assignment folder ideas

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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110 File Folder Activities For Every Student and Subject

January 16, 2023 //  by  Christina Cunningham

File folder activities are perfect for early finishers or extra practice and can be customized to meet any educational need. If you envision a file folder activity, you’re probably thinking of matching or counting tasks; however, there are so many more varieties available for you to explore! Children can keep file folders in their desks as resources, complete morning work, practice visual discrimination, play board games, and learn life skills from these quickly-made activities! Take what works for you and your class’s needs from the list below!

6 Activities & Resources For Morning Work

1. check-in.

Use file folder activities to help your young students start their day off on the right foot by asking them to name their feelings, pick a greeting, and select a center. This simple task can help children check into the school day and feel accomplished early!

Learn More: Autism Adventures

2. Calendar Time

If whole group calendar time is a struggle, create a personal calendar folder for children to complete each day, or for your “Calendar Helper” to do for the class. Children can record the date, day of the week, weather, season, or anything else you typically include! 

3. Mini Office

Assemble this “mini office” for your students at the beginning of the year! This is a printable resource you will be thanking yourself for creating all year long. Students can utilize the calendar, hundreds chart, color chart, and more as a reference or as a stage for practicing skills independently.

Learn More: File Folder Fun

4. Describing Clothing

Make morning work simple while children practice their matching and describing abilities with this file folder activity! Kids will record what they are wearing; including types and colors, using these pieces. This great activity gets children tapping into an independent-work mindset at the beginning of the day.

Learn More: Autism Tank

5. Personal Sound Wall

As the science of reading is being adopted by districts throughout the country, the prevalence of sound walls is increasing. Provide children with a personal copy that they can keep on their desks or take home to equip them for reading and writing anywhere! 

Learn More: Ship Shape Elementary

6. Speech Practice Folders

File folder resources are great for sending home practice activities with students, as well as providing them with a way to assess their performance! Simply change out the sounds students need to practice (perfect for literacy or speech lessons!), and this resource can be used repeatedly!

Learn More: The Dabbling Speechie

35 Math-Focused Activities  

7. one-to-one tasks.

Help establish students’ one-to-one correspondence skills with errorless file folders! Children will match one Velcro piece to each spot on the opposite page, helping them to understand how to make pairs and generally work within file folders. This task also builds a sense of competence for young learners!

Learn More: Autism Work Tasks

8. Butterfly Symmetry

Build your students’ understanding of symmetry and work on visual discrimination with a beautiful butterfly-themed file folder game. Students will have to select the mirror image of each butterfly’s wing to build the whole insect. This task is perfect to stick in your life cycle file or letter B activities!

Learn More: Mama Jenn

9. Dinosaur Count and Match

Make this simple game for your dinosaur-lover to practice their counting and number recognition skills! Students will match a numeral to a given set of dinosaurs. Use it as a quick assessment, an on-the-go task for the car, or a simple game to tuck away for unexpected wait times!

Learn More: The Whatever Mom

10. Counting Flower Petals File Folder Game

Children will love this spring-themed, printable file folder game matching numbers to flower petals. Children will count the petals attached to the inside of the folder, then match the correct number to make the center of the flower. It’s simple, sweet, and goes perfectly with a spring theme! 

Learn More: From ABCs to ACTs

11. Ice Cream Match

What child doesn’t love sprinkles? They will get to count the sprinkles on ice cream cones in this counting file folder game! Then, they will affix the correct number to the cone to complete this task. You can easily adapt the activity to include different arrangements, larger numbers, and more!

Learn More: The Measured Mom

12. Counting Ladybug Spots

Did you know you can tell the age of a ladybug by the number of spots it has? Share this cool fact with your students before starting this file folder task together! Children should count the number of spots on each ladybug and match it to the correct numeral or number word. 

Learn More: My Folder Games

13. Counting Pepperonis

Counting the toppings on a pizza is a perfect way to get children engaged in their math learning! Children will think it is super silly to count all the pepperonis and match the slices to the corresponding number. Extend this activity by making felt pizzas for your dramatic play center! 

Learn More: Mrs. Bremer’s Class

14. Hungry Bunnies

Incorporating cute animals is one of the best ways to make any file folder fun! Children will enjoy feeding some bunnies their meal of carrots in this counting file folder game! Each bunny is marked with a particular number, and the student has to feed them the correct amount of carrots. 

Learn More: Fun Learning For Kids

15. Hands-On Numeracy

Preschool file folder games should have as many opportunities for hands-on learning as possible. This sweet Valentine’s-themed file folder set incorporates just that! Students order, trace, write, build, count erasers, and more to investigate a particular number. This task is sure to keep them happy, busy, and having fun learning!

Learn More: Make, Take, & Teach

16. Bumblebee Number Representations

Children will be buzz-buzzing with activity as they work on this fun file folder game. Dominoes, dice, tallies, and other representations of numbers adorn little bee bodies, and children must match them to the hive with the corresponding number. Easily adapt to your child’s current level of understanding by limiting the pieces!

Learn More: Simple Everyday Mom

17. Gumball Counting

Grab this great freebie to practice counting skills at a higher level–children will have to count non-linear pieces in this downloadable file folder game. The creator suggests keeping this one with your sub plans or as an option for early finisher work! 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

18. Watermelon Seed Counting

Math file folder games are always more fun when there is a hands-on fine motor element! In this watermelon counting game, children choose a card, then count the button “seeds” on their watermelon. Keep the seeds attached to the file folder with a little zip lock baggie, and you can take this activity anywhere!

Learn More: Planning Playtime

19. Floatie Count

What little one doesn’t love a rubber duckie? Add this engaging element into your file folder work by having children count duck “pool floaties” during this file folder activity. Children will select a card, then add that many ducks to the pool. Leave this out as a center close to summertime!

20. Feed the Monkey

This silly monkey loves to eat bananas. While your students feed him his lunch, they are simultaneously practicing their colors and counting skills! The game also has a simple rhyme that goes along with the play, which makes it adaptable to whole group or small group work as well! 

Learn More: File Folder Heaven

21. Balloon Number Match

This matching game will help young learners begin to recognize the strokes that make up different numerals. This is a precursor to number formation for early childhood students. Children will simply match a balloon number piece to the cloud with the corresponding number for almost-errorless fun! 

Learn More: Teaching Special Thinkers

22. Pencil Patterns

Matching patterns is one of the initial steps to students being able to create their own! Get them working on this crucial skill with this pattern-matching file folder. Students will match colorful, patterned pencils to a black-and-white counterpart in the folder. Challenge them to design their own pencil pattern when finished!

Learn More: Kids Activities

23. Heart Patterns

This visual discrimination task is a perfect introduction to patterns while also working on matching skills. Students will look at the patterns on each heart and find its perfect pair! They will look for zig-zags, stripes, polka dots, and more. Extend the activity by having students decorate their own pairs!

Learn More: Desert Crafter

24. 2-Level Patterns

These patterning folder games are the perfect activities for preschoolers who are mastering the easier levels (like AB patterns). Children will build confidence as they create and complete this type, then move on to more difficult patterning with 3 objects or with longer expectations for extending.

Learn More: The Autism Helper

25. Build-a-Pizza

This tricky shape game requires students to match a particular arrangement of shapes with their outlines on the background picture. The shapes become the toppings on a delicious pizza! This is a busy folder that builds visual discrimination skills and can prompt discussions involving shape vocabulary terms. 

Learn More: Learning with Missy Marlo

26. Leaf Shapes

Make this beautiful shadow-matching activity to use during your autumn leaves theme! Children will match the shapes of the leaves to their shadows on the folder. It’s simple and sweet and will leave your students feeling confident in their abilities to do hard work!

Learn More: Pinterest

27. Ice Cream Shapes

This simple shape-matching file folder comes with two levels of this printable game. Students will work with 6-8 shapes and match the shapes to the corresponding outline on top of the ice cream cone. Use it as a quick assessment before summer or at the beginning of the school year!

Learn More: Tot Schooling

28. Shape Sorting Pockets

This simple sorting game for preschoolers will help develop shape-recognition skills during your math block! Students will sort and tuck shapes into corresponding pockets inside the folder. It will also encourage children to be looking out for shapes in their everyday lives!

29. Shapes All Around

Build math skills in your preschool or kindergarten classroom with this shape-sorting file folder! They will encourage children to extend their understanding of shapes by looking for them in everyday life. Students will sort common objects by shape, then extend the activity by sending them on a shape hunt in your classroom afterward!

30. Fall Sequencing

These fun fall sequencing tasks will help children build their concept of time and order. Students will use the sequencing file folder game to think through the process of carving a pumpkin, raking leaves, getting ready for school, and more! Use them to prepare children for your real-life seasonal activities.

31. 3-Step Sequences

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Challenge students to solve these sequencing mysteries with these simple, 3-step file folder tasks. Students will put short scenarios in the appropriate order to build their sense of patterns happening in the world around them and their understanding of changes occurring over time.

