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A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Privacy Folders

Happy Sunday night to you . . . and for all of you Big Bro watchers out there, I’m just sick, sick, SICK that Aaryn is HOH this week.  Bleck.

I’m jumping on here to write a quick post.  Although jumping is not really the right word.  I think if you know me at all, you would know that jumping is something I just do not do. 

I’ve seen some people around the blogs and on Facebook and here and there and everywhere talking about privacy folders.  Test folders.  Giant fences in which kids set up on their desks in order to cut down on all the looking and spying and cheating happening in first grade.  I mean, it’s rampant.  Those kids will just help one another out like we’re a big ole family and one for all and all for one.  Which is what I tell them almost every day except when it comes to a test.  And then I’m all, “You may NOT help your neighbor, you may NOT help your best friend, you may NOT beg your buddy for an answer, you may NOT talk to anyone, this is a SERIOUS test that the powers-that-be think we need to take and they forgot you were only six years old and as friendly as the day is long.”

I hate tests.  Even as an adult, I can’t stand the part of a staff meeting when we’re supposed to think quietly on our own and write something down on a sticky.  (Even worse is writing down what our group came up with on chart paper.)

Anywho . . . I know you can buy some expensive test/privacy shield/barbed wire fences from some wonderful places.  But if, instead, you’d rather spend your money on pom poms and paper lanterns and new Adirondack chairs for your library, well then I have a possible solution for you.  And you don’t have to write anything on a sticky or chart paper, either.

Manila Folder.
Label.
Student Number.
I mean, is it just me or does this resemble
a barbed wire fence to you, too?
I just used double-sided tape.
I suppose you could use glue.
Whatever you like.
This is the front.  It lays flat.  I teach my kids
to put this at the bottom of their book stack 
(aka, gigantic mess) inside their desk.
Would you believe that I’m missing folder #7?
How does a kid lose a huge folder like this?
How did I not see student #7 shove this in his
backpack because he loved it so much?
You have a million options here.
1.  Use different colors of file folders!  You could color code them by table group or importance or red means stop or blue is calm or whatever you prefer!
*Why didn’t I?  Well, I can have up to 32 kiddos so the plain manila ones were cheaper.  And more abundant.  
2.  Glue scrapbook paper on top!  Cutesify it!  
*Why didn’t I?  Well, I can have up to 32 kiddos so the idea of gluing scrapbook paper to the top of 32×2 folders required me to open a bottle of wine instead.
3.  Glue helper thingamajigs on it, such as the alphabet or sight words or ten frames or whatever.  The ideas are endless.
*Why didn’t I?  Well, why do you need helper thingamajigs when my kids can just stand up and look over their privacy folder and their friend’s privacy folder to see what their friend wrote?  Who needs a helper?
4.  That’s it.  I’m sort of out of ideas.
My folders are three years old.  They have held up extremely well. This is the first year that I had a kid steal accidentally put a folder into their backpack without the kids or even me seeing so I have to make another one.  I also have a set of six that I keep at my back table for when I have to do small group district testing.
My kids grow quite attached to their folders and pull them out when they want to get away from the other kids at their table group.  Instead of giving their friend THE HAND, they just angrily pull out their privacy folder and prop it up on their desk with a loud thunk and a huff and then the rest of us get the message.  Loud and clear.  This kid is having a bad day.  And she would like to work alone, thankyouverymuch.
So there you go.
My cheap way of having 32 of these:
  
{source}
Alright.  There.  I’m off to make a folder #7.  
I still don’t get how he took off with that folder . . . 

Comments

  1. Jill says

    This what I use also, I let the kiddos decorate them on the outside only. I love these and agree with you why pay the big bucks.

    • Amber O. says

      I do this exact same thing as Jill, and we call them "offices", though "Take out your barbed-wire fences" has a nice appeal;)
      I let my kids take them home each year, since I'm fortunate enough to have my school buy these in bulk year after year. Costs me 0$…can't beat that!
      SynonymRolls&AntonymMoments

  2. Emily says

    A mom made me heavy cardboard ones way back when and they have lasted. But some kids wrote in them and somehow I don't have a full class set anymore. I like your idea.

  3. Polka Dots and Teaching Tots says

    I had to laugh at your chart paper comment. My least favorite phrase in the world is "We're going to jigsaw this article and then your group will chart your responses so we can all take a museum walk and learn about the rest of the article!" Ahh!!! I hear that and my head screams "RUN!!"

