cover out on white card stock just to make it a little sturdier.

Class Schedule

Next, I was sure to include a class schedule. You can keep track of what class is happening when, where, and with whom with this simple printable!

Student Binder: Planning

I then divided the binder into a few sections to keep everything neat and organized. The first section is planning, of course!

Goal Setting Sheet

You know I never create a binder without including a goals page! I am kind of obsessive about goals because I really think that they work!

Whether you’re a student or not, it never hurts to write out a few of the things you’d like to accomplish over the next year. I’ve also left room to write out some action steps you can take to get yourself closer to your goals.

Monthly Calendars- Dated and Undated

Everyone– students and otherwise– can always use a monthly calendar. This one includes July 2023-December 2024 for over a full year of pretty planning! And if you’re thinking even further ahead than that, I’ve included undated calendar pages so that you can create a calendar for any year you want!

Two-Page Weekly Planner

Another printable that everyone could use is this two-page weekly planner. Each day is broken down by hour to make it easy to use time blocking or just keep a close eye on your schedule. There is even room at the bottom to set some goals for the week and make notes.

Daily Planning Printable with Time Blocking

If you want to go even more in-depth, you can use the daily planning printable, which has even more room to schedule your time, make note of people you need to contact, and keep track of miscellaneous items in the notes section.

Daily Routines Printable

The final printable in the “planning” section is a daily routines printable. Sometimes it’s helpful to clarify which items need to happen each morning (like packing a lunch or filling your backpack), afternoon (like finishing homework or doing chores), and evening (like picking out clothes for the next day or planning the next day’s schedule). This little printable can help you do all of those things!

Everyone probably won’t need all of these different printables for planning their time, but I wanted to make sure I provided a bunch of different options so each person could choose the printable or printables that would work best for them!

Student Binder: Tracking

There are sooooooo many details to keep track of when you’re in school, and the next section of the binder is devoted to just that.

Assignment Schedule + Exam Schedule

I know I was always overwhelmed on the first day of class when I would get my syllabus from each teacher and immediately be bombarded by assignments and test dates. The next two printables– an assignment schedule and an exam schedule– will help organize those things so you never miss a deadline.

Reading Log Printable

If there is one thing I’m thanking myself for as an adult, it is that I was an avid reader from an early age. I know I’m a former English teacher, so this is expected from me, but reading is so, so, so important! This reading log makes it easy to keep track of your minutes/pages read.

Student Binder: Subject Sections

I divided up the next section of the binder into the different subject areas and included the same few printables in each subject tab.

Grade Tracking Printable

First, I included a grade tracker. It’s never fun to get to the end of the quarter or semester and be surprised by your grade, so this printable will help you keep track of all grades  along the way so you know exactly what to expect.

There is a column to list each grade, and then one to keep a running total on the far right. Print one off for each class and get tracking!

Next I added a simple-but-pretty notes page so you can keep all of your class notes nice and organized. I would print out a bunch of these at a time to have them handy any time I need to take notes in class, make a list, or just get some thoughts down on paper!

Project Planning Printable

My very last printable in each subject section is a project planner. All of those school projects have so many little details, and this printable is the perfect place to keep track of them all! (Plus it’s cute, which always helps! 😉 )

A Second Color Scheme for the Student Binder!

In past years I had several requests from moms of boys for binder printables that weren’t quite so pink! As a fellow boy mom myself, I completely understood the need for more options for boys, so I created a second color scheme option that would work for boys or for girls who just prefer blue to pink.

Free Printable Student Binder: Frequently Asked Questions

I typically update this post every July with calendar printables for dated the upcoming school year. There are also undated calendar printables included with both color schemes, so if you’re thinking ahead to future years, those can help!

These printables are designed to be printed on standard letter-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″).

We sure do! If you’re looking for vertical calendar printables and/or calendars with a Sunday start, you can snag both in this calendar printable post .

You can get both full sets of binder printables sent straight to your inbox via the button below!

The student binder printables are simple, but when used consistently, they can truly help make your school year (and your life!) so much easier!

More Free Printable Binders

• Home Binder
• Budget Binder
• Recipe Binder
• STAY-AT-HOME BINDER

Happy organizing, friends!

266 Comments

My goodness, your printables are so dang cute! My oldest is in preschool, but these will certainly come in handy down the road. Love them!

Thank you, Alli! Mine are little too– we’ll see if they ever take to my printables, lol! Have a wonderful week!

is there any way to update the calendar and printables for college students starting their fall semester in 2016 (:

Hi, Makalla! Look for a new 2016-2017 Student Binder to come out sometime this summer! Hope you’re having a great week!

Thank Goodness I scrolled through the comments, I was trying to figure out how I was going to make it past my summer semester! These are INCREDIBLE! From someone who could NOT get organized for their spring semester…You’re my absolute savior!

Yay! So glad they’ll be helpful for you! Have a great week!

Hi, I am making a student binder for my cousin for her graduation gift. Is there any way you could update the calendar printables for this color scheme and design? Or is there any way I could update them myself with word?

Hi, Sierra! I will probably put out an updated version of the binder in July sometime. Hope you’re having a great week!

Hi! I love your printables, they are so pretty and useful! But i have 1 question, could you publish the same printables but with color for boys? Thank you!

Ooh that is a great idea, Sofia! I’ll add it to my list! 😉 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

Do you have a march month….?

I’m not sure I understand your question?

could you tell me what dividers you ues

Hi, Grace! All the supplies are listed in the post!

Your printables are really cute! How can I get in touch with you? Thanks for your time 🙂

Thanks, Linda! Feel free to email us at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com.

Have a great week!

Hey Abby can you please help how to decorate my binder and can you also help me find a 2″ 3 ring binder a pretty binder but not expensive and in walmart please I wanna get ready for school.!!! ??☺️

I agree! I’m going into 8th grade and I thinks they will motivate me to work hard thanks!!

I’m not a student, but a teacher and I love your printable. Especially the fact that it is simple and the calendar starts with Monday <3 (I'm from Europe, I'm used to starting with Mon)

Thank you, Noemi! I never know which day to start them! Monday seemed to make sense for this one since it is geared toward the school week. 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful day!

I must say I am fairly new to your blog but I am absolutely in love! Thank you so much for sharing all of these amazing resources. The blog looks fantastic, congrats on all the success!

Thank you so much, Lindsey!! So nice to “meet” you! 🙂

I kinda wish I was in school, just so I could use these. :o) Super cute, as always Abby!

Lol! Thank you so much, Leah! You are the sweetest!

Both the former teacher and now parent in me love these! Aside from being beautiful, they help teach our kids time management and goal setting – so important. Great resource Abby!!

Thank you so much, Melissa! That really means a lot! <3 Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Thank for this awesome printable! Have a great week!

I wish I had had these back when I was in school, they are stunning!

Thanks for the printables! I went back to school two years ago to finish my degree, and my 4yo is starting preschool this year. This planner is perfect for organizing my busy class schedule, assignments, and study topics, as well as my family’s schedule and my toddler’s preschool commitments.

I am so happy to have found you. After NOT being a pre-school teacher for the past 15 years, i find myself back in the swing. I have very dated pages and these are so lovely and fresh . I know the parents and the students will enjoy them immensely. Thank you so much for sharing.

Abby, these printable are beautiful! Thank you SO much for sharing them for FREE! My daughter (5th Grader) and I are excited to use them to help keep track of all of her school work! They will also be a wonderful way to manage my volunteer work… and my Mommy work! Again thank you, Abby!

Bless your soul. I was looking for an attractive school printable. I may promote this in a youtube video! Thanks.

Those are really pretty. You do awesome work! Keep it up 🙂 from a university student

These are adorable! Thank you so much~

I was just wondering why with the my weekly planner the numbers on it start at 5? go to 12 then repeat from 1 to 12 again.. Im not sure I get why?

Hi, Sally! Those are hours of the day so that you can time block your tasks if you choose. 🙂 I hope this helps!

Oh I see, I am just used to using the 24 hour clock… 🙂

Hello! I am a current 7th grader and i have been looking EVERYWHERE for organizational supplies for a school binder I was working on. Thank you so much for these printables! I was looking for some stylish, matching, useful prints and you certyainly gave me exactly that! I will be sure to tell ALL of my friends where I got these prints 🙂 THANK YOU!

Yay! So glad they’ll be useful for you, Jordan! Happy organizing!

Abby, I love these! Sure wish I had these when I was in college 😉

Omg you are beautiful 😀

Hi! I’m a current 6th grader, and I LOVE to diy, clean, organize, and of coarse, watch my pet fish.? I absolutely LOVE these printables! I will be sure to print them! School can get very unorganized,so I just love this!? have an amazing thanksgiving!?? Rachel??????

That is awesome, Rachel! I’m so glad that the printables are helpful! You are going to be the most organized person in class! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!

Are you going to make planner printables for after July 2016?

Hi, Halie! I will probably make a new Student Binder for next school year. Right now I have a full 2016 planner available at https://justagirlandherblog.com/planner . I hope this helps! Have a wonderful week!

As an online college student, it can be quite difficult at times to stay organized and on track. I ended up downloading the Assignment Schedule, Exam Schedule, and the Grade Tracker. I wish I would’ve seen these at the beginning of my Fall semester but now I have them all ready for the start of Spring semester. Thank you!!

So glad the printables are helpful! Best of luck in the upcoming semester!

What a HUGE help! Awesome design, awesome ideas! Thank you so Much!

I loved your planner! It is amazing! Thank you for sharing it! Pamela Buenos Aires, Argentina

I absolutely love this planner. Is so perfect for students, and ive found so many student planner but none like this one. Sadly I found it a little bit late I’ll not be able to take as much advantage of it as I would have liked. Really hope yo make one for the 2016-2017 school year. If you do I’ll be one of the first ones of getting it! So excited!

Hi Paola! The updated student planner will be available this summer! So glad it’s been helpful to you! ~Abby =)

I’m a college student and I’ve been looking for some studying printables and cannot seem to find any. Need something to organize my notes a little better and I love how you layout your printables. Is this something you’d consider making? PLEASE let me know! Thank you!

Hi Catherine! I’ll add it to my printables suggestion list! Thanks! ~Abby =)

I loved it! I’ve been looking for a while and this one is so complete. THank you! I wonder if your next planner is going to have a similar style? The school year in Argentina starts around March and ends around November (and exams are usually around December/January/February), so technically I can only use half of the planner :'(. And of course… I just found it haha. Nonetheless, I’m going to use it! Thanks!

Hi Carolina! It will be updated this summer and yes the style will probably be similar! Glad you like it! ~Abby =)

I love the printable student binder! Any chance of an update that includes the rest of 2016?or if it already exists could someone please show me where 🙂 🙂

Hi Amanda! The student binder will be updated this summer at some point! I’m glad you’re enjoying it! ~Abby =)

I love your printable student binder 🙂 Awesome! <3 -Sandra

This binder is so cool! One of my friends is a diverse learner and we are try ing to help her. This binder is exactly what we need!!

I love these! Are you going to create a new calendar for the upcoming months?

Hi Mila! The student calendar will be updated in the summer for the next school year. If you’re looking for a printable 2016 calendar, you can find it here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/free-printable-2016-calendar/ . Thanks and have a great day! ~Abby =)

Hi! I will be going to college in the Fall of 2016, will you be making a new set of printables with the updated calendar dates? Thanks! I love this

Yes! You can expect to see an updated set sometime this summer! Hope you’re having a great week, Cassie!

Hey! I really loved your student binder printables from this year 😀 I know it’s kind of early but could you make the calendars and stuff with dates for next year? It’s my senior year next year and I just want to get a head start on organization. Anyway, thanks for making so many awesome binder print outs, I find them very helpful! Thanks, Nicole 🙂

Hi, Nicole! The student binder will be updated this summer. Glad you enjoy them! Have a great week!

I was just looking through these and think they’re adorable!! I wish I saw them last year, now I can’t get the calendar but all the other things are SOO adorable!!

Thanks, Natilee! The student binder will be updated this summer so, maybe you’ll be able to use it next year. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi! All these printables are adorable! I want to make this planner for my daughter’s high school graduation… Are you going to be updating the calendar for the upcoming school year? Also, is there any way to edit them for her specific needs?

Thanks for making these! ?

Hi, Emily! The student binder will be updated this summer! It is not editable at this point. Thanks and have a great week!

Hi Abby! I absolutely love your student binder printables! They are so cute! I was wondering when would you have an updated printable of the student binder calendar? You currently have August 2015 – July 2016. Wanted one through July 2017 is possible. Thanks a million!

Hi, India! The student binder will be updated this summer! So glad you are enjoying it!

