Easily The Best 1st Grade Resource – Privacy Folders
When we hear, “Teacher, how do you spell…?” We know we have not fostered the independence in learning that our students need. One goal we all have for our first graders is for them to become more self-sufficient learners and privacy folders do just that!
Empowered Learners are:
- resourceful
- independent
- efficient
- helpful
- responsible
- and PROUD!
We empower our students when we provide and teach our students how to use:
- a word wall
- a sound wall
- a letter wall with handwriting formation
- maps
- globes
- dictionaries
- number lines
- a calendar
- goal-setting forms
- behavior management tools
- classroom rules
- math and literacy flashcards
- task choices
- online search engines
- privacy resource folders
- designated friends to help when needed
- a list of what to do when finished
- crayons, pencils, paper, etc.
- and any other tool that will help them seek knowledge
With all of these in mind, we LOVE our privacy resource folders and many of our first-grade teachers and students agree! Keep reading to see how easy they are to make and how these folders have become an everyday staple in our first grade classroom!
These Folders are great tools for:
- students who need quiet time and/or privacy when working
- testing
- students who need a break from a chatty neighbor
- students who need help with spelling a sight word (choose from 1st Grade Houghton Mifflin sight words, 1st 100 Fry Words or 1st 200 Fry Word Lists)
- short vowel, long vowel, and digraph resource
- 10 frame practice with dry-erase markers (can write on and wipe off)
- place value mat resource (can use place value blocks or write on/wipe off)
- 120 number grid resource use/number practice
- math games that use a number grid
- 1-20 number line resource use/number practice
- telling time (blank clock for write on/wipe off practice)
- handwriting practice with letter/number formation (write on/wipe off practice)
- coin identification
- mapping skills with a US map (hint: highlight the state in which you live prior to laminating)
After many variations over the years, our 1st-grade team selected the resources that are most valuable to our students. We used this version for several years and quickly learned that we couldn’t live without it!
How to Make Privacy Resource Folders:
We use a large piece of poster board and cut it in half, allowing for 2 privacy folders. 2 file folders glued or taped together could do just as well. Then we fold the poster board into thirds, glue 3 literacy resources on one side (sight word list, sounds, and handwriting) and 3 math resources on the other (120 number grid, 10 frames/place value grids, and time/coins/map). Then we laminate it for durability and fold it into thirds.
Notice above I highlighted our state, Colorado. I did this prior to sending to the print shop since that page was printed in color anyway.
Hint: The first year we made these, I allowed students to keep their privacy resource folders in their chair pockets. They had them handy whenever they needed them, BUT they were trashed by the end of the year and I had to make new ones the following year. So the next year I kept them on a shelf and students were allowed to get them when needed.
They have stayed beautiful for 3 years now! Every once in a while we need to clean them off with dry erase cleaner if students are using dry erase markers on them.
Let me know if you have questions.
Again, our team and our students can’t live without our Privacy Resource Folders! Get them now so you can make them over the summer and have them ready to go for back to school!