Learn More: Homeschool Preschool

32. Non-Identical Sorting

Improve students’ sorting abilities with this challenging activity. Students will sort non-identical objects–think cars and airplanes vs. colors of cars–onto their file folder mats. This resource includes 10 different activities to use for independent or small group work!

33. Sorting by Size

Sorting by size is an essential skill to build among early elementary-age children. Themed activities like this zoo animal sort provide the perfect opportunity to practice this! In this fun game, kids will sort zoo animals by size–big or small. This cute activity also helps students learn more about animals in general!

34. Category Sort

In this sorting game, students will have to decide if animals belong in a pond, on a farm, or if they could live in both places! Sing along to “Down by the Bay” and “Old MacDonald” using the pieces once they are sorted!

Learn More: Speech Sprouts Therapy

35. Car Roll and Cover

Add this to your list of file folder games to prep for your transportation unit! Car Roll and Cover builds number recognition, subitizing skills, and one-to-one correspondence. Children simply roll a die and cover up the corresponding numbered car. Increase the challenge by using two dice and numbers up to 12!

Learn More: Child Care Land

36. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Game

April file folder games should definitely include activities based on this classic story! Bring spring into full swing by creating and sharing this easy board game with your class. Children will roll a die and help the hungry caterpillar make its way to finally becoming a butterfly!

37. Count and Cover

This unique, space-themed count and the cover game help children to develop concepts of value and one-to-one correspondence. Kids simply draw a card, then use that many pieces to fill in the empty spaces on the rocket picture. Put one copy on each side of a file folder to make the game last longer!

38. Spring Puzzles

Tuck these puzzle pieces away in a file folder for springtime! You can include the background template for an easier task, or leave it out and test your children’s spatial awareness skills! They’ll feel accomplished once they’ve completed these adorable bunny, chick, and lamb pictures!

39. Key Matching

Every parent gives their child a ring of keys to play with at some point–children are mesmerized by the jingling bunch! Put “keys” on a key ring in this file folder game for children to match their silhouettes on the opposite page. 

Learn More: From ABCs To Acts

40. Tetris Shapes

Tetris is the age-old game that captivates everyone! Children will have to use their spatial awareness skills to solve these introductory puzzles in this matching file folder activity. It is a key skill for eventually building adult logic and spatial reasoning! Best of all, it’s a free download!

Learn More: Mr. Printables

41. Telling Time

Just add a brad and some lamination to create this file folder game where children practice telling time on an analog clock, digital clock, and in words! The moving parts will help keep children engaged, and this is an activity you can revisit throughout the day to practice recording the current time!

23 Lovely Literacy Tasks

42. hands-on letters.

Children get to use one of their favorite classroom materials–play-dough–in this daily phonics file folder activity. Children will build the letter from the dough, focusing on the types of lines and curves in each upper- and lowercase letter, then use the letter sound to sort Velcro pictures. Complete the alphabet at your students’ pace!

43. The Letter Monster

“The Letter Monster” is a great file folder story that helps children learn their alphabet and letter formation! The poor monster in this story eats some letters to help himself go to sleep, but the different letters wreak all kinds of havoc on his tummy. Your kids will laugh themselves silly as they listen to this story!

Learn More: Dr. Jean And Friends

44. Alpha Animals

Incorporate children’s universal love of animals with literacy learning in “Alpha Animals.” In this activity, your students will match letters with the animal in the folder that begins with that sound. Make the activity more engaging by exchanging the pieces for letter manipulatives like foam letters or letter magnets!

Learn More: Earth Mama’s World

45. Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom

The quintessential first week of school story comes alive in this alphabet file folder game. You can modify the directions to meet different letter-learning needs by asking children to add a letter based on their formation, the sounds they make, vowels vs. consonants, and more!

46. Earth Letters

While this resource is technically geared toward a unit on Earth Day, it would also work nicely with a space unit. The file includes upper and lowercase letter work that you can use as a file folder activity for matching both cases, matching manipulatives to the letters, and more!

Learn More: Simply Special Ed

47. Letter by Letter

This file folder pack focuses on each individual letter of the alphabet, integrating math through patterning and sorting tasks. Students will build the letter, sort lowercase, and uppercase versions, and sort objects that do and do not begin with the corresponding sound. Use this set for intervention or review!

Learn More: Lesson Plan Diva

48. Turkey Beginning Sounds

Simply print the template for this turkey file folder game and cut out the feather letter pieces (that you can store in a front pocket), and students are ready to play! Kids will work on identifying beginning sounds in words and matching alphabet letters with these sounds to complete the turkey tail!

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

49. Sound Match

This beginning sounds-matching activity includes several extensions to keep your hardworking students busy! Children will match pictures to letters attached to the folder. You can stop there, or have students get in some tracing/writing practice with the additional pages!

Learn More: In My World

50. Interactive Stories

Fairytales present an endless source of fascination for children. Utilize them as a file folder task using these amazing interactive storyboards. Students will work on skills like story sequencing, identifying characters, vocabulary, and more as they manipulate these pieces and place them in the correct spaces in their folders. 

51. Mittens vs. Hats

Grab this freebie for a perfect file folder activity to complement your Jan Brett winter stories theme. Students complete the simple task of sorting pictures into the category of hats or mittens. While they play, you can also build color vocabulary by asking students to “find the red hat…,” etc. 

52. Labeling

Develop beginning readers’ vocabularies with these labeling activities! Children will use their knowledge of letter sounds and blending to read simple words, like food terms, number words, etc., then match the appropriate picture. This resource covers colors, shapes, numbers, and foods!

53. See-Know-Infer

This file folder resource can be used again and again with photos and videos to help children practice their skills of making observations and inferences from what they notice. Laminate the response page, and provide sentence frames to assist children with responding to different scenarios that you provide. 

54. Sort the Nouns

Reviewing parts of speech won’t be boring with these file folder sorts! Children will sort words into the different types of nouns–people, places, things, and ideas to practice identifying these types of words in their reading and writing. Encourage children to create their own example for each column as an extension activity!

Learn More: Mama’s Learning Corner

55. Pumpkin Rhyming

This pumpkin rhyming match-up is a great game for preschoolers or kindergarten students who are working to develop their phonemic awareness. Children will find and match a rhyming pair–with one member on a leaf and the other on a pumpkin. This includes a quick and easy printable for making more fall file folders!

56. Multisensory Name Folders

Check out this amazing name folder idea for your preschoolers and kindergarteners! Children first tap and say the letters in their name, then trace them with their fingers (this version is covered in hot glue for a sensory element). Next, children build their names and write them on a dry-erase portion.

Learn More: Play to Learn Preschool

57. Personal PC

Dr. Jean’s typing center is a file folder activity you can prep in five minutes. Simply print out a picture of a keyboard and give your child their name card to practice typing out their letters. It’s a simple task that builds a useful skill for each child’s future!

Learn More: Dr. Jean

58. Pre-Writing Cards

Laminate and glue these prewriting cards into a file folder for reusable writing practice! Children can take these folders on the go (if you’re homeschooling), or use them in centers (in the classroom). Attach a dry-erase marker with tape and a piece of yarn to make it an all-in-one activity .

59. Umbrella Letters

This umbrella alphabet roll-and-cover game is perfect to recreate again and again as a review activity for each set of letters you introduce. Simply adjust the letters included in the file folder and on the foldable dice to meet your students’ current needs!

60. Alphabet Match

This pre-made alphabet activity is great for children needing to build exposure to the shapes of letters. Children will consider various alphabet letters and find the corresponding space in the file folder that matches. This helps children learn things like which letters have curves, straight lines, diagonal lines, etc.

61. CVC Words

Kindergarten and 1st Grade are the years of mastering blending letter sounds to read CVC words! For some additional practice for early finishers or small group work for students needing some support, check out this simple matching game! Kids will read the word, then match the label to the pictures.

Learn More: Supports for Special Students

62. Hands-On Sight Words

Play-dough, letter tiles, and dry-erase markers–the workhorses of literacy manipulatives–make this file folder activity for sight words engaging and fun for all your little learners! Provide students with a list of sight words to work on or challenge them to come up with their own words to try!

Learn More: Make, Take, Teach

63. Word-Building Folder

Utilize this excellent resource with older elementary students for a do-anytime activity! Children can use the included letters and letter combinations to build words, then practice writing them and drawing a picture to describe them. This is a great activity for a daily word work center or early finisher activity! 

Learn More: Lucky Little Learners

64. Beginning Sound Puzzles

To create this file folder game targeting beginning sound isolation, cut up flashcards and glue one piece into the folder, and leave the other out for matching. Aided by the pictures, students will have to find the beginning sound for each word to finish each puzzle.

Learn More: Little Family Fun

13 Spectacular Social Studies Activities

65. land, air, and sea.

File folders can be a useful tool during your transportation-themed unit to help children develop an understanding of the different modes that exist. In these quick sorting activities, children will have to recall how each mode of transportation travels–by air, land, or sea. This multi-leveled resource is also cost-effective!

66. How Community Helpers Travel

In this fun matching activity, children will decide how each different community member travels–they will match police officers to their cars, firefighters to their trucks, pilots to their planes, etc. These file folder game pieces build useful social studies concepts and logical/practical reasoning skills!