I love your student binder, however I’m not a student I’m a high school teacher, I would love a grade sheet for me to keep track of student grades on paper to match my student binder (which I have made my teacher binder)

Thanks for the suggestion, Tiffani! We’ll keep that in mind when updating the binder this summer. Have a great week!

Thank you for sharing this and for making them free. I am hoping to be better organized this summer and fall semester.

I assume this are geared towards having them all in one binder rather then in the binders for each college class?

You can use them however they will be the most helpful for your, Rachael! 🙂

Do you have the 2016-2017 calendar? If not, can you tell me when it will be available?

The planner will be updated this summer!

hi i am in love with your blog and thanks for the binder can i get the calender of 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019

Those are not available yet. We update the student binder each summer. Thanks!

Hi Abby! I noticed that the binders you recommended were 1″ but I was wondering if that is the size binder you recommend or would a larger one would work better? Thank you!

Hi, Shannon! I use a one inch binder, but you can use whatever size works best for you. Happy organizing!

Hi I really like this student binder! I was wondering when you will post the updated version of it for this coming Year 2016-2017.

Hi, Chanelle. There was actually an update in the post. You can find it here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2017-Monthly-Calendar.pdf . Thanks!

I’m a Senior in High School this year and I’m starting to look around for college ideas. Came across this binder and it is probably the greatest idea I’ve seen! Saving this for when I start college!

So glad you like it, Kalysta!

This is so pretty…I almost wish I was a student so that I could use it myself! 🙂

This binder is perfect for my daughter who is just about to start high school! She really likes the layout and I love the useful pages. Thank you!

When will all 2017 binder items be available?

Hi, Donna! It has been updated and can be found here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/printable-student-binder/ . Scroll down and you will see the 2017 calendar.

First of all, I wanted to thank you for creating something as beautiful as an Erin Condren LifeBook for students, for free. I love it! Secondly, I wanted to ask why the weekly plan pages start with the number 5 and go to 12, then start over at 1? I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of why but can’t figure it out! Thanks!

Hi, Katherine! Those numbers are for time blocking. So you can schedule in what you plan on doing at 5 am to noon, and then it starts again for 1 pm. I hope this helps! Have a great day!

I found your blog not too long ago while looking for some organization tips and subscribed right away. I was so excited to see the information about the student binder in my email today. My oldest daughter and I both have ADHD and organization/follow through is the area we struggle with the most. She will be starting 7th grade next month and we can’t wait to see how well this works for her. Unfortunately our attempts to keep her organized and prepared for school last year were not successful. Thank you!!

I used this last year and I love it. Your printables inspire me to get stuff done

I LOVE this! I am a mom of 2 little ones, I work from home on the weekends, I’m starting a blog (still preparing for launch), and I’m going back to school for my master’s degree next semester. So to say the least I am BUSY! The idea of going back to school has intimidated and overwhelmed me. But this planner makes me feel so much better! I can definitely use this to help organize the many components on my plate. So thank you!

Love all your printables, Abby! You can tell you put a ton of work into creating this!

thank you abby for the printable, i think this will help my 3rd semester a lot. But, can i print it on A6 planner? I have A6 binder. Usually i printed it on my B5 paper, but i would like to make my B5 binder to be college binder. could it be possible for to print it on A6 paper? Thank you 🙂

Hi, Yasyfin! Sadly these printables are just in the standard 8.5″ x 11″ size. I would guess you could find a student binder in the A6 size on Etsy. Have a great semester!

These are great! Starting off as president or another officer for many clubs this year, this will help me keep track of everything while still saving me money, thanks for this!

So glad it’s helpful for you, Angelyn!

Hi, I love this binder!! I’m a student and can not wait to use this once school starts! I want to print this in a printing place like FedEx of something but I’m not sure what kind of paper to use. i was wondering if you could recomend which one would be best(30% recycled, 100% recycled, lazer 24 lbs, lazer 60 lbs, lazer, or gloss??) Thanks

Hi, Tali! The paper I usually use to print at home is 20#, 92 brightness, so it seems like the 24# would be closest to that. I hope this helps! Have a great day!

I’m entering my Freshman year, and this is just what I was looking for! These are so cute, and my style, too! And I’m even more happy about how they are free! Thank you soo much!

Thank you so so so much for doing this! It will be such a huge help this school year. Also, I absolutely fell in love with your fonts and was wondering what fonts you used for this? Thanks!

Oh my gosh, I love love love all of your organization tips and printables! They are so cute! You have inspired me to put my life in order:) Thank you so much for making and posting these. They will be so very helpful this school year. Just wondering- what fonts did you use for the school binder printables? Thanks again, Harmony

These are awesome! Do you use premade templates? Or come up with your own designs? Your printables are always adorable

Thank you so much, Kimberly! I come up with my own designs! Then sometimes I’ll do different versions of the designs that I really like. I hope this helps! Have a great day!

These printables are truly amazing! I will be a junior this year and these will definitely come in handy. Thanks!

These are absolutely awesome and adorable! I’m such a procrastinator and so unorganized and I think these will definitely help change that this semester and all the ones to come!! Thanks!

So glad you like them, Morgan!

Hi Abby, I have been trying to print the binder stuff and it let me print the calendar but not the rest of it. Can you help me? I just love this, and would really like it for 4 of my grandchildren. Sincerely, Christine

Hi Chistine! Can you email us at [email protected] and give us more details about the trouble you’re having? We will try to help out and we check email multiple times a day so it will be much faster to get through to us. Thanks!

Hi Abby, You student binder is just what we needed this year! Happy to be getting us all organized in our homeschool and have it all look fabulous. I’m actually at a planning weekend and just noticed the 2017 calendar runs Monday to Sunday rather than Sunday through Saturday. Funny I didn’t notice that in the picture you posted. Thanks for getting us off to a great start for 2016/17!

I love your files, but after I download the pdf it will not print. other files from other sites do. uh.

If you download the file to your desktop and open it with the default PDF viewer on your computer, you shouldn’t have any trouble printing from there. Please email [email protected] if you are still having trouble. Thanks!

How do you create your own printables? I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find a free and easy way to create my own schedule. I need to be able to edit it every once in a while for school. Please help!

Hi, Kathryn! Are you a subscriber of Just a Girl and her Blog? If so, you can login to the printables database and there is a free PDF on how to create your own printables. If you’re not a subscriber, you can gain access here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/get-organized/ . Have a great day!

Abby, Thank you SO MUCH for all of the time and effort that you’ve put into creating these pages and offering them for free. I am ever so Grateful. I am starting to HOMESCHOOL for the first time this year and I believe these printables will aid me with this endeavor.

Yay! So glad they will be helpful for you, Kim! Love to hear that! Have a great weekend!

I love this! Would you mind if I use a link to this post and a picture from it for a “back to school” round up post I’m working on?

That would be great. Thanks for checking, Charlene!

Hi Abby! I loved this!!!!! Is there an option to print this 5.5 × 8.5? The so much, Martina (from Argentina)

Hi, Martina! The student binder is only available in full size at this time. We do have a planner that is available in 5.5 by 8.5 that you can find here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/organize . Thanks and have a great evening!

Hi Abby! Let me start off with “I LOVE YOUR BLOG” it is amazing. I just stumbled upon your blog by accident, but I found it very intriguing and I cannot get enough of it. I just want to say I love your student planner. I have been looking for one that will fit my busy schedule for college. Again thanks and you are doing a wonderful job!!

You are too sweet! Thanks so much, Ramona! I’m so glad it will be helpful for you! Have a great school year!

I used the Exam and Project printouts back in Spring semester and it was super helpful! I ended up printing out enough for each of my classes and sticking them in sheet protectors at the front of each tab for each of my classes. I keep everything logged in my actual planner, but being able to look at what I’ll be doing for the entire semester was great! My classes for Fall start this coming Monday so I’m in organization/prep mod and I immediately came back to your site to get some more printables! I plan to do a short vlog on how I organize for school and I’ll most definitely be living your link on said vlog! Thank you again!

Awesome! So glad they’ve been helpful to you, Taylor! Have a great school year and definitely come back with a link to your vlog! I’d love to see it!

Hi! I adore these printables but just wanted to mention there is a error on the weekly plan. The numbered lines begin at 5.

Hi, Emile! The numbered lines are intended to help you plan out your day hour by hour. Since most people don’t generally wake up before 5 am, I started with 5 on purpose. So sorry for the confusion. Have a great day!

I like your creative binder so much =)) Hope there’ll be a 2017-2018 one too !!! By the way , could you tell me the font of the letters in the binder ? Love it !

Hi Chichay! So glad you like the binder! This one can actually be used any year as most pages aren’t dated and we have included an undated calendar as well as the 2016-2017 calendar! The print font is Futura. SignPainter is the cursive one. Have a great weekend!

Thanks so much , Abby =)) Have a great weekend , too ^^

Hi Abbey ?. I really L.O.V.E the student binder planner. It is amazing. Can you please tell me how to edit the monthly pages in word ? As, our school week starts from Sunday not Monday . If possible i’d like to know . Thnx ? 😉 Summer

Hi, Summer! The binder is meant to be printed out and written on. It is not editable in Word. Sorry!

I LOVE THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!

So glad you like them, Sydney! Have a great week!

Hi IM FROM SOUTH AFRICA.AND I LOVE THE FACT I CAN JUST PRESS DOWNLOAD AND GET THE PRINT QUICKLY.

So glad it was helpful for you, Cindy!

I was wondering why the weekly plan starts out with a 5? Love these those, they are super cute

Hi, Karen! We just assume that most people aren’t up before 5am so that is why the day starts at 5! 🙂

Oh my goodness these are everything I wanted and needed and more!! I can’t get over how pretty they are, how perfect they are for my school life, and how dang FREE they are!! ? Thanks so much for making these!! I will definitely use them!!

Aw, yay! So glad they will be helpful for you, Megan! Have a great school year!

This is really great! My BFF is a diverse learner and all of my friends and I have been looking for ways to help her. This will work perfectly

So glad it will be helpful! Have a great evening!

I am wondering how to print

Hi, Indya! You can download each page of the student binder individually by clicking the link below each photo, or download the entire binder in one document using the link at the end of the post. Then you just print like you would a normal document. I hope this helps!

Wow! This is exactly what I have been looking for!!!! 2017 is going to be an insane year for our family, this is perfect and really stylist! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad it’s helpful, Emma! Merry Christmas!

Can you make a organizational sheet for kids sports?

Ooh that’s a good idea! I’ll add it to my list. Can you tell me a little bit more of what you had in mind? Like keeping track of their game and practice schedules? Or milestones they’re trying to hit in their sport? Or what? Hope you’re having a great day Brandi!

Thanks so much! Have a great weekend!

hi abby, thank you so much for these they are so cute and helpful!! I was wondering when the 2017 one was coming out?? I am from Australia and we start school in a few weeks

Hi, Isshell! If you scroll to the bottom of the post, you can download the entire binder which has been updated for 2017. Thanks!

Hey they look amazing but i dont know how to print them its not working it really sad they are really cute though. i believe they will work very well its sad i cant though

Hi, Maddie! Sorry you’re having trouble. Are you getting an error message? You should be able to download the file and open them in whatever program you use to view PDF’s on your computer and print from there!

I just started my first semester of Nursing school and this printable are great. Thanks! I absolutely love it!!!

Yay! So glad they’ll be helpful for you! Good luck with your first semester!

I love it, thanks I really wanted one of those planners

Yay! Glad it will be helpful for you, Catalina!

I love this binder, it has helped me to be organized in college this semester.

Yay! So glad it’s been helpful for you, Stephanie! <3

Hey are these for half size planners (5.5 X 8.5 inches?)

The Student Binder is full size. We have half size planners here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/organize

Hi Abby, I am a student in high school and one of my goals is making sure that my life is organized. I could not find anything through other websites. But when I searched this morning and looked up life organization binder ideas and saw your blog. When I went into your website it was so simple and so easy to use. I have printed out the things and now going to start but it’s nice that you have them as free printable. I am on spring break right now and trying to organize my life because that was part of my new years revolution but never have been able to and could not find the type I want. So this has been one of the best blogs or organizing websites I have found. Thank you and I love your stuff.

Hi!! What font did you use on the calendar printable?

Hi, Melanie! The script font is called SignPainter and the other one is Futura. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!

hey , I love your student planner and I was wondering if you are going to make one for 2017 – 2018.

Hi! Glad you love it! Most of the binder has no dates so it will work for every year but we do update the yearly calendar each year and update that post. There is also a blank yearly calendar included. Thanks!

hi I have another question what type of paper did you use for the planners?

I just use standard copy paper for mine. You can find more info about what I like to use here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/simplify-home-binder-tour/

would cardstock work?

