Organization Part 1: Take Home Binders

Welcome back everyone!! It is time talk about back to school!! I know this might sound a little bit early, but it is good to start a little early!! Especially for these binders... believe me.,.. they ARE already out at the stores already! I am teaming up with my amazing friends to a blog hop so stay with me to go to the next blog post!!

Anyways, I am back with an idea I have posted last year. After I posted last year about it (having back then some other doubts), I realized people responded very well to my post, so I figured I could post about it again!

So here we go! This is what we need: A three ring binder, three hole punched pocket folders, some labels, and some clear sheet protectors. Got them all from Walmart and Target, but any office supply store will have these!

Before I continue, I just want to clarify that this was not my original idea. When I was student teaching, my mentor teacher (who is amazing, by the way) showed me this binder that the students had as a take home folder. She also got this idea from a previous teacher that she taught with... Anyways, I loved it so much that I implemented the same system when I started teaching. I have changed the name of the binder and maybe taken a thing or two out since it wasn't working for us. These binders had hole punched folders inside with labels to organize papers and a zipper pocket to keep their pencil and eraser when taking it home.

The binder was always a present from me to my students. There were so many of them that coulnd't afford school supplies, so the binder was something I purchased for them. Yes, it was a little expensive if I had about 25 students (which was almost always the case). However, it was so great to keep the papers organized, that it really didn't matter to me. Now, if a part of the binder broke or got lost, then I did NOT replace it. With this gift, I always pointed out to my students about being careful and responsible with their supplies, and this was definetely not an exception. If they did break something from there or lost something, they were responsible to replae it (I always had at least one student each year who did, but I was always happy that parents never took too long to keep this binder with all materials needed). I only added the labels for the folders or the label in front with their name on it.

Alright, we were the Gators at my school. So I named the binder as "Gator Binder". Let me tell you that these binders did NOT make it to their hands until the second week of school (or even the third). You might wonder why ??? Well, on my first year I got too excited too soon and gave these on the first week. Then I had not one, but TWO students changing schools by the end of the first week of school. So I, of course, was not going to ask for the binders back! So lesson learned, do not give them out too soon!!!
Anyhow, these are the following things the binders have inside:

• I purchased a three ring binder. You can find them at any office supply store. I try to buy the ones that have a flexible material because they cost less and believe it or not, they are more difficult to get damaged. The first year I bought them at an office supply store, but then I found them at walmart. I realized I had to buy them from Walmart AS SOON AS THEY PUT THE BTS SUPPLIES. Why?? Because these babies get sold out like hot bread!!! One year I waited for a little longer and I had to buy two different colors for my students because there were NOT enough! Most of them were gone, gone, gone!!! That year I almost had a heart attack (not really, but almost), because if you know me, then you know that I am NOT ok with having things that missmatch! Anyhow, the binders are like $0.50 so it's not bad at all :) Since we were the Gators at my school, I had a label with a clip art of a gator and their name on it. The labels are 2x4 and I tape it with clear duck tape on the front cover of the binder to it doesn't peel off.
  
  
  

• We had daily spelling homework. So I had a clear sheet protector for each folder so students could keep their Spelling Sheet in there. We were a bilingual classroom, so when we started inctroducing English sight words, we had two lists. Here is how the lists looked like in the sheet protector front and back :)

        

• The binder contained three hole punched folders inside. There are two ways you could get these folders. Either you buy the folders without brads (which are the cheapest to buy) and you hole punch them OR you could always buy those already punched (which are a little bit more expensive than the others I mentioned). I also used white labels and they are 2 x 4 as well.
  
  Inside the folders we had:
  • 1 folder for Calendar: This folder had our behavior calendar.
  • 1 folder for Stay Home and Bring Back to School: The stay Home side was any paper that needed to stay home, like flyers and graded papers. The Bring Back to School side was any paper that needed to be signed and be returned to school, like field trip permission slips or report cards.
  • 1 folder for Homework: We kept our math homework or any unfinished work in this folder.
  
• The folder also had a pencil bag inside. The pocket was useful so students were encouraged to keep a pencil and eraser there AT ALL TIMES so they couldn't say "I didn't do my homework because I lost or didn't have a pencil". However, after two years of buying them, I decided not to use those anymore because they were very expensive (when you had to buy 25 of them) and I spent most of the time reminding students to keep a pencil in there (because I saw them constantly empty). To me, that was not worth the amount of energy and money I had to spend on those bags. So when I stopped buying them, it was like nothing happened. I did not see a big deal of not having one :) 

Well friends, that is it for me! I honestly would like to say that I have freebies for you, but I honestly do not have any because these binders were based on my school mascot and the labels were created based on the size I purchased them. However, I hope this post has given you an idea of maybe creating your own binder based on your school mascot and based on what you would like for your students to have in their binder.

