Calendar Binder Tips:

□        How to Assemble the Binders

3-ring binders or folders with brads work well.

You could use a zipper pencil pouch in which to store student materials (stickers, numbers...).

Labels on the front and spine of the binder are helpful.

□        When to Incorporate the Binders into the Day

Some teachers do them right before calendar time.

Some teachers do them during calendar time.

Some teachers do them right after calendar time.

Some teachers do them at the end of the day.

Some teachers do them at the beginning of the day.

Point is - - do what’s right for your class.

It takes time the first couple of months.

Time spent on calendar binders is well worth the effort, though.

□        How to Introduce the Binders

Make a binder for yourself.

Model, model, model!

Show students how to do each activity first, then guide them.

Slowly release responsibility.

Some teachers post the pages on the wall, after they’ve been introduced, to further give support.

The pages on the wall are already completed, so students can reference them.

Be patient, because in the end - - you’ll be amazed at their independence and growth!

□        How to Store the Binders

A storage crate (filing crate) can be used to store the binders.

A corner shelf can be used to store the binders.

My corner shelf is actually a “garden tool” storage unit from Wal-Mart’s hardware section.

Days of School Place Value:

□        This is a 9-pocket “sports card” insert from Wal-Mart.

□        They can be found in the 3-ring binder supply section.

□        The 2^nd row is where we indicate the number of days of school using stickers.  One sticker is added to the “ones” card for every day of school.  Once a card has 10 stickers, it moves to the “tens” column.  On the 100^th day of school, the 10 cards with 10 stickers on each card, get bundled together with a paper clip or rubber band and are moved to the “hundreds” column.  The 3^rd row is where we indicate the number of days of school in numbers.

Monthly Calendar:

□        This is calendar.

□        There is one calendar per month.

□        Students write the correct number each day.

□        Weekend days get written on Mondays.

□        We practice counting the days of (month) each day.

□        I start the year with dotted numbers for Sept. and Oct.

□        I also shade the boxes that aren’t used, before printing.

□        Calendars for each month can be sent home at the end of the month or can be stored in the binder.

Monthly Tally Marks:

□        This is a monthly tally mark page.

□        There is one tally mark page per month.

□        Students add a tally mark for each day of the month.

□        Weekend days get added on Mondays.

□        We circle groups of five.

□        We practice counting by fives.

□        We practice counting the tally marks each day.

□        Tally mark pages for each month can be sent home at the end of the month or can be stored in the binder.

Monthly Weather Graph:

□        This is a monthly weather graph page.

□        There is one weather graph page per month.

□        Students determine the weather for the day and graph it.

□        We don’t graph non-school days.

□        We ask and answer “math” questions related to the graph:

Which one has the most?

Which one has the least?

How many more _____ than ______?

□        Weather graph pages for each month can be sent home at the end of the month or can be stored in the binder.

Tooth Tally Charts:

□        This is our tooth chart tally page.

□        There is one tooth chart page for the year.

□        Students report lost teeth and we tally them accordingly.

Monthly Weather Graph:

□        This is a yearly birthday graph page.

□        There is one birthday graph page for the year.

□        Student birthdays are added as they occur.

□        We add a birthday cake label to indicate a birthday.

□        We add the student name or their initials to show who has had the birthday.

□        We ask and answer “math” questions related to the graph:

Which one has the most?

Which one has the least?

How many more _____ than ______?

Monthly Calendar:

□        This is 100s grid. 

□        There is one double-sided 100s grid for the year.

□        Students write the correct number each day of school.

□        The numbers represent “how many days of school.”

□        We practice counting the days of school each day.

□        I start the year with dotted numbers for Sept. and Oct.

□        After the 100^th day, I have traceable numbers for a few days for students to get the hang of how to write numbers larger than 100.