homework folder ideas for kindergarten

How To Set Up Daily Folders for Kindergarten

I’m a big fan of teaching responsibility in kindergarten. One big example: you won’t find me stuffing folders – my students are capable of doing that themselves.

Want to know my secrets?

I think there are a few things you can do to make a daily folder setup successful and easy for kindergartners (and their parents) to use.

Here is how we had our folders set up and why.

If you love the way we have it set up – you can totally purchase the same printable labels  used in the pictures to recreate it for your classroom too!

Kindergarten daily folder

Our folders are taken home every day and brought back to school. I choose (affiliate)  “poly” plastic folders to last all year long. They are the two pocket kind with fasteners.

We get them out of backpacks in the morning as we filter into the classroom. They stay in our cubbies throughout the day.

We organize and put them in backpacks at the end of the day.

We do it everyday. It’s part of our routine.

Let me walk you through the folder. Our daily folder has 4 main parts.

Front pocket

Our kindergarten daily folder has a front pocket.

The purpose of the front pocket is to organize daily papers to take home. My kinders are responsible for putting their papers in.

Some examples of things that go in this section:

• School newsletters/flyers
• Lunch menus
• Completed work done in class

Pretty much all of the “stuff” that we get in the course of a day or comes from the office goes home in this pocket. Parents sort through and take it out (hopefully) daily or regularly.

How I made it

All I did to make this section was to add an “EMPTY” label onto the pocket and a one-line explanation.

I add a picture icon to the label so that non-readers (aka my brand new kinders) can successfully find and use it.

I printed a class set of the labels and simply stuck it on. I did cover the labels with clear packaging tape (wide enough to cover the label’s height) so that they would last all year long and stand up to grubby kinder hands.

Back pocket

The folder has a back pocket. We use this pocket to take unfinished work home.

There was a time that we had a weekly homework sheet. They kept it in there and didn’t take it out until Fridays.

When I ditched homework, we simply used the pocket to take home unfinished work (usually due to poor time management) that I expected to get finished.

Making this section was simple! I added a “WORK” label onto the pocket and a one-liner to make it easy for everyone to understand the purpose.

A picture icon made it early-reader-friendly.

Now, these 2 pockets weren’t enough organization on a regular basis for me.

I wanted to separate communicating behavior, special events and sending in money/forms/signed papers. So we used the middle fasteners (clasps or prongs) to hold an additional pocket and a monthly piece of paper.

Clear pocket divider

I added a (affiliate)  poly slash pocket to make communication between home and me – stand out.

That way notes to/from the teacher didn’t get lost.

You can also snag these (affiliate) plastic dividers with pockets inexpensively too.

As part of their daily routine , kinders check this pocket in the morning before putting their folder in their cubbies.

If they had “mail” for me they would take it out and place it in my teacher mailbox. I loved teaching this system!

It became their responsibility and I only had to check one location (my mailbox) of papers to get through. {Amen to working smart}

As you know how crazy going through papers daily can be – especially if there is a fundraiser, popcorn day or picture day… this totally simplifies it.

Everything gets put into one location.

Then during our morning routine, I can quickly sort through everything that has been put into my mailbox and then I easily know what (if anything) I’ll need to address or take care of later in the day.

Read more: How to Collect Papers Easily in Kindergarten

I inserted a transparent slash pocket in the fasteners.

It’s see-through, which makes it easy on kinders, parents, and the teacher. Plus, the shape of the slash pocket means that kinders can slide full-size papers in and out on their own.

Aka: they can responsible to do it on their own.

I printed a “MAIL” label and stuck it on. The label has a picture and one line explanation.

Calendar insert

We kept a hole punched, double-sided piece of paper just behind the transparent parent communication mail sleeve .

This was hole punched so it could also go in the fasteners.

On the front side of the paper, we had a monthly calendar .

On the back, a reading log.

The monthly calendar allowed me to remind students and parents of important events and changes.

It was also where my students recorded their behavior color each day.

They simply colored on top of the date in the small square provided.

I printed a class set of the month’s calendars with a reading book log (to track at-home reading) on the back. I hole punched them and inserted them behind the mail sleeve.

As a side note – I did eventually teach students how to use the fasteners.

They learn how to trade out calendars when it’s a new month.

They count their leftover green days (and write that number on their new calendar) so they can continue working towards a reward coupon (which they got after 5 green days).

They turn these into my mailbox and I scanned them to keep a digital copy for documentation purposes.

