School Binder Organization Tips

Organizing a school binder is one of the first steps to becoming a successful student. Susan Mulcaire, author of "Addressing the Middle School Organizational Skills Conundrum," notes that "the binder should be organized so that the student is able to file, find and retrieve papers and information quickly. Papers should be separated by class, and long term handouts stored in sheet protectors, in the correct binder section" (see "References" below). A few tips can help you organize your binder to ensure academic success.

Folders

Clearly label a folder for each class in your schedule and place the folders in a large, three-ring binder. Designate one side of the folder for homework and the other for long term handouts. Susan Mulcaire suggests that each subject have a "send/receive" sub-section, where you can tuck homework and papers that travel between school and home (see "References").

Note taking

Separate folders with a section of paper for taking notes in each class. By keeping notes and hand-outs close together, you will eliminate the stress of frantically hunting through papers when it's time to study for a test or quiz.

Assignment Notebook

Place an assignment notebook in the front of your binder. Dr. Mark Edwards at the Center for Effective Parenting notes: "Your child will need a pad or notebook to write down daily assignments, test dates, project instructions, and other important school information." (See "References" below.) Writing down assignments is key to managing many tasks, but is useless if you can't find where you wrote down the due dates. Placing the assignment notebook in the front of your binder ensures that all your materials will be in one place.

Binder Maintenance

During the chaos of the school year, binders easily can become messy and disorganized. Set aside time at least one day a month to throw away old materials and add notebook paper. This activity will help keep your binder organized and prevent it from overflowing.

References

• Addressing the Middle School Organizational Skills Conundrum
• Center for Effective Parenting