3 Easy Steps To Create The Ultimate Writing Folder Office

One of the first things Kindergarten teachers add to a school supplies list after crayons is often folders. We start teaching organization early and try to set our little learners up for success wherever possible. We’ll ask for 3 different colors and often use them for reading, writing, and math. Students will put their worksheets, unfinished work, and free time activities in them. We then hope they will be able to find things easier. I found that when I put a bunch of helpful papers in my student writing folder. However, it all became overwhelming, and students often could not find what they needed.

The issue above is why I decided to start using a writing office. Instead of crumpled and messy papers being pulled from a writing folder. My students now had everything they needed right at their fingertips. Let me walk you through creating a beautiful, interactive, and helpful writing office for students. 

Creating an Interactive Writing Folder or Writing Office 

The writing process can be challenging for students. Trying to figure out the correct punctuation, letter formation, spelling, etc., can make writing a very long process in kindergarten. This step-by-step guide is going to make the whole thing easier! 

Step 1: Decide on a Folder Style

You can create a writing office out of any writing folder. If you ask for a pocket folder at the beginning of the year, use that. If you like the look of a file folder better, use that. It all depends on the writing office style you are looking for. Also, if you plan to let students take the writing offices home at the end of the year. If a student brought in the folder off the supply list. It’s always best to send it home at the end of the year. 

I normally use two file folders glued together. But look at how much information you want to include inside your writing office. You may only need one.

Step 2: Prepare Supplies

After that, you are going to get your supplies together. Depending on how unique you want the writing office, you may choose to include different things for different students. Students who know their letters and can form them correctly may not need an alphabet in their writing folder. In contrast, a student who was a nonreader and doesn’t know their letters could greatly benefit from one. 

Some of the items I like to include in my writing folder office are:

• Alphabet
• Color words
• Shape words
• Punctuation helper
• Vowels (short/long)
• Diagraphs
• Sight words
• Writing Checklist
• Topic cards (see below 👇)

These are just a few things you can include in your writing office. Other teachers who teach 2nd grade and up often include items like an editing and revising checklist, synonyms/antonyms charts, etc. The content of your writing folder office is totally dependent on what students need and often the grade you teach. 

Step 3: Create Writing Folder Office 

Now, you are going to want to put your folder altogether. You may choose to make it bigger by gluing two together so they can stand or keep it smaller.  Putting the sight word organizer in the center of the writing office has always worked best for me. Sight words seem to be the ones that my students were constantly asking me about. There are many ways to change the sight words list if a child needs a different list or you want to customize it. I then surround it with other helpful charts and information.

Since I use writing folders year after year, I laminate my folder once I have placed everything for durability. This way, I only need to replace the folder when it starts to fall apart or messy. 

One of my favorite parts of my writing office is the topic cards. I use the sticky note pouches from Target. I even think you can grab them on Amazon now too. These are placed after laminating. I then switch out the topic cards each month, season, holiday, etc. It gives students ideas and helps them spell seasonal-specific words.

I walk you through my setup in my Writing Office Product Preview. Just click here.

Step 4: Use To Enhance Writing

This time of the year is when students become more comfortable with writing, and everything starts to ramp up. Students are becoming more confident in their writing ability and want to show it all off. By using a writing folder office, students who may need a little help will not only be able to work more independently, but students who already have the confidence will gain even more independence! 

I love using these writing folders with my writing journals. The confidence I see in my students is amazing, and I love reading their journal entries that are now full of correctly spelled sight words and great punctuation. You can read more about how I use writing journals over here in this blog post. 

Writing Folder Offices 

Using a writing folder for more than just storing papers is a great way to give students the materials they need while working and gives you the opportunity to work with students without being interrupted by students who are unsure of how to spell sight words or can’t figure out which way a “b” o “d” goes!

Don’t forget to grab the writing office supplies here.