They were rewarded for having read at least 10 books when they turned in their reading logs too.

Make your own

You can get your hands on the materials to create your own folders like these!

I’ve done the work for you so you just have to gather the materials and print. Here are the items you might need (with affiliate links) so you can get started right away:

Items needed for this project

• Daily Folder Labels
• Poly Twin Pocket Folders (with 3 Prongs)
• Slash Pockets  | Alternative Divider Pockets
• Clear Packing Tape
• Calendars/Book Logs

Wonder if it really works in kindergarten?

Well, it did for me. But here’s what another teacher shared recently with me after she used it for a year…

“I used this system this past school year and I LOVED it! I love giving my kinders age-appropriate responsibilities and this is a great way to do that while also saving me the headache of daily folder stuffing.” – Sara

While this folder is amazing – it won’t teach itself.

Teach students how to use their folders

Since I created this system, I knew I needed a way to easily show my students what papers went where on a daily basis.

Without me telling them every day.

That’s where my daily folder bulletin board came into play!

{silently sings *hallelujah*}

It was my solution to  never having to stuff papers again and it just became part of our end-of-the-day routine in kindergarten .

There you have my secrets to creating an awesome daily folder in kindergarten.

Here’s what another teacher who tried this folder organization said after implemeting it:

“I would always have trouble with the parents and students understanding the [traditional] 2-pocket folder. Somehow I had some that would lose their work and/or informational papers from the school or our PTC. The simple addition of the mail pocket is heaven . The kids know exactly where to put their papers when packing up to go home and they know how to check their folder in the morning to see if there is anything to turn in! The parents this year have even stated how much easier it is for them to know that lunch money, classroom books, and such are being responsibly handled by their little ones! Many of my parents left the letter explaining how the folder is used in the back pocket of the mail insert so that the babysitter or grandparent knows what to do if they are pinch-hitting for them. Thank you for making my life SO much EASIER!” – Tamra

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.

More classroom organization

• Document Camera and Projector Setup & Organization
• Classroom Jobs for Kindergarten {Free Printable}
• Classroom Library Organization Made Simple
• Responsibility in a Bucket {kind of}

Leslie is the teacher behind KindergartenWorks . She believes in teaching kinders how to be pretty incredible along with teaching them to read, write and think for themselves. She enjoys drinking hot tea, making mud pies with her four kids and sharing what she's learned with teachers.

Similar Posts

How To Make An Everything Board

Here is a project that I saw pinned and brought to life using duct tape. I call it our “everything board” and it’s essentially our check-in and out system. We use it to take attendance, lunch count and I use it to keep track of students leaving the room. Here’s how to make one and…

Weekly Specials Schedule Poster

Keeping track of specials and specials’ times proves to be tricky for me. To be honest, tracking time just really isn’t my thing. Yet, the rest of the world operates by a clock and I do crave the peace and quiet of prep times to recollect my thoughts, dig into a planning session or prep some…

How I Used Dollar Store Placemats To Hide Things Above My Classroom Cupboards

It can be tricky to store bulky classroom curriculum when you’re trying to make your classroom look pretty or at least non-cluttered. Here’s how I used placemats – for a dollar a piece – to hide my giant science curriculum boxes to improve the look of my classroom using the empty space above my cupboards….

How to Collect Papers Easily in Kindergarten

Collecting papers in kindergarten doesn’t have to cause a headache. Here is my simple way that I collect papers in my classroom that really works. The papers. Oh, the papers. Sometimes it seems as if there is a never-ending influx of papers that sometimes makes a teacher feel like this… Can you relate? I really can’t stand…

How to Make a 3D Tree in Your Classroom

Last year I had my palm tree to create a cozy reading area for my classroom. But, I noticed it was starting to look dead. The leaves were fading and the trunk had a few puncture wounds, so I decided it needed a face lift. The entire tent top came down and it got a…

How to Prepare for the First Day of Kindergarten

It’s the night before school starts and the classroom is ready. What should a kindergarten teacher have ready for the first day of school? Here are some of the basic things I had prepared ahead of time for the first day of school. Here is how I lay out my stuff in order to roll…

I am making a grade level change next year from 6th grade to Kinder. I taught Kinder 22 years, but I know things have changed a bit. I’m already looking for ideas and I cam across you. Thank you for the tips.