Sure! You can print on any kind of paper you would like!

Just wanted to thank you for these printables. I want to surprise my daughter who will be a freshman in August with a new planner she can personalize and this is just the thing. It’s not so basic like the school planners and she can do so much with it. Thanks!

Yay! So glad they are helpful, Rosa! Congratulations to your daughter!

Hi Abbey, I think your printables are really pretty and practical too. I seem to recall you had some YouTube tutorials on how to create our own using Word, but I cannot locate this? Coukd you please send me the link as it’s holidays here in Australia and I want to have a go at creating my own! Thanks so much!

Hi, Joanne! If you subscribe to our blog, you will be given access to our library of free printables which includes the tutorial you mentioned. Right under the 3 rectangles is the sign up: https://justagirlandherblog.com/ . If you are already subscribed, just look at the bottom of one of our Saturday emails and you will find the link and password. Thanks!

Have a great holiday!

Hi Abbey, I think your printables are really pretty and practical too. I seem to recall you had some YouTube tutorials on how to create our own using Word, but I cannot locate this? Could you please send me the link as it’s holidays here in Australia and I want to have a go at creating my own! Thanks so much!

Hi Abby! I’m back for my third year lol! Just wondering when will you update the calendar for the 2017/18 school year? Thanks for keeping my family so organized❤️

A new student binder will be available next Tuesday! 🙂 Glad it’s been so helpful for your family! Hope you’re having a great week!

Omg! I am in my senior year of high school and these are going to make it so much easier to stay organized. You are my new hero!

Aw, yay! So glad it will be helpful for you! <3

Dear Abby, I love your free student binder coz it will be useful for me. Maraming Salamat po, it means thank you very much in Philippine language. Always a fan of your work. Rennie Lapuz

Aw, so glad! Thanks so much for your sweet message! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! <3

Thank you so much! Just printed the student binder! xxx from Greece with much love!

Yay! So glad! Hope you’re having a great week! <3

Wow that is absolutely beautiful! I love it! Makes me wish I was back in school again! LOL!! I have a question regarding your planners. I am new to planning and just getting ideas if I should go with a binder with all the beautiful printables, or one of those premade types? Or is there a way to work with both of them? You make such great printables and I would love to somehow incorporate them into a premade planner. What I don’t like about the binder type is that it’s so cumbersome because it doesn’t fold in half and takes up more room. So if you have any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Sandi

Hi, Sandi! If your planner had the three rings in it, you could certainly add the printables to it. The new version of our Simplify printables are coming out in a few weeks, and they will include half sheets that fit in a small binder, so that would take up less space if that is the issue you’re having. Happy planning!

This is great! It sometimes takes so much to get students organized and the fact that this is so easily accessible is awesome! Just the fact you can print this out right at home and fill it out makes life 100% easier on individuals.

Aw, good! So glad it will be helpful for you, Charlotte! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

Abby- this is amazing!!!! My son will be starting 8th grade in a few weeks and Ive been looking for something “perfect” to helo him get more organized and stay organized!! You never fail to amaze me with awesome printable. Thanks so much

Aw, yay! So glad it will be helpful for him, Carrie! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

thank you so much…it is so nice.

Hi, I love all your printables!!!! they are awesome. I cant seem to get the student binder, when I press the link “I WANT PRINTABLES” nothing happens. Please help I really need this in my life!!!!!

Hi, Heidi! Shoot us an email at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com and we will get you those printables! Sorry you’re having trouble! Have a wonderful day!

helo abby i dont have email so cant print and sheets out how else can i do it i am a bit stuck because i kind of need them because they will help me out a lot in school please can you reply as soon as posible

Hi, Scarley! Email is the only way we are able to send the files because they’re so big. Maybe see if you can use a parent’s email address?

Hi I am in love with your student binder printable but I am having some difficulty understanding how to print them!

Hi, Nyssa! You should be able to open it and print it with any program that will open a PDF. If it’s not working, try a different program. I’ve heard Adobe Reader works well, but Preview (if you have a Mac) should work just as well. Thanks!

hey abby, love the binder i was just wondering if there is a way to download just one section?

Hi, Isshell. You aren’t able to download only one section but you don’t have to print it all. You can select certain pages in your printer settings I’m sure. Thanks!

Hello! I have a daughter with anxiety / ADHD. She wanted something to keep track of her homework and exams, I am hopeful this works for her as she is entering High School.

Aw, I hope it works for her, too! Have a great school year! <3

Love your organization ideas – so creative! Where did you get the colorful pocket tab dividers used in the pictures above? I love those colors!

Hi, Cydni! Just on Amazon! I have everything linked at the bottom of this post: https://justagirlandherblog.com/simplify-home-binder-tour/

Thanks and have a great day!

Thank you so much for the printable, its just what I needed to help keep myself organized for my classes!

Oh, good! So glad it will be helpful for you! <3

I love this printable! I am ten years old and I love diy and printing out things like this to organize with! Even though I’m homeschooled these will be very helpful! Thank you for making these. Bye the way I subscribed to your channel.

So glad it will be helpful for you, Hannah! And thanks so much for subscribing! Have a great school year! <3

Love these! I’m a teacher in a really low income area and I asked my students to purchase a planner to help them keep track of assignments and stay organized but many of them can not afford one. I will use this for those students.

Aw, good! So glad it will be helpful for them! Have a great year with your students, Kelly! <3

Is there a way that you can send me the student school free printable’s?

Hi, Brianna! Can you let me know what email address to send them to? We tried to send them to [email protected] and it said the email address was not valid. Thanks!

If you could explain to me how to print this that would be great.Love the idea!!!!

Hi, Miranda! What trouble are you having printing?

Hello, I love these printables but as a nursing student A4 size is too big, do you do these in A5 (half letter size) also?

Sorry, Andrea! This is the only size we have available at this time. We have a half sheet organizer/planner here if you’re interested: https://justagirlandherblog.com/get-organized-2018

Have a great evening!

I wanted to ask if there was any chance you could make like divisions for classes with a blank space for us to fill in with the name of the course. It’s just I love your printables, they are so cute and useful and I will never find schemes like yours

Hi, Ariana! That is a great idea! I’ll add it to my list! Hope you’re having a great day!

Thank you so much. I’m so glad you liked my idea! Hope you’re having a great day too!

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much. These printables are so helpful to me and also thank you for making them free to read and enjoy. You are an angel Love you lots XOXO

So glad they will be helpful for you, Athaliah! <3

Hi, I was wondering if you are going to do one for the 2018-2019 school year.

Hi, Kayla! The new binder will be available this summer. Thanks!

Could you make a version of this printable that fits a Create 365 planner? I use that planner all the time and I really like these printables but I di not want to create a separate binder for school. Thanks!- Katie

Hi, Katie! This is the only version of the student binder, but our Intentional Life Planner is available in two sizes. Not sure what size your planner is. You can check it out here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/get-organized-2018 . Thanks and have a great evening!

I don’t know where to find how to print these. I would love to, but it says I have to pay, I thought they were free printable s?

Hi, Lydia! They are free. Sorry you’re having trouble. If you send us an email at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com we can email you them in PDF form. Thanks!

Hi there. Just stopping by to see if you are planning to make a student planner (blue color scheme) for the 2018-2019 school year. I LOVE your printables.

Hi, Therese! The student binder should be updated by the end of the month. Thanks! 🙂

Hey Abby. I came across your student binder while I was in college. Now I am a teacher and I am going to give my students their very own binders. I have taken a few pages out because they are a younger class. I will let you know how they work out.

Great! Hope they’re helpful for you! <3

These are amazing!! Thank you so much for making these – and in 2 different color schemes!? These will be amazing at helping our family get more organized and in helping teach our children to become more responsible for their grades and projects. I think these will work amazingly well for alll our kids, grades 3rd-7th. I’m probably going to use these in my own lesson planning.?

Yay! So glad they will be helpful for you, Stefani! Love to hear that! Hope you all have a wonderful year! <3

Hi Abby!! I was just wandering if you could inbox me the class schedule, grade tracker, exam schedule, and the assignment schedule printables?

Hi, Aliyah! If you sign up via the form that pops up when you click the button, they should come right to your inbox!

Hi, Aliyah! Did you sign up to receive the binder? We can’t send things separately. They come all together. Thanks!

Thank you so much for the amazing printable. My daughter has dyslexia and organization is a challenge. I hope these will make things a little easier for her. One question… is there a specific reason why the daily and weekly plan start with the number 5 instead of 1? Thanks so much!!!

Hi, Debra! Those are times. We assume not many people are starting their day before 5am! 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing! I share your link with all my Early Childhood Education students each semester, and they love you! Michelle

Aw, yay! That is so sweet! So glad it has been helpful for them! Have a wonderful weekend, Michelle! <3

I am extremely picky when it comes to planners and printables, but this student planner looks terrific! What a wonderful and generous item to offer to your readers. We homeschool, and I am going to use this with my middle schooler and my high schooler. I think it will make my lesson planning simpler. I can just plug the lessons right into their individual planners. Thanks for the blue version. My son would have died rather than use a “My Little Pony” colored planner. Ha! My daughter and I love the colorful version

Thank you so much for your sweet words, Rachel! That really means a lot. I hope the planners will be helpful for you all! Have a wonderful week!

Hi Abby, the link you have to download these awesome printables isn’t there. Would you please check your link? I was soooo bummed to not be able to download these pages. Thanks!

Hi, Melissa! I just checked it and it is working for me. Sometimes if you try to click the link as soon as the page loads, you’ll get an error because the scripts haven’t had a chance to load yet. If it’s not working for you, try to give the page a minute to load, and then click the link, and it should work. So sorry for the confusion!

Thanks much Abby! 🙂

Hey Abby I can’t find where the actual documents are! I used them lady year but can find this one. I can easily view the article but can’t see the actual binder document

Hi, Ranai! You click the big pink button and enter your info, and we will send them your way! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I’m not even a student but I’m still going to be able to get good use out of some of these. Thanks for making these and especially for letting us just have them for free! You rock.

So glad they will be helpful for you, Sarah! <3

HEYYY! this is absolutely amazing!! Im so thankful for this! should i print it out using the front and back settings?

Hi, Ayra! You can print it out that way if you want to but it’s not really meant to be printed front and back. Thanks!

I love that you have a blue option for my son! Thank you!

Yay! So glad it will be helpful for him!

Yes .Queen .I’m in middle school and i’m just know fining this no joke i just sent this to my friends love this .

Yay! So glad it will be helpful for you and your friends, Chasydi! Hope you’re having a great school year!

Hey Abby! Coming from a teacher of 19 years, teaching students to plan sets them up for success! I love all your ideas and your blog!

I love your printables! Thank you for offering these for free. I am homeschooling my 5 year old this year and I have been searching for free printables to help plan and organize. I especially love that you have blue, my favorite color and have a boy.

Oh yay! I’m so glad that they will be helpful for you! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Well, here I am back again! My Early Childhood majors love your student planner, and I send them your website link every year! Thank you again, Michelle

LOVE to hear that. So glad it is helpful for them. Hope you all have a great year! <3

This is absolutely amazing!! Im so thankful for this. Thanks for making these and especially for letting us just have them for free.

Yay! So glad it will be helpful for you, Olivia!

Have a great weekend!

Hi Abby, Thank you so much for the beautiful design. For some reason I never received the access information to print them out. Please help!

So sorry they’re giving you trouble, Cindy! I just sent you an email with the info!

This is a great resource. I’m just curious what age range you think this would be appropriate for. Thank you!

Hi, Bonnie! I had middle school/high school kids in mind when I created it, but some of the pages could certainly be used with younger students as well. And I’ve had some college students tell me they’ve used it too, so it can definitely be adapted for many ages!

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How to set up homework folders for students.

Homework has always been something that I’ve created at the last minute for the students. In the past, it usually ended up being an activity or reading passage that we didn’t get to finish for the day. But then, I wanted to more intentional about my homework. And I wanted to make sure I gave my kids an opportunity to spiral review their prior standards.  Click to read this blog post about spiraling your homework!   So, here we go. Let’s talk about setting up homework folders for elementary students!

Homework Folders for Primary Students

All students will get a homework folder. Homework folders should be the plastic material, which is a little more expensive, but if students are using them throughout the year, these hold up best.

(Affiliate Link:  Amazon Folders ) I suggest going with the plastic covered ones. They tend to stick around and stay in one piece the longest. I also suggest the three prongs on the inside, so that you can hole punch the homework and attach it to the middle. If you don’t have the three prongs, no worries. You can just slide the homework behind your assignment sheet.

Start with a three-prong folder. Plastic will work best because it’ll keep a little better than the paper folders.

On the left side of the folder, place the assignment list for the entire week.