67. Wants vs. Needs

This social studies sorting exercise helps children to consider the things they encounter that are wanted or needed. Children will sort photographs showing things like water, clothing, and toys into wants and needs. After completing the sort, challenge kids to come up with their own cards to add!

Learn More: Teacher Pay Teachers

68. Happy/Sad Sort

Children will build social-emotional skills of labeling emotions and noticing facial expressions through this sorting activity. The original creator made this file folder game from an easy Google image search. Keep that in mind if you plan to adapt this game to include more emotions! 

69. Animal Feelings

These errorless folders include a repetitive sequence of matching animal pieces showing different facial expressions to spaces on the opposite page. This reinforces labeling feelings, fine motor skills, and one-to-one correspondence for learners with disabilities or in early childhood classrooms who are just beginning independent work tasks. 

70. Identifying Emotions

Your classroom management will reap the rewards when children are able to notice how others are feeling as a result of their actions. Build your students’ vocabulary with this matching activity. Name an emotion, and help your students identify the correct picture of a facial expression showing that feeling. 

71. Identifying Emotions, Pt. 2

This is an excellent resource for children to use in early childhood grades, special education classes, guidance activities, and more! Children will explore and identify how certain emotions make them feel in their bodies. Matching emotions to physical sensations will help them be better able to label their feelings!

Learn More: The Responsive Counselor

72. Community Helper Tools

Community helpers have a lot of tools at their disposal to help them do their important work. Children will have to determine which tools belong to whom in this file folder sort. Occupations include doctors, teachers, firefighters, artists, and more important community members for students to match with vehicles and objects.

73. Tomb Dash!

This file folder board game is perfectly geared toward older students learning about ancient Egypt! Students will have to answer trivia questions about that era in time in order to travel through the tomb and win the game! Best of all, this game can have up to six players!

Learn More: Home School in the Woods

74. Westward, Ho! 

This amazing board game is the file folder version of the iconic Oregon Trail! As they play, children will have to gather supplies, finalize plans, and set out on a journey westward through the United States. This game teaches older elementary students about the beginnings of American expansion. 

75. Name That State

Are you about to embark on a cross-country excursion, or just want to help your children learn more about American geography? Name That State! is the perfect game to play! It teaches children names of states, important cities, and more, and is adjustable to different levels of difficulty! 

76. Route 66

Another amazing file folder game for teaching history and geography, this board game helps children learn about the origins and landmarks along Route 66. To win the game, students answer a series of questions about different eras in able to move along the highway. Kids will “get a kick” out of it! 

77. Bill of Rights

This social studies matching and sequencing activity helps older elementary children learn about the Bill of Rights and what it includes. Children have the option to match just the description of each statement to a picture, or sequence the picture and the description for a more difficult challenge!

Learn More: The Wise Nest

12 Simple Science-Based Tasks

78. 5 senses game.

Students five senses are one of those exciting themes that can be revisited throughout the year! After introducing the concept, let children work in this file folder sort to help them better identify the things that can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, and felt.

79. Zoo Animal Matching

This file folder may seem simple, but creative teachers can utilize it in so many ways! Children will complete an identical matching activity using zoo animal pieces, but this simple challenge will build vocabulary, develop their oral language skills, help children identify beginning sounds, and much more!

80. Farm Animal Matching

This matching game can be serious or silly–it depends on your classroom needs! Students will match the front and backsides of animals to make farm creatures. Or, let children mix and match the pieces to make crazy, mixed-up animals! Either way, it’s a fun way to develop farm animal vocabulary!

81. Animal Habitats Sort

Bring your study of animals and their home environments to life with this habitat sort. This is a perfect activity for middle-elementary students who are developing vocabulary terms and an understanding of geography. Children will match animal photographs to biomes like the tundra, rainforests, grasslands, and desert.

82. Insects vs. Spiders

One of the biggest surprises for little ones studying bugs is that spiders are, in fact, not insects! As you delve into what defines an insect versus a spider, children can test their knowledge using this file folder sort! Children will categorize real photographs into these two groups.

83. Living/Nonliving Sort

Challenge students to think outside the box with this sorting game! Kids will have to decide if pictures belong to the living or nonliving categories; some items are a particular challenge, like an apple or fire. Let the work inspire thoughtful discussion in the whole group once everyone has had a chance to play!

84. Mom/Baby Animal Match

Baby animals: they’re totally adorable, and kids love them! They’ll definitely be delighted by all the pictures in this sweet matching game! After studying mom/baby pairs, children will have to put their powers of recall to use and remember who goes with whom. Bonus points if they remember the baby animal terms!

85. Simple Machines

Help your kindergarteners learn the types of simple machines in their physical science unit with this matching file folder game. Students will match a picture of the machine to its correct vocabulary term. Use this game before diving deeper into how each tool functions for deeper, more knowledgeable discussions!

Learn More: Teachers Pay teachers

86. Garbage or Recycling?

Use this printable to create a file folder sort to help children learn which items can be recycled to better our planet! Students will sort through the “trash” to pick out items made from glass, paper, or plastic and “recycle” them. A science lesson and useful life skills, all in one! 

Learn More: Supply Me

87. Earth Day Sort

Use this great sorting activity from Totschooling to help your children learn about actions and activities that can help or harm the planet! Students will decide if things like car exhaust, planting new trees, littering, and other activities belong with happy or sad earth.

88. Food Group Sorting

Challenge students to make a healthy plate and sort their foods by type: grains, dairy, protein, vegetables, and fruit. Add the plate to one side of the file folder, and add the foods to a copy of a fridge or pantry for children to choose among and make their meals!

89. Fruit Slice Matching

As you study food groups, entertain your students with this colorful fruit slice matching game! Students will have to remember what the inside and outside of different fruits look like and match the two together. It’s also a perfect game to go along with a summertime picnic theme! 

Learn More: Coffee Cups and Crayons

12 Creative Color Activities

90. scat the cat.

Use file folders to tell a silly story that supports children’s color words vocabulary with the tale of Scat the Cat. Dr. Jean’s story also helps children practice rhyming and sequencing, and can be a conversation starter about the things that make us unique! 

91. Paint Chip Color Sorting

Students will love this low-prep activity that you can make for almost free! Utilize your local hardware store and pick up some paint chips to cut up for this activity. Students will match the colorful squares to their appropriate color words inside this color sorting file folder. 

Learn More: Fumbling Through Parenthood

92. Food Color Matching

Kids will discover that foods come in all of the colors of the rainbow as they work on this file folder activity building beginner matching skills. Given color swatches and pieces showing different foods, children will match the two categories based on their colors. 

93. Paintbrush Color Matching

Work on preschoolers’ visual discrimination and matching skills with this color-matching file folder with paintbrushes! Students will sort each paintbrush into the correct pocket with the matching color. Expand into different hues or more obscure colors as children master the basics!

Learn More: Confessions of a Homeschooler

94. Clothing Color Sort

File folder games are even more wonderful when they encourage children to develop multiple skills at once, like in this clothing color sort game. Students will develop visual discrimination skills, color words vocabulary, and an essential skill of sorting laundry by color all with one simple game!

95. Cactus Colors

Cacti and succulents are a cute trend burning their way through elementary classrooms (and the adult world!). Capitalize on that interest with this cactus color sort! Kids will enjoy matching these cute cactus plants to the corresponding colorful pot in the file folder, building some math skills along the way!

96. Roll-a-Leaf

This sweet file folder game board helps children develop turn-taking skills, matching abilities, and social-emotional concepts like being a gracious winner or loser during gameplay. It is best used for kindergartener practice during free choice time or during math centers. And, you can get the download for free!

Learn More: Look We’re Learning

97. Bumble Bee Colors

Color words are one of the first sight words children latch onto. Build their reading abilities with this bumblebee file folder. Kids will match wing colors, then add a color word piece to make the body. The words come in color for additional support, or black and white for a more demanding challenge.

98. Paint Splash

Oh no! The paint spilled! Task your students with finding the correct paint can color to “scoop” the paint splatter back into! This color-matching file folder is simple to build children’s confidence, and is best used in preschool or early kindergarten rooms!

Learn More: Arrows and Applesauce

99. Pete’s Shoes

Pete the Cat  stories are a hit with little learners, particularly the one about his white shoes! In this matching activity based on the book, children will find the colorful pairs and put them together in the file folder. For children building verbal skills, ask them to name each color pair they find!

Learn More: Line Upon Line Learning

100. Repurposed Border

If you ever have a leftover piece of bulletin board border with color words, cut it up to turn it into a file folder activity! In this example, the creator uses color words from a Sesame Street border as the picture, then children use letter pieces to spell the color word.

101. Mr. Monster’s Color Sort

This printable file folder game encourages children to sort by more than one attribute. While children sort by color, they are also having to decide what body part they are sorting by. Is it green shoes? A green body? Grab this resource to work on those “next-level” math skills!

9 Lively Life Skill Activities 

102. laundry helper.