Welcome back to kindergarten Jennifer! If you haven’t seen my Back to school bootcamp – I highly recommend it to get oyu thinking like a K teacher again. https://www.kindergartenworks.com/teacher-tools/teaching-kindergarten-bootcamp/ 😉 – Leslie

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

NEW! 2024-2025 PLANNING CALENDAR

Topbar Social Icons

Take home folders: part 1.

I really love how you set up your folders! Thanks for the great ideas. Where did you get those amazing green folders??

Paige- Office Depot!

How do you get your labels to stay on? I've tried them on poly folders and they seem to fall off.

Courtney- I've found the smooth plastic folders work the best! The ones that have a lot of texture stick, but the ends can peel up. Also, make sure you buy the GOOD labels! :) Hope that helps!

Is this ediatable enough to change to spanish? It's so unfortunate there aren't any spanish resources and I don't have time to create any...... :(

I have something very similar, however, this hits it right out the park! "GO" Ms. Liz!

Love this idea!! I will hopefully start teaching in September. I have already put this in my TPT cart to buy once I'm hired. Thank you!

I did the same for my 1st graders one year, but mine said, "to be LEFT at home," "to be sent RIGHT back." They were placed on the LEFT and RIGHT sides of the folder.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Check Out Our 32 Fave Amazon Picks! 📦

8 Innovative Ways to Organize Take-Home Folders

Keep classroom communication organized with these take home folder ideas from teachers.

The take-home folder is one of the most important and essential elements in the home/school relationship. Often times, it’s your best tool for communicating with parents. If you can get your students in the habit of using it every day, it can really help your organization and communication in the classroom. We gathered up some of our favorite take-home folder ideas from teachers around the web. We hope they help inspire you in your classroom this year.

1. Lend a Hand This take home folder helps kids and parents stay organized in a really easy way. Your students can trace their hands in different colors and then paste them to the inside of the folder. This should help them get in the habit of what to keep and send back.

How do you organize and store your take-home folders?

You Might Also Like

16 Ideas For Student Mailboxes That Fit Any Budget and Classroom

They've got mail! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Helpful Tips for Kindergarten Take Home Folders

Parent communication is essential in supporting young children in kindergarten, but it can feel daunting to maintain back-and-forth daily communication with the parents of over 20 students! In this post, I’m sharing some helpful tips that will help you create a simple system for kindergarten take home folders.  You’ll be able to maintain consistent communication with families without the overwhelm!

Do We Still Need Kindergarten Communication Folders?

Platforms like SeeSaw allow parents and teachers to easily communicate while students share their daily digital work. Do we ACTUALLY need communication folders?

My answer is yes!  Take home folders for kindergarten allow students and their families to get in the habit of talking about school every evening.  They also encourage students to learn responsibility for taking care of their folders and turning them in each day.

6 Tips for Kindergarten Take Home Folders

Adding communication folders to your classroom routine can be a great way to keep parents up to speed on what is going on in the classroom, but the nuts and bolts of a folder system can seem overwhelming for busy kindergarten teachers.  Here are some helpful things to consider as you set up your own folder system.

1. Create a Routine

One of the most important parts of having a simple communication folder setup is to create a routine.  I like to start using take home folders as soon as possible in the school year, so that it becomes a regular part of each family’s after-school routine.  I have found that families start the year excited about checking backpacks and referencing schedules, so I definitely try to use that momentum to help build that habit!  

The next part of a take-home folder routine is to have a consistent procedure for students to turn in their folders each morning.  Whether it’s a turn-in tub on the back table or a designated folder collector, find a method that works within your morning routine.  The more predictable the routine, the more sustainable it will be!

Finally, make sure that you set aside time in your day to check and prep the take home folders.  By keeping this routine as one of the top priorities in your schedule, it is more likely to stick!

2. Make it Last

Having a routine that lasts for the whole year is important, but you need the actual folders to last, as well! Take home folders receive a lot of wear and tear throughout the year, so I like to use the plastic poly folders whenever possible.  They are less likely to end up squashed at the bottom of backpacks or destroyed by pets and liquids. Plus, I never think it’s a bad thing when something can be wiped down with cleaner, so that’s a bonus of using poly folders.

3. Label, Label, Label!

Keeping your take home folders labeled is an easy way to simplify your communication folder routine.  You can add a large label on the front with the student name to make quick work of passing out folders. If you use poly folders, you can use large mailing labels for the front to make sure they stay put!

It’s also helpful to label the inside pockets of the folder so that parents can clearly see what should be “LEFT at Home” and what should “Come RIGHT Back.”  This is another part of the take home folder routine that will become habit for parents. It’s a very simple way to communicate what to do with the papers being sent home each day.