On the right side of the folder, place the book the child is reading for the week. They have 15 minutes of nightly reading assigned to them, so that’ll be the easiest way to keep up with the book. The picture on the right shows me pointing to the area that parents sign to keep the children accountable for their reading.

Take the Math, Reading, Writing, and Language/Foundations and place them into the three prongs. Front/back is suggested to save paper!

This is a glimpse at one week of second grade with the assignment sheet (which is on the left of your folder), plus the four sheets of work (which either goes into the prongs or into the right side).

Homework Resources

• Kindergarten Entire Year Link
• First Grade Entire Year Link
• Second Grade Entire Year Link
• Third Grade Entire Year Link

Click the image to grab this  FREEBIE !

• Read more about: Classroom Organization , Uncategorized

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How To Build Writing Folders That Support Independent Writing

• December 28, 2015

If you want your students to work more independently during writing time, using writing folders is a great step in that direction! In this post, I’ll describe (in detail) what I put in my students’ writing folders and how I teach them to use those tools. And the best part? You can get all of the materials pictured in this post for free by visiting this link .

Why Folders?

I know that some teachers have their students write in notebooks. There’s nothing wrong with writing in a notebook, of course, but I feel that young students (K-2) better understand the purpose of writing when they use loose paper and folders.

When children come to school, most of them know what a book is. Presenting the concept of writing workshop as a time to “make books” connects with children’s prior experiences. It also helps them understand why we are asking them to write .

A journal  does resemble a book, but if we ask students to fill it up with multiple stories and pieces, it doesn’t have the same “book feeling” where there is a clear, physical beginning and ending.

I’ve also found that using single sheets of paper, and/or stapling loose paper into books is just more practical . Kindergarten and first grade students can easily become confused about which story they were working on, accidentally skip pages, and so on.

Also, if you use stapled books, it’s much easier for students to add in an extra page in the middle of a story . Or, if a child wants to abandon a story and come back to it later, she can quickly grab a new book without having to worry about leaving space to finish the original story.

When a student wants to bring a book home to share with family members, he can do so without having to take (and risk losing) an entire writing journal. Finished pieces of writing can be placed in the classroom library or displayed in the hallway, rather than being forever trapped inside a journal.

Journals can definitely be useful in other situations, but when I’m having students engage in the volume writing characteristic of writing workshop , I think that loose paper and folders are the best options .

Purchasing Folders

If you can, add folders to your yearly supply list and specify a particular color (so that you and the kids can easily locate the folder). Because I have students add learning tools  to their writing folders, I use the folders with prongs in the middle.

I also strongly recommend using folders that are plastic or have a “cardboard” feel – the flimsy ones don’t last very long. My plastic folders, however, typically last all year! If you’re worried about families being able to find the exact kind of folder you want, you may want to purchase them yourself – keep an eye on office supply stores all summer to figure out when the best deals are. 🙂

Folder Logistics

When I’m using writing folders with my students, storage is the first thing I figure out. Kids need to be able to easily, independently, and QUICKLY get out their writing folders so as not to waste precious writing time.

In my Kindergarten classroom, I had tables. My students had behind-the-seat chair pockets, so they kept their writing folders there. When I taught 1st and 2nd, we had desks, so the children kept their folders inside their desks. One of my teammates had her students keep their writing folders in crates, and she positioned one crate near each table group.

No matter how you store your folders, make sure that you do not have to individually pass them out to students. Students should not have to spend time waiting in line to get their folders , because this eats up independent writing time and leaves room for misbehavior.

Battling the Overflowing Folder Monster

I wish I could say that my kids always keep their folders as organized as I teach them to, but…that’s just not the case. 🙂 However, there are a few, simple things you can do to battle the Overflowing Folder Monster:

• Have students clean out folders every 2 or so weeks.  At first, I had students clear out their folders at the end of a unit. However, since my writing units  are somewhat lengthy, this was not always often enough. Instead, you can have students take home some of their writing every couple of weeks (have them save pieces that they may want to return to later or “clean up” for future publication).
• Do a “folder check” at the end of writing time.  Every couple of days, display a photo of what a “neat” writing folder looks like. Train them that when you say “Folder check!”, they need to look at the photo (project it on an interactive whiteboard or screen), check their own folder, and fix it up. You can also give out a “clean folder award” periodically as a little motivation. This only takes a minute or two but will save you a headache – plus, students will take more pride in their work when it isn’t crumpled up and folded.

What To Put in the Folder

Now for the fun (and free ) stuff! Throughout the year, I introduce various “tools” to my students and add them to their writing folders (using the prongs in the middle of the folders). These tools serve as reference materials that help students write more independently.

Before I add a tool to students’ folders, I model how to use it several times. I really hype it up and talk about how helpful it will be for them. After they’ve seen me use it for a few days in a row, then I give it to them to add to their folders (or I add it myself when working with Kindergarten or first grade kiddos).

Here are some examples of tools students can keep in their writing folders, as well as ideas for how to introduce them:

Alphabet and Spelling Charts:   For the first few months of school, I never tell a single child how to spell a word during writing time. Yes, really! Although correct spelling certainly has it place (especially when publishing work and sharing it with others), it’s so important to teach kids that they are responsible for using different strategies to spell words independently. Just a couple of weeks into Kindergarten, I begin modeling how to use an alphabet chart to spell words I don’t know. It sounds something like this:

“Boys and girls, today I’m going to show you how I use an alphabet chart to spell a word I don’t know. Let’s imagine I’m writing a story about going to the park. I want to write, ‘We ran to the swings.’ ‘We’ is a word that I already know, so I’ll write it quickly. We…ran. I don’t know how to spell ‘ran,’ but I can stretch out the word and use the alphabet chart to figure out which letters to write. Rrrrraaaaannnn.  Say it with me:  rrrraaaaan.  First, I hear the /r/ sound. What word on the chart starts like /r/? Aaaaple…no. Ssssun…no.  Rrrrobot…yes!  I’ll write the letter ‘r.’  Rrrraaaaannn. Now I hear the /a/ sound. That’s /a/ like ‘apple,’ so I’ll write the ‘a.’  Rrrraaaaannn. The last sound I hear is /n/. Hmm…does anyone see a picture that starts like /n/? ….That’s right, I need the letter ‘n.’  Rrraaann. I just wrote ‘ran’ by using the alphabet chart!”

I model using the alphabet chart more than a couple of times, however. I keep a writing folder at my “minilesson station” and model how to use it throughout the year. I’ve found that while some of my Kinders “get it” immediately, others need more time and repeated exposure to the process in order to use the chart independently.

In the free download , you’ll find a simple alphabet chart (color or black and white), as well as a blends and digraphs chart, and a vowel chart.

Editing Checklists:   It’s tough to get students to edit their work before calling it “finished.” However, it helps when you get students in the habit of reviewing a checklist when they finish a piece of writing. Keep an editing checklist in your own model writing folder and show students how you look through every piece of work that you finish. Think aloud and model how you consider each skill on the checklist. And if you haven’t yet taught all of the skills that are listed, simply have students highlight the ones they  are responsible for. As the year goes on and you teach more editing skills, they can highlight more skills on their checklists.

Genre Mini Anchor Charts:   We teach students a bunch of different strategies to try out in their own writing, but do they remember them all? Probably not! Giving students mini-anchor charts to keep in their folders is a great way to help them keep track of what they should be working on as they write. My writing folder freebie  contains different levels of narrative, information, and opinion/persuasive writing that are appropriate for Kindergarten, first, and second grade students. Just as with the editing checklists, you can have students highlight the strategies that they are responsible for using.

In addition to the tools featured above, the free download also includes transition word lists, visual writing scaffolds, and a chart of the writing process. The materials work great with my Kindergarten, first, or second grade writing units:

Click here  to download the materials and get started with writing folders today!

Related Posts:

Hi, I downloaded the writing folders and went to print them at work today. They were too large and every page was cut off at the bottom. I tried to print by reducing the size to fit the page, and they still do not print correctly. Is anyone else having this problem?

Thanks, Lsa

Hi Lisa! So sorry it’s giving you trouble. What I’d recommend is to update your Adobe Reader, restart your computer, and then use the “print to image” option. You can find directions on how to do that here: https://support.teacherspayteachers.com/What-if-my-file-isnt-printing-correctly-c15-a97.html Let me know if you’re still having trouble! Alison

Thanks for sharing your ideas! I will try to adapt them to my class. As you said, K students have a hard time sometimes using their journals, so maybe introducing this new concept of writing might work better. (:

Yes, it’s hard for the little ones! I hope it works well with your kiddos! 🙂 Alison

I already use a folder for my second graders, but this is all so organized. Thanks so much for sharing. I can’t wait to incorporate it into my writing workshop!

Hi Karla, so glad it’s helpful! I do love organization. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting! Alison

Do you have the writing tool kit in Spanish?

Hi Esmeralda! I have certain materials in Spanish, but not all of them. I’ll email you. 🙂 Alison

Could I get them in Spanish also?

I love what you’ve done here. Everything is so organized and succinct. It’s just what I needed!

Hi Tammy! I just have them in English – so sorry!

I am having trouble downloading this writing folder file. Is it available on TPT? I could not find it. I am excited to use these materials with my first graders. Thank you!

Hi Michelle! Did you use this link? LearningAtThePrimaryPond.com/free

If you’re still having trouble, email me at [email protected] and I’ll send it to you another way. 🙂

Fantastic guidance and resources. I am a graduate teacher, and believe these folders will be of great benefit to build independence and writing stamina with the students.

Just wondering where you got the folders from? Not having much luck locating a folder that includes both prongs AND inside pockets.

Thanks, Meg

Hi Meg! I have gotten them in different places over the years (Staples, Office Max, maybe even Walmart). Office Max always seems to have them where I live!

Hello, do you have this folder tools in Spanish?

Just English, sorry! You can get a different Spanish freebie here: learningattheprimarypond.com/gratis

Do you laminate the writing folder materials? How do you keep them intact all year?

I usually do laminate them, or print them on cardstock! (Especially if it’s something I know we will want in there all year long.)

I teach in a bilingual classroom. Do you share what you have in Spanish? Thank you.

Hi! I do have some Spanish freebies (not this particular one). Here is a guided reading freebie: LearningAtThePrimaryPond.com/gratis

And then here are some Spanish teaching resources: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Learning-At-The-Primary-Pond-Alison/Category/Bilingual-Materials-13260

Let me know if you have any questions! Alison

Thanks you so much Allison for helping me with my writing block. I have struggled with teaching writing in the past and can not wait to try your approach. I have your file in my TPT wishlist and pray to have the funds to purchase it before school starts. Your file looks laid out in a manager that’s easy to follow. Thank you and I look forward to learning more from you!!

You’re welcome, Dianna! I’m so glad the resources have been helpful!!

Hi Alison, Do you have writing folder resources in Spanish? Where can I get them? By the way, great webinar on Thursday. I can’t wait to get started!

Hi Mary! I don’t have them in Spanish, unfortunately. I used a few things I pulled from the Estrellita program in my Spanish writing folders. I do have a different Spanish freebie! Learningattheprimarypond.com/gratis

I’m so glad you enjoyed the workshop!

Alison, I am moving to 1st grade this year and these resources are exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much! Rebecca

So glad this was helpful, Rebecca!! Thanks for reading!

I love your website. I get great ideas from you. Thank you for your wealth of knowledge that you so kindly share. Hoping my district buys your writing bundle package. I submitted a request. crossing my fingers 🙂

Thank you so much!! I appreciate your support!

I have a 4 yr old and he will be in kindergarten in the fall. Right no he staying home because of this covid. How you suggest I introduce these to him.

Hi! Thank you for your question! At 4 years old, we probably wouldn’t expect most students to write yet. Though some certainly might be ready!☺️ A writing activity you can do at home before Kindergarten might be him drawing a picture and then telling you a story about it. If you’d like to read more about what kind of instruction happens in Kindergarten, check out this blog post: https://learningattheprimarypond.com/blog/how-to-launch-your-kindergarten-writing-workshop/

What a wonderful video! i got so much out of it!!

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks so much for the writing resources. I will try them out with my special need students next term after the two weeks holiday.The resources are so nice and i believe my students will enjoy doing it.

Great, Alison! Let me know how it goes!

I’m Alison, a literacy specialist. I love getting kids excited about reading and writing – and sharing teaching ideas with other teachers!

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5 ways to organize your college assignments.

BY JANE HURST

Weekly assignments, midterms, final papers… all piling up each day, making every year of your college life seem more difficult than the previous one. But it doesn’t have to be this hard.