Previewing the basic steps for life skills like doing laundry is a great way to use file folders! In this activity, children sort laundry by color or season to prepare for washing, then practice where clean and dirty clothes go (in the drawers versus in the hamper). 

Learn More: Breezy Special Ed

103. Bathroom Sequence

Help make visiting the restroom an independent task for your young learners by first reviewing the steps they will need to take when they arrive. Students will use this sequencing file folder game to put the routine in order. This folder game also builds skills in logic!

Learn More: Adapting for Autism

104. Shopping List

Students will love getting to “visit” the store as they complete this file folder learning activity! Children will have to use the provided grocery list to “shop” for items. They will then sort the groceries into items that are and are not on the list. 

105. More Grocery Games

Help prepare children for a visit to the store by letting them play these file folder games in the car! Children will get thinking about where to find certain groceries by sorting them by food groups: vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, bread, and condiments. These are perfect for your food theme in the classroom as well! 

106. Managing Money

Students will use this activity to practice their skills in selecting the right bills to pay at a store. Students will see the amount on the cash register, then choose the correct $1, $5, $10, or $20 bill to use to pay! It is perfect for teaching another basic skill to your elementary students. 

107. Sorting by Room

Students will prepare for the skill of cleaning up at home using this file folder sorting activity. Given certain rooms of a house, children will have to correctly place items in their proper room. This helps children build their logic and sorting skills (and will hopefully lead to some happy parents at home!). 

108. Phone Numbers

This classroom center is perfect for building an important safety skill for young learners–memorizing important phone numbers. Give students cards for building their phone numbers so children can learn them for emergencies. This is one of those basic skills that can be overlooked in the age of smartphones, but it’s important nonetheless!

Learn More: Etsy

109. Interactive Winter Weather Work

Children will practice the skill of selecting appropriate clothing for winter weather while engaging in this simple file folder fun! Attach the story pages using binder rings, and let children select the correct Velcro piece to match each picture and complete the story. It’s satisfying and almost errorless!

Learn More: My Speech Universe

110. Identifying Body Parts

Helping children be able to name the different parts of their bodies is a crucial skill in early childhood. It promotes safety, helps children establish body autonomy, and is a typical science unit in preschool. In this game, name a body part and have the children match its picture to the word. 

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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How to Organize Student Work in the Elementary Classroom: 23 Ideas

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom can often feel like a challenge. However, with some planning and the right strategies, it is possible to create an efficient system that benefits both teachers and students.

How to Organize Student Work in the Elementary Classroom

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom can be made easier by following a few key points.

Sort by Subject

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom is essential for effective classroom management and student progress tracking.

One helpful strategy is categorizing work by subject. This allows both students and teachers to easily find specific assignments or projects. It also enables students to showcase their progress to their parents or guardians.

Use Folders

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom is crucial for efficient management. One effective way to do this is by using folders. Folders provide a simple and practical method for categorizing and accessing assignments and projects. By using folder labels, students can easily identify their assigned folder and locate their work. This not only saves time but also encourages independence and responsibility.

In addition to individual work, folders are particularly beneficial for group projects. Each group can have their own designated folder to store their collaborative work. This makes it easier to track progress, assess individual contributions, and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Parent involvement can also be facilitated through the use of folders. Parents can easily review their child’s work and provide timely feedback. This promotes a strong home-school connection and enhances student learning.

Label With Names

One effective way to organize student work in the elementary classroom is by using folders labeled with student names. This simple strategy allows for easy identification and retrieval of student work, ensuring that each student receives their own work and nothing gets lost or mixed up.

There are different methods for labeling folders, such as writing the student’s name directly on the folder or using adhesive labels. The benefits of using names on folders are numerous.

Create Portfolios

Creating portfolios can be a valuable way to organize student work in elementary classrooms. Portfolios offer many advantages, such as allowing students to reflect on their progress, celebrate their achievements, and set goals for improvement.

Creating portfolios not only helps with organizing student work but also fosters pride, reflection, and growth in the elementary classroom.

Utilize Bins

To effectively organize student work in the elementary classroom, I suggest using bins. Bins are a simple and efficient way to store and organize student work. Here are some helpful tips for organizing your bins:

Arrange by Date

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom is crucial for keeping track of students’ progress. One effective way to do this is by arranging the work in chronological order. This means sorting the work in the order it was completed, starting from the earliest to the latest.

Display on Walls

One way I organize student work in the elementary classroom is by displaying it on the walls. This not only celebrates their efforts but also creates a positive and inspiring environment for everyone in the classroom.

By using creative displays, interactive wall showcases, collaborative art exhibits, thematic bulletin boards, and engaging student showcases, I can effectively showcase the hard work and achievements of my students.

This visually stimulating and enriching learning environment helps create a positive and inspiring atmosphere for all.

Store Digitally

Create class binders.

Class binders are a powerful tool for organizing student work and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Use File Boxes

File boxes are a practical and effective way to organize student work in the elementary classroom. They provide a convenient solution for storing assignments, worksheets, and projects in a neat and easily accessible manner. Here are four reasons why file boxes are beneficial:

Organize by Unit

One effective method is to group students’ work by theme or topic. This ensures that all related materials are kept together, making it simpler to review and analyze their understanding of a particular subject.

Lastly, arranging the work by unit allows teachers to see the progression of learning and assess how well students are grasping key concepts.

Sort by Skill

When organizing student work in the elementary classroom, it’s important to sort the work by skill. This helps prioritize tasks and track progress more effectively.

Implement Checklists

Checklists are a highly effective strategy for organizing student work in the elementary classroom. They offer several advantages in terms of student organization. By providing a clear and visual guide, checklists help students track their progress and stay focused on their tasks. Moreover, checklists aid in the development of essential organizational skills, as students learn to prioritize and manage their time effectively.

When it comes to different types of student work, there are various examples of checklists that can be utilized. For instance, a writing checklist might include steps such as brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. Alternatively, math checklists may incorporate problem-solving strategies or steps for completing a worksheet.

Separate by Grade

Separating student work by grade level isn’t only a practical way to keep things organized, but it also creates an environment that values student input and celebrates their progress.

Utilize Color Coding

Color coding not only promotes organization and efficiency, but it also helps students develop a sense of responsibility for their work. It makes it simpler for teachers to differentiate and identify assignments, which in turn makes it easier to provide feedback and track progress.

Use Dividers

Arrange by projects.

Arranging student work in the elementary classroom is crucial for effective organization. One way to do this is by grouping assignments and projects together based on a common theme. This allows students to see the connections between different tasks and concepts. By arranging work by projects, it also becomes easier to assess and monitor student progress.

Organizing by progress is another effective method. This allows for tracking individual growth and celebrating achievements along the way. By arranging student work by projects, we create a cohesive and purposeful learning experience.

Sort by Importance

Create individual folders.

Creating individual folders for each student is a practical and effective way to organize student work in the elementary classroom. This personalized approach promotes accountability, enables personalized organization, facilitates easy access to work, and enhances student independence.

To maintain organized student folders, it’s important to regularly clean out old or unnecessary papers. Providing clear instructions for filing and encouraging students to take responsibility for their own folders also helps keep things organized. By consistently organizing their folders, students develop good organizational habits and take pride in their work.

Use Clear Sleeves

Firstly, clear sleeves protect student work. They keep papers safe from spills, tears, and damage, ensuring that students’ hard work is preserved.

Secondly, clear sleeves offer visibility for teachers. Instead of having to remove work from the sleeve to assess it, teachers can easily see and evaluate student work through the transparent sleeves. This saves time and allows for quick feedback and grading.

Clear sleeves can also be used as a tool to track student progress. Teachers can create progress portfolios by storing student work in clear sleeves. This allows them to monitor growth and development over time, and provide targeted feedback and support. Additionally, clear sleeves can be used for goal tracking, enabling students to see their progress and celebrate their achievements.

To showcase student work, clear sleeves offer creative possibilities. Teachers can display student work on bulletin boards by placing them in clear sleeves. This allows for easy viewing and appreciation by both students and visitors. Classroom galleries can also be created, dedicating a specific area to showcase student work using clear sleeves.

Using clear sleeves in the classroom not only helps teachers stay organized, but it also empowers students to take ownership of their work and progress. It’s a simple and effective tool that benefits both teachers and students.

Organize by Type

Lastly, separating student work by activity enables us to easily assess their engagement and participation in different classroom tasks. By organizing student work in this way, we can better serve our students and provide them with the individualized support they need.

Sort by Completion

By sorting the work based on completion status, I can also track each student’s progress. This allows me to monitor their work and identify any patterns of procrastination or time management issues. It becomes easier to provide targeted support and guidance to students who may need it.

Implement Student Input

In my elementary classroom, I actively involve students in organizing their work by listening to their input. By seeking and incorporating their feedback, I create a collaborative environment where students have a say in how their work is organized. This not only empowers their voices but also gives them ownership over their work organization.

To achieve this, I hold regular class meetings where we discuss and gather feedback on organizational systems. I value their suggestions and encourage them to implement changes to the organization of their work. By doing so, students feel a sense of ownership and take pride in their work.

