File Folder Games

One thing I've figured out over the years as a tutor

is if you make learning fun,

kids will soar in their growth.

These file folder games have been used

many times across many ability levels.

Most of "my" kids have special needs,

but they each need support in a different way.

Comprehension, decoding skills, dyslexia, inference,

writing elements and math phobia

are some of the areas these games help with.

They are a big hit with all of my students.

They require very little effort and few materials.

I use cardstock that I have around the house

for scrapbooking or card making.

You can also use actual file folders

found in any office supply store.

This game helps kids with basic story elements

as well as with distinguishing different types of nouns.

The front cover shows the name of the game

and the skill that is being practiced.

The back cover houses the materials needed

to complete the project.

Double-sided tape holds the baggie onto the back.

Velcro keeps everything in place.

It's not necessary most of the time,

but some kids

(especially kids with autism and/or sensory issues)

benefit from the added

 kinesthetic factor.

This can also help hone fine motor skills.

This particular contraction game allows

the creator to include extra examples

for those students who may need more practice.

Let students come up with new examples.

Math skills can be reinforced through these games as well.

This one would be great for a unit study on marine life.

Directions can be placed opposite the game board,

so that students may work independently, if desired.

Sometimes the directions are on the front...

and both the materials and answer key are on the back.

Kids use the honor system and can practice on their own.

This clock game not only reviews time skills,

but adds reading practice, as the answers are given

both with numbers and words.

Here's one I came up with on my own.

One of my students had difficulty

with the concept of the main idea of the story.

A visual cue was in order.

The directions are displayed on the inside cover.

This game allows for a bit more creativity,

as students are encouraged to use their imaginations

to create a story based on the pictures provided.

Pictures are gathered from magazines or newspapers

and a few phrases are developed to match each photo.

This game can be remade over and over

with new pictures and text.

Again, this one would be great for a themed unit.

What I like about this game is that it is great

for kids who need help with inference.

You can customize this game to the child's current level

and then make it increasingly more challenging

as skills are acquired.

Sometimes you can find gameboards

complete with spinners that are easy to make. 

This game is an introduction to shapes,

but it could be altered in a myriad of ways

depending on subject, area of interest and ability level.

There are many games available to practice grammar skills

like homophones, synonyms, and helping verbs.

This type of game doesn't require a folder,

so I simply place the materials in a baggie

and put a label on it for easy reference.

Most of these games are easy enough to create with

whatever materials you may have at home.

Below is a wonderful resource that I use all the time

to create new games or get inspired.

There are others, but this one is free!

Check it out!

http://www.filefolderfun.com/

Hope you have some little someone

with whom to share a love of learning!

“I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

Mark Twain