There are several different ways to help you sort out your assignments and actually get started with completing them. Whether you prefer putting all your notes and ideas on paper or would rather reduce your carbon footprint and go all in for tech, here are 5 ways to organize your student assignments:

• Assignment binders and planners

Perhaps the most accessible method for organizing your student assignments is creating a binder to hold all your papers, reminders, and auxiliary materials. You can either create one for each class or a separate binder for your assignments only. Alternatively, you can put together an up-to-date semester agenda with assignments and their due dates so you can check it out each week to see what’s next for you to prepare and if you’re on track with college work.

These two options are strong organization tools you can reach out to at any time. Try color-coding or sorting them in a specific order of your choice to find the files you need more easily. For instance, you can divide your assignments binder into 3 parts: a red folder for assignments you have to complete, a yellow one for the ones you’re working on, and a green folder for any papers you’ve already delivered. Be careful here not to put an assignment you’re done with into the green folder until you’ve delivered it to your teacher.

• Digital Kanban boards

If you’d rather have a tool remind you when your assignments are due, try digital Kanban boards. A Kanban visual board is a practical method that lets you track all assignments and college work through 3 simple stages: To Do, In Progress, and Finished/Delivered.

You’ll receive email notifications or alerts whenever an assignment’s deadline is approaching. The best part is that these tools can also be used together with your classmates in case you’ve got group projects to work on.

Free project management software options like Paymo often offer a Kanban feature in addition to simple to-do lists that will also allow you to keep track of any other duties you have be they personal or college related.

• Consider a cloud-based file storage solution

If you’re always on the run going from one class to another, you probably won’t want to keep all your files, binders, and notes with you. Online file storage options like Dropbox or Google Drive help you store all of these in a single place.

This way, you’ll be able to access your assignments and class notes from anywhere whether you’re on your laptop, smartphone, or classroom computer. You can also become a power user of these digital solutions by learning how to organize your files into folders so you’ve got every structured according to your year of study, semester, and class.

• The classical desktop folders

For those of you who like taking their laptop to class and writing down all notes digitally, you might want to stick to organizing all files in your computer. This is an accessible and free method that will also allow you to get started with an assignment without having to download any external files.

An example for this filing system could be: Assignments -> Molecular Foundations -> Midterm Assignments -> To Do -> DNA recombination paper (file).

To make sure you don’t miss a deadline, just pair this method with a project management tool or your calendar app to send you regular reminders in time.

• The Big6 Organizer 

Now that you’ve got your files sorted, you need a strategy to get started with working on your assignments. The Big6 method is a 6-step process that helps you conduct your research through a series of clear stages. This way you’ll never be stuck again wondering what you’re supposed to do next.

The 6 stages are:

• Task definition – Define your information-related problem and find the facts and figures you need. 2. Information seeking strategies – Identify all potential information sources and establish the best ones. 3. Location and access – Locate these sources and find the info you need within them. 4. Use of information – Engage with the information you found by reading any written content, watching a video, or experimenting and extract only the information that is relevant to your research. 5. Synthesis – Organize the info you found in your multiple sources and present it in a structured manner. 6. Evaluation – Judge the effectiveness of your results and analyze if the research process was efficient and you’ve covered all of the assignment’s aspects.

Test a few of these methods for organizing your student assignments before you decide to rigorously follow one. Pay particular attention to how stress-free you feel when using one or another of these techniques. For example, if you’re feeling anxious at all times thinking you’ll forget to hand in an assignment, then perhaps it’s better for you to go for one of the digital methods that will notify you whenever a due date is approaching.

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.

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Easy DIY File Folders

Hi teaching friends!  Sometimes classroom organization and decor are more than just functional. Sometimes we decorate for fun because it makes you smile. And that’s ok too. When you spend so much time in your classroom, your space should make you smile. It truly is your home away from home.

Today’s post is all about one of those small details that is truly just for looks. But if it brings a smile to your face every time you see it, then the few minutes of making it is definitely worth it.

I decided to grab a couple of items at the craft and big box store the other day and really had a blast creating a fun idea for you today!

I know many of you are going digital for your teaching files and may not have a ton of file folders hanging out in filing cabinets, but sometimes file folders are super handy for carrying items to and from meetings, placing important student information (such as an allergy list or the like), or even a great way to organize your reading groups!

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for organizing your classroom environment?  This 326 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 50 ad-free articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Guided Reading and Lesson Plan Organization
• Options for Making Extra Space in your Classroom
• Easy DIY Projects for Making Mundane Office Supplies Cute Again
• Morning Math Suggestion that Kids will be Begging to do
• New Ways to Use Old Supplies
• A Quick Tech Tutorial that will Save You Money on Classroom Decor

…and even more!

Includes 9 additional freebie files!  No need to enter in an email address for each one separately – just click and go!  

See it HERE.

These file folders usually need to remain close at hand, and even displayed on a tired file folder rack like this type.

Well, if you are going to display it out in the open, who wants plain old manila colored file folders when you can have super cute folders like the ones below?

You can purchase patterned file folders, but they usually work out to be about $1 a piece.  That is kind of pricey. 

The best part of the DIY versions?   They are inexpensive and you can completely customize them to match your classroom theme or colors!  And they are super fast to create. 

I created 3 of the 4 folders in about 10 minutes – literally.

Here’s how to create your own DIY File Folders for your classroom:

You will need to grab some file folders in any color you choose at the store.  The primary colored pack I used were handy and available in a large package from my local Walmart for less than $5.

Also grab some washi tape (basically it is patterned masking tape), patterned duct tape, or patterned packing tape.  Or try a combination of the 3 to see which you prefer to work with on your project.  {Hint: Or grab the file below for some premade templates for you!}

You can find those items either in the craft department, school/packing supplies, or even in the hardware section.  My local craft store had a wider variety of the washi tape I used.

Here are the examples I made, but again, you can be as creative as you like!

For the green and blue folders, I simply placed the tape in a geometric pattern.  I also made sure my tape colors on the blue folder complemented each other.

The red folder included 2 tapes that I rotated in simple horizontal lines. 

To place the decorative ribbon, just use a regular hole punch to punch 2 holes (not too far away) along the top of the folder.  Thread a piece of ribbon through the holes inside the folder so that they come out of the front and tie it up. 

Again – you can be as creative as you like.  You could even weave a ribbon border all along the outside of the folder!

The last folder was a little trickier (but still only took about 15 minutes to put together). 

I started by placing a border along the top and bottom edges.  I wanted polka dots of the other tape and at first tried a regular hole punch to see how it work out. 

As you can imagine, the tape dots got stuck on the inside of my hole puncher, so that idea was quickly abandoned. 

Instead, I placed several rows of tape on a piece of cardstock, and then used a craft punch to punch it out.

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I simply then used rubber cement to glue the dots in place.  If you have more patience than I do, you could also have tried to peel the tape circles off the cardstock and place directly onto the folder. 

Or I can see even using a cutter, like a Cricut or Cameo to cut the tape circles as well.  My method worked for me, so I decided to stay with that option.

There are so many variations of craft tape out there, so your folders are only limited by the styles and colors you can come up with. 

I was going to look for black folders and use glitter craft tape as well, but they didn’t have the folders at the store where I was and I just didn’t want to truck across town to the office supply store to grab them. 

Perhaps next time I am there I will grab them though and try it out.  I bet they would really pop!

One other solution: Use the freebie templates I have created for you below, print them on blank white sticker paper , cut out, and have fun decorating!

Hope you have fun creating your folders!  They are a fun and easy weekend afternoon project that you can proudly display in your classroom on Monday!

I would love to hear your ideas and/or see your pictures too!  Feel free to share in the comments below!

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19 Inspiring Portfolio Design Ideas For Student Folders

October 11, 2023 //  by  Lauren Du Plessis

Unleash the full creative potential of your students with these innovative portfolio design ideas. Portfolios do more than just store work, they reflect the artist’s personalities, skills, and progression. Our guide offers 19 eye-catching design concepts- each of which is aimed at infusing your students’ folders with character and style. From minimalist monochrome to vibrant collage covers, we’ve gathered a variety of themes for your students to dive into and get inspired to make their mark! Take a look and see which ideas you could use with your students this year.

1. Minimalist Monochrome

Here, elegance comes to life with a monochrome design! Guide your students in designing portfolios that focus on the black-and-white spectrum. They can play with patterns, shapes, and lines to create stark, contrasting designs. A monochrome portfolio not only looks super chic, but will also give your students the chance to show you what they can do with a limited palette. 

Learn More: Vecteezy

2. Bright and Bold Colors

Let your students break free from muted tones and watch them go wild!  Give them free rein with vibrant markers and colorful cardstock to liven up their folders as they let their individuality and creativity shine!

Learn More: Envato Elements

3. Photographic Covers

Capture the moment, quite literally! Begin by having your students select a photograph that they feel sums up their school experience. Whether it’s a snap of something that links to another subject they take, a moment from a field trip, or even a class photo, each image is sure to tell its own story. Once your learners have selected a photo, simply get them to use it as a focal point as they decorate their portfolio. 

Learn More: Freepik

4. Thematic Illustrations

Inspire your students to turn their portfolio covers into thematic illustrations; conveying a theme or idea of their choice. Encourage them to pick materials that resonate with their themes, making each stroke or sketch a part of the story. An artful way to express their individual interests!

Learn More: Lydia Hill Illustration

5. Creative Math Covers

Combine math and art by guiding your students to create portfolios that scream data visualization. After all, what’s data if not another form of storytelling? Be it pie charts for their grades or bar graphs for their sporting achievements infographics will help them make this information look colorful and cool. 

Learn More: YouTube

6. Collage Cover

Encourage your students to snip, tear, and arrange pieces of their academic life. Using photos from the past year, copies of reports, or graded essays, they can layer images, texts, or even doodles. As the pieces come together, they’ll be able to tell the story of a year’s worth of learning and achievements in one place.

7. Personal Branding

Branding isn’t just for businesses! Ask your students to view their portfolios as an extension of their own personal brand. Discuss how they see themselves and discuss how they can use different elements like color schemes, logos, or initials to portray that in their portfolio. 

Learn More: Pinterest

8. Color-Blocking

Let’s build with color! Your learners can play with large, contrasting blocks of color to separate different sections or subjects. It’s a simple, fun, and colorful idea, full of visual cues that are exciting and eye-catching!

Learn More: Design Tutsplus

9. Type-Centric Design

 Let your students have fun as they experiment with creating their own fonts for their portfolios. Introduce them to the art of lettering by having them use various styles and sizes to adorn their portfolio. In this type-centric design, each letter can become its very own piece of art.

Learn More: Bashooka

10. Watercolor Washes

Watercolors are a fantastic way for your students to play with gradient and colour. As they work, let them explore how different hues blend together to create a dream-like cover that’s as unique as they are.

Learn More: Template

11. 3D Creations

Inspire your students to step beyond 2D design and experiment with foam, strings, or beads to create 3D elements. These tactile additions are sure to add a whole new sensory element and transform their portfolios into interactive experiences.

Learn More: Behance

12. Hand-Drawn Elements

Encourage your pupils to grab a marker and be brave as they start sketching right onto their portfolios. They’ll love the freedom to personalize their covers with their own doodles or perhaps even add more detailed illustrations.

13. Craft Paper Canvas

Craft paper offers your students a sturdy base for their portfolios; a foundation that can handle just about anything they choose to throw at it! Whether they add text, images, paint or even a bit of embroidery, a craft paper canvas is up to the task and will help them elevate their work to a piece of art.

14. Geometric Patterns

Dive into the world of geometry, but make it fun! Encourage your learners to use rulers and protractors to create patterns that are both beautiful and precise. As they measure and draw, they’ll see how regular shapes and repeating patterns transform to become art.

Learn More: 123RF

15. Dual-Tone Design

Let your students explore the wonderful things that can happen when two contrasting colors are used in a piece of artwork. They can play with layout and balance to create a portfolio cover that’s both modern and eye-catching.

16. Interactive Design

Invite your learners to add pop-ups, tabs, or even hidden pockets to create portfolios that contain more than what originally meets the eye! As viewers flip through, they’ll discover these little interactive surprises which will result in a unique and engaging experience.

17. Retro Design

Nostalgia trip, anyone? Encourage your learners to take a journey back in time as they use retro elements like sepia photos or typewriter fonts to create portfolios that pay homage to the past. This could be a fantastic collaboration opportunity for the art and history departments in your school! 

18. Nature-Inspired Themes

Invite your kiddos to go wild as they incorporate the beauty of the natural world into their portfolios. Whether they choose to utilize leaf motifs or animal patterns, the result will be a portfolio that’s as special and unique as the world around them.

Learn More: Envato Tuts

19. Comic Book Style

Let your students’ inner Stan Lee shine as they turn their portfolios into an exciting comic book all about their academic achievements. From using speech bubbles to action words, this idea is just the thing to make their academic journey an engaging and visually exciting story!

