How to Organize Your Binder for School

Co-authored by Caitlin Jaymes

Last Updated: December 