Organizing student work in the elementary classroom is crucial for maintaining an orderly and productive learning environment. By using a systematic approach, teachers can ensure that each student’s progress is well-documented and easily accessible.

One effective method is to use labeled folders and portfolios to store and showcase students’ colorful creations and thought-provoking assignments. This not only keeps the classroom organized but also creates a visual representation of students’ growth and achievements throughout the school year.

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How to Organize Student Absent Work and Missing Assignments

October 24, 2022 by Michelle Rudolph 1 Comment

It’s the dreaded question, “What did I miss while I was out?” For years, I was guilty of simply excusing assignments because I couldn’t keep up with the missing and absent work. But, I realized there were valuable assignments students were missing out on (or that they really needed to complete, like exams). After a while, I found a system to organize student absent work that wasn’t overwhelming or chaotic.

Create a Dedicated Space

You know what they say, “Out of sight, out of mind.” If you don’t have a dedicated area, in plain sight, in your classroom for missing and absent work, it’s going to be a struggle to keep up with.

Personally, I organize student absent work with a hanging file folder with pockets. I put the hanging folder on a dedicated wall in my classroom. I use these hanging folders from Amazon . Then, I labeled the folders according to class name.

You can also use the filing crates, a mailbox, or paper tray. Consider the system that will be easy for students and you. If the system doesn’t work for you, then you are less likely to keep up with it.

Teach the Routines

Of course, you can’t organize student absent work if students aren’t aware of the system. Ideally you want to teach this at the beginning of the year, but a mid-year change won’t hurt anyone. No matter what, stay consistent with the expectation you have set. If students know they can get away without using the system or turning in work, they will!

When setting expectations, make sure you explain where to find missing work, where to turn that missing work in, and the amount of times students have to complete the work. You might want to put this on a poster or paper and display near the absent work pick-up location.

Get Ahead…of Yourself

Teachers have an endless to-do list every day. Make organizing student absent work easy by preparing in advance. For example, you might print a few extra pages of an assignment to store in the missing work folder.

Then, when taking attendance or as students are working, jot down absent student names on the top of your extra worksheets. Then, slip those into the missing work folder. I have found putting a name on the page makes it much easier on students because there are less questions about what they need to complete.

Keep it Organized

No matter which system you choose, make sure to keep it organized! You can organize your folders by unit or topic, like “light waves” or “plate tectonics”. You can also organize it by month, week, or day.

Each six weeks or quarter, go back through your files and do a clean out. You can even assign a student helper for this task!

This system to organize student absent work has saved me so much time, energy, and has saved my sanity! It also keeps my students accountable for their own work, which is a huge win.

Need another way to keep students organized? Try using agenda slides!

[…] This area of my classroom has saved me a tremendous amount of time. I call it the absent wall. I hang file folder holders on the wall and add any extra copies of assignments there. Students who miss a day or lose something can just go up to the wall, find what they need and grab it. I have more information about how I manage work for absent students here. […]

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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.

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. 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.

6. Mint Tin Book Report

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

7. 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.

8. 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. See the sandwich and pizza options above and check out this blog for more delicious ideas.

9. 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.

10. 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. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger.

11. 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.

12. 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 the report.

13. 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. Get step-by-step directions .

14. 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.

15. Watercolor Rainbow 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Bookmark

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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Collage

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

23. Book Report Triorama

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but Elisha Ann provides a lesson to show students how to glue four triangles together to make a 4D model.

24. 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.

25. Clothes Hanger 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.

26. 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 give them 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. Letter to the Author

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.

31. Book Report Charm Bracelet

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. 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.

33. Cereal Box TV Book Report

This 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.

34. 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?

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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. For more, here are step-by-step directions .

38. Comic strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strips. 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.

39. 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.

40. Cereal Box

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report Wheaties-style. Decorate all sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

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. 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.

What creative book report ideas did we miss? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most popular kids’ books in every grade..

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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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Special Needs for SPECIAL KIDS

How to turn a worksheet into a file folder game.

• October 8, 2018
• Teaching Tips

File folder games are an effective way to review skills, allow students to work independently, and even assess retention of material. 

Did you know it is easy to make your own file folder games using a cut-and-paste worksheet?

Watch this short video to learn how I create file folder games from my worksheets to use in review stations in the classroom.

Now that you know how to make file folder games from a worksheet, let’s look at how to use them in a special education setting.  There are so many great ways to effectively use them.  You do have to be careful, however.  Students can become bored fairly quickly if they use them too often or too frequently throughout the day.  That means you need a lot of variety and strategic planning .

Here are some great ways to use them that are meaningful and engaging.

1. use file folder games to review previously taught material.  .

We spend so much concentrated effort teaching a topic, let’s say the solar system.  For many of our special education students review and repetition of this material are critical to maintaining that acquired knowledge. 

After I teach a unit, I will often make several file folder games using the same activities we had done while learning the material using the technique described in the video above. 

I then rotate those in their independent workstations.  That way, even when I am teaching about spiders in science, they can still be spending time reviewing what we learned about the planets the month before.

2.  Use file folder games for students who need additional support in a small group lesson.

As most of you know, special education classes can be incredibly diverse.  There are often students who are in 5th grade, reading on a 2nd-grade level, sitting at the same table with a kindergarten student who is non-verbal and struggling with a significant intellectual disability. 

File folder games are a great way to engage students who may need extra support while you are spending focused time with other students in the class. 

If possible, the file folder game will have something to do with the material the rest of the class was learning, but let’s be honest, sometimes that was not always possible.  There were times when student A was doing a color-matching activity while students B, C, and D were learning about addition with regrouping. 

So, why keep all of the students in the same small group?  Many times, there is not enough adult assistance in the classroom, and for safety reasons, you need to have all your students close by.  

Keeping students together if your class is small enough, also gives you opportunities to work on social and communication goals in a more natural setting.

File folder games often provide enough structure to keep your younger students engaged without evoking problem behaviors.

Just remember, you need lots of variety to keep them engaged and to minimize problem behaviors.

3.  Use file folder games (cool and fun ones) for early finishers.

For those students (and in they exist in every class) who finish way before all the other students, file folder activities are a great way to keep them engaged and minimize problem behaviors while other students catch up. 

I tried to keep some really cool ones for this purpose.  I would go through toy magazines and laminate and Velcro pictures of various toys that could be sorted into categories like video games, board games, outdoor games, etc.  The kids loved just looking at all those colorful images and it saves a ton of money on colored ink. 

If you know a student has a favorite TV show or obsession, try to make a file folder with that material specifically for use when they finish something early. I never wanted students to feel they were being punished by finishing early, and just getting more work, so I tried to make the file folders as “cool” as possible. 

Providing this structure help minimize behaviors and disruptions while the other students were finishing. 

4.  Use file folder games for morning work.

Oftentimes, students will come into your class each morning over the course of about 30 minutes.  That is a long time for behaviors to erupt if there isn’t something engaging for them to do. 

The goal is to get kids into the classroom and do something that is fairly independent but not too difficult.  File folder games work really well for this. 

It allowed for some review and kept students engaged in a familiar task that had a clear ending.  

Repurposing old calendars works really well in this situation, and was what I most often used for morning work. You can read all about how to create a file folder game from any calendar in this blog post, How To Repurpose Old Calendars .

5.  Use file folder activities to collect IEP data.

File folder games are a great way to target specific IEP goals and collect data. 

Create some quick activities to probe various goals, like sorting letters and numbers. 

Create a special basket that these file folder games will go once complete that is different from your other file folder activities.

Place a special sticker on the front that indicates it is for IEP measurement.  That way any adult in the room will know to put that folder, once done, in a special basket for you to record later.

6.  Use file folder activities for homework.

For students who have homework assignments, consider sending home a large bag filled with 3-5 different file folder games.

This is easy for parents to monitor and still allows students to complete the assignment as independently as possible.

Remind parents to leave the pieces in place once their child completes it so you can record the results. Parents simply put the completed file folders in the same bag and send them back to school the next day.

This also gives parents a chance to see what material is being covered in class.

I hope you found some new ways to use the file folder games you may already have and see how easy they are to create.   I had hundreds of them in my classroom!!  They took up 2 tall filing cabinets.  

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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.!)
• My teammates and I had the opportunity to see you present about guided math and math workshop and excitedly jumped right in with your guided math format the next week! We have been using the spiral review pages as homework and in the “at your seat” station during our daily math workshop. OMG!!! We ALL agree that between the new teaching routines and the use of these pages, our students are consistently performing above average and truly understand the math. It’s not just our opinion either because we just received our test scores from last year and they were not only MUCH higher than ever before, but we outscored the district and student growth from the previous year was amazing. That was what prompted me to finally leave a review. I/we can not recommend these enough. Thank you for not only making our jobs easier, but so much more enjoyable as well. (Thank you Jessica R.!)
• These are absolutely wonderful for my students! I use them for a variety of things including review and homework. (Thanks Tony C.!)
• “Love the data sheets! Great way for me and my students to monitor their learning.” (Thanks Kelsey!)

