I can't wait to share about the resource binders we use with our first graders - I created them 2 years ago because I finally accepted the fact that I CANNOT clone myself (boo!), so I had to come up with a way to reach all learners WITHOUT me being in the same room (ha!). My lovely 1st grade team decided to use them with ALL 1st graders (yay!) last year & I couldn't be more thrilled!
These binders are kept in each students' "seat sacks," so they can access them anytime they finish early and/or there's time for independent reading (they also keep a bag of Reading A-Z books in their seat sack that are at their specific Guided Reading level).
The binder inserts are similar to mini-offices, plus more!
Here's what's included in each 3-ring resource binder:
Literacy:
Open Court reference chart (one page document showing mini-pics of the sound spelling cards)
Initial Sounds and Initial Blends charts
Word Wall (one page - personal word wall)
Word Wall blank template to add words (freebie alert - click here!)
Handwriting Tracing Page
(in a sheet protector to use with dry erase marker)
Fluency Pages - this is not my original idea, I found similar pages in a decades-old book and adapted to match the Open Court sound spelling cards - here's what the pages look like:
Math:
(in a sheet protector to use with dry erase marker)
Fluency Pages - this is not my original idea, I found similar pages in a decades-old book and adapted to match the Open Court sound spelling cards - here's what the pages look like:
 |
| well, this blurry pic doesn't help too much! |
reference charts for numbers - numeral/number word/tally mark/ten frame/fingers
reference charts for coin values, ordinal numbers
Other pages may be added, such as word family charts, as we introduce them in the curriculum. Students LOVE having their own binder! As a special educator, I love knowing that whenever I have a spare moment (really?), I can walk into a 1st grade classroom, pull out a binder, and have a student read to me :)
I ♥ these binders!
I ♥ these binders!
This year we have some new team members and they are already sharing great ideas for additional resources! We are norming around which reading strategies graphics to use and will insert them into the binders A.S.A.P. The personal word wall was also a suggestion from my fabulous new co-teacher :)
What else do you think belongs in these binders?
Please leave a comment below!
I am grateful for the personal word wall ~ I have wanted to do something like this for my students and now, due to your kindness, it is done! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe personal Word Wall is AWESOME! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat is sooo awesome that your whole 1st grade team adopted the binders! So, as the special educator, were you in charge of putting ALL the binders together? Do they wear well, or do you have to make new ones every year? It's a great idea! I might have to suggest it at my new school:-D
ReplyDeleteWe are ALL Special!
I'm really happy the whole team is using them with every student! My first year I put about a dozen together for my caseload. The following year, we made a school purchase order for binders for every student (unfortunately they are the flimsy ones without a cover). Every teacher receives a file of the pdfs and then runs the copies for their own class. Some teachers assembled their own - the papers with one divider between math and literacy. One clever teacher had the students do it as a whole group activity! It was a bit of a hot mess, but they were SO excited! The students take the binders home on the last week of school, so we do start fresh each year. You should definitely suggest it!
ReplyDeleteJust another idea..........we do something similar but use two pocket folders with prongs. It was a cheaper alternative to binders.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to purchase the documents for the first grade resource binder or see pictures of one?
ReplyDelete