How to Organize Your Middle School Binder
Sort your papers by class., Go through each stack and remove old papers., See if you can fit the remaining papers into one binder., Insert a colored divider into your binder for each class., Insert a three-hole folder into each class section., Use a...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Sort your papers by class.
If your binder or notebooks are full of notes from different classes, in no particular order, start by arranging them into separate piles.
Arrange these piles in a row according to the order you attend those classes. -
Step 2: Go through each stack and remove old papers.
Remove graded work and old assignment instructions, and store them in a separate binder or folder to leave at home and help you study for tests.
Set aside classwork from previous years, returned projects, and non-school-related papers.
Save any of these that you think will be useful for studying, along with any projects you or your parents want to keep for your own enjoyment.
Throw away the rest.
Keep the "at home" binder or folders in an obvious place where they won't get lost in clutter, such as on a bookshelf in your room. , Having just one binder for all your classes can be great for keeping yourself organized, since you don't have to keep track of a separate notebook for each class.If you have a giant stack of papers, try to separate them into two binders using one of these systems:
Try using one binder for classes before lunch, and one binder for classes after lunch.
If you have a locker at your school, you only need to carry one of these around at a time, but remember to pick up both before you leave for the day.If your school has Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes and Tuesday-Thursday classes, separate your papers into two binders so you only need to take one binder to school each day.
Remember to put the right binder in your backpack the night before each school day. , Dividers are just a colored sheet of paper, usually with a small tab where you can write the name of a class.
Put colored dividers into the binder in the order your classes happen.
For instance, if your first class is math and your second is English, put a blue divider labeled "Math" at the front of your binder, followed by a red divider labeled "English."
Two-pocket folders are a great tool to have, since they let you put in and take out papers without having to open and close the binder rings.Don't use this for all papers.
It's best for handouts or homework assignments that are due in the next day or two, since they won't be staying in the binder for long. , Most classes have a syllabus, assignment list, or other papers that you need to look at throughout the semester.
For each class, find a plastic sleeve or "sheet" protector with three holes and put it in the binder after the folder for that class.
Keep each important paper in a separate sleeve to protect it from tearing. , Before you put the rest of the papers in your binder, organize the papers from each class from oldest to newest.
If you have more than fifteen papers in the stack, use white paper dividers to organize them into categories.
These are blank sheets with tabs, just like the colored plastic dividers you already have in there, but the different look should make it obvious that they divide papers within one class, instead of dividing multiple classes.Here are some examples of how you could divide papers from one class into multiple sections:
For almost any class, you could use three white paper dividers labeled "Handouts," "Homework," and "Notes." If a teacher gives you tests on specific topics, organize your class material by those topics to make studying easier.
For instance, label your English class dividers "Reading Assignments" and "Vocabulary."
Once you've decided how to sort your papers, put each paper after the colored divider for its class, and after the white divider for its category if you are using those.
Sort your papers in each section from earliest to latest, to make them easier to find. , Put in about ten to twenty sheets of lined paper for each class.
You'll almost certainly need more than this during the semester, but you don't need to add it all now.
Keeping less paper in your binder makes it easier to find specific notes, and reduces the weight you need to carry around every day.
Add graph paper for your math or science classes if your teacher requests it. -
Step 3: See if you can fit the remaining papers into one binder.
-
Step 4: Insert a colored divider into your binder for each class.
-
Step 5: Insert a three-hole folder into each class section.
-
Step 6: Use a plastic sleeve to protect important papers.
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Step 7: Organize your other papers to see if you need white dividers.
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Step 8: Put in the rest of your papers.
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Step 9: Add lined paper for taking notes.
Detailed Guide
If your binder or notebooks are full of notes from different classes, in no particular order, start by arranging them into separate piles.
Arrange these piles in a row according to the order you attend those classes.
Remove graded work and old assignment instructions, and store them in a separate binder or folder to leave at home and help you study for tests.
Set aside classwork from previous years, returned projects, and non-school-related papers.
Save any of these that you think will be useful for studying, along with any projects you or your parents want to keep for your own enjoyment.
Throw away the rest.
Keep the "at home" binder or folders in an obvious place where they won't get lost in clutter, such as on a bookshelf in your room. , Having just one binder for all your classes can be great for keeping yourself organized, since you don't have to keep track of a separate notebook for each class.If you have a giant stack of papers, try to separate them into two binders using one of these systems:
Try using one binder for classes before lunch, and one binder for classes after lunch.
If you have a locker at your school, you only need to carry one of these around at a time, but remember to pick up both before you leave for the day.If your school has Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes and Tuesday-Thursday classes, separate your papers into two binders so you only need to take one binder to school each day.
Remember to put the right binder in your backpack the night before each school day. , Dividers are just a colored sheet of paper, usually with a small tab where you can write the name of a class.
Put colored dividers into the binder in the order your classes happen.
For instance, if your first class is math and your second is English, put a blue divider labeled "Math" at the front of your binder, followed by a red divider labeled "English."
Two-pocket folders are a great tool to have, since they let you put in and take out papers without having to open and close the binder rings.Don't use this for all papers.
It's best for handouts or homework assignments that are due in the next day or two, since they won't be staying in the binder for long. , Most classes have a syllabus, assignment list, or other papers that you need to look at throughout the semester.
For each class, find a plastic sleeve or "sheet" protector with three holes and put it in the binder after the folder for that class.
Keep each important paper in a separate sleeve to protect it from tearing. , Before you put the rest of the papers in your binder, organize the papers from each class from oldest to newest.
If you have more than fifteen papers in the stack, use white paper dividers to organize them into categories.
These are blank sheets with tabs, just like the colored plastic dividers you already have in there, but the different look should make it obvious that they divide papers within one class, instead of dividing multiple classes.Here are some examples of how you could divide papers from one class into multiple sections:
For almost any class, you could use three white paper dividers labeled "Handouts," "Homework," and "Notes." If a teacher gives you tests on specific topics, organize your class material by those topics to make studying easier.
For instance, label your English class dividers "Reading Assignments" and "Vocabulary."
Once you've decided how to sort your papers, put each paper after the colored divider for its class, and after the white divider for its category if you are using those.
Sort your papers in each section from earliest to latest, to make them easier to find. , Put in about ten to twenty sheets of lined paper for each class.
You'll almost certainly need more than this during the semester, but you don't need to add it all now.
Keeping less paper in your binder makes it easier to find specific notes, and reduces the weight you need to carry around every day.
Add graph paper for your math or science classes if your teacher requests it.
About the Author
Teresa Young
Brings years of experience writing about lifestyle and related subjects.
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