In closing, we hope you found these homework ideas for teachers helpful! If you haven’t already checked out this post about spiral review math , please be sure to do so!

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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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50 Fun Craft Ideas That'll Spark Any Adult's Creativity

These DIY projects range from quick and easy to truly unusual.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

While we've included some projects that require a bit more time (like a DIY side table), most of these projects can be completed within an hour. Find tutorials and step-by-step instructions for a range of fashion accessories, self-care essentials and gorgeous DIY home decor . Think hand-painted bangles, rose petal bath salts and a butterfly frame, just to name a few standout ideas. Scroll this list to find simple projects for beginners, as well as more challenging options (like crocheting a pillow) to put your skills to the test.

If you're hunting for a seasonal craft idea, there's no shortage of inspiration — explore our roundups of summer crafts , easy fall projects and DIY Christmas decorations . Keep in mind, these relaxing craft ideas are intended for adults, but we've got plenty of craft ideas for kids too.

Leaf Imprint Jewelry Dish

Collect a few cuttings from your favorite houseplants or neighborhood trees, then use them to create beautiful jewelry dishes. The hardest part is rolling the imprint onto air dry clay using a rolling pin.

Get the tutorial at Sprouting Wild Ones »

Floral Stencil Tote Bag

Turn a solid tote bag into a one-of-a-kind accessory with a few floral stencils and acrylic craft paint. You can also invest in alphabet stencils to spell out an inspirational message or name of a loved one, like "Mom."

Get the tutorial at Sarah Hearts »

Rose Petal Bath Salts

Turn your bathroom into a luxurious spa by making your own bath salts. Not to mention, this recipe will give your dying rose bouquet a second purpose!

Get the tutorial at Paper & Stitch »

Rainbow Doormat

Every time guests step through your charming entryway , you can point out your handcrafted doormat. All you need is a natural coir mat and a few outdoor acrylic paints, plus paint brushes to draw on the design!

Get the tutorial at Make and Takes »

Colorful Jenga Game

Give this classic wood game a colorful upgrade! Using small foam paintbrushes and acrylic paints, simply paint the sides of each Jenga block. It shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes.

Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed »

Paper Flower Gift Topper

Whether it's for a birthday or special holiday, these striking paper flower toppers make any present feel more personal. Once you nail it, you'll use this easy paper folding technique all of the time!

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »

Mid-Century Modern Side Table

Most mid-century modern side tables cost at least $100 — but this DIY option is way less. There's even a round cake pan, which can be painted any color of your choice, that provides hidden storage.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth »

Rainbow Bangles

Let your imagination run while as you paint and stencil your favorite patterns onto wood bangles . They're so fun to wear knowing you've made them yourself, but you can also paint one for a friend.

Pressed Flower Lanterns

Decorate your home with these gorgeous flower lanterns — or make them in bulk for an upcoming party. You can definitely press your own flowers, but save yourself time by picking up a pack online.

Get the tutorial at First Day of Home »

SHOP DRIED FLOWERS

Cubby Cabinet

Inspired by vintage apothecary cabinets, this farmhouse wall shelf costs less than $15 to recreate. Dress it up with everything from seasonal decor and office supplies to vintage trinkets.

Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow »

Bumble Bee Bookmark

Bookworms will adore marking pages with this smiling bumble bee bookmark. Plus, this tiny craft is a great way to use up any felt scraps you have lying around from previous projects.

Get the tutorial at The Craft Train »

Colorblock Vase

With a bit of spray paint and painter's tape, this homemade decor project is a breeze! The hardest part will be deciding what color to paint your flower vase .

Get the tutorial at Lolly Jane »

RELATED: DIY Home Decor Ideas for Instant Personality

Floral Candles

Decorate taper candles to make your home more inviting, especially if you're hosting a party. For this craft, we used paint markers (acrylic paint works too) for the floral designs.

Follow these steps:

• Use a clean cloth to wipe the candles with rubbing alcohol. This will remove lint and debris for a smooth surface.
• Use paint markers or craft paint to draw a series of dots, flowers and patterns.
• Work on one side and let it dry completely before moving to another side.

SHOP TAPER CANDLES

Easy Landscape Painting

Love painting, but you're not a painter? Follow this step-by-step video to make a masterpiece with ease. Display the final result in a thrifted picture frame, and you've got yourself a truly one-of-a-kind creation.

Get the tutorial at Bless'er House »

DIY Lavender Soap

Give yourself permission to use the fancy soap… by making it yourself. You’ll need just a few supplies: goat's milk melt and pour base, dried lavender, lavender oil and silicone soap molds.

Get the tutorial at It All Started With Paint »

Tassel Earrings

Here's an adorable craft idea that'll take less than five minutes. You'll need a few supplies, including silk tassels, gold end caps and earring hooks to create these unique earrings.

Get the tutorial at Tell Love and Party »

Decorative Pinboard

Create a personalized or seasonal display by hanging photos, greeting cards and your favorite artwork from an old window frame. Add small bulldog clips with a hot glue gun to complete the vintage-inspired look.

Accordion Paper Flowers

Green thumb or not, you can still grow an everlasting garden. Download these templates and follow the steps below to make paper flowers in various shapes, sizes and colors.

• Cut out four pieces of yellow or white paper (depending on what color daffodil you would like) using the first template.
• Fold the paper in half both vertically and horizontally and open again. Fold the bottom up about ¼" and crease it down.
• Flip the paper over and fold all the way to the top until you create an accordion.
• Fold the accordion-folded paper in half and attach the two middle pieces together with double-sided tape.
• Repeat steps 2-4 with the remaining three pieces of paper.
• Connect all four together with a strip of double stick tape to create a flower shape.
• Cut out a rectangle of orange paper about 2" x 1.5" and cut little points on one of the long edges.
• Roll the rectangle loosely to make a tube shape and connect with a small piece of double-sided tape, folding the bottom edge down to create a flat bottom. Glue the little cup you made into the center of the flower to finish your daffodil.

Colorful Coupe Cocktail Glasses

Make these eye-catching cocktail glasses with just a bit of scrap adhesive vinyl and cheap glasses from Ikea or the dollar store. This project is super easy, but will create a dazzling result your cocktail party guests will be sure to admire.

Get the tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life »

Woven Coasters

Burlap coasters add a layer of texture and warmth to a display, all while keeping your table protected from spills and water marks. Give plain burlap squares a more finished look by stitching a colored border or pulling at the thread along the edges to create a fringe detail.

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping , where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor , Chairish , BobVila.com , Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine , in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping , where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine . She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions , in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community , a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Crafts & DIY Projects

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Use our presidential debate bingo card to play during the Biden-Trump showdown

It's time to play presidential debate bingo! The game where you play along as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off in the first of two debates as they compete to win the White House this November. The debate is set to begin Thursday at 9 p.m. EDT .

The debate will air on CNN and CNN International and will be streamed live on CNN.com. It will be carried by Fox News and NewsNation. ABC News, who will host the second presidential debate in September, announced it would air the first debate with a pre-show and post-debate analysis. The network's coverage will be available to stream on Hulu Thursday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderating the event, and both presidential candidates had to agree to a set of rules to participate. The 90-minute debate will have two commercial breaks, but campaign staff will not be allowed to interact with the candidates during that time. The debate won't feature a live studio audience, and candidates' microphones will be muted throughout the debate except when it is their turn to speak.

USA TODAY will also stream the debate on its YouTube channel.

Want daily politics news in your inbox? Subscribe to OnPolitics for presidential debate takeaways and everything to know about the election.

Thursday's event will mark the first time the two presidential frontrunners have debated since 2020, and it's bound to get combative. The longtime rivals have been trading insults recently as they gear up for the showdown.

With that as background, do you think you have what it takes to win presidential debate bingo?

Pick a card and cross off a square every time Biden or Trump brings up one of the statements or terms. Five squares in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, wins bingo. Good luck!

Looking for other ways to spice up your debate viewing experience? Check out our guide to presidential debate drinking games .

Can't see or interact with our debate bingo card below? Open and play along in a new tab: Debate bingo card one , card two , card three , or card four .

Keep up with the political stories that matter in D.C. and beyond, without leaving your inbox. Sign up for our OnPolitics newsletter .

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Submit Your Project Pitch to the 2024 Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) Data Jamboree

Do you jamboree? No banjo needed! Just bring your ideas for reusing data, especially spatial omics and single-cell sequence data.

Submit your short project pitch to the 2024 HTAN Data Jamboree by Friday, July 12!

This in-person event, taking place on November 6–8, 2024, and hosted on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, will bring together scientists and coders to create innovative solutions to cancer research problems.

Projects involving data interoperability , such as those that bridge public data with HTAN data , are of particular interest. Organizers also welcome projects that produce tutorial pipelines and educational tools.

Projects could include: 

• building analysis pipelines,
• utilizing visualization techniques,
• developing artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms,
• employing statistical methods, or
• using existing computational, mathematical, or informatics tools to address cancer-focused questions.

