homework folder examples

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Don't Miss Today's Holiday Giveaway!🎁

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

15 Organizational Skills for Students (Plus How To Teach Them)

Help them get their ducks in a row. Continue Reading

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

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

The Super Teacher

Supercharge your teaching.

How to Save Time with Weekly Take Home Folders (Free Download!)

Shannon | No Comments

One of the things my mentor taught me my first year teaching is how to use weekly take home folders for students. As both a teacher and a parent, I can say that I love this routine! Keep reading to see what I mean.

How to Use the Take Home Folders

To start out, I’m going to explain I use my weekly folders. Many of the teachers at my school use a similar system to simplify their papers home.

Send take home folders every Friday.

In my class, I send my folders home on Friday. This way, students have a few days to remember their folders need signed. Plus the kids know their take home folder has a clear “due date” on Monday. This way, the routine becomes habit for both students and parents as the school year goes on and its a great way to sum up the week at home.

Folders include graded and ungraded assignments, tests, and important notes.

Yes, I send home ALL of the work from the week on Friday, instead of throughout the week!

As a teacher, I like that the papers are making it home to families instead of getting lost in desks, mailboxes, or backpacks.

As a parent, I love that I only have a stack of papers to look over once a week! For example, my daughter used to bring home seat work each day in kindergarten. Because I emptied her folder each evening while cooking dinner, I rarely made time to look through it and it stacked up on my counters.

Also, I include my newsletter in my weekly folder. Then I know parents get it in a timely manner and it’s not lost in a backpack.

However, I do send home papers from the office on a daily basis in their homework folders.

Parents must sign folders and/or papers .

You could have a sheet in the folder for parents to sign, to prove that they saw their child’s tests and papers. At our school, parents sign the tests themselves and send them back. Parents keep seat work at home.

File seat work into folders.

My mentor teacher has a cubby system behind her desk that she loves for keeping papers handy for her weekly folders. I prefer to file tests in hanging file folders. For ungraded seat work, I file it in a portable file box throughout the week. This is also great job for student or parent helpers!

Then on Friday, I just grab each hanging file and put them in the students’ folders.

How to Make Weekly Take Home Folders

Choose distinct folders..

Use a distinct color of folder (like black) to help it stand out and make it less likely for the students to forget or lose their folder. Plastic folders usually hold up longer, and are also more likely to stand out to the student.

Label your folders.

I just use a sharpie to write names on the folders, but the inside I clearly label the pockets so parents know what papers to return and which papers to keep at home.

You can download these FREE labels below!

About Shannon

I am a preschool teacher and home daycare provider. I'm on a mission to raise intelligent and respectable children, and help others do the same!

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

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

Classroom Freebies

May 27, 2020 · 2 Comments

The Ultimate Writing Folder

3-5 · 6-8 · All Freebies

So – today I have a super easy and quick idea for all of you who don’t want multiple pocket folders in your students’ desks!  DIY multipocket folders from two 2-pocket folders with brads without needing staples, tape, binding machines, or anything else!

Of course, you could make them even larger IF you want to cut up classroom folders and use a binding machine, but I think the basic 4-pocket folder will work fantastic for a writing folder or a 4-subject folder!

What are brads in folders?

Brads in folders are the little metal clips inside of a 2 pocket folder.

You place the paper(s) onto the fasteners, then open the brads so that the pointed ends are facing away from one another (like a butterfly’s wigs when they are open).

Now you have locked in your materials into the two-pocket folder easily!

How to make your own folder:

You will need:

• Two 2-pocket folders , one WITH brads and one WITHOUT brads (make sure to check the back to school sales too in the fall!)
• Three-hole punch
• Labels to label the pockets (see below for some I already have made up for you!)

1.  Take the folder that does NOT have the brads, and turn it inside out so the pockets are on the outside.

2.  Three-hole punch the open EDGE (not the folded edge)

3.  Insert the holes onto the brads in your other folder and close up.

4.  Affix your labels and you are set to go!

I like to add a name on the front cover, and the description of the pockets on the inside.

Super simple, right?  Of course since the middle folder is not closed up, you may see a gap, but it really should not matter.  If it drives you insane, you can always take a few extra minutes to glue it shut though.

I did try to place more than one folder and when I did, the middle pockets were not able to be opened freely since they were attached at the brads.

You could certainly try some different combinations, but I found just one folder to work perfectly.

How can you use your new multi folder?

• Different subjects in a self-contained classroom; examples – reading, math, science, social studies
• Specials teachers can ask students to bring their specials folder; examples – PE, Art, Music, Computer Science
• Writing folder for writer’s workshop; examples – brainstorming, rough draft, editing, final copy
• Homework folders; examples – work to be left home, work to be reviewed, graded work, homework
• Math story problem processes; examples – keywords are underlined, relevant numbers are circled, a picture is drawn, final sentence is written and final answer circled
• Book reports; examples – book chosen, main ideas list, rough draft and editing, final copy and illustrated cover

Below, I have some labels which match my completed Jungle Theme Classroom Resources and you are even able to customize the student names on the front folder label!

