so after a discussion in the hs2017 network chat, i thought iād give you a brief outline of/ instructions on how to use the system iāve worked out to keep my binders tidy and also ensure that iām not breaking my back when i carry my backpack to school each day!
1. have binders for every subject youāre taking, and then one more! youāll need a binder for every subject, and then dividers for each. since iām taking six AP classes and band, iām using six 1.5ā³ binders and a single 1ā³ binder! all of these stay at home in my cupboard, and none comes with me to school. each binder is organized slightly differentlyā as the classes varyā but most follow a similar format, which is as follows:
plastic page protector at the front for the syllabus
dividers for homework, tests, notes, and graded work, but this varies
ex: physics has homework, tests, notes, and labs
ex: english has essays, notes, and dividers for each bookĀ
a section in the back for extra graph/ruled paper
2. set up the extra binder! for me, itās the one pictured above, which is a casemate 1ā³ d-ring binder from walmart. itās really important that this has inside pockets in case you receive non-hole punched sheets! the binder covers all my classes, and includes:
a plastic page protector at the front for my schedule (not pictured)
6 numbered dividers, one for each class
extra paper (graph, plain, and lined) at the back
a sheet of hole reinforcementsĀ and a sheet of colour coding labels
3. actually using the system!! i carry with me the one inch binder and leave all the others at home, chiefly so i donāt destroy my back. in the one inch binder, i assign each subject a number (usually in order of my class periods), and store the relevant information from the current chapter iām covering in class so i donāt have anything more than what i need with me. when iām finished with that chapter, i bring the relevant pages home and properly file them in the subject binder.
it really helps to keep you organized, since you have to stay on top of your work and know what youāll need and when! it also saves your back, since you only bring exactly what you need thatās relevant for the current unit, and nothing else. obviously, this wonāt work for everyone, but iāve been doing it since sophomore year and it has yet to fail me.
good luck with this school year, and i hope my tiny tutorial helps you to stay organized!