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable).

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• ELEMENTARY TEACHING , PLANNING ASSESSING AND TEACHING

Homework Ideas for Elementary Teachers: Save Time and Make Learning More Purposeful for Students in 2024

What’s the first word you think of when I say “homework?” It’s one of those hot topics that people feel very strongly about one way or another. However, more often than not, it’s a requirement. As a result, I am here to share homework ideas that will make your life as an elementary teacher a little bit easier.

I used to send homework home nightly, but found it to add chaos to each and every day. I would spend many lunch periods copying an assignment for that night. Kids would forget to take their copy home. Parents would call or email to get clarification on what the assignment was for that night.

Then I switched to a weekly packet. The packet included all of the pages for the week along with a cover sheet that listed spelling words and assignments. This was an improvement, but still not ideal.

Last year, I started using a separate folder just for homework. This is one of the best homework ideas I have come up with. The folder includes the homework calendar and all of the printables they will need for the week. I sent home a Paragraph of the Week assignment each week. The consistency was outstanding. We really felt like we hit gold because the kids were all working on something meaningful with a purpose. The parents liked it because it was easy for them to understand and help with. I began experimenting with a monthly homework packet. And let me tell you…

It. Was. Awesome! 

We placed everything into a homework folder for the month and included an assignment calendar. The folder stayed at home and the students returned their completed work each morning in the communication folder . Learn about some of my best homework ideas for elementary teachers below!

7 Benefits of Assigning Homework

Do you question the importance of homework? Are you one of the many teachers or parents who feel homework should be banned? The idea of homework just doesn’t make sense to you. If you are part of the growing number of people questioning if the reasons homework is bad outweigh the benefits to homework, then you might find this to be helpful. 

I’m going to be honest, as a teacher (and especially as a parent), I am in the camp of not liking the idea of homework at the elementary level. However, each of the districts I have taught in has required teachers to assign nightly homework in addition to reading for 20 minutes. It often felt like a waste of time and paper.

For some teachers, the word HOMEWORK brings about pangs of dread. Others see it as a necessary evil of learning. For many, it merely represents having to fulfill a district requirement. In many districts these days, homework is not counted towards a student’s overall grade. The debate over homework has been waged for years. The question is: What’s a teacher to do?

No matter where you stand on the topic of homework, here are some ideas related to homework that will make you feel better about assigning homework. They may even make you feel good in some cases! I am hoping the 7 benefits listed below will ease the guilt some teachers feel about burdening their students and their families with tasks to complete at home.

1. Prepares Students for the Next Day’s Learning

A great way to use homework is preparation for an upcoming lesson, whether it’s doing some reading ahead of time, or looking over other assigned material, there’s no doubt that preparing for an upcoming lesson is a beneficial way to assign homework.

2. Increases Responsibility

When a student has a task that they MUST do rather than WANT to do, they learn to be responsible. Homework is the “You do” in the learning model of “I do, We do, You do.”.  It gives the learner a chance to practice what was covered in class and take responsibility for their own learning.

3. Advances Problem-Solving Skills

If the student can’t find an answer to something in their homework, (or even where to look for information to find an answer), what steps will they take to solve this problem? Will they look in a dictionary, online, ask a friend, or go to a library? Homework gives students a chance to flex their problem-solving muscles.

4. Offers Review Practice

Whether it’s a new math skill, or spelling/vocabulary words, homework that involves reviewing material covered in class will help students to remember it and is a very useful assignment.

5. Teaches Time Management

For students with an active extra-curricular life, homework teaches them how to manage their time. This helps them learn to prioritize schoolwork.

6. Strengthens Persistence and Grit

There have been many studies done recently that show a lack of persistence and grit in today’s students. Developing the fortitude to complete homework assignments also helps develop a student’s capacity for grit and persistence. These are necessary for success in many areas of life, not just academically.

7. Promotes Self-Esteem

Students will develop a sense of pride when they learn the value of a job well done and take ownership of their work. This carries over into their personal development as well. It is for this reason that homework should always be a review of skills already taught.

5 Problems with Assigning Traditional Homework

These were five of the problems I faced in my 3rd grade classroom. No matter which grade you teach I’m pretty sure you can relate. The good news is I managed to find a solution that saved me time and reduced my stress each day. Not only that, but my students’ math skills were strengthened and their families were less burdened with random assignments each night. Read on to learn about the problems I had and how I solved them.

1. Mandated to Give Homework

My school required we give homework 4 nights per week. It was a mandate, so my personal feelings made no difference. I had to send it nightly.

2. Emails and Calls from Parents

I often received emails and phone calls from confused parents. They often said they didn’t understand the homework or told me that their child said that they had “never seen this stuff before”. Let’s be honest, our time is so limited. We do not want to spend the afternoon or start the morning returning messages explaining directions or convincing someone that you did, in fact, teach it in class.

3. Wasted Class Time Every Day

I needed to spend some of our instructional time every afternoon going over the instructions because each assignment varied.

4. Drop-In Visits from Parents

I frequently had a parent and child return to my classroom because the homework never made it into the backpack. This often resulted in an unplanned conference at a time when I needed to prepare for the next day.

5. Students Forgot what was Taught

Unrelated to homework, I consistently faced a different problem. I often would teach a concept, the students would demonstrate proficiency…and then they didn’t.

How often do you have students who forget what odd and even (or a prime and composite if you teach higher grades) numbers are, not remember how to round to the nearest 10, 100 or 1000, or sit like a deer in headlights when asked to write a number in expanded form in the spring when they were rock stars of that skill in the fall when it was taught.

This is especially troublesome if you teach in a grade that takes standardized testing at the end of the year because you then need to set aside a lot of class time for review and test prep.

How to Grade Homework

Determine if correcting homework is an effective use of your time. Teachers don’t know how much assistance a child had with an assignment so it isn’t always an accurate representation of their abilities. Checking the homework for effort and general understanding may be sufficient. If you are assigning worksheets, consider selecting a few questions to go over in class.

Homework Incentive Ideas

Homework should be completed because it is an expectation and not to receive a trinket. However, some teachers do find that extrinsic rewards are motivational to their students. If you choose to make those a part of your homework procedure, here are a few easy-to-manage suggestions:

Students earn a ticket when they complete an assignment. Have them place the tickets into a container. Draw one ticket a week to win a No Homework Night Coupon.

Certificate

Honor perfect homework efforts with a certificate. This could be done monthly or by marking period.

Offer a “No Homework Coupon.” These are like gold!

Ideas for Homework Consequences

First, check with your school and district to see if there is a policy in place. Next, determine a plan for how you will handle homework that is incomplete, missing, poor quality, etc. and be consistent. Be cautious about using recess as a punishment for not doing homework. Often the kids who are not doing their homework are the ones who most need recess .

10 Homework Tips for Elementary Teachers

Below are homework tips for elementary teachers to consider. You are bound to find some helpful homework ideas on this list that you can implement.

1. Assign Tasks Students can do Independently

The first tip on this list of homework ideas is to strive to find easy-to-manage, yet effective assignments. Although it is true that you shouldn’t be sending home tasks that students can’t complete on their own, you also need to be careful not to give them “busy work” either.  Having them complete an assignment for a skill they are proficient in also creates unnecessary work for the teacher. Time is a teacher’s greatest obstacle so be careful not to spend it copying, correcting, managing, chasing, etc sheets of paper that students are not gaining anything from. 

2. Keep Homework Assignments Consistent Across the Grade Level

The second tip on this list of homework ideas is to strive to be consistent with your grade level colleagues. Ideally, the assignments and policies should be identical.

3. Collaborate with Your Team

The third tip on this list of homework ideas is to save time by teaming up with the other teacher(s) at your grade level. Alternate prepping the packet for the week or designate different subjects to different teachers.

4. Communicate Expectations with Your Students’ Families

Communicate your expectations with parents from the beginning. Discuss them at open house and make a hard copy available for students who may transfer in later in the year.

5. Change the Way you See Homework

Use homework as an opportunity to teach organization and responsibility. While homework may not always be a reflection of a student’s abilities, it can be a valuable learning tool for time management and work habits.

6. Keep a Simple and Consistent Format

Design a simple and consistent format for homework. It could be reading and a math page every night or you may have students work on a different subject each night.  When I taught 2nd grade I used to do Math Monday (computation), Teacher Choice Tuesday (a spelling activity), Word Study Wednesday, Thinking Thursday (word problems).

7. Create a System for Collecting It

The seventh tip on this list of homework ideas is to create a system for collecting it. It’s important to have some sort of turn-in system and procedure so students know what to do with their homework each morning.

8. Implement an Efficient Routine for Checking Homework

Consider implementing an efficient routine for checking homework. If you are just going to check for completion and spot check the homework you could have students place it on their desk while they do morning work and you can circulate and check the pages.

9. Communicate Homework Progress with Parents

Determine how you will communicate homework progress with parents. In general, no news is good news, but I do have a homework alert that gets sent home as needed. It needs to be signed by an adult at home so the families know if they are not meeting the expectations.

10. Consider Creating a Menu of Optional Homework Activities

The last tip on this list of homework ideas is to create a menu of optional homework activities. Some parents find homework to be a burden and others want more. One way to make everyone happy is to send home a basic assignment that is required for all students and a list of optional enrichment choices for those who want additional assignments.

How I Implemented Homework in My Classroom

There are tons of homework ideas out there, but this is what worked for me.

As a public school teacher, I was required to give out nightly homework to my third graders. I found myself spending a lot of time picking out assignments, making copies, communicating directions, answering emails and phone calls from parents who did “not understand the new math” (aka the math workbook pages), distributing, collecting and correcting what essentially was just busy work sent home to meet a requirement I did not agree with. 

My biggest concern was (and continues to be) that many of the assignments from the workbook included 10-20 of the same type of problem. That meant that if a student was struggling with subtraction with regrouping and completed 20 problems incorrectly, that misconception and error became so much harder to fix. 

Parents were signing reading logs, but the kids weren’t actually reading.

I was frustrated by feeling like my time, the students’ time, and the parents’ time was being wasted. I knew there had to be a better option, so I set out to fix the problem. I’m thrilled with the results I must say.

I began creating spiral review math pages for each day for my own 3rd graders. These pages proved to be important and meaningful work. This resource is best if not one of the best homework ideas I have ever come up with.

What are the Spiral Review Math Pages?

The spiral review math pages are a tool for teachers to use to ensure students are having continued practice with previously taught skills. They are available for 1st-5th grade. The spiral review packets were designed to have 25 pages per month, which gives you the flexibility to assign them for homework every night plus have extras. The 1st grade version is set up a little differently, but still has 180 pages so you’ll be covered for the year.

Each of the spiral review pages follow the same daily format, cover skills from each area (e.g. computation, measurement, geometry, data, and word problems) and continuously spiral previously taught skills. This consistent format of 10 standards-based questions focused on topics we’d already covered provides an important spiral review of all the grade-level skills. This helped students to retain previously taught skills. The added benefit was that students who had not demonstrated proficiency earlier in the year had the opportunity to do so over time through repeated practice and instruction.

Using these spiral review math pages makes homework more purposeful and easier to manage. My students became much stronger in all math concepts, the parents expressed gratitude for the consistent format, and the phone calls and emails asking for assignment clarification completely stopped. It was so effective that it completely eliminated the need for any test prep in the spring. My students’ test scores were even much higher than previous years.

These worked so well for myself and the other 3rd grade teachers who were using them, that (by request) I created them for 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade too. Each was designed in consultation with and piloted by experienced teachers in those grade levels. They have since been used the past few years by thousands of teachers who have reported great success as well. I most recently added first grade.

This is one of my favorite ideas for homework of all time!

What’s Included in the Spiral Review Math Resources?

The 2nd-5th grade packets all have monthly/seasonal themes. September targets many of the skills that were required at the end of the previous grade level. It was designed to be used as a review for the new year and to pinpoint important foundational skills that your students must be proficient in before moving on to new standards. The following months build in a systematic, sequential order with lots of spiral review built in so that students retain important concepts. They include the following resources:

• 250 print and go pages (plus 10 bonus pages) that will cover you for the full school year
• answer keys to make grading quick and easy for you
• 2,500 review problems (plus 100 bonus problems) based on the Common Core, which will help you rest easy knowing your students are practicing the math concepts and skills they need to
• 250 Google Forms so students can access them digitally from home or in school
• Recording sheets for students to show their thinking
• Item analysis data trackers to make it easy to see which students need to be pulled for small groups or if it would be beneficial to reteach the concept to the entire class
• Projectable answer keys so students can check their own work

The first grade version is a little different. It’s format has only 5 problems to better meet the developmental needs of our younger learners. It has 180 printable pages instead. In addition, this resource does not include seasonal pages, which allows you to use them at any time of the school year.

