Do you teach learner(s) who need a little extra support with spelling? Then, you’ll LOVE our spelling folder.
This spelling folder, made with two folders put together, has changed everything for my 2nd grader. And if you’re a subscriber to my newsletter, you can download all the printables that go with it for FREE!
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Spelling Folder – Foldable Spelling Board with FREE Printables
We’ve used a DIY word wall folder for years, specifically for keeping up with spellings of sight words. But this spelling folder helps kids spell SO many more skills. I also love that it’s portable!
So, just what’s included?
- Number Words (1-20, then by tens to one hundred, thousand, and million)
- b and d letter reversal reminder (using the word bed)
- Color Words
- Phonics Sound Chart – word and picture keys for digraphs, short vowels, bossy r vowels, long vowel sounds, and diphthongs
- Word Endings Chart – word and picture keys for inflected endings
- ALL Sight Words from Dolch PP-3rd grade PLUS Fry’s first 100, second 100, and 3rd 100 words {plus a few added words}
- Handwriting Visuals (I’ve included print and D’Nealian)
- Days of the Week
- Months of the Year
- 2D Shape Names
- 3D Shape Names
- U.S. Coin Names
This folder was developed specifically for my 2nd grader. I know that the needs of all learners are different, so cut and paste away to fit the needs of your learners!
Use resources from the printable spelling folder pack or find even more free spelling resources on my blog! I’ve included lots of links to spelling freebies on the blog in the spelling folder printable pack, too.
Note: These printable resources can be found in color AND in blackline!
Making Your Spelling Folder
Making the foldable spelling board isn’t difficult. Actually, it was kind of fun. 🙂
Start with two folders. I love the colored file folders, but manila folders also work. Be sure to cut the tabs off each folder so they will fold up nicely for easy storage.
Place one folder into the other on one side {like you see in the above picture} and either glue or staple them together. To save on time, I pulled out my long-arm stapler and stapled them.
Staple or glue it well so it won’t come apart when you fold over the sides. If you use glue, I highly recommend rubber cement! Be sure to give your folders time to dry, too.
Print out, cut, and paste {or staple} the printables you want to go on each side. I did not put anything on the very back of our spelling folder, but you could.
I left the front of the folder blank so my daughter could color the cover. She colored the little girl to look like her.
Glue or staple the cover and ask learners to write their name.
Using the Spelling Folder
Now, you have the perfect resource for spelling all ready. BUT…learners, especially struggling spellers, won’t automatically know how to use it. You’ll need to do some modeling, teaching, and practicing.
For a few days, we spent just 2-3 minutes looking at the folder and talking about how to use each section.
Once she was familiar with it, we started playing a little “game” with it. I’d ask, “If I’m spelling a word that has a long a vowel pattern in it, where can I look to help me?” or “If I need to spell the sight word were, where can I find it?”
Please hear me say this:
Do not instruct learner(s) to stop and look up the spelling of every single word they want to write. This could greatly hinder their train of thought as they are getting ideas down on paper (I’m speaking to writing a draft).
Instead, encourage them to try the word to the best of their abilities. Then they can underline the word, if they don’t think they’ve spelled correctly. When they edit their work, they can use the resources in this spelling folder to review their underlined words.
Grab a copy of our spelling folder for your learners by entering your email below!
Enjoy teaching!
~Becky
Becky — I just have to say how much I am loving your website and am now using your freebies on a regular basis. I am one of the sponsors of a Syrian refugee family and the 5th grader is really struggling with learning how to read and write English. I tutor him almost daily, and you have saved me!! I just made this spelling folder for him. Thank you so much!
What a blessing to read this comment! I am so glad you can use it with him!
Wow, such a great resource, thank you so much for taking the time to put it together.
You are welcome! It was a fun one to make!
Thank you for sharing! I have seen these done in classrooms but not with such detail! I originally thought I couldn’t use it because it was in color and my color printer recently stopped working, so I was SOOOOO happy to find you included a black and white version in the download and I also appreciate that you included both forms of handwriting!
You’re welcome! 🙂
I love this! I am also glad for the black and white. The colour would be so nice, but I can’t afford it for my whole class. That printer ink adds up! I share my classroom with a co-teaching French instructor, so bulletin board space is at a premium. This saves me from making the classic Word Wall and I can use that space for other things. I love the portability. Thanks for saving me so much time.