HUGE UPDATE MY FRIENDS!!! :)
I decided to create a general binder for FREE in both English and Spanish!!!, I was so happy on how people commented on my facebook and how they liked my post. So thank you very much to all of you! :)
Before I continue, if you don't think this binder is a good fit for you. Don't worry! Please see how I created the labels!! Maybe you can use these in a way you choose to do your take home folders! Maybe you can use some of them :)

Here is a peek of what I have created:

The freebie is in a Zip folder my friends! You may wonder why... Well, after I finished the whole document of the labels by just inserting cells, I tried it and everything was missplaced! :( I hated it so much and I tried everysingle thing to make it work, but I couldn't. So when I tried only one page with the original document of the labels, everything worked just fine! So I know you will have to open the labels individually, but hey! They will all work and be aligned with the 2x4 label sheet! :)

Anyhow, I have included black and white labels for Calendar, Stay Home, Bring Back to School, and Homework. Of course, all these are also in Spanish :)
I have also included color labels for the front cover of the binder. One version for boys and another for girls. THESE FRONT COVER LABELS ARE EDITABLE! Yes! You heard me right! I would hate for you to handwrite your students' names, so I made it editable and you can even use the pretty font! Or if not, I gave you access so you can change it to whatever font you have :) Read the instructions on the sheet so you know how to do that :)

If you would like to download this freebie, please click HERE. Also, if you get a chance, please leave me your feedback! I would love to hear what you think of it!! :)

Thank you for stopping by and take a visit to my friend's blog post, she has an amazing blog post and ideas to share!!!

Happy Planner: Peek inside and a Freebie

Happy Planner Teacher Edition 2018-2019

Hello my friends and welcome back!
I know most of you, if not all, are enjoying your Summer and have probably shut down your "Teacher Mode." However, I wanted this to be my first blog post before I start my series of Back to School posts!
Today I would like to share with you the planner I have chosen for this school year, The Happy Planner - Teacher Edition. After asking (don't you love your reliable Social Media teaching groups?) and researching on Google, I decided to go with this planner. I had previously shared this information over my IG account a few months back when I had just purchased it. If you are not following me over my Instagram @brincaintobilingual, I hope this blog post helps for you to do so! :) I wanted to make a blog post in case you missed it or in case you would like to see what others things I have added to it after I purchased the planner.

How it Looks in the Inside

I have not bought any other planner like this one previously. I had always used the regular month to month planner. I always found myself carrying a thousand binders and notebooks with me and I hated.every.single.time.of.it. Sometimes I would forget one or another and I just got frustrated!

This is one of the first reasons I decided to get the Happy Planner-Teacher Edition. It contains a space in each month for you to map out your plans of the week. At my old school, they required us to write detailed lessons, so I was always mapping out and making small notes of my lessons to use before writing an actual lesson. I am not sure what the requirements will be for my new school, but either way, this planner would be very helpful for me to be carrying a million of notepads :)
What I really liked about this section is that the planning sheets are right after the month section. There is no flipping pages from back to front! Everything is together in each month and I really liked that small, but very important detail.

In each month, before the month cover sheet, it contains a sheet where you can write top 5 things, your goals, and student birthdays. I love this because I can write important notes and dates in there!

It also contains a checklist in the very end of the binder. I am not completely sure what I would use this (definitely for something that I cannot have to do constantly); such as Fieldtrips, party snacks, money for fieldtrips, etc.

The Accessories

The Happy Planer is very special because you get to add, remove, and put back pages! I love that there are so many options and accessories to this planner. Check out their page to see the rings, the stickers, the sheets, and much more! I personally will only be adding stickers (because who can live without them?!) and I am adding the half sheet weekly plan.

I was not going to get stickers, but then I saw how cute they were and I couldn't resist! I know I might not be able to use them all, but I am already planning some other cool stuff whenever I use them all. I am thinking about using my Cricut or maybe purchasing a washi tape label machine. I have a label machine, but it does not print on cute washi tape!

P.S. This is the extra set I purchased. However, the planner that I purchased (in a box) comes witha  few sheets of stickers and washi tape.