(If you would like a set of FREE labels for take home folders, you can find some here .)

4. Keep the Folder Filled

One of the quickest ways to derail a communication folder routine is to send home a folder with nothing inside.  After a couple of days of opening a folder full of nothing, families will simply stop checking. Does this mean you need to find something to add to the folder on a “light news” day? Absolutely not!

One way to make sure that there is always helpful information in your communication tool is to use a folder with prongs.  (So that means the ideal take home folder is a two-pocket poly folder with three prongs.) You can keep helpful reference information attached to the folder, so it doesn’t disappear on either side of the communication chain.  This means that the folder will never be truly empty, important reference information won’t be misplaced, and families will stay in the routine of checking the folder each day.

5. Allow for Flexibility

In order for a take home folder system to work, it needs to be sustainable.  Switching up the monthly calendar every time there’s a new addition or change to the schedule is the opposite of sustainable!  I've found that the easiest way to allow for flexibility is to use a weekly communication log, as well.

The monthly calendar provides a birds-eye-view of the month, with important reminders that are unlikely to change, like days with no school. Then the week-at-a-glance schedule provides the opportunity to communicate additional information to families as it comes up throughout the month. It can also share learning goals for the week, suggestions for at-home practice, and more!

6. Use Consistent Colors

This is a simple but effective tip for take home folders: Use consistent paper colors! By printing off your regular communication tools on the same color paper each week, parents will know exactly what to look for each time they open the folder.  The other benefit of this is that important flyers and papers will easily stand out against the colors that are used each week.

More Kindergarten Take Home Folder Tips

Would you like to see more details about how I have used kindergarten take home folders in my classroom?  Check out this video, where I walk you through the specifics of my take home folder printables .

Kindergarten Take Home Folder Printables

You can find all of the take home folder printables shown above in the money-saving Parent Communication Editable Forms Bundle! Would you like to take a closer look at what’s included in this bundle of helpful parent communication resources? You can find it in the Teaching Exceptional Kinders shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers .

Save These Kindergarten Take Home Folder Ideas

Are you short on time? Be sure to save this pin to your favorite teacher board on Pinterest.  You’ll be able to quickly download and print these resources whenever you’re ready.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

QUICK LINKS

This Reading Mama

Free Preschool Learning Folder

By thisreadingmama Leave a Comment

This FREE Preschool Learning Folder is an easy way to have learning at their fingertips no matter how you teach preschool {in a classroom or at home},

Use it exactly as you see or supplement using any of our free preschool printables !

This is a subscriber freebie! Want to grab a copy of this free pack?  SUBSCRIBE HERE .

*I’m already a subscriber.   How do I get this freebie?  Use the password from your most current newsletter to login in my  password protected page .

Preschool Learning Folder

Having visual reminders, like an alphabet chart , are super helpful as we support our young learners. But you may not have room to dedicate an entire wall or area to this. This can be especially true in small classrooms or in the homeschool environment. Having a small, portable folder can provide those same visual reminders. That’s exactly what this preschool learning folder can do!

I thought you might be interested in taking a peek inside the preschool learning folder, so here you go.

There are two options for the front: one for a boy and one for a girl. Both also come in blackline. Just write your preschooler’s name on the front so you can keep track if you have multiple preschoolers.

The inside has an Alphabet Chart, a place for you to write in learners’ first names, a rhyming section, and a section for common opposites.

The back has some preschool math skills such as color names, shape names, and numbers 0-30. {If you want, you can swap the rhyming/opposites page that were on the inside of the folder with this page.}

Teach Older Learners? We’ve got folders for them, too!

• Kindergarten Spelling Folder
• Spelling Folder {for 1st-2nd grades}
• Elementary Spelling Folder {for 3rd-5th grades}

Enter your email below to grab the freebie or login here with the current password.

Enjoy teaching! ~Becky

Want MORE Free Teaching Resources?

Join thousands of other subscribers to get hands-on activities and printables delivered right to your inbox!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Trending Post : Ten Week Organizing Challenge

15 Fantastic Ideas for Organizing and Storing Children’s School Work

I have put together 15 of the best ideas for storing and organizing your children’s school work..

If you are a regular reader then you may have seen my big confession a couple of weeks ago .

About the disorganization. And mess….

And the difficulty I am encountering with purging and organizing and storing children’s school work. Well,  Maids.com also heard about my struggle with this comment problem and inspired me to find a great solution.