I have included labels for a writing folder to move the pages along in the writing process or for a multi-subject folder to keep those papers that are started, but not quite finished.

Just have students place their paper into the correct folder and then grab it again the next day when you are ready to start your lesson!

Happy creating and enjoy your freebie labels below!

What else could you use this handy folder trick for in your classroom?  I would love to hear in the comments below!

This post originally appeared at Organized Classroom .

You Might Also Like:

About Charity Preston

A teacher, mom, wife. Featured in Scholastic Instructor Magazine, NEA, TeachHub, and Edutopia, Charity has over a half million fans and followers all over the world. A former K-6 gifted intervention specialist, she has built and managed over 20 educational related websites since 2011, and collaborated with high profile companies, such as eBay, ASCD, and Pinterest. Charity is the CEO of PEN Group Online, Inc. where she has taught her classroom and teacherpreneur business development systems to thousands of fans and members.

Betsy Negley says

June 8, 2020 at 3:16 pm

I have a question about the directions. In them, you state to hole punch the OPEN edge of the non-brad folder,. However, the pictures clearly show the FOLDED edge is hole punched. Other than aesthetics, does it matter? I don’t want to mess up my folders.

Charity Preston says

June 14, 2020 at 10:12 am

Good question! Either one is fine and works both ways. 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

SPECIAL COPYRIGHT NOTE This site is copyright protected. Nothing can be reposted on this site (excluding the button features) without written permission from the author. This includes writing, photographs, images, and downloads. This blog is a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals, and each author owns and is accountable for his/her postings. Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, the author may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For questions about this blog, please use the contact form link located HERE .

Friday, July 27, 2012

• Homework Folders

20 comments:

This is great! Thank you so very much!!!!!

Hi, so glad to see you back to blogging, you always share such great ideas. Thanks so much for the freebie. ✰ Stacy Simpson Superstars

Love.LOVE.love these! :) The only thing I was surprised at was the "diamond" on the shapes page (and I've seen it labeled that way on many kindergarten blogs)--we have to call it a rhombus... Which font did you use on that page? If its alright with you, I'd like to cover the word 'diamond' and replace it with 'rhombus'. Thanks for sharing this! Liesl [email protected] wildworldofkindergarten.blogspot.com

Love this idea and freebie~ Thanks for sharing. Like Liesl(above) we will be calling the diamond a rhombus too. How would you feel about sharing an editable version of your freebie? I would like to add my Pete the Cat pics and my districts sight words. Thank you for sharing this! Lisa lisaskinderland.blogspot.com

This is amazing! I'd like to do something similar for first grade :) sarah teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com

So glad that you are back. :) If you a re willing to share an editable copy of this and your common core assessment I would appreciate it. Thanks so much! yvonnee [email protected]

These are great! Thanks for sharing with us! Joni KinderKids Fun

Thanks for sharing!

Glad you are back blogging Thanks for sharing! This will be useful! ~ Amy

For those of you who asked, I added a new shapes page with the word "rhombus" instead of diamond!

Thank you so much! Great resource! Tonia Mrsvento.blogspot

Thanks! This is great!

What an amazing freebie! Thank you very much. I can't wait to use them this year! Melissa Jungle Learners

This will promise the renting office that you can bear to pay and in the event that you won't, then they can assert your benefit. At the point when searching for an auto renting organization, it would be critical on the off chance that you went to a few merchants to have the capacity to think about their rates. Payday Loans Chicago

This comment has been removed by the author.

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U!!!!!! You are an Angel: )

republic day essay english mahatma gandhi essay english essay global warming apj abdul kalam essay english diwali essay english

This is my blog. Click here. หวยยี่กี่ออนไลน์คืออะไร

This is my blog. Click here. เทคนิค และ วิธีการชนไก่ ก้าวสู่เส้นชัยชนะพนัน

I will be looking forward to your next post. Thank you อัพเดทข่าวบันเทิงดาราดัง >>> เจนนี่ ขอพิสูจน์ตัวเองอีกครั้ง หลังเจอมรสุมชีวิตหนัก