The second item I purchased was the weekly plan. Yes, it says MEAL PLAN, but I am not using it necessary just for meals. I know I need more space to write because I am a HUGE planner and I love to check things off a list (it makes me feel like I have actually accomplished something). They had one, but honestly, it was not cute at all. I am a big fan of having cute stuff, so this is the only one I really liked and it works magic for me, regardless of the title :)

FREEBIE CHECKLIST 

Last, but not least my friends! 

Honestly, my original idea was to create print outs on sticky notes with a checklist and have them on every week. Cute, right?! Well, I realized that it would be more work for me and one more thing I had to worry about doing because I would have to print on sticky notes every month or so. I am not really willing to do that! #sorrynotsorry

So I decided to create a checklist or a to do list. Something I laminate and use Vis-a-Vis pens so I can write over and over again . I only need to print ONCE, laminate ONCE, whole punch ONCE, and use for the entire school year! Better, don't you think?!

If I caught your attention so far, please don't forget to get the paper punch! Funny story: I was going to do the holes manually, then I was reminded of how amazing Instagram community is for me! While I was chatting with a teacher friend, she mentioned that I needed to get a paper punch (I am new to this planner, remember?) so I did! I am so blessed to have virtual teacher friends! Can you imagine how much time and frustration it would have been if I tried making these holes myself?! Ugh, I don't even want to think about it anymore! LOL

Anyways, I bought the paper punch with a coupon so it didn't hurt my wallet so much. I purchased the classic size paper punch because that is the size of my planner. I honestly don't think it makes a difference which one you use, I think it would still do the work. But don't quote me on that statement, I would have to buy a big size and try it to make it official.

I created this sheet based on what I do every week before I go home for the weekend. I have created the same list with 5 different backgrounds for your own taste and because I couldn't make up my mind ;) 

Of course, I realized not all of you do the same as I do. Therefore, I added the editable sheets for you to use if you would like! Maybe you do some of my weekly copies or maybe you do the centers, but would like to add or change it a little bit to fit your own to do list, be my guess!

Click HERE if you would like to download this for FREE :)

How to Assemble this Free Checklist:

Like I mentioned above, please print and laminate. The cutting is the important key! When cutting please just cut the top, bottom, and right edges of the frame. I have included a picture for my visual learners (as myself).

PIC

After you are done cutting, simply, hole punch the sheet with the 365 Paper Punch.

Use your Vis-a-Vis markers, wipe, and use over an over again!

Well this is all for today my friends! If you were not sure what planner to get,  hope this post has helped you to decide that! I also hope you have found my freebie to be helpful and cute for you to use! Stay tuned because once July comes around, I will be constantly posting! Remember you can always follow me by email so you get my new posts on an email and you never miss the fun!

Gator Binders... A more sophisticated way to do take home folders....

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog!!!
I am trying my best to at least get back to posting once a week, especially during these hectic days that all teachers are planning, cleaning, organizing, etc...

I am back with an idea that has been put in practice for a long time already, but I never thought about blogging about it because I figured most teachers have it down and this might not be something new to anyone. HOWEVER, I was going to Walmart and I saw all those BTS materials (and yes, that was on July 11, "What the heck Walmart?"). So I started thinking of things I could write about (since I'm trying to write once a week like I mentioned above) and what new blog post that could be helpful to others... and then, the light bulb turned on!

So I purchased a three ring binder, three hole punched pocket folders, some labels, and some clear sheet protectors.

I just want to clarify that this was not my original idea. When I was student teaching, my mentor teacher (who is amazing, by the way) showed me this binder that the students had as a take home folder. She also got this idea from a previous teacher that she taught with... Anyways, I loved it so much that I implemented the same system when I started teaching. I have changed the name of the binder and maybe taken a thing or two out since it wasn't working for us. These binders had hole punched folders inside with labels to organize papers and a zipper pocket to keep their pencil and eraser when taking it home.

The binder was always a present from me to my students. There were so many of them that coulnd't afford school supplies, so the binder was something I purchased for them. Yes, it was a little expensive if you had about 25 students (which was always the case). However, it was so great to keep the papers organized, that it really didn't matter to me. Now, if a part of the binder broke or got lost, then I did NOT replace it. With this gift, I always pointed out to my students about being careful and responsible with their supplies, and this was definetely not an exception. If they did break something from there or lost something, they were responsible to replae it (I always had at least one student each year who did, but I was always happy that parents never took too long to keep this binder with all materials needed). I only added the labels for the folders or the label in front with their name on it.