Learn more about the spiral review math resources for your grade level below.

• 1st grade spiral review math activities
• 2nd grade spiral review math activities
• 3rd grade spiral review math activities
• 4th grade spiral review math activities
• 5th grade spiral review math activities

Where Can I Learn More about Spiral Review Math?

You can learn more about spiral review in this post: Spiral Review Math .

The Benefits of Using Spiral Review Math Pages

There are tons of benefits to using the spiral review math pages for homework.

• The spiral review pages provide multiple opportunities for students to become proficient in a skill instead of just teaching it and forgetting it
• The repeated spiraling practice of foundational grade level skills ensures they were ready to build upon them when y ou introduce new skills.
• You’ll no longer need to waste hours of valuable class time on standardized test prep in the spring because the spiral review throughout the year ensure your students are always ready for the exam.
• It constantly shows you if there are skills you need to reteach either to the whole class or to a small group of students. 
• Students complete them with ease because the skills and the format of the pages are familiar to them.
• The variety of 10 different problems eliminates the risk of students cementing a misconception into their minds.

Why You’ll Love it as a Teacher

Not only will the nightly spiral review math pages provide your students with meaningful practice of important skills, increase their confidence as learners and make them stronger math students, they will also solve many of the problems you face as a teacher and make the parents’ lives easier too. It’s one of the best homework ideas I have ever come up with!

• You’ll longer needed to scramble to find homework for each night. Instead, simply print each month’s pages at the start of the new month and copy them all at once into weekly packets for the students.
• Your lesson planning will become much more intentional and focused because you are able to easily identify which skills your students need to work on more.
• You will no long waste valuable time correcting busy work. Instead, you’ll go over these important skills as a class.
• Parents will feel better about being able to help their students and became true allies and partners in their learning.
• Students and their families will be able to better enjoy their evenings together as a family because they know what to consistently expect for homework each evening.
• Distributing the week’s packet all at once enables students’ families to support my goal of teaching time management because they can work ahead when they know there is a busy night coming up on their calendars.
• Homework will be easier for you and more meaningful for your students.
• The homework assignments will be systematic and routine so parents and students will always know exactly what the expectations are and understand the instructions.
• You will constantly review all prior skills so that your student reach mastery over time. This will prevent students from forgetting what they learned earlier in the year.

How to Implement them in Your Classroom

I used a separate folder just for homework. It included the homework calendar and all of the printables they will need for the week. We placed everything into a homework folder for the month. The folder stayed at home and the students returned their completed work each morning in the communication folder .

I assembled the homework packets for the entire year in one afternoon and didn’t have to think about it again the rest of the school year. I sent them home on Friday afternoons.

The students simply completed one page each night beginning on Monday afternoons and returned only that one page to class in the morning. The other nightly pages remained at home. 

This meant I no longer needed to take any class time to explain the directions or check to make sure the papers made it into the backpacks.

The next morning I projected the answer sheet onto my smart board and reviewed each problem with them. This daily quick review made them accountable and reinforced all of the math skills regularly. Going over it in class sent the message that the work they did outside of school was purposeful and they would be accountable for it. They no longer felt homework was a waste of time so they demonstrated increased effort.

I also created data collection sheets to use either with one specific student’s page, or to examine the class as a whole. The pages were so easy to use and let me see at a glance where I needed to focus future instruction. 

How Can I Use the Extra Spiral Review Pages in the Packet?

There are 25 pages per month in each of the spiral review resources. Since you’ll never need to use all 25 for homework purposes, consider using the extra pages in the following ways:

• formative assessment to monitor progress
• morning work
• math center activity (“at your seat” activity during Guided Math Workshop )
• Emergency sub plans  activity

Where Can I Buy the Math Spiral Review Pages?

You can purchase the math spiral review pages from my Teachers Pay Teachers store . They are also available in my Elementary Math Resource Collection and grade level math clubs, which you can find below.

What Teachers Who Used these Packets Have Said

Thousands of teachers have used this homework idea in their classroom. Read some of the reviews below!

• “WOW! I’ve been teaching for 16 years and this has been the most useful thing I have used. My students really understand all of the skills and I loved knowing I wasn’t moving on without all my kids being proficient. The beautiful layout, structured format, and clear expectations made it so easy to make these become part of our daily routine. I highly recommend them to everyone.” (Thank you Jocelyn P.!)
• “I started using your monthly spiral review pages in October and never looked back. Not only did they provide us with quality daily work, but I just got my end of year scores back for the district math assessments and my entire class crushed it. I attribute their success 100% to these pages combined with your guided math book that opened my eyes to a whole new way of teaching. I can’t thank you enough. My administration has taken notice. I’m so proud of what we’ve done.” (Thank you Kerri K.!)
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Productivity

How to organize files and folders

Find important files faster with these file management tips..

Once upon a time, my system of clothes organization was simply to throw everything into the closet. Then, when I needed to get dressed, I'd dig around aimlessly and cross my fingers that the top I needed would magically appear. (I never said it was a great system.)

This was the same approach I used to organize files on my computer. And as a surprise to no one, it resulted in me wasting a lot of time trying to find specific files that I'd arbitrarily named and tucked away. 

I've come a long way since those haphazard years. My clothes are now arranged by color and style, and I use a simple folder structure to organize my digital files—both of which make it easy to find what I need, when I need it.

What is a folder structure?

A folder structure is a hierarchical system you use to organize your files. The goal is to have every file (document, photos, etc.) neatly stored in a designated folder—steering clear of standalone files floating around—for faster access. 

Let's say you're a lawyer, and you need a systematic way to organize your clients' files. A basic folder hierarchy might look like this: 

If the contents of each of the nested subfolders ( Client documents and OC documents ) warrant further grouping, you could take it one step further.

Nested folders generally make it easier to find specific files later, because you don't have to sift through all your files at once.

Tip: Folders are great for organization, but having too many nested folders can make finding files cumbersome. If you regularly find yourself clicking through four or five layers of folders to access what you need, that's a sign you may need to simplify your structure.

How to organize files and folders on your computer 

Browsing through folders should be an intuitive process. Continuing with our lawyer example, let's say you need to find out when your client paid their retainer. The obvious folder to look in would be Client invoices —not Client comms .

If you find yourself doing mental gymnastics to figure out where you stored something, update your organization system with these file management tips. 

1. Establish a clear hierarchical folder structure

Start organizing your files by creating a logical, hierarchical folder structure. The best folder structure will mimic the way you work.

For example, if you're a freelance writer, your top-level folder may be Freelance projects , and within that folder, you have subfolders for the clients you write for, like Zapier , WIRED , and so on. 

2. Use a consistent naming convention 

Give your folders and files specific, logical names—and be consistent. The goal is to use names that clearly indicate what's inside without having to open it. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to naming conventions, here are some tips to keep in mind. 

Use Pascal case. If using compound words, capitalize the first letter of each word to make it easier to read. For example, Lau_AmendedContract (vs. Lau_Amendedcontract ). 

Add a date. By putting a date (e.g., yymmdd ) at the beginning of your file name, it'll automatically be listed in chronological order. 

Include the version. If you're working with multiple versions of a file, include the version number (e.g., V3 ). This will make it easier to identify the most recent version and avoid any costly mixups if there are multiple iterations of the same file.

Sequential numbers. To arrange your files in a specific order, add leading zeros (e.g., 01 , 02 , and 03 ) instead of 1 , 2 , and 3 . 

Add "AA." By adding "AA" at the beginning of your file name, it'll automatically stack it at the top of your list, making it easily accessible. 

Keep it concise. Some software programs have character limits on file names, or don't allow certain special characters (e.g., # ,  @ , and & ). To keep your file and folder names consistent—regardless of the program you're using—include only necessary information and cut anything superfluous (e.g., words like "a," "and," and "the").

Tip: To keep naming conventions consistent across your organization, create a naming convention cheat sheet that everyone can reference, as needed. 

3. Add tags

4. Delete and archive unnecessary files

Tip: If you have a lot of files and folders that need to be sorted, it will take time to get everything organized. To make the process more manageable, consider moving all the files you won't need in the immediate future into an Archives or To be sorted folder. Then set aside 15 minutes once a week to sort through these files—again, ruthlessly deleting the files you won't need again and rehoming the ones you do need.  

5. File as you go 

If you work with a lot of files, organizing your folders once a month may result in an insurmountable pile of chaos. To prevent this, give every file an accurate name and home as soon as you create it.

Experiment with these folder structure examples

Ready to get organized, but not sure how to start? Let's take it from the top: Establish a clear hierarchical folder structure. 

First, determine your top-level folder. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

By project: If you work on a lot of different projects, use the project name as your top-level folder name. 

By project type: If you work on different types of projects, organize your folders based on project type. For example, writers might work on blog posts, emails, and landing pages.

By time: If it's easier for you to reference your work by date, use the month or year for the name of your parent folder. 

Once you've established your top-level folders, it's time to organize your subfolders. Here are the two most effective folder structures I've used in the past. 

1. "Working," "final," and "archive" subfolders

Here's how to organize your files using the working/final/archive subfolder system: 

Working: Any projects you're currently working on. This is also a good place to keep native or source files for easy access. 

Final: Any files that have been approved by relevant stakeholders, and are ready for launch. 

Archive: Anything that doesn’t fit into your Working or Final folder. Put your notes, brainstorms, research, and other miscellaneous files here. 

This system is particularly useful if you're working on a project with multiple pieces. It's also great for teams working on a project where several people are working on the same deliverable. 

Let's use an email campaign as an example. The copywriter will store the draft copy doc for the emails in the Working folder until they're ready for approval. Once the copy's been approved, the file will move to the Final folder, which will indicate to the Email Ops team that the emails are ready to be built. 

2. "Year" or "client" folders

If your desktop houses hundreds of files that are related to work for specific clients, creating folders for each client might be your best bet. Or, if you have an overwhelming number of receipts of business expenses, sorting them into folders by year or month may be the simple folder structure you need. Remember: more folders aren't necessarily better. 

However simple, find a system that works for you, and then stick with it. Consistency is what will help you stay organized in the long run. 

How to quickly find files 

If your folders contain lots of important files, it can take a few minutes of scrolling through to find what you need—even with a clear folder hierarchy and naming convention in place. 

For cases like this, it's much faster to use your computer's built-in search tool to retrieve your file.

How to quickly find files on a Mac desktop

To use it, click the Spotlight icon in the menu bar, which looks like a magnifying glass. Alternatively, you can use a keyboard shortcut: command + space . Then, type in the file or folder name you're looking for. 

How to quickly find files on a PC running Windows 

Automate your file management, save new gmail attachments to google drive.

Save new Google Docs documents to OneDrive

Save new Gmail attachment as a file in Box [Business Gmail Accounts Only]

Related reading: 

This article was originally published in March 2016 by Chelsea Beck. The most recent update was in June 2024.

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Jessica Lau

Jessica Lau is a senior content specialist at Zapier. Outside of writing, she likes to snuggle her dogs, and provide unsolicited podcast and book recommendations.

• File management & storage
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Roslyn Analysis not analysing assets folder

I am encountering an issue where my unity Roslyn analyser set-up is correctly analysing all scripts in package folders, but apparently not touching anything in the assets folders. (From debugging, not even looking at).

However, inside of VS, it is reading and showing errors fine, it is just the unity console is not showing errors for things in the assets folder.

I have added a reference to the analysis .dll file in all my project .asmdef files as precompiled assets, and tagged it as a RoslynAnalyser.

I have a rulesets file in my room assets folder.

Another more minor, but potentially related issue is that the ruleset file doesn’t change the type of message my analyser is sending inside of the unity console. Again, inside of VS, this is working absolutely fine, it’s just an issue in the unity console.

Anyone got any ideas on this?

According to the “Analyzer scope” section of the manual , the analyzer’s dll is not what needs to be referenced, but the asmdef that owns the folder where your dll is. That is, Analyzers inside folders that belong to an asmdef apply to all the code that uses that asmdef.

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Tim walz awarded $100k, hosted muslim leader who didn’t condemn oct. 7, touted hitler film.

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz has repeatedly hosted an alleged extremist Muslim leader who pledged “unwavering support” for Palestinians after the Oct. 7 terror attack and once promoted a Neo-Nazi propaganda film praising Hitler, according to a report.

Walz, Minnesota’s two-term governor, even doled out cash to the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, which is helmed by Imam Asad Zaman, the Washington Examiner revealed Friday.

The governor’s office has awarded more than $100,000 in funding to the Muslim non-profit in recent years, the outlet found.