My TpT Store

Search My Blog

• Addition (3)
• Alphabet (9)
• Assessment (4)
• Back to School (17)
• Balanced Literacy (1)
• bucket filler (1)
• chevron (2)
• Chinese New Year (1)
• Christmas (10)
• Class Books (5)
• Classroom Library (5)
• Classroom Management (27)
• Classroom Organization (17)
• Classroom Pictures (7)
• Classroom Rules (5)
• classroom setup (3)
• Common Core Standards (17)
• Conferring (1)
• Counting (8)
• Crafts (23)
• Dr. Seuss (2)
• fine motor (1)
• Fractions (1)
• freebie (5)
• Freebies (68)
• Giveaway (1)
• Graphing (4)
• Groundhog Day (1)
• Guided Reading (4)
• Halloween (1)
• Holidays (17)
• Homework (2)
• Hundredth Day (1)
• Integrating Literature (27)
• Language Arts (4)
• Last Day (1)
• Lesson Plans (4)
• Literacy (10)
• Literacy Centers (35)
• Math Centers (27)
• Math Work Stations (26)
• Measurement (2)
• Morning Meeting (2)
• Nonfiction Writing (1)
• Organization (2)
• Patterns (1)
• Phonemic Awareness (1)
• Phonics (5)
• Place Value (3)
• polka dots (2)
• Presidents Day (2)
• Reading (8)
• Reading Workshop (3)
• Science (7)
• Segmenting (1)
• sensory (1)
• Sight Words (3)
• SmartBoard (1)
• Snowmen (1)
• Social Studies (2)
• Sorting (1)
• Spanish (1)
• St. Patty's (2)
• Subtraction (4)
• Technology (1)
• Thanksgiving (3)
• TPT Store (46)
• Valentine's Day (7)
• Visual Directions (1)
• Writer's Workshop (3)
• Writing Workshop (1)

Blog Archive

• ►  July (3)
• ►  June (1)
• ►  May (1)
• ►  September (1)
• ►  April (1)
• ►  December (1)
• ►  June (2)
• ►  May (2)
• ►  August (2)
• ►  July (1)
• ►  February (2)
• ►  January (2)
• ►  November (2)
• ►  July (2)
• ►  March (3)
• ►  February (3)
• ►  January (1)
• ►  December (2)
• ►  November (3)
• ►  October (1)
• ►  August (4)
• ►  April (4)
• ►  March (6)
• ►  February (5)
• ►  December (3)
• ►  November (4)
• ►  October (4)
• ►  September (15)
• ►  August (12)
• Just a Dot! Not a lot!
• Back to School & Brown Bear Freebie!
• ►  April (7)
• ►  February (15)
• ►  January (22)
• ►  December (14)

My Favorite Blogs

Topbar Social Icons

Freebie Friday - Take Home Folder Template

No comments

Post a comment.

Teaching With Terhune

A teaching blog for primary teachers, especially first grade teachers, to get activities, worksheets, and ideas to use in the everyday classroom.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

• Homework Folders

At the beginning of the school year I make each student their own daily folder, also known as their "Take Home Folder."

0 comments:

Post a comment, contact form.

Follow Me by Email!

Get my new blog posts by email. sign up here:.

Teaching with Terhune, LLC

• 100th Day of School
• Absent Folders
• Accelerated Reader
• Addition Timed Tests
• Addition with Three Addends
• Alphabet Strip
• American Sign Language
• Anchor Charts
• Assessment Folders
• Assessments
• Autobiography
• Back to School
• Behavior Management
• Binder Covers and Spines
• Blurt Chart
• Bulletin Boards
• Calendar Time
• Christmas Parent Gifts
• Christmas Student Gifts
• Classroom Decor
• Classroom Labels
• Classroom Library
• Classroom Management
• Classroom Tour
• Communication Folders
• Counting and Writing Numbers 1-120
• Curriculum Map
• Dental Health
• Digital Calendar Time
• Digital Flash Cards
• Digital Morning Meeting
• Dinner Ideas
• Division Timed Tests
• End of School Year
• Even and Odd Numbers
• Fact Fluency
• Fairy Tale/Storybook Characters Unit
• Farmhouse Classroom Decor
• Father's Day
• File Folder Games
• Fire Safety Unit
• For TpT Sellers
• Grandparent's Day Craft
• Heart Health
• Informative Writing
• Lesson Plans
• List Writing
• Literacy Centers
• Math Fact Fluency
• Monthly Calendars
• Monthly Newsletters
• Morning Work
• Mother's Day Gift
• Multiplication
• Note to Followers
• Organization
• Parent Gifts
• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Parts of Speech
• President's Day
• Progress Monitoring
• Punctuation
• Read Across America
• Reading Fluency
• Sentence Writing
• Sight Words
• Skip Counting
• Spider Unit
• Substitute Plans
• Subtraction Timed Tests
• Take Home Binder
• Take Home Folder
• Teacher Appreciation Gift
• Teacher Aprons
• Teacher Gifts
• Thanksgiving
• Using old iPhones
• Valentine's Day
• Watermelons
• Writing Center

Topbar Social Icons

Take home folders: part 2.

Does your school also provide agendas? just wondering where you write the homework assignment?