What Wikipedia can't tell you about Homework Folders!

Homework, homework. HOMEWORK! What  can I say. It's what we as teacher use to assess students when they're not at school. Sometimes it can  be stressful. The better you manage it, the easier it will be for you! Here are some tips for getting the most out of your Homework folder.

1.) Buy a sturdy poly-folder!

As teachers, I know you're eyeballing those $0.17 (or even those $0.01) folders at the store. As tempting as it is to grab all of them some of them for your class, try getting more durable folders. Remember, these folders will be used all year long. Paper folders will tear about half way through the year (especially for those messy students). Grabbing the poly-folders will last so much longer.

2.) Include a Money pouch!

My nephew's teacher did this and I loved it! It's great for younger students, especially K-2. Buy a zipper pouch to place inside the folder. Add a label or write "Money Pouch" on it. This pouch is used to transfer money to and from school. Great for lunch money, book fair money, or any time a student needs to bring money to school.

3.) Include a daily behavior chart!

When I taught 2nd grade, I used to send home weekly progress reports every week. It was hassle to print them out and place them in individual folders. Now I include a monthly calendar with a daily record of the student's behavior. I use bingo daubers from the Dollar Tree to dauber the color the student is on. When my student helpers passes out homework, I daub folders during pack up. It's great because most students are on blue and only a few are one other colors. Also, students are not allowed to put the folder away until I daub their chart and check to see if their homework.

4.) Include a Reading log!

Every student should read each night. I usually have students read one of their library books or one of their Bag-Books. If they have neither, I have them practice their sight words. Adding a reading log can help you and their parents keep track of the books they are reading (and which of your books a student has). *Bonus* - If you don't think you need a money pouch, make it a reading pouch!

5.) Designate each side!

Most folders have two pockets. You can also purchase multi-pocket folders or create your own. Designate each side for certain papers. One side can be for homework and the other can be for take-home paper. You can label one side for Math and the other side for Reading. You can even glue an envelope on one side to hold sight words and flash cards.

6. Include a signature page!
Keep up with who's viewing the folder. One year I had a parent who always signed their child's homework every day. Having a parent or guardian sign the folder helps build the communication between school and home. You can even include a comment section to leave notes for parents or notes parents can write.

I hope these tips come in handy as your start your school year. Be on the lookout for those poly-folders as they tend to disappear the closer school starts. You can also pick up my Homework folder labels here.

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Change your File Folder icon!

This post will save Clip Art addicts! If you're like me and have tons and tons and tons of clip art, it's always hard to find where it is. This post will save your insanity and make you buy more clip art.

One day while working  on some games, I was trying to find some clip art I knew I had somewhere. I kept thinking "I know I have that clip art, but I don't know where it is". Luckily, I knew who made it and browsed through that folder, but I kept thinking to myself "There has to be a better way to see what's in each folder without actually clicking on this plain folder". I decided to get online and find an icon maker somewhere. Alas, I found a website ICO Convert and my mind was blown!

This website allows you to take ANY image and turn it into a computer icon.

Simply upload your image.

Crop it. This is optional. If the clip artist included the cover page, you can just use that.

Design it (if you want).

Convert it! I just kept mine all the same size.

Download the icon to your PC and add it to the clip art folder.

Find the folder you wish to change the icon for. In this case, Krista Wallden's Las Vegas Clip Art.  Right click and choose "Properties".

When the menu pops up, click "Customize" tab. At the bottom, click "Change Icon".

Another menu will pop up. Choose "Browse" and find your icon. Click "Open" and then "OK" twice.

You're done. Sometimes it will not change immediately. Simply "Refresh" or on in and out of the folder to see the change.

No trials, no fees, no limits! Making icons has never been simpler. I wish I had found this when I started downloading clip art, but now can make my over icons!

You can use any image. I'm OCD so everything must be perfect. You can make your own icons. I made my icon using Powerpoint. I changed the paper size to 6.1 so that won't have to worry about size. Squares are best suited for icons.

You can click here you get the square powerpoint I use to make icons. Simply make your icons then save them as PNGs.

A few things I did notice:

1.) If you move the folder, the icon will change back to a folder. But since you made the icon, you can simply change it back.

2.) Also, renaming the folder will change the icon back to the folder. Be sure you name the folder what you want before changing it.
3.) The icon will only show up on the computer you change it on. If you use flash drives, it will only show up on the computer you changed it on.

Create an AWESOME Coupon Book!

Do you have coupons or reward tickets in your classroom? Here's a fun way to organize all those coupons and reward tickets you give out to your students in 5 easy steps.

 

Here's everything you'll need to make your book:

• Coupons/ Reward Tickets
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Scrapbook Scissors (Optional)

Step 1: Print it!
Print out your coupons. There are several different coupons/reward tickets on TPT. You can purchase my coupon book for only $2.

Step 2: Cut it!
Cut out each coupon/reward ticket. With my coupons, simply cut on the dotted lines.

Step 3: Organize it!
Add whatever coupon/reward tickets you like. Choose the ones that apply to your class. You don't want a coupon for "Free Smartboard Time" if you don't have a Smartboard in your classroom! Line up the solid black lines as best you can.

Step 4: Staple it!
Staple the book together in the center left-hand side.

Step 5: Perforate it!
Here the tricky part! Open the book. Cut about 1 inch into the solid black line on the top AND bottom of each coupon. DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. There should be about 1 inch of paper still there. Depending on how many coupons/reward tickets you have, you can cut them all at once. You can use the Scrap paper scissors  for cool wavy designs.

 

 

Create books to give out to your students or create a book of the same coupon and hand them out as you go! You can purchase my coupon book which includes 15 different rewards.

I hope you enjoyed this "Create it" tutorial. Now's your chance to win a copy of my "Classroom Coupon Book". Giveaway ends 7-27-2015!

a Rafflecopter giveaway