And where best to start when searching for a solution to an organizational issue? Pinterest, of course!

Now – don’t get me wrong. Sometimes Pinterest can be a nightmare. Too many beautiful, glossy, organized pictures that make me feel worse about my own lack-of-purging-organizing situation.

But you have to go there with the right mind-set, right? The “I’m-ready-to-tackle-this-problem-and-not-just-pin-ideas” mindset.

And today I have collected 15 of my favourite ideas for organizing and storing children’s school work , and I found that these methods generally fit within 5 key methods : bins, file systems, binders, portfolios, and digital albums.

Probably the fastest and easiest method for organizing and storing children’s school work is simply to place it by grade level into separate bins, boxes, or envelopes. While this method has the advantage of being quick and easy (and perhaps more likely to keep up with as a result of it being quick and easy), it also makes it more difficult to view the work again when you want to enjoy it.

A Manilla Folder/Box Solution and great tips for sorting, organizing, and displaying children’s school work at 733 Blog .

Organizing and Storing Children’s Art at The Artful Parent

Method Two:

Many of the solutions for organizing and storing children’s school work that I came across involved a filing system of some kind. The advantage here is that you could include all kinds of keepsakes and important documents in a file; and while it is easy to look things up by age or grade; files still don’t make for an easy viewing method. But it is definitely easy to put together and simple to keep organized and keep up with once you get it going.

I love this amazing filing system – plus she gives awesome details about keeping a photographic record as well at Honey We’re Home .

A great filing system at The Simple Proof.

Organizing into totes at borealis

School Paper Organization at Just A Night Owl

Method Three:

The second most popular method for organizing and storing children’s school work that I found through my research was using some version of a binder storage method. This method has the advantage of being fairly easy to assemble and keep organized and also allows for very easy future viewing. The issue here is that all these binders could really begin to take up a lot of space. Also, larger pieces of art or larger projects can be difficult to store in a binder sleeve.

I like how easy it is to see the artwork and projects with this organized binder system – and she also gives some great tips about what to keep and what to purge at Davonne Parks.

I love the special additions that she made to this amazingly organized binder system at Make Life Lovely.    You’ll want to check out how inspiring her finished product is!

Schoolwork Binders at The Idea Room .

Getting Organized with Keepsakes at A Bowl Full of Lemons

Back to School Binder with Free Printables at Martha Stewart

Method Four

One method that I came across and really loved was this idea to use Artist Portfolios. I especially like the idea of using these pre-made porfolios that allow you to store larger art pieces then a traditional binder would. They also seem like they would be fairly easy to keep up with once you got the system into place, but could also end up taking up quite a bit of space depending on how well you purged your selections before storing them.

I love this idea of using an expandable art portfolio from A Thoughtful Place Blog

DIY Artist Portfolios at Modern Parents Messy Kids

Method Five

The final method I came across for organizing and storing children’s school work was using a scanner and creating a digital scrapbook album of you children’s work. I absolutely love how gorgeous the finished product looks, and the books are definitely small enough that they are easy to store while also allowing for maximum viewing. But I’m not sure about actually getting rid of all the physical pieces. Isn’t there something special about actually holding the object in your hand?? It’s like that whole debate about books versus E-readers. There is something different about holding the actual object then having a digital image of it. While I love the gorgeous appeal of these types of scrapbooks, the jury is still out for me on whether I could actually purge the real-life-artwork. I might have to keep both the album and the original!

A Book of School Projects at Zig and Zag Blog

Kindergarten School Work Album at All For the Memories

Need more ideas for organizing and storing children’s school work? Check out these Maids.com tips for organizing and celebrating your children’s artwork.

Did you find a little inspiration??

Although I haven’t quite tackled this issue yet, I do think I have a much clearer idea of where to go with this issue… and  I think I’ve decided what will work best for our family. I know that I’m ready to tackle this problem – it’s driving me bonkers!

But what do you think? Any inspiring ideas??

Next time that I discuss this topic I promise I will be sharing my solution! {Wish me luck on the process}

Disclosure: Thanks to Maid.com for inspiring me to find a solution to this organizational challenge that continues to plague our home!

Similar Posts

DIY Board & Batten Paneling {on The Apron Blog}

Faux Mantel Cabinet from an Old China Hutch using DIY Chalk Paint

Christmas Dining Room {Christmas Home Tour Day 2}

Top 10 Posts of 2018

Spring Cleaning: Garage Organization 101 {with a Monkey Bars Storage GIVEAWAY}

Work it Wednesday & $500 Cash Giveaway {plus features!}

17 comments.

