If you’re an SLP in the schools, then I bet you use or have previously used = WORKING FOLDERS! I kind of have a love-hate relationship with them. I love how easy and convenient they are during therapy, but I don’t enjoy all of the prep work. Here’s what I put in my working folders: IEP at a glance sheet, copy of IEP goals, data collection and attendance sheets, student specific visuals/materials, and student work!

Let’s jump into each of those now!

Set Up for Working Folders

To set up working folders, I simply buy a bunch of 10 cents folders at Wal-Mart in a variety of colors. Then I write my students names on them and place them in labeled bins by grade!

Copy of IEP Goals

This is pretty obvious right? You need to see the goals you are working on! You can definitely re-write them or re-type them on your own fancy paper, but I prefer to not re-invent the wheel. (Work smarter, not harder is my motto!)

In order to get this easily, I login to my district’s IEP management software. (We use SpedTrack) From there, I can select the option to bulk print all of my student’s IEP goal sheets. I can also tweak it to just show the goals that I am implementer on! Crazy cool and crazy EASY!

Once I have them all printed, it’s easy to just slide them into the folders! I will short hand them when I write them on my data collection and IEP at a glance page, but it’s nice to have the complete/wordy version if needed.

IEP at a Glance Sheet

This piece of paper allows you to have all the information you need right at your fingertips! It also really helps with updating your student’s Present Levels component in their IEP. You can make student specific notes and keep your instruction/therapy as individualized as possible!

You can get the version I use from my TPT store!

Data Collection / Attendance Sheets

A lot of therapists choose to have these as separate sheets but I prefer to have it all in one place. It’s more effective, and I’m always looking to make things go faster so I don’t have to bring work home! I’ll write an entire post about the various ways that I’ve collected data to give you some new ideas. If you’re a paper person, then check out this fast and easy data collection sheet! It includes attendance!

Student Specific Materials / Work

If we’re in the schools and treating students off of an IEP, then it’s crucial that we actually do the individualized component! A great way to do this is to have student specific materials. For example, do you have a speech sound student that based on his/her errors has certain words that are excellent targets? Keep exactly what you need in their working folder! Some students do great with certain visuals. Keep a copy or a reminder of this in their working folder!

Working folders are also great for storing students’ work! Once they complete a worksheet, craft, or writing task – quickly slide it into their folders! It’s easy storage and great for sharing with caregivers at annual IEP review meetings or at the end of the year.

I love using working folders and my students love having something that’s just for them! It also keeps me organized and therefore sane!

Do you use working folders? Do you include these items? Let me know!

– Chloe B | School SLP

For more ideas related to managing your caseload, check out this blog post on Scheduling!