As a participant, you will have access to NCI Cloud Resources , providing an environment to work with HTAN data or combine it with other public data sets , including those created by fellow Jamboree participants.

Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and make a difference in cancer research! Learn more and submit your project ideas on the HTAN Data Jamboree website .

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Why Project-Based Work Fails — and How to Get It Right

If your team is prioritizing project-based work, this episode is for you.

• Apple Podcasts

Companies of every size across the world are basing more of their work around projects than at any time in the past. But research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail.

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez , who has studied projects and project management for decades, argues that at least some of the blame for these failures lies with executives who misunderstand the fundamentals of projects and fail to dedicate enough of their time to those they sponsor.

In this episode, Nieto-Rodriguez explains how to get better outcomes from project-based work. He also discusses how to frame projects, structure organizations around them, and avoid common pitfalls.

Key episode topics include: strategy, project management, operations strategy, organizational change.

HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

• Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: The Future of Work Is Projects—So You’ve Got to Get Them Right (2021)
• Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast
• Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org

HANNAH BATES: Welcome to HBR On Strategy, case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, hand-selected to help you unlock new ways of doing business.

Companies of every size, in every industry across the world are basing more of their work around projects than any time in the past. But research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail.

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, who has studied projects and project management for decades, argues that at least some of the blame for these failures lies with executives – who misunderstand the fundamentals of projects and fail to dedicate enough of their time to the projects they sponsor.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to get better outcomes from project-based work. You’ll also learn how to frame projects, structure organizations around them, and avoid key pitfalls.

If your team is taking on project-based work or if you’re leading a new project, this episode is for you. It originally aired on HBR IdeaCast in November 2021. Here it is.

ALISON BEARD: Welcome to the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review. I’m Alison Beard. If the 20th century was all about operational efficiency in businesses, the 21st century is all about organizational change. And how do new initiatives, products and services, strategies or business models advance? Through project work. It’s what our guest today calls the project economy, and it’s estimated to generate $20 trillion in economic activity and employ 88 million people in project management related roles by 2027.

That’s across every industry and size of company in every part of the world, and yet research indicates that only 35% of projects are successful. At this increasingly critical business function, most of us are doing a pretty terrible job, so how do we get better at it going forward? Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is the former chairman of the Project Management Institute, founder of Projects & Co. and the author of the HBR Project Management Handbook. He’s here to talk about emerging best practices for companies and the people in them. Antonio, welcome.

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Thank you, Alison. It’s a pleasure to be here.

ALISON BEARD: Project management seems like a clear idea, but how do you define it and think about it in a way that might be different than what people assume?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Well, I think one of the challenges with project management that I face personally in my career is that as soon as you talk project management, senior executives and people who are not experts in project management, they think, “Oh, this is something very technical, very tactical. It’s nothing for me,” so I’ve been facing that kind of discontent or disinterest in project management for 25 years. So, for me, I want to move out from that project management term and move it up into projects, and we all do projects. And for me, the definition is anything that has to deal with change, that’s projects. You can manage them through project management, Agile methods, design thinking, product management. But I want to really, I think we need to elevate and say, “Well, all what goes around change, that’s projects,” and we need to manage them.

ALISON BEARD: And how has project work changed over the past few decades?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Well, project work has changed in two big areas. One is on a macro level. I’ve been doing research, and of course we all talk about the Marshall Plan after the Second War and all the projects that came from U.S. funding to develop Europe, reconstruct Europe, that was about $13 billion. Then we talk about the financial crisis in 2008 and ’09, we were talking about $3 trillion of projects. And now after the pandemic, we’re talking about $15, $20 trillion of projects. I think the world will never see as many projects as what we’re going to see in the next decade. We need to reconstruct countries, healthcare systems, economies, so that’s from a macro perspective.

From a micro perspective, from the way work is organized in companies, in businesses, it has evolved significantly in the sense that so far, operations have been prime in most of the organizations over the past 80 years. That’s what I say, the world driven by efficiency, where most of the activities were around doing things cheaper, faster, more automated, more volumes. Companies have been organized for that. That’s why you have hierarchies, that’s where cultures like command and control have been in place and so on, but since a few years when artificial intelligence and robots are taking over a big chunk of operations, the type of work is shifted to project based. So, I think the biggest, biggest disruption that happens in the world of projects is what we’re experiencing now. A radical shift from operations to project based work.

ALISON BEARD: And that’s because projects are about sort of discovering the new innovating, and the pace of change is such in every industry now that every company needs to learn how to do this well?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely, and one of the challenges I have to admit, Alison, I’m a big of course, expert in project, a big advocate of project management, but our performance, like you mentioned in introduction, has been poor or appalling. I think project management has not delivered the expected results. We need to find better ways to addressing the change. The future 10 years ago maybe was five years from now, right? So, you would have a project that would last for three years expecting to get some benefits maybe in three, four years, a digital transformation, a new M&A activity, a new business unit, but today, the future is so fast.

So, your future is tomorrow, right? So, that means the acceleration of project based work has to go faster. Let me give you a quick example. Here in Brussels, they were setting, establishing a hospital from scratch, Greenfield, start of the construction in 2016, completion of the hospital in 2020. So, four years of construction, state of the art, but to my surprise, the hospital was open in 2018 before it was co completed. So, I think there’s no company in the world can wait four years to get any benefits from the projects. The future is now, and we need to address that. That’s why you see exploding the number of projects in organizations. I come across companies where they have more projects than people.

ALISON BEARD: And I do want to get to how to do it better, but first, that failure rate is so high. What are some of the most common challenges or problems that projects run into? Why are we getting it so wrong right now?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Let me highlight just three. First, I think senior leaders, they don’t have the competencies to be effective sponsorship. Over the years …

ALISON BEARD: They’re not going to like hearing that.

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: I’m sure. I’m sure, but I’m sorry. I always am hundred percent honest on both on my thinking, but I think sponsors have not realized the role is crucial in sponsoring projects. It’s not about how many projects you sponsor, that has been the kind of, “I sponsor 20 projects. I’m the most important person in this company.” Well, now it’s about less is more, and it has been proven. When you are an executive, the CEO, the VP, and you dedicate time to your project, time means not just one hour per month, but a half a day per week. If this is the future of your business, I don’t understand why senior leaders don’t dedicate so much time. They’re all driven by operations and day to day urgency so very few leaders make the space. And second, they don’t understand the fundamentals of projects.

Most of the executives come from a path marketing, finance, operation strategy, and it requires for them to understand that projects are different. That you work in projects in a matrix, that is not so much the hierarchical approach, but this team working and collaboration. So, it’s hard to give you a number, Alison, but I would say 30% to and 40% of the success of the project is if the senior leaders is engaged and understands and drives the project. Alison, the second point, I realized that in the area of change in projects, we are always running with all methods. It happened in the past with IT projects, I started implementing big ERP systems, we were trying to apply some very traditional project management.

It didn’t work. Then Agile came and said, “Well, now we are going to use Agile for every project,” and that, we see today with digital transformations, AI implementations, that doesn’t work. The failure keeps there. The third reason, so I think the role of the project manager, the project management profession has not taken ownership of the results. It has been very focused on process, very focused on documentation. It did make a lot of sense in the sixties, in the fifties where you would do a lot of public sector projects where you want to document everything, but I think the reason that the third reason for me is that project management didn’t evolve to embrace the new reality. And second, project managers have been more a deliver type of role.

In project management, we always said, “Well, who’s accountable for delivering the projects? Who’s accountable for delivering the benefits?” Right? Well, it’s the sponsor. We project managers were responsible of delivering the project on time, on budget, on scope, and that has been the cradle for project management for the last 40 years. And we’ve missed to focus on the outcomes. We’ve missed to focus on the benefits. We’ve missed to take accountability of the results. It’s easy to make a project charter, but what companies are looking for is delivering value, either financial, either social, either sustainability. So, I’m asking my community of project managers to step up, to take ownership, to say, “No, it’s not just the plan. It’s not just delivery on time. What matters actually even more is delivering the benefits, whatever they are, and faster, please.”

ALISON BEARD: So, for an organization that does have existing operations that need to be managed, but then also wants to pursue change and innovation through project work, how does that company change its structure or culture to be able to do both well?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. Well, great question, Alison. I’ve seen so many companies struggling because I’m not saying, “Let’s forget about what you’re doing right today. Let’s forget about that organization that you’ve built so successful for that world driven by efficiency with hierarchies, with yearly plans, with deep expertise, deep technical expertise,” but how can we address change? And change that’s going very fast and our products are just lasting less and less. In the past, we last five years, now five weeks or maybe five months. So, how can we mix that? And it’s a struggle. You cannot say, “Let’s forget my hierarchy and let’s move everything into flat teams and Agile structures and project basing.” That doesn’t work, so I think in the challenge for the leaders, the senior leaders, the executives, is finding that balance. And I always say you need to experiment.

