How to Make a Daily Folder Bulletin Board

By Leslie Simpson · About 4 minutes to read this article.

Teach students how to organize their daily folders in kindergarten using a bulletin board.

It can be tricky to give keep on top of those gosh-darn flyers from the office, parent notes and daily papers.

Plus, we know daily communication is important between parents and their child about the day's events, and between parents and me, the teacher.

I'm sure I am preaching to the crowd. So, what can we do to make that easier on everyone?

My solution is a daily folder system that is quick and effective for parents and me - but still age-appropriate for my kinders.

Now, as awesome as the folder is, it doesn't teach itself.

That's where this daily folder bulletin board comes into play.

This bulletin board is the giant-sized model of my students' folder (except for colors that match my classroom color scheme) and students use it every day.

My absolute favorite part? It teaches responsibility.

Okay - let's break down how I made it.

Create the pieces

Front and back cover

I cut two rectangle pieces of bulletin board background paper to represent the front and back cover of the folder. I laminated them and folded up the bottom and stapled it on the sides to represent the front and back pockets.

They actually did function as pockets, but I normally didn't shove stuff down in them since the papers would flop over.

The front and back pockets make our "empty" and "work" sections.

Slash divider

I cut a rectangle piece to be our "slash divider" poly pocket in the middle. I cut a plain piece of lamination at an angle to look like the slash pockets.

Calendar

I enlarged a copy of our calendar to be roughly the same size as the rectangle pieces.

Pull it together

Then I laid out the pieces so that it appears as if a folder is laid open, but that all sections of the folder are visible. Then stapled everything in place.

I made an enlarged version of their folder labels for each section. It turned out to be a pretty good giant version of their daily folders.

I added push pins or stikki clips (but I prefer a push pin) to the front cover, back cover and slash pocket.

This allowed me to fan out the flyers and papers to go home and push pin them right onto the section they were supposed to go home in.

For example, if we had 5 flyers to go home, I'd pin one of each fanned out into the home section. That way, at a glance, students could see how many papers and which papers were supposed to go where.

Learn to use it

Teaching students how to use this bulletin board and their folder at the same time was part of our first days of kindergarten.

I used icons to teach them how to get their folder ready.

And I used a social story to help them learn the routine for the end of the day.

Both of these helped lay a foundation to create a smooth daily folder system that lasted all year!

It eventually became part of our normal, everyday classroom life. I could just put up papers at any point of the day (before students packed up to go home) and they would know what to do without me saying a word.

There you have how I created a bulletin board to teach students responsibility to organize their daily folders to enhance daily communication and stay on top of all of those pesky papers.

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

How to Make a Daily Folder Bulletin Board

About Leslie Simpson

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 three kids and sharing what she's learned with teachers.