Alright, we were the Gators at my school. So I named the binder as "Gator Binder". Let me tell you that these binders did NOT make it to their hands until the second week of school (or even the third). You might wonder why ??? Well, on my first year I got too excited too soon and gave these on the first week. Then I had not one, but TWO students changing schools by the end of the first week of school. So I, of course, was not going to ask for the binders back! So lesson learned, do not give them out too soon!!!
Anyhow, these are the following things the binders have inside:

• I purchased a three ring binder. You can find them at any office supply store. I try to buy the ones that have a flexible material because they cost less and believe it or not, they are more difficult to get damaged. The first year I bought them at an office supply store, but then I found them at walmart. I realized I had to buy them from Walmart AS SOON AS THEY PUT THE BTS SUPPLIES. Why?? Because these babies get sold out like hot bread!!! One year I waited for a little longer and I had to buy two different colors for my students because there were NOT enough! Most of them were gone, gone, gone!!! That year I almost had a heart attack (not really, but almost), because if you know me, then you know that I am NOT ok with having things that missmatch! Anyhow, the binders are like $0.50 so it's not bad at all :) Since we were the Gators at my school, I had a label with a clip art of a gator and their name on it. The labels are 2x4 and I tape it with clear duck tape on the front cover of the binder to it doesn't peel off.
  
  
  

• We had daily spelling homework. So I had a clear sheet protector for each folder so students could keep their Spelling Sheet in there. We were a bilingual classroom, so when we started inctroducing English sight words, we had two lists. Here is how the lists looked like in the sheet protector front and back :)

        

• The binder contained three hole punched folders inside. There are two ways you could get these folders. Either you buy the folders without brads (which are the cheapest to buy) and you hole punch them OR you could always buy those already punched (which are a little bit more expensive than the others I mentioned). I also used white labels and they are 2 x 4 as well.
  
  Inside the folders we had:
  • 1 folder for Calendar: This folder had our behavior calendar.
  • 1 folder for Stay Home and Bring Back to School: The stay Home side was any paper that needed to stay home, like flyers and graded papers. The Bring Back to School side was any paper that needed to be signed and be returned to school, like field trip permission slips or report cards.
  • 1 folder for Homework: We kept our math homework or any unfinished work in this folder.
  
• The folder also had a pencil bag inside. The pocket was useful so students were encouraged to keep a pencil and eraser there AT ALL TIMES so they couldn't say "I didn't do my homework because I lost or didn't have a pencil". However, after two years of buying them, I decided not to use those anymore because they were very expensive (when you had to buy 25 of them) and I spent most of the time reminding students to keep a pencil in there (because I saw them constantly empty). To me, that was not worth the amount of energy and money I had to spend on those bags. So when I stopped buying them, it was like nothing happened. I did not see a big deal of not having one :) 

Well friends, that is it for me! I honestly would like to say that I have freebies for you, but I honestly do not have any because these binders were based on my school mascot and the labels were created based on the size I purchased them. However, I hope this post has given you an idea of maybe creating your own binder based on your school mascot and based on what you would like for your students to have in their binder.

HUGE UPDATE MY FRIENDS!!! :)
I decided to create a general binder for FREE in both English and Spanish!!!, I was so happy on how people commented on my facebook and how they liked my post. So thank you very much to all of you! :)
Before I continue, if you don't think this binder is a good fit for you. Don't worry! Please see how I created the labels!! Maybe you can use these in a way you choose to do your take home folders! Maybe you can use some of them :)

Here is a peek of what I have created:

The freebie is in a Zip folder my friends! You may wonder why... Well, after I finished the whole document of the labels by just inserting cells, I tried it and everything was missplaced! :( I hated it so much and I tried everysingle thing to make it work, but I couldn't. So when I tried only one page with the original document of the labels, everything worked just fine! So I know you will have to open the labels individually, but hey! They will all work and be aligned with the 2x4 label sheet! :)

Anyhow, I have included black and white labels for Calendar, Stay Home, Bring Back to School, and Homework. Of course, all these are also in Spanish :)
I have also included color labels for the front cover of the binder. One version for boys and another for girls. THESE FRONT COVER LABELS ARE EDITABLE! Yes! You heard me right! I would hate for you to handwrite your students' names, so I made it editable and you can even use the pretty font! Or if not, I gave you access so you can change it to whatever font you have :) Read the instructions on the sheet so you know how to do that :)

If you would like to download this freebie, please click HERE. Also, if you get a chance, please leave me your feedback! I would love to hear what you think of it!! :)

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Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see more of you around my blog! :)