If you’ve been a Teachers Pay Teachers follower of mine for the past few years, chances are you know I LOVE to make and use flip books and flip folders – AND if you’re just starting to follow me more recently, you’ll soon become very aware of my love for them!
Before I get started on why I flip for them though, let me give you a brief idea of where I’m coming from with these flip books…
In my teaching career, I can honestly say I have taught and worked with every grade level over the past eleven years – all within the Learning Support and Emotional Support setting. I’ve adapted more assignments/tests/lessons than college ever prepared me for, but that comes with the job title. I DEFINITELY don’t know it all, or have even gotten a glimpse into it all yet, but I can share this little piece of knowledge with you – no matter what the grade level I was teaching I found that students love to flip stuff open to help them find an answer, or even check their work.
Yep. That’s right – from Kindergarten to 12th grade. However, with teenagers, I can’t promise you won’t get a few grumbles at first.
My very first “flip folder” I ever made was an idea I borrowed from the teacher I student taught under. I immediately fell in love with the idea. The flip folder she used was for spelling practice. Some of you might have even used this one before! It was incredibly basic, as you can see in the photo below, and to the point. I used this folder in every elementary placement I taught in.
It is a very easy to use spelling review. The most effort it takes to this is cutting the slits in one side of the folder! I always chose to cut three slits. On Mondays, under the first flap, I would give them their spelling words for that week and we’d do a spelling activity. On Tuesdays or Wednesdays I would give them their spelling words again for them to write under the second flap, as well as incorporate what ever spelling activity I had also planned. I wouldn’t check the students work, but they checked their own using the words I gave them under the first flap. Then, on Thursdays, the third flap was used as a pre-test. Here the students could still check their own words, or sometimes I would collect their folders and check them. The folders lasted for WEEKS and all I needed to do was print out lined column writing paper each week. So simple. Parents also enjoyed having these at home for their children to practice with.
As I taught in the upper grades, I found myself making a lot of “cheat sheets” for my students to use as the material got harder in my room, or in their regular push-in classroom. Some students liked the idea of having a “cheat sheet” and to be completely honest some just threw them away. You’ll have that. Then, as I slowly progressed my role as an inclusion teacher, I saw that my “cheat sheets” weren’t as effective for everyone as I thought. They lost their sheets a lot. It would fall into the bottom-less pit of their book bag, or be shoved somewhere in their binder. It still blows my mind how a math page ends up in a history notebook. A lot of times they couldn’t remember what something I wrote on their sheet meant, so they would quietly call me over in their inclusion class and ask me for help. Or, even worse, if I wasn’t the co-teacher in the classroom they sat their even more confused. I HAD to do something about this.
With the use of a file folder, or in some cases a few pieces of paper stapled together, I made my “cheat sheets” more in depth. I made them easier to understand and follow. I was able to provide a clear set of examples and instructions without being limited to a single piece of paper. I made them so when hole punched they were easier to find in a binder – they became thicker and easier to find. Lastly, I made the students responsible for making their own.
I need to share a proud teacher moment. While teaching in my 8th grade inclusion math class two years ago, I saw one of my students open their binder and use their flip book to help them work on a review sheet about fractions, decimals, and percents. Such a happy teacher moment – and then it got better! A student sitting nearby saw this happen and asked the student using her flip book where she got it from. The next morning during homeroom, I had that student who asked about the flip book standing at my desk asking to make his own! Insert me flipping over flip books now.
Since my time back up in the upper grades these past few years I’ve made quite a few flip books and flip folders. Most were based on the needs of my students, in which case I would upload to my TPT shop to share with all of you. However, recently some were based on teachers e-mailing me with flip books they’d like to see!
When thinking about this blog post, I thought maybe I’d share just one or two. I couldn’t pick just one or two. I love them all. I love the ease of being able to translate higher level concepts for my special education students into words and examples I know they will understand. I love that it’s not only a helpful resource for my students in my classroom while I’m teaching, but it’s also a guide they can rely during independent work, group work, or even homework. AND I really love that thee flip book and flip folders give me peace of mind when my students are out in their regular classes without me.
Through all of this, you might be wondering if it’s only for special education students.
I use these with my learning support students, but they’re definitely not just for special education students. They are perfect in the regular education classes too! All flip books and flip folders I create come pre-made, but they all include blank pages/editable options for you to customize to best fit the needs of YOUR classroom.
“How do you possibly have the time to make these,” is probably another question you have.
My school has a first period that allows for test preparation, it’s almost like a study hall. We make a lot of our flip books and flip folders then – for my students who are pushed out into a co-taught class. During this period I always make a few extra flip books/folders for myself to keep on hand. However, I also will make flip books and flip folders in my classroom during actual lessons. I like to incorporate classroom examples/terms/key phrases we used if I can. Sometimes we make them as a class and sometimes I make them as a center. My flip books and flip folders for upper grades do reflect more of a “cheat sheet” or a reference guide. Where as the ones for lower grades are more hands on – but still great to use as extra help for them at their desk, at home, or even good for a center.
Although I can’t lie, some do take some time to make, BUT they can be used ALL year long, and can be taken with them to the next grade level – if they aren’t totally mangled that is. For example, two years ago I had 6th grader who really struggled with basic multiplication facts, but needed to learn them. He used his Multiplication Flip Folder all of 6th grade and even some of 7th until they were mastered! Ok, now do you see how excited I get over these and why?
I have linked all of my flip books and flip folders below! Just click the on the images. There are detailed descriptions of each flip book and flip folder, as well as examples on their Teacher Pay Teacher product pages. As always, if you have any questions or need more information about a product I’ve made, don’t ever hesitate to e-mail me! I love hearing from you all.
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