• Pingback: How to Declutter Your Home Fast (10 Minutes Tops!)

The method #5 is my favorite! Shutterfly or any other book printing would be a great gift for grandparents. Love it! I am currently using the binder and just save the best stuff in clear page holders. My daughter is now 12 and I think the longer it goes the more appreciative she will be that I saved her art. Another great idea, especially if you have multiple children, put the art in matching frames and just replace the pieces every month, have like a family exhibit of the month or quarter.

Thanks for sharing kids storage ideas for organizing and storing children school work. It will be helpful for every mother.

Krista, wow so many great ideas. Would love to add one more – The Keepy app – which helps parents to organize and save the artwork schoolwork and mementos even with voice and video narration.

Forgot to leave the link to https://www.keepy.me

Thanks Krista! This is a great list of options for organizing kids artwork! Your readers may also want to check out this post that includes a step-by-step guide to digitizing your kids’ artwork and transforming it into cool products like photo books using an app called Arkiver. http://blog.arkiver.com/2017/03/01/organize-kids-artwork/

I love keeping originals too. To sort, try a magazine box for each kid per year. That works well too.

Hi Krista,what are your thoughts on 3D objects. Do u still keep ones that take up space. I have a foam object covered in felt.not sure what to do with it.Any ideas?

Hi Krista! Thank you for including my system for organizing school work. What a great round-up. kindest, domonique

Absolutely BRILLIANT Krista! What Mama doesn’t need a great way to organize it all? Because, let’s face it, I’m not tossing a thing 😉

Haha Kristi, so much for the KonMar method on this one, right?!

Love all of these brilliant ideas, Krista! Organization just makes me giddy. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing!

Hi Abby! It will make me giddy when I finally get my own kid’s school work tackled too!! Thanks for your visit:)

I use manilla envelopes. Simple, cheap, and easy-to-label.

A great strategy as well – and then do you keep them all in a tote of some kind??

I love the idea of scanning and making a book but I love the originals too! I get rid of most papers and small things but keep anything with hand prints, foot prints or really nice work. A few writing samples to show growth but that’s about it. Mine are in a box, sorted by age for the most part. Some are framed and hanging in various rooms.

Sounds like you have it all figured out already! That is great. I spend so much time each year putting together a nicely organized scrapbook for my Kindergarten students to take home with all their key art pieces and writing, but I haven’t even done the same for my boys. Bad, right?!?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Printable Preschool Homework Folder Covers

Do you include some sort of homework in your preschool program? Although we don’t believe preschoolers should be getting lengthy assignments or nightly worksheets to take home, we do think having some sort of homework can be a great parental involvement tool that both the kids and parents can enjoy.

Parents like to know how they can support their child’s learning at home, and they like to know what kinds of things kids are learning in the classroom. Plus kids love showing what they can do and sharing all they are learning with their families. This is one tool for helping them do that.

Printable Preschool Homework Calendars

In our printable preschool homework calendar set (available in our shop and on TpT ) we share a full year’s worth of activity ideas for homework that require little preparation and are fun for kids. Each week includes a math activity, a language/literacy activity, a movement activity, a “helpful” activity, and a drawing activity.

You can see an example and learn a little more about the use of the homework calendars in this homework calendar post  on Fun-A-Day.

But we know teachers are also organizers, and we like to have things nicely labeled and in order. So we knew you’d like to have a cover for these homework folders. Well you’re in luck. We’ve got some…and they’re free!

In this free printable set there are:

• 3 Different Folder Cover Options-One that says “Homework Folder”, one that says “Take Home Folder” and one that says “Preschool Folder”
• 7 Different Designs for Each Cover Option-one option with two children, three boy options, four girl options, and one blank option if you want to let kids design their own cover

The covers are black and white so kids can personalize them and add their own unique touch.

Tips for Using Your Homework Folders

Decide whether you will have a separate homework folder or whether you will  include homework calendars in one main take home folder. The are pros and cons to both. If you have a separate homework folder kids can add any drawings and notes to the folder and return it when it is due instead of having things in the main folder daily. However, sometimes having two folders means one might get misplaced or not get returned on the due day. Whatever you decide clearly explain the expectations to your parents and keep an extra folder or two on hand just in case.

