Alphabet Sort File Folder

Saturday, July 30, 2016
Let's talk preschool.  Doing preschool with one little or multiple littles can be a challenge. 

Scenario: It's time for preschool, but if your a SAHM like me, some mornings are unpredictable. Maybe your little split their ENTIRE bowl of cereal on the ground, and as soon as you clean up that you find their water spilled in the kitchen, and then as soon as you clean up that you find them hypnotized by Paw Patrol and their sitting in a puddle of pee {have I mentioned I'm deathly afraid of potty training??}. And it's all you can do to throw on those comfortable leggings, a t shirt, and throw your hair in a mom bun {let's be honest, I rock those every day}, before the door bell rings and the littles are here from your preschool swap group.  Crap.  Or even if you are doing preschool alone, it's that designated time for preschool, but you're not ready for it yet. And think to yourself, Maybe we will just skip today. 

Two words: File Folders

File folder games have multiple purposes. For preschool, they are perfect for when you need that time filler.  I have multiple file folder games on hand.  If I need a few minutes to gather myself for preschool, then we start preschool that day with a file folder game. I call them "invitations to learn." I choose the games that are at P's level or a give him a little challenge. But then, here's the kicker, he chooses the file folder game. Let your little take charge of their learning. Next, he sits at his work area while I grab the materials needed for his preschool lessons that day.  Every couple of minutes, I will check on his progress, give him some direction, and then remove myself again so he can work independently.  See the beauty of it! It makes it very easy to manage one little or many littles.  This also works great if some kids are finishing up a project, but one or two finish early. File Folder Games. They are still engaged in learning, which makes little disruption, which makes less stress for you! 

So here is the file folder game we are introducing to you today. 



It's an alphabet sort for uppercase and lowercase letters. It's a pretty easy concept, just place the uppercase letters on the uppercase seaweed, and the lowercase letters on the lowercase seaweed.


It always makes me smile how much P loves velcro.  I am a serious lover of velcro. It's like my duct tape. To me, velcro can fix anything. I blame my addiction to velcro on the carpet walls I had in my classroom.  Any other teachers out there who had to decorate with carpet walls??

To make a file folder game, glue the cover on the front, the two sheets of paper on the inside of the folder, and the directions on the back.  Send the file folder OPEN through the laminator.  Send each pufferfish card also through separately. Cut the extra lamination off the ends.  Finally, place the velcro on the seaweed, and the other half on the card. Easy as that!

But hey. We get it. You're busy. So if you would rather have us make it and ship it to you, you can buy it here. But, it honestly can be super easy to make if you have the time! So feel free to buy the printable here or here.

Stay tuned for bundles of file folders!



4 comments

  1. I'm wanting to start preschool with my toddler. Do you have a laminator you use and love or do you go somewhere to have it laminated?

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    Replies
    1. Good for you!! If there are any specific concepts you want to teach, let us know and we can help create activities for you to use! As for laminating, Neoloni does have a small laminator at her house that can laminate papers up to 8 1/2 by 11. I don't! So I either by lamination pouches (I'll put the link below this comment), or I go to a copy shop like Staples and have them laminate there! But if you want to use the activities over and over again I definitely recommend laminating!
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004TS60/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470875157&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=lamination+pouches+self+sealing&dpPl=1&dpID=517LWIcSDwL&ref=plSrch

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    2. Oh, thank you. My daughter doesn't say much at this point so I'm trying to give her lots of one on one time and use things that are simple that might encourage speech. I really love this site and am so happy I stumbled upon it.

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    3. Oh, thank you. My daughter doesn't say much at this point so I'm trying to give her lots of one on one time and use things that are simple that might encourage speech. I really love this site and am so happy I stumbled upon it.

      Delete