The Take Home Folder.... keeping me sane

I am so happy to finally have this homework business figured out, seriously homework and the bathroom are two things that you don't realize are super important to get under control until you are in the thick of it!

Last year I did the weekly packet deal, I DREADED Monday mornings because I usually had to scramble to get the packet together, that is until I figured out/organized my homework.

This year I am going back to daily homework (much better!) and I have made one huge change for the better.... from homework folder to..... wait for it..... Take Home Folder. This has been working so incredibly well for me this year, not only is it keeping me on track with homework but it has turned into my most powerful classroom management (and parent communication) tool!

I start with the plastic folders, need those brads in the center, and you can't beat not having to laminate 20 individual folders! Add a cute name tag with the students name and # (I assign every student a number, works for EVERYTHING and anything in the classroom and keeps me so organized!)







Next, I write on the inside pockets HOMEWORK on the left side and COMMUNICATION on the right.
In the center I add:

1. Am I doing my homework? 
• Tracking sheet, I stamp this when checking homework in each day, I made sure to have a separate place to stamp Spelling and Math
2. Sheet protector - holds Monthly Calendar on one side and Daily Fluency Passage on the other
•  (I found all of the calendars HERE!)
3. The Take Home Folder (info sheet, laminated - hoping to reuse these next year) 
• Includes everything you need to know about the Take Home Folder on one side, Rules and Expectations, Student Behavior, and Rewards and Consequences on the other side.

As you can see the COMMUNICATION pocket always has my behavior management form for parents to initial. I want to keep this post just about the folder itself, so I will save the classroom management aspect of the folder for another post :)

I also include the weekly newsletter here, any communication the school, etc

Procedures/Routines
The first thing the kiddos do is come in and sit on the carpet, they keep their backpacks with them but take their Take Home Folders out. Right after Calendar/Morning Meeting I excuse students to their seats for our morning work, this is when they turn their folders in to me **** side note, the backpack helper puts away all the backpacks while everyone else works on their morning work.

During my prep period, I check each folder for the homework (1 page double sided, spelling on one side and math on the other) stamp the homework tracker, highlight their behavior chart (from the day before) and give out 'dollars' to the kids who were on outstanding (more on this to come).

At the end of the day we come back to carpet (seriously we live on the carpet) I hand out the folders one by one, this excuses them to stand - get their backpack - stack their chairs - and line up (all while the lining up song is playing btw)
It's easy to know who didn't turn their folder in that day because they are left on the carpet last, these guys and gals get a "I forgot my Take Home Folder" slip for their parents to sign, it basically just says that they will have two homework assignments the next day. I am NOT handing out homework without a folder.

So there you have it, Oh I love the Take Home Folder so <3