Choose whether you will ask for the homework to be returned or not. Some teachers prefer to send homework calendars home as an option and do not ask for them to come back to school. (If you choose this option, you may not want to have separate homework folders.) Others like to have kids bring their homework back as a way to see what families have done and recognize the work the kids did at home.

If you will be requesting that the homework calendars get returned, decide whether you’ll be collecting it weekly or monthly and be sure to notify (and remind!) parents.

Make turning it in an event if you can by allowing kids to share one of their favorite homework activities. If you’re using separate homework folders, they can choose a drawing that they did. They can also describe an activity they did at home. This can lead to a lot of wonderful sharing opportunities and class discussion.

Share Your Thoughts

Do you use homework folders? What type of system do you use for classroom management? What tips would you add here?

Similar Posts

Preschool Planning for the Year

Emergent Writing Checklist for PreK and Kindergarten

Developing Monthly Lesson Plans for Preschool

Preschool Lesson Plan Template for Weekly Planning

Editable Planning Templates for Distance Learning

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

Miniature Masterminds

Creatively Containing the Chaos – Home School Life

Free Printable Kindergarten and First Grade File Folder Quick Reference Guide

This post contains affiliate links.

Create a colorful quick reference guide for kids to look at with lots of different information!

Beginning letters, alphabet writing, long and short vowel sounds, days of the week, months of the year, left and right, time, shapes, colors, number sense up to 10, place value, and clock hands are included!

I made this for my daughter to use during school hours. I used glue to adhere it to the file folder, I wouldn’t suggest that because it made the ink smear slightly. I think tape would have been a lot better.

Instructions:

• Print out the pdf.
• Laminate the pages or put into the notebooks.
• Glue or tape onto a file folder or hole punch and put into a notebook.

The page order doesn’t matter that much. You can place them in any order you want.

A few things that might help.

Click below to download the pack:, first grade referance folder.

Suggestions, requests, questions, corrections, or comments?

Use our worksheets or activities? Send a picture to be featured in a future post!

Email to:  [email protected]

This download is mostly color and free to use for any daycare, church, school, personal, co op, or home school use.

We all make mistakes sometimes, if you happen to find one of mine feel free to email me and let me know so I can correct it!

TERMS OF USE:

All activity images,  printables , and games are free to download and/or use as you choose, with the exception of claiming as your own, modifying, or redistributing as your own. Please feel free to use in any classroom setting! Feel free to link to this page but not to the download or image itself, if you would like to share downloads or ideas. All shares are appreciated. Permission to use 1 image of your choice is given. Thank you for respecting these guidelines.

Share this:

4 thoughts on “ Free Printable Kindergarten and First Grade File Folder Quick Reference Guide ”

I am trying to find some introducing numbers pages. The one I have an example of from your website is for “The Number Nine”. It has Kindergarten Math on the top of the page. It has practice writing the number, then draw nine squares, then trace the word, then count the pigs and color, then trace 1-9. I love it for introducing and practicing one number at a time.

I LOVE your website! I have looked in several of the links for kindergarten, but cannot find this particular set of worksheets. Any help, please?

Hi! Thank you! 🙂 I think the ones you are looking for are part of the daily math set

Sorry trying to respond on the phone and it sent before I could attach the link 🙂 https://www.miniaturemasterminds.com/2018/05/28/kindergarten-daily-math-practice-worksheets-180-page-work-book/

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you have done putting all these learning resources together. Also for aking them free. Im new to homeschooling and didnt no where to start. This site and what you have made available has helped me get started. Thank you so verrrrry much. May God richly blesss you n yours. Thank you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to Miniature Masterminds!

• Here you will find free printables for your classroom, activities, and more!
• Check out our growing collection of full year curriculum packs or our many other fun printables. You can find  thousands  of different printable activities, worksheets, and helpers!

We are Christian based and all curriculum and activities will fit a Biblical perspective. However, most of it can also be used in a secular classroom as well. 

Quick Links

Our First Book For Purchase in Print!

Privacy Overview

Teach Starter, part of Tes Teach Starter, part of Tes

Search  everything  in all resources

Printable Take-Home Folder Covers

Updated:  07 Jul 2023

Customize and color your own Take Home Folder inserts with editable and printable folder cover templates.

Editable:  Google Slides

Pages:  1 Page

Grades:  K - 5

• Google Slides Sign up to Plus

Get inspired!

Tag #TeachStarter on Instagram for a chance to be featured!