    Polka Dots & Teaching Tots

  5. cwhaccent says

    I absolutely love reading your blogs. They always make me laugh. Please continue to keep us laughing. 🙂

  6. Kim says

    heeheehee
    I'm with you BlogBuddy! One minute I'm pleading with them to help their tablemates… The next minute I am asking them to do their own work. No wonder they're confused.
    I am missing math books #19 and #23. No sixth grader I know wanted to KEEP a math book. Consequently, the possibilities are endless…
    I know you will sleep better when folder #7 is back in the stack. And those little bears are there to keep your kiddos company. So your folders are just right… and now you can focus on other things that make you happy!

    🙂
    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

  7. Jamie Huerta says

    I loved this post! I can totally relate to sticky notes & staff meetings:).

    Jamie
    Laughloveteachlearn.blogspot.com

  8. Jill Sloothaak says

    I think you would be impressed with my privacy folder concept — two manila folders NOT EVEN taped together. I like your idea better. I think I'll be taping in the next few weeks! It doesn't take much to inspire me!!

    🙂

    Jill
    ABCs and Polkadots

  9. Jennifer Ross says

    I do the same thing!!! Except I just staple them…much quicker, because I hate tape! lol

  10. Mrs. Anderson says

    Thanks for making laugh out loud AGAIN! I can totally relate to you on the sticky notes and group sharing on chart paper at staff meetings!! You have such a way with words!!!!
    Connie Anderson:)
    Welcome To First Grade Room 5

  11. Patty Rutenbar says

    Agreed about Aaron! She's EVIL! Just wait till she watches herself on reruns!

    We also call them offices and make outs out if poster board. (Our school is near a paper plant that gives us as much as we want.) We trifold them also. We write encouraging words or phrases on them like: you can do it, think hard, do your best, see how smart you are, etc. it really helps to give them privacy when ever they need it. We also encourage them to use them when they are talking to neighbors instead of working. So it doesn't have to be just a testing thing. It can be used anytime.

    Did you see in the tabloids that one if the three bachelors leaves on his own tonight? Dun dun dun!
    Patty

  12. Andrea says

    We also call them office in my class. I laminated mine and they have lasted at least three years, but more like four or five – I've lost count.

    When we have to write on chart paper in staff meetings, I always make sure I do the writing so when it comes time to share with the whole group I don't have to since I've already done a job. 😉

    Tales from a Schoolyard

  13. Jenni Taylor says

    OMG – I'm still laughing after reading your post … my "offices" went home this year with my kiddos because I swear a couple of them took a bite out of them! I used two files folders like you and tried to put something inspirational inside "You can do this!" Your staff meeting comments are exactly my feelings as well! I cringe inside when the chart paper rolls out; I mean, I've used chart paper all day long with my kiddos and now you want me to use it again with adults! And finally – Aaryn – there are not even any words – she's driving me nuts! Glad to hear that you think so too. Keep me laughing, please!!! Love the blog!

  14. Rich In Happiness says

    THANK YOU! I couldn't stop chuckling when I read the part about kids using the folder when having a bad day. Sometimes I wish **I** could pop up a privacy folder, too. Maybe I'll make one for my next staff meeting. 😉

    I paid for a set of the pricey privacy shields but of course with 32 kids now I'd have to order another set. Instead, I think I'm going to just get busy with my manila folders and save myself some $$.

  15. Dusty Drosche says

    Ugh, Aaryn! I LOVE your folders and think I will be making some myself. Awesome!

  16. Mrs. Cockrell says

    I use the same thing, and I think mine are like, uh, seriously old. They are lookin' a BIT shabby. And not decorated at all. Unless you count pencil holes. Ahem.

    Gayla
    Teach On.

  17. Evelyn says

    Tell me about it I prefer to spend my money on cute fun stuff . I call my folders "offices" ! The kids love the idea and feel grown . Yes I have an allergic reaction to cubicles/offices and that's why I teach.

  19. Mary says

    Love it! 🙂 Adding them to my to do list. Thanks!

  20. Jennifer White says

    I staple mine and it works fine…never thought about double sided tape! =) I create new ones out of old file folders each year and the kids get to decorate them!
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

  22. Ellen says

    I used some for the first time this year because a student wanted privacy, but she drew pictures on it because she said it was too boring! LOL

  23. Daphne says

    Wonderful idea! My daughters will love this.

  24. Rogersteachfirst says

    Great idea and thanks for making me laugh! I love your lack of pretentiousness!!!

  25. Christine Eileen says

    I am looking to number my privacy folders as well but here's my question:

    How do you efficiently store your privacy folders for easy distribution and collection?

    Please, help!

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