Comments

Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 08, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Hi Lori, It is just one folder. It has a few parts - but I might have better photos here to make it more simple 😉 to recreate yourself. https://www.kindergartenworks.com/classroom-organization/kindergarten-daily-folder/
Thanks,
Leslie
Reply
Amy says
May 31, 2016 at 11:43 pm
I recently bought the calendar pack from TPT but I am missing the calendars for students' responsibility folder....was it not included? I have the book log. Any help???
Thank you! Your blog and products are helping me so so much.
Amy
Reply
- Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
  June 01, 2016 at 1:44 pm
  Hi Amy, Thanks for reaching out! There is one calendar for each month - they are each a Microsoft Word file located in the monthly folders. So to get August's student calendar - look in the "1-August" folder and click on the "August student calendar" file to open it. I'm tickled to know that you find what I share helpful - thanks!
  - Leslie
  Reply
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
July 26, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Awesome tip, thanks!
- Leslie
Reply
Betsy Brown says
July 10, 2014 at 1:35 pm
I have 1 inch binders for my kinder-bears, but I use the same 'responsibility' concept. I love the labels. The past two years, I have just written 'home' and 'school' on the pockets with a permanent marker. For my little guys, the binders seem a sturdier choice. However, by mid-year, and we can't figure out how or why, even those sturdy binders have developed a limpy-wimpy posture. I place three or four pocket protection sheets in the binders. One is for our monthly behavior calendar, based on our behavior clip chart, one is for our ongoing sight word list, and the others are dedicated to specific target skill areas. For example, I teach my kinder-bears a specific method to do addition in the classroom with boxes, circles, colors, etc. I place a copy of this method in their binders so parents can help them with homework or practice. I may have their concept vocabulary words for a unit in another pocket. Our school has spiral planners and our big binder is the perfect place to keep everything all together. That being said, all this works beautifully ONLY if the child brings their binder to school or someone at home is reviewing their binder with them. Thanks for sharing the labels.
Reply
- Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
  July 11, 2014 at 9:57 pm
  You're welcome Betsy! I know that it's tricky to help some transfer the level of responsibility to/from home... but it's why we try! Sounds like you have some great resources at the students' and parents' fingertips - awesome.
  - Leslie
  Reply
Stacielmandrell says
August 18, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Fabulous as always! Thanks for sharing this idea...made me rethink my take home folder and get to creating something new!
Stacie
Reply
Jennifer Ormsbee says
July 14, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Thank you for the great idea! You inspired me to create my own...check it out here:
http://teachinglifeandeverythinginbetween.blogspot.com/2012/07/communication-folder.html
Reply
- Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
  July 19, 2012 at 2:07 am
  Great work Jen!
  Reply
Shanny1919 says
February 17, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I like your ideas. I have similar items in my students' Take Home Folders. One tip, I use a quarter long calendar stapled to the front of my student's folders with a space for their name at the top. This way I don't have to change it out but 4 times a year, once for each quarter. Of course I include dates for ongoings at school and classroom specifics. I really like your site! Thanks for posting such helpful things!
Reply
- Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
  July 19, 2012 at 2:08 am
  Thanks for your tips! I'd love to change them out that often... I'll have to see about making it happen!
  Reply
LadyLibrarian13 says
August 14, 2011 at 9:43 am
DId you ever put out your calendar pack? I was unable to locate an update or find it for sale.
Reply
- Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
  August 14, 2011 at 12:14 pm
  I sure did! I've got it on Teachers Notebook: http://teachersnotebook.com/product/kindergartenworks/calendar-pack-months-weather-labels-book-logs-and-more and TPT: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Pack-Months-Weather-Labels-Book-Logs-and-More Thanks for asking!
  Reply
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
July 10, 2011 at 11:16 pm
Kristi,
I will be in touch!
Reply
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
July 10, 2011 at 11:16 pm
I love your ideas! I've shared it with my teacher friends on Facebook!
Reply
Widad says
June 10, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I love your ideas! I've shared it with my teacher friends on Facebook!
Reply
Katie says
May 30, 2011 at 9:41 am
Anxiously awaiting this fabulous product!! Summer has barely started and of course I'm already thinking, planning and preparing for next year!
Reply
KindergartenWorks says
May 11, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Kristi,
I will be in touch!
Reply
Kristi says
May 10, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Please let me know when you get this packet together. I would love to do this next year.
thanks
kristi
[email protected]
Reply
KindergartenWorks says
May 02, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Thanks Deedee! I'm so glad to hear about your sub binder - I'd love to see pics. So glad to hear that it helped both you and your sub. Your comments made me smile - thanks!
Reply
KindergartenWorks says
May 02, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Thanks Jennifer - it really is simple for me and the kinders!
Reply
Deedee Wills says
May 02, 2011 at 6:45 pm
You continue to inspire me! I can't wait to see what you put together. I made my substitute binder off of your blog post and samples. I was out of the classroom today for a RTI workshop and the binder was a big hit! It made my planning SoOoOo easy and the sub LOVED it!
You are going to get me organized yet! Thanks Leslie!
Mrs. Wills Kindergarten
Reply
JenniferL says
May 02, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Love the idea of having a bulletin board to show exactly what it should look like....something for me to consider for open house!
Reply
KindergartenWorks says
May 01, 2011 at 11:52 pm
IteachK, I will be including the chicka themed labels in the calendar pack. I love how creating a simple polka dot border makes for simple and beautiful bulletin boards. Thank you so much for your nice compliments! And thanks for purchasing the sight words pack - I'd love to hear your feedback!
-Leslie
Reply
iteachk says
April 30, 2011 at 6:37 pm
I have been following your blog and Tpt store. Just finally purchased the sight words and songs. I will be using Chicka Chicka theme in my classroom next year so your name tags really caught my eye! Will you be putting any of your Chicka stuff on TpT? I would definitely be interested in them. I love your stuff...it has a very original look to it!
Reply
KindergartenWorks says
April 30, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Thanks Ladies. Fun to read your comments!
Reply
Mrs. Coe says
April 30, 2011 at 4:15 am
This is the best idea I have seen all week!
http://www.littlemisskindergarten.blogspot.com
Reply
Chrissy says
April 28, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Thank you for sharing these great ideas! I will definitely be making a display board of our take-home folder for parent orientation in August.
I also can't wait to see your completed calendar pack!
ReadWriteSing
Reply
Mrs. Joanna Brockhoff says
April 28, 2011 at 12:58 pm
You make the paper clip in me very happy with this post. (; Can't wait to see the pack!
Reply