Personalize and Customize Your Homework Folders!

Do you remember back-to-school shopping when you were little? One memory that many members of the Teach Starter team have in common is always wanting those customized pencils, folders, and backpacks. There was just something about having personalized materials that made them that much more special and easier to keep track of!

You don’t have to go out and buy unique materials to give your students special personalized materials; all it takes is a few minutes of typing, some printing, and a whole lot of coloring (done by the students themselves)! These printable take-home folder inserts are the perfect first-day-of-school activity with a purpose!

Printable Folder Covers with a Purpose!

These printable coloring pages are perfect for sliding into clear-covered folders, binders, etc. They can also be glued to the fronts of standard paper folders using glue or clear packing tape. We’ve included a variety of covers and font choices, all of which are completely editable. 

Teacher Tip – You can even edit and print these to serve as covers for marble composition notebooks! Type in your student names, etc., then set your printer to scale to 87%. Now your covers are the perfect size for your composition books!

Download and print.

You’re just a click away from getting your new resources! Use the download button to download the editable Google Slides resource file and get creating!

This resource was created by Lisamarie Del Valle, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Teach Starter Publishing

We create premium quality, downloadable teaching resources for primary/elementary school teachers that make classrooms buzz!

Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above.

Suggest a Change

Would you like something changed or customised on this resource? While our team makes every effort to complete change suggestions, we can't guarantee that every change will be completed.

Report an Error

Did you spot an error on this resource? Please let us know and we will fix it shortly.

Are you having trouble downloading or viewing this resource? Please try the following steps:

• Check that you are logged in to your account
• For premium resources, check that you have a paid subscription
• Check that you have installed Adobe Reader ( download here )

If you are still having difficulty, please visit the Teach Starter Help Desk or contact us .

You may also like

• Back to School 2023 →
• Templates →
• Classroom Communication →
• Parent Teacher Communication →
• Kindergarten →
• 1st Grade →
• 2nd Grade →
• 3rd Grade →
• 4th Grade →
• 5th Grade →
• Google Slide →

Student Gift Tags – Your Future's So Bright I Have to Wear Shades

Brighten your students' end of year when you give them special end of year student gifts wearing these 'Future So Bright' student gift tags!

End-of-Year Student Gift Tags – We Had a Ball This Year

Have a ball making end of year gifts for students with our printable student gift tags.

Student Gift Tags – Owl Miss You

Let your students know how much you will miss them with this end-of-year gift tag.

Student Gift Tags – You Blew Me Away This Year

Blow your students away with fun end of year gifts wearing these adorable end-of-year gift tags!

Homework Information Sheet - Editable Template

Inform parents of what homework will look like in your classroom with this editable template.

35 Ways to Ask "How Was Your Day?" Poster

Help your parents communicate with their children using these 35 questions.

Positive Parent Notes - Smiley Faces

Let your students parents know when they have done particularly well or shown good behavior with a Positive Parent Note.

Student Gift Tag - Top of the Class

A cute gift tag to attach to an end-of-year gift for your students.

Emotion Demotion - Brag Tags

Use these brag tags to encourage and celebrate positive social behavior in the classroom.

Back to School – Parent Information Slide Templates

Plan out your parent information night or meet the teacher event with this set of 19 slides.

Contact Support

1-877-867-1920 Mon thru Fri 9 am - 5 pm EST

Accessibility

• Teacher Supplies
• Folders & Binders

Homework Folders - 12 folders

Share this to Social Media

Thanks! We'll notify you when this item becomes available

Description

Specifications.

• 9½" by 12" each
• Two inside pockets
• 9½" by 4" each

Buy this item in a bundled kit

Classroom Welcome Bundle  

School Folders for 2nd-5th Grade Bundle  

In the U.S alone, nearly 30% of educational standards are overhauled, revised or edited each year. Tracking these changes demands the full-time expertise and we have the tool to manage those standards, so you can trust us as the leader in standards alignment. Correlations are made for all State, National, and Common Core Standards. In addition, we have Head Start standards for early childhood. And most recently, we’ve added both National STEM Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Standards Match

Really Good Stuff offers products that directly align with Common Core and State Standards for Language Arts and Math products. Find products that align to the standards you need. Start your search by selecting the state, grade and subject area below.

Special Shipping Items

This Truck Icon means this item requires special handling and/or shipping. This product is not eligible for free or expedited shipping. In some cases the item may be sent directly from the manufacturer. Please   Click Here  to see our shipping section for further information.