Saving time and space is a great reason to use it! I’m glad it will work for you!
Hi I am trying to get the printables to make this folder for next year but it says not available anymore? Any chance you could sent to me?
It is still available. Do you mind letting me know what internet browser you’re using? I just tried in Chrome and got to the PDF with success.
I love your spelling folder for my emergent readers. I teach in Canada, would you be able to send me a Canadian version using Canadian coins? Thank you
I don’t have plans to change anything on the spelling folder at this time. I do have this post with Canadian coins you might could adapt for your use –> https://thisreadingmama.com/u-s-canadian-coins-pocket-cube-inserts/
This looks great!!! I work in a Special Education classroom and reading assistance is my first love! Thanks.
You’re welcome! I hope you can get lots of use out of it!
This look greats!My children are studying at home .I hope you can get lots of use out of it!
We’ve already gotten quite a bit of use out of it!
Can’t pull up Spelling Folder would love to have
Can not pull up spelling folder> I would love to have it
Try these tips –> https://thisreadingmama.com/downloading-printing-help/
my password for subscribers is not working
You probably are trying to use the old password. The password changed on November 19th. The password will always be at the bottom of your newsletter. I just sent one yesterday. The new password is at the bottom of it.
Thanks a million
Thank you so much for sharing these. I was looking for a good list of sight words for my struggling speller. This is great! It includes so much more than I was originally looking for.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thank you so much this is what i want to teach my niece and my nephew.
Becky,
I absolutely LOVE your ideas! Your self correct activities are perfect for the Montessori environment and your spelling folder fits the bill. I plan on introducing it at the beginning of next school year (2018-2019). Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome! 🙂
I am an inclusion teacher for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. I have many students who struggle with writing and spelling. I was wanting to make a personal word wall myself, but I am so glad I found yours. I think it’s great! And it’ll take a little work off me. haha Thanks!
Yay! Glad I could take some of the work off of you!
Becky,
I can’t even begin to tell you how encouraged I am by your genuineness and your generosity. I am a former classroom teacher who is now a stay at home mom of 4 kids 5 and under. My husband and I prayed a lot and decided that we were supposed to homeschool. Its been a wild ride and until I found your blog I had been creating a lot of my own resources. I can’t tell you how much it blessed me to find another mom, former teacher, with a bundle of kids, who loves the Lord and is using her gifting to bless her family and others. Its easy to feel really discouraged sometimes when I forget the calling I have and the blessings God has given. Thank you so much for doing this blog!
Oh, you are SO welcome. It’s a blessing to be used to bless others!! Yes, the homeschooling road can feel a little lonely and discouraging at times, but my calling always draws me back. 🙂
Thank you for sending this through my email. It makes it easy for my Ell beginners when they finish writing to be able to use the folder to edit their spelling. A great resource!
Awesome! Glad you can use it!
Thank you for making this. I just printed it and put it together. My second grader is excited.
You’re very welcome! I’m glad your second grader is excited about it! My 2nd grader still shows hers off to others. Just yesterday, my son had a friend over and she explained it all to him. 🙂
Thank you very much for making this. Im going to put it all together tonight when I get home and introduce this to my girl who is a kindergarten.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thanks for this. I’m starting my daughter (4yrs) on writing stories (a paragraph really) to keep her mind going and we have a dictionary but that seems daunting for her so having your folder is helping her be more independent.
You’re welcome. I also have one for Kindergarten, if you think that might have more for your daughter -> https://thisreadingmama.com/kindergarten-spelling-folder/
This is a wonderful resource. I had made a few folders for children at our school. Slightly modified to suit our curriculum. Thank you for sharing this great resource idea!
Yay! I’m glad you could use them (and modify them) for your learners. 🙂
This is very clever! What a great resource! Thank you for sharing this!
You’re welcome.
Thank you this has been a great help for my two boys. Do you have a math folder? This would be wonderful. These two subjects are so important for kids. Thanks
I don’t have a math folder and don’t have plans at this time to make one. That is a great idea, though!
Thank you this has been a great help.
Glad to be helpful! 🙂
This is an amazing resource, I am so glad I found your site. Thank you so much for all you do! I teach in The Bahamas, would it be okay if I just put the Bahamian coins over your resource for local use? I don’t want to assume you would like it changed.
If you’re going to put the coins over my resource, it should only be for your own personal use.