OWL Folders :)

     I'm now part of the way through my summer and I feel like I have A TON of planning to do before the new year begins. Needless to say I'm very ready to crack open the door of my classroom and start decorating. Alas, school floor waxing won't be done until late July or early August. So, here I sit at home browsing blogs and looking for inspiration for my classroom. As I've been dabbling on blogs I started to see all these neat notebooks for students. I stared working on mine and am calling it an OWL Folder. This year I'm doing a theme of Owls and decided that this will be a quick note I send home for parents to explain my expecations for student folders. Below is the document...feel free to grab it...especially if you're doing an Owl theme! :)

O.W.L. is an acronym for

     Organized Wonderful Learners 

An OWL folder is a folder that houses EVERYTHING. It will come home every night. Forget about wrinkled papers in our backpacks! No more lost notes, newsletters, or calendars. No more searching the house for their Bookbags. Be sure to clean out all papers daily.

Notes & Money Pouch	This will be the place to put any important notes about transportation changes or absences. This pouch is also an ideal place to put money for book orders, lunch, ice cream, and field trips.
Between home and school	This will also be the same pouch for your notes and money. Your child’s behavior slip will be located here each day and should remain in the pouch until Friday. This will also be the place where I may write a note to you about something concerning your child or an upcoming event. Please feel free to write me if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year.
Newsletter & Homework Sleeve	In the front of your folder you will find a plastic sleeve that houses our weekly newsletter and homework. This newsletter must be signed in conjunction with practicing reading each night. Behind the newsletter you will find homework mentioned in the newsletter. Your student will have from Friday evening to the following Thursday evening to complete their homework. Please keep both the newsletter and homework in the plastic sleeve until I check it on Friday. Each week I will refresh both the newsletter and homework.
Bookbags	Each night your child will bring home a Bookbag. Reading books and STAR words can be found in the Bookbag and should be returned the very next school day. I will keep the Bookbags on Friday so that I have the opportunity to refresh the books and add new STAR words. Please practice reading the books and return them in the condition they were given as we will be sharing them with friends in our class. Once you’ve practiced reading for the evening sign the reading log found on the newsletter in the plastic sleeve.
Important Papers	Important papers from school will go into the first pocket insert. Please read the papers and sign and return if necessary.
Work to Keep	In the back pocket you fill find papers that your child has completed in class. Please remove them each night, review the work with your child, and keep at home.