Teacher Binder for Early Childhood Teachers (preschool, pre-k, kindergarten & 1st)
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Being organized is my jam; it makes me so happy. I love it when everything is organized and has a proper place. I created a Teacher Binder to help me stay organized at school. It’s an awesome tool that I use year-round.
I can just grab my binder and find what I need. I don’t have to find this paper or that list. It is all in one place. I take it home every night just in case I need/ want to work on something for school.
Check out the teacher binder here!
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You will find all of these teacher binder items on my Amazon list!
Teacher Binder
First, pick if you want to use a regular 3-ring binder or Happy Planner rings. These are the big Happy Planner rings (you need a box of 11 rings), but if you want a thinner binder, use the smaller Happy Planner rings (you may need to buy 2 boxes, so you have 11 rings).
Next, print the pages/forms, dividers, and covers you need. You now have everything you need to create a custom organizational tool! Now you can start the year organized.
You will find TONS of different organizational pages! To help with lesson planning, I included a page for weekly lesson plans, centers plans, group plans, unit sketches, a year-at-a-glance, and a reflection page.
Keep track of student information using class lists, student birthday charts, basic information pages, student services at a glance, and student interventions. Organize all of your teacher resources using a professional development log, sick & personal days off log, usernames & passwords chart, favorite websites list, and book wish list (my favorite).
With everything we have to do, I created tons of different “To Do” lists. I couldn’t forget about all the meetings we have to attend. I created a way for you to track class notes and meeting notes page.
The pages and forms are now EDITABLE (PowerPoint file) and just print (PDF file). Just print and write directly on the pages or type your lesson plans, print and put them in your binder! This is perfect for those of you who have to turn in your lesson plans each week.
The colorful binder spine labels, tabs, and covers/dividers pages (make sure you open the file in PowerPoint to edit) are EDITABLE. If you are anything like me, you LOVE having things that match! Pick the pages that match your classroom décor! The binder spines and matching covers/divider are also in a PDF. It is all super simple; just print the ones you need!
You also get a monthly calendar for this school year. THE CALENDAR IS EDITABLE! Each year, I will update the calendar! All you need to do is go to the “My Purchases” section on the TPT website and download the newest version for free (along with any additional pages I add to this product)!
Think about how you want your lesson plans to be formatted (subjects across the top or the side). These pages are editable, so type in your schedule and print double-sided. On the other side of the Monday page (left side) is my center planning page, and on the other side of the Friday page (right) is my reflections and notes page. You could also put your small group or RTI page on the back instead.
Type of Paper:
- Cover (front and back): cardstock and laminated with 3mil laminating pouch
- Dividers: cardstock (did not laminate, but you can if you want)
- Tabs: cardstock (make sure you cut, laminate, then cut again to make them durable)
- Planning inside pages: regular copy paper
Time to Hole Punch
If you are using Happy Planner Rings, you will need the PINK Happy Planner punch. If you are using a 3-ring binder, use a regular 3-hole punch. Make sure you line up the pages so the holes are in the right spot.
QUICK TIP >> Assemble the binder and flip through it to make sure it opens like you want it BEFORE you hole punch it. This ensures that you are hole-punching the right side. For example, the back cover will be hole-punched on the opposite side.
The other thing I put in my Teacher Binder is my year-long curriculum map! It includes 2-week themes for the WHOLE year (summer, too), sensory table ideas, STEM challenges, a book list for each theme, and MORE! It has saved me so much time. Grab it HERE for FREE!
If you use something to help you plan every week, put it in your teacher binder. Some ideas are:
- Curriculum Map (printed 4 to a page)
- STEM Building Prop Lists (printed 2 to a page)
- Family Writing Center Ideas page (printed 4 to a page)
- Green & Red Choices Teacher Pages (printed 4 to a page)
- Calm Down Kit Teacher Pages (printed 4 to a page)
- Name Cards Teacher Pages (printed 4 to a page)
- Name Mats Teacher Pages
- FREE 1st 10 Days of School Lesson Plans
Need help printing multiple pages to a single page to fit in your binder? Watch this video HERE.
Don’t forget to grab the teacher binder!
See the teacher binder in action here!
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hey, i’m jackie!
I’m Jackie, your go-to girl for early childhood inspiration and research-based curriculum.