“Asad Zaman is one of America’s most prominent Islamist voices and has a long history of extreme rhetoric and ideas,” said Sam Westrop, director of the Middle East Forum’s Islamist Watch project, to The Post.

“Along with Neo-Nazi conspiracy theories and  sharing  Hamas press releases mourning the death of a convicted war criminal, Zaman and his organization justified the October 7th attacks against Israeli civilians, releasing a sickening statement the very same day offering ‘unwavering support’ for the Palestinian ‘struggle,”’ Westrop said.

Regarding the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Zaman, who was born in Bangladesh, has said his organization “stands in solidarity with Palestinians” after the Palestinian terror group invaded the Jewish state, killing 1,200 Israelis.

“MAS reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle against the Israeli occupation,” said Zaman in a Facebook post as details of the horrific attack surfaced. “Israel’s recent unprovoked attacks on Palestinian areas have claimed numerous lives … We call on the US government … to exert maximum pressure on Israel to respect Palestinian lives.”

Follow The Post’s coverage on Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz:

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Zaman also reposted an image of a Palestinian flag with the message from fellow St. Paul Muslim community leader Yusuf Abdi Abdulle that the US government “is on the wrong side of history today as it was always by supporting the extremist Zionist regime and its illegal settlements.”

A day after the terrorist attacks on Israel, Zaman asked Democratic California Congresswoman Katie Porter, who had condemned the attacks, if she would be willing to “reaffirm the right of Palestinians to defend themselves.”

In November 2015, he also posted a link to “The Greatest Story Never Told” — a 2013 neo-Nazi propaganda film praising Hitler that is popular among antisemites and QAnon conspiracy theorists, according to the Middle East Forum.

“How could Walz and his staff have failed to conduct the most cursory of checks on the company they keep?” Westrop said, adding that his group  first warned  about Zaman’s extremist rhetoric and his apparent neo-Nazi sympathies in 2019.

“Under Gov. Walz, hundreds of thousands of Minnesotan taxpayers’ dollars have subsidized this hate and radicalism. Which extremists will he end up funding as vice-president?”

In 2016, Zaman posted a Hamas press release about Motiur Rahman Nizami, a Bangladeshi Islamic leader, when Nizami was hanged in 2016 after being convicted of genocide, rape and torture.

Zaman along with other Muslim leaders met at the governor’s office in St. Paul last year for a meeting about mosque security, according to the Washington Examiner.

He also has met with the governor and delivered speeches beside him on several other occasions, including in 2019, when he gave an invocation before Walz’s state address.

Neither Walz’s office nor the imam returned Post requests for comment Friday.

Walz is the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over President Biden’s slot after the 81-year-old commander in chief dropped out of the race over concerns about his mental and physical state.

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Project 2025 abortion surveillance idea comes back to bite Trump

Democrats launch attacks as trump and vance both try to distance themselves from the extreme measures outlined in the project’s pages, article bookmarked.

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As Donald Trump continues to flounder around his response to a sustained assault from Democrats over policy prescriptions in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, his rivals are sticking the knife in further.

The DNC is out with a new memo on Thursday detailing how conservatives hope to use a second Trump presidency to expand state-led efforts to monitor women who get abortions — even if they do so in states where the practice is legal.

Those efforts directly conflict with Trump’s stated desire to leave the issue up to state governments . A shift in federal policy could end up being a clear thumb on the scale in favor of conservative states who wish to police the practice of abortion outside their borders.

The ex-president has trodden a winding path on the issue of abortion rights. He routinely insists that he does not support a national ban on abortion and wants the issue left up to the states, even as he simultaneously and repeatedly has claimed credit for the end of federal protections on abortion.

He has also endorsed any conservative state government push to monitor womens’ pregnancies in past interviews. In two separate instances this year , Trump implied that he would not oppose any Republican push to level such surveillance against pregnant women.

Democrats have seen an angle of opportunity here, and are now tying the former president to language in the Project 2025’s section on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS.) The project details how it would direct a conservative HHS chief to get rid of guidance around the agency’s rules regarding patient information disclosures, including a portion which explicitly states that a health care provider would be prohibited from reporting a patient’s intent to seek abortion care in a state where the practice is legal to government officials in the patient’s home state.

“A pregnant individual in a state that bans abortion informs their health care provider that they intend to seek an abortion in another state where abortion is legal. The provider wants to report the statement to law enforcement to attempt to prevent the abortion from taking place. However, the Privacy Rule would not permit this disclosure of PHI to law enforcement under this permission for several reasons,” reads the HHS rule guidance Project 2025 wants to delete. The conservative-led effort describes the rule guidance as “unnecessary” and “ideologically motivated fearmongering about abortion”.

Trump has made efforts within the past few weeks to burn his bridges with Project 2025. The project is a collaboration of dozens of groups that support his campaign and is spearheaded by officials with direct experience in Trump’s first administration. Its policy lead announced that he would step down this week, an announcement which was quickly celebrated as a successful targeted hit by the Trump campaign.

Notably, the deletion of any rule guidance on confidentiality in health care would not change the rules themselves. The agency would have to go through the formal rule review process to amend or throw out a HIPAA rule finalized by the agency earlier this year which HHS officials said was meant to “better protect patient confidentiality and prevent medical records from being used against people for providing or obtaining lawful reproductive health care”.

But Project 2025 and Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance , both have stated clear opposition to this rule.

“Abortion is not health care — it is a brutal act that destroys the life of an unborn child and hurts women. Congress did not authorize HHS to extend special provisions for abortion such as these under the guise of ‘health care.’ The Proposed Rule unlawfully thwarts the enforcement of compassionate laws protecting unborn children and their mothers, and directs health care providers to defy lawful court orders and search warrants,” read a letter to the agency Vance signed on to in 2023 when the rule was first proposed.

Vance has sought to aid Trump’s efforts to find a more politically palatable abortion position ahead of the general election. Explaining how his own statements in support of a national ban gelled with his running mate’s, Vance said this month: “I’m the vice presidential nominee and not the presidential nominee, and if I want my views on abortion to dominate the Republican party then I run for president. And I didn’t and I haven’t. Donald Trump ran for president.“

“Obviously as a member of the campaign I’m going to support... states making the decision, having a respect for the will of the voters to decide what local abortion policy will be,” he added.

But Democrats are seeking to remind voters that much of Trump’s policymaking in a second term would likely mirror his first — i.e. carried out by political appointees across government and not necessarily through the stroke of a pen at the White House.

"Because of Trump, prosecutors looking to enforce draconian anti-abortion laws in the states are now free to go after reproductive health data in mobile apps,” said DNC national press secretary Emilia Rowland in a statement to The Independent. “ But Trump and Vance’s Project 2025 agenda would go even further — calling for every abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and incidental pregnancy loss from medical treatments like chemo to be reported to the federal government under a Trump administration, tearing away health data privacy protections under HIPAA, and allowing states to surveil patients and doctors, monitor pregnancies, restrict women’s freedom to travel for abortion care, and ultimately use health data against patients and providers in court. This isn’t about policy, it’s about control.”

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Join the conversation: Sugar Bush Foundation to host community-university idea sharing events

The Sugar Bush Foundation is excited to announce two opportunities for community organizations and Ohio University faculty and staff to share their project ideas, explore funding opportunities, and network with the foundation board.

The first is in Athens on Friday, Aug. 23 from 1-3 p.m. at the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center, in the Bob Rudy Room.

The second is in Zanesville on Friday, Sept. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ohio University Zanesville, Elson Hall, Room 186.

The Sugar Bush Foundation, a supporting organization of the Ohio University Foundation, engages OHIO students in the region by funding collaborations between OHIO and area non-profits. The Sugar Bush Foundation funds projects that improve the environment, strengthen local food systems and grow a more resilient local economy. Since its founding, the Sugar Bush Foundation has awarded more than $4.8 million to projects that impact Appalachian Ohio. 

To register, visit https://forms.office.com/r/85TSX4dfbS . For more information, contact Erin Rennich at [email protected] . 

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Project 2025 Director Paul Dans Steps Down From Heritage Foundation Amid Blowback From Democrats and Trump

T he director of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 vision for a complete overhaul of the federal government stepped down Tuesday after blowback from Donald Trump’s campaign, which has tried to disavow the program created by many of the former president’s allies and former aides.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said Paul Dans’ exit comes after the project “completed exactly what it set out to do.” Roberts, who has emerged as a chief spokesman for the effort, plans to lead Project 2025 going forward.

“Our collective efforts to build a personnel apparatus for policymakers of all levels—federal, state, and local—will continue,” Roberts said.

What started as an obscure far-right wish list is now a focal point in the 2024 campaign. Democrats for the past several months have made Project 2025 a key election-year cudgel, pointing to the ultraconservative policy blueprint as a glimpse into how extreme another Trump administration could be.

The nearly 1,000-page handbook lays out sweeping changes in the federal government, including altering personnel rules to ensure government workers are more loyal to the president. Heritage is building a database of potential new hires to staff a second Trump White House.

Yet Trump has repeatedly disavowed the document, saying on social media he hasn’t read it and doesn’t know anything about it. At a rally in Michigan earlier this month, he said Project 2025 was written by people on the “severe right” and some of the things in it are “seriously extreme.”

“President Trump’s campaign has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way,” Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said in a statement.

They said, “Reports of Project 2025’s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign—it will not end well for you.”

Read More: Column: How Trump Supercharged Project 2025—Whether He Wanted To or Not

But Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, wrote a foreword to a forthcoming book by Roberts in which he lauds the Heritage Foundation’s work. A copy of the foreword was obtained by the Associated Press.

“The Heritage Foundation isn’t some random outpost on Capitol Hill; it is and has been the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump,” wrote Vance.

Quoting Roberts elsewhere in the book, Vance writes: ″We are now all realizing that it’s time to circle the wagons and load the muskets. In the fights that lay ahead, these ideas are an essential weapon.”

Trump campaign representatives did not respond to messages inquiring about whether the campaign asked or pushed for Dans to step down from the project. The Heritage Foundation said Dans left voluntarily and it was not under pressure from the Trump campaign. Dans didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Project 2025 has many ties to Trump’s orbit

In many ways, Project 2025 served as a potential far-right White House in waiting, a constellation of outside groups that would be ready for action if Trump wins a second term.

The project included not only the detailed policy proposals that Trump could put into place on day one at the White House. Project 2025 was also building a personnel database of resumes for potential hires, drawing Americans to Washington to staff a new Trump administration.

Many Trump allies and former top aides contributed to the project. Dans formerly worked as a personnel official for the Trump administration. And Trump regularly campaigns on many of the same proposals in the Project 2025 book—from mass deportations to upending the Justice Department—though some of its other proposals, including further taxes on tips, conflict with some of what Trump has pledged on the campaign trail.

Read More: Column: Project 2025’s Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Already Started

It was clear that Project 2025 was becoming a liability for Trump and the Republican Party.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign and top Democrats have repeatedly tied Trump to Project 2025 as they argue against a second term for the former president.

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 remains linked to Trump’s agenda, written by his allies for him to “inflict” on the country.

“Hiding the 920-page blueprint from the American people doesn’t make it less real—in fact, it should make voters more concerned about what else Trump and his allies are hiding,” said Harris for President Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez.

For months Trump’s campaign had warned outside groups, and Heritage in particular, that they did not speak for the former president.

In an interview from the Republican convention first published by Politico, LaCivita said Project 2025 was a problem because “the issues that are going to win us this campaign are not the issues that they want to talk about.”

It was almost certain than Trump’s campaign forced the shakeup, said one former Heritage aide granted anonymity to discuss the situation.

Trump’s team was well aware it couldn’t risk any missteps from Heritage in this final stretch ahead of the election.

By announcing the departure, Roberts appeared to be sending a signal to the Trump campaign that changes were being made at Heritage to tamp down any concerns over Project 2025, said another conservative familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it.

If Trump wins the White House, he almost certainly will need to rely on Heritage and other outside entities to help quickly staff a new administration, the person said.

Heritage says Project 2025 is not going away

Project 2025’s website will remain live and the group will continue vetting resumes for its nearly 20,000-person database of potential officials eager to execute its vision for government, the Heritage Foundation said Tuesday.

The group said Dans, who had started the project from scratch more than two years ago, will leave the Heritage Foundation in August. Roberts will now run Project 2025 operations.

Roberts has faced criticism in recent weeks after he said on an episode of former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast that the country is in the midst of a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.”

Earlier this month, in an interview before beginning a prison sentence for defying a congressional subpoena, Bannon mentioned Roberts as the type of leader who could land a top job in a Trump White House.

—Swenson reported from New York. Mascaro reported from Washington. AP writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

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