Suggestions for Organizing School Work
From That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week by Ana Homayoun
(2010)
& Seeing My Time by MaryDee Sklar
(2012)
Supplies needed:
- A 1” binder for each subject –
total 5 binders – different colors
- 5 packs of 5 tabbed dividers for
each subject (For an example, see: http://www.staples.com/write+on+tab+dividers/directory_write-on+tab+dividers)
- A pack of 5 dividers –
transparent, with pockets (sometimes these are with the folders) For an
example, see: http://www.staples.com/Avery-Two-Tone-Double-Pocket-Insertable-Plastic-Tab-Dividers-5-Tab/product_710149?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:710149&KPID=710149
- Loose-leaf paper, with a reinforced
edge, 3-hole punched
- A backpack that is big enough to
fit 5 binders, plus a planner, comfortably
- 3-hole punch
- Planner, provided by school, or a
“friendlier” one, such as http://orderoochaos.com/shop-products#!/~/product/category=5059090&id=21117059
1.
Have a separate binder for each
subject. Each binder should be 1”, with 5 tabbed dividers. (If there is a
subject with very little paperwork, like wood shop or health, get a ½” binder
for that class.)
Obviously, if a teacher requests something different, such as a 2” binder, get
that for that class.
2.
Put one clear transparent
pocket divider in the 3-rings, in the front of everything else. This is where
you will stuff any papers that need to go back and forth from school to home.
3.
Behind the transparent pocket
divider, put one pack of 5 dividers: (1) notes, (2) homework, (3) handouts, (4)
tests/quizzes and (5) blank paper. Write these labels on the top of each tabbed
divider.
4.
In the very front of the first
divider, put the syllabus for the class.
5.
Do not use spiral binders or spiral notebooks. Use loose-leaf paper
from the back of the binder.
If a teacher specifies a spiral binder,
he or she may want you to paste papers into it, such as science labs or history
hand outs. This can get very messy, since the handout is usually the same size
as the spiral binder. See if you can find a Science Lab Book, which is bound
and bigger than 8 ½ x 11, or a spiral binder with the spiral on the top rather
than the side. These are easier to work with over the semester. For an example,
see: http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.ACCT126734/it.A/id.195/.f
Using This System:
At school, take the binder you need for your
class with you. Put it on the desk, open it up, and take out one piece of paper
to take notes. When taking notes is finished, put it in the “Notes” section.
If you are in a rush, just put any notes or
other papers you get in the clear pocket in front.
When you get home, take out all your folders,
one at a time. Go through the papers in the front clear pocket. Put any notes
in the Notes section. Do any homework you need to do, and put it back in the
clear plastic folder to turn in.
If you get back any handouts or
quizzes/tests, punch them with the 3-hole punch and put in the correct place.
·
Everything should be 3-hole
punched.
·
At the end of every semester or
quarter, take everything out of the binders and file them at home.
HANDOUTS: Papers of information that the
teacher hands out go here. This is not homework. Sometimes, it might
make sense to put some of these under the “notes” section. You decide in that
case.
QUIZZES/TESTS: Quizzes
are the bases for tests; tests are the bases for final exams. Keep all quizzes
and tests, even ones that don’t have a good grade. It is useful to go back and
review those ones in particular! (Parents: do not stress out so much about a
bad score – your child may try to “hide” those quizzes from you, and then they
get lost.)
PAPER: Reinforced paper is one of the
best things ever invented. The back of each binder should have twenty to thirty
sheets of this paper. (Otherwise the backpack gets too heavy.)
SCHEDULE A TIME WEEKLY TO ORGANIZE EACH BINDER. Find a time that works for both of
you and one of your parents. For example, Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Once
you get used to this, you can go through 7 binders in less than one hour.
Some students, especially those with ADHD,
need to organize their binders daily. “Having a time every night to
check binders and planners, organize papers, and get assignments sorted out
will probably be an essential part of their daily structure. … For many of
these kids, a timer is essential. For instance, setting a timer for
twenty minutes before your son starts a homework block for him to clean out his
binders, recycle necessary papers, make sure all homework is in his planner,
and get any necessary materials to the space where he or she will be doing
homework will help him or her to be able to complete the work with less
distractions.”
PLANNER: Ideally, the school planner will have the block schedules noted
on each page. It should have enough room in each block / column to write down
the assignments. If it is too small or crowded, find another (larger) planner
at an office supply store.