You cannot just go and say, “Well, half of the organization is working without job descriptions. They’re all working project based.” I think my approach, my suggestion is, what are your top five projects? What are the five most important projects that your organization has to deliver? Extract those projects from your daily operations. Extract them. They should not be done by people working in operations. They should have a different structure. They should have a different culture. Put them aside, put them independent. They are own entities, and of course, strong sponsorship. Executives, you need to spend time on them. By extracting for those five top projects already, and moving out to that from that hierarchical structure, that operational activities, that you can see already, quite a lot of acceleration in the way you deliver projects.

ALISON BEARD: Often though, it seems as if particularly project leaders do have operational responsibilities as well, and then sort of, they’re expected to tack the project on top of that. So, how are companies that you work with navigating that balance? Are they giving the executives that time to take away for the project work?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Great, great question. This is really the core. One of the core problems I always raise when I do workshops with senior leaders is, how come you cannot extract people from your day to day job and put them in a project? It’s one of the biggest challenges that I see. Even companies which have 10,000 people, they are not able to free up 50 people to carry out the project. The best projects I’ve seen in a research, one of them, of course the iPhone, the first one which I research very much in detail, at that time, they were able to take the day to day people, the senior leader, the best people of Apple at that time and extract them for two years and a half to develop.

And people who were in the operations side said, “Well, I love to join this project, but who’s going to do my day to day activities?” And we were saying, “Don’t bother. Anybody can do your day to day activity. You have a deputy when you’re gone,” said, “We’ll put those people. We’ll promote them. We’ll create more talent, but you, you are the best person in these companies. How come you’re not working in the most strategic project in the future of your work?” Right? It doesn’t make sense, but companies struggle so much and there’s nothing worse that you can do, Alison, than have half time people working in your projects. I work one hour per week, then I work two days per week, then it’s a mess. It’s not how you deliver great projects. At least try to get the best people around.

ALISON BEARD: I think that makes sense when you sort of have a clear idea of what the future’s going to look like, and you know exactly which five projects are the most important, but isn’t the issue in many cases that organizations sort of have 30 projects on the go, and aren’t really sure what’s going to pan out, and they can’t take all of those people away from their day to day activities? So, how do companies prioritize?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: I’m sure everybody that’s listening this, they can’t relate to that point. Companies have way too many projects. I think that if there’s a core skill for leaders in current times, is focused and prioritization. Knowing what is the big path, and unfortunately, it’s just very hard to see when you see more projects than employees. And like you’re saying, how can they do their day to day job plus three, four time projects? That’s where people get overwhelmed. I am sure that the big reset is linked to this, so many projects plus day to day activities. It’s just stressing everybody out, and I think that when you work with companies where the priorities are clear, where people know, these are our top three, their top five, and we know where we’re going, this is the focus, that’s where I think executives need to work on. On really making the tough decisions.

ALISON BEARD: What are some best practices for putting project teams together?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: Well, Alison, the formula for engagement is super simple. The most engaged people in a project, you know which one is it? Volunteers. Let me put you an example. Maybe in HBR, you are launching a new project. Why don’t you ask who wants to join?

ALISON BEARD: Makes sense. It’s so simple, but it makes so much sense.

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: It’s so simple, because there’s different things that happen here. First, if nobody wants to volunteer in that project, that project is terrible. Don’t start it. Don’t start it because it’s just, people are going to be forced to do it, so ask for volunteers. Nobody shows up, don’t start it. You don’t need a business case of three months hiring consultants to make you, “Yes, this is …” If nobody jumps on it, terrible. Don’t even start it. It’s just a five minutes test and you save three months of work. Second, if the project talks about business case, very few people get excited, yeah? Who wants to work in a project that delivers 10% return on investment? Yes, nobody. Right? 15%, nobody. Who wants to work in a project which is going to make a more sustainable world? Who’s going to work in a project who’s going to increase the customer experience and make customers more happy, and deliver better value to a customer?

Who wants to work in a project who’s going to create our employees or make our employees more happy, and make us a top company? Lots of people. So, we have been, when we were talking about some of the issues, I think project manage has been focused on talking about things that don’t matter to most of the stakeholders, like a business case. Business case is super important. It’s the return investment, for sure, but that’s not what engages people. The purpose engages people. When you have volunteers, they will dream about your projects. They will do whatever they can to make it happen, and it can be because of the purpose, it can be because they like to work with you, they see a big opportunity to learn. Of course, as a project leader, you need to balance that. But as simple as that, Alison, “Who wants to volunteer?”

ALISON BEARD: How does the rise of project driven work relate to the gig economy? Is your sense that companies are hiring contractors and freelancers to get a lot of this done? Is it a balance or are they trying to handle most of it in-house?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: I think when we started to hear about the gig economy, I think yes, one of the reasons was, “Let’s hire external resources to work in our projects because we are so rigid internally, like I cannot free, from my 10,000 people, I cannot free 10 of them because they’re so busy in day to day operations plus other projects,” so it started like that. What I see now is that companies are finally taking the step of shifting resources to more project based work. Again, when I use the word project, I include Agile teams, self directed, so very flat project driven teams. So, that’s happening to the point that I talk about it is that companies are canceling job descriptions. We all had job descriptions like, Alison, most of the people listening, probably they had a job description, which tried to describe like, where do you fit in this box? Right? And just do those activities in this box, in that operational field.

That’s your box. If you do it right in two, three years, you just go up in the structure. But many large companies and small companies are realizing that people don’t work in boxes anymore, and job descriptions are not needed anymore. It’s a thing from that world driven by efficiency that together with the chief operating officer in this role, so I think they will not last very long. So, I think the project driven world is now being and embraced by organization where companies like Alibaba or other major players are really embracing this type of work where yeah, they’re looking for people who can have an idea, who can develop the idea, who can implement the project, and who can run the idea of the product or the business and generate value for the companies. This is what I call end-to-end players or strategy implementation professionals. We want this type of end-to-end players who can work transversely in organizations.

ALISON BEARD: Are there lessons from your project management world that might be helpful for people doing more traditional ongoing work?

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: I think project managers have been a bit not very proud about their work. They’ve been seeing like, “Okay, you are not very modern. Agile teams are better, or innovation people,” so I think as a project manager, you need to believe on what you’re doing. Second, I think we need to take more ownership. I’ve been working 25 years in this space and managing large transformation M&A, and I always was waiting for the sponsor. I know the sponsor was very important for my projects, but I was kind of waiting and hoping that the sponsor will learn and follow training on how to do it or make some time for my projects. And I’ve learned the lesson is that the first thing I do in my projects is I go to the sponsor and talk frankly with the sponsor.

“Listen, are you ready to put time on this project? It’s very important. I need you, and I’m happy to coach you. I’m happy to tell you how projects work and what do we need to focus on, but I need your time, and I need a couple of hours per month. Let’s say an hour every two weeks. I need to talk to you. I need decisions from you.” So, I’m very much proactive because I know that role is very important and these people are really busy. One of the biggest lesson learned was being proactive with my project. The second maybe is I talk to many project managers and we are very technical to the point of sometimes difficult to understand, slash boring, right? Who wants to talk to a project manager? Come on. Do you have something more interesting? No, but that’s …

ALISON BEARD: You’re more interesting than I imagine, than my sort of vision of what the project manager is.

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: You see? Because I don’t talk about project management, I don’t talk about Gantt charts, I don’t think that’s my kitchen. That’s what I do when I need to think about making a plan, but you are interested on the bigger picture. You are interested on how my ideas will contribute to our needs as an organization, so I do this exercise with project managers, “Tell your partner what you do without mentioning the words projects and project management,” and they say, “Oh, I’m struggling. What do I do?” And then they start talking about the value they bring, and that’s what people want to hear.

You covered this topic broadly in HBR, but talking, adapting, understanding the language of your stakeholders, using it. That’s how you get their engagement. That’s how you get their attention. That’s how they appreciate your value, and that’s the second big learning. When I did that, things changed for me. Senior leaders wanted to talk to me. When I forced them to prioritize in key projects, they were saying, “Antonio, we want another meeting with you,” was the CEO of the bank, because I force them. I force them to create value. I force them to have strategic dialogue, so I would say if you’re listening, you’re working in this space, move on into that space. Move on on the value creation, on your stakeholder, and things will change very fast.

ALISON BEARD: Well, Antonio, I learned a ton today. Thanks so much for coming on the show.

ANTONIO NIETO-RODRIGUEZ: A pleasure.

HANNAH BATES: That was project management expert Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez in conversation with Alison Beard on the HBR IdeaCast. He’s the author of the Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook.

We’ll be back next Wednesday with another hand-picked conversation about business strategy from Harvard Business Review. If you found this episode helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues, and follow our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re there, be sure to leave us a review. And when you’re ready for more podcasts, articles, case studies, books, and videos with the world’s top business and management experts, find it all at HBR.org.

This episode was produced by Mary Dooe, Anne Saini, and me, Hannah Bates. Ian Fox is our editor. And special thanks to Rob Eckhardt, Adam Buchholz, Maureen Hoch, Nicole Smith, Erica Truxler, Ramsey Khabbaz, Anne Bartholomew, and you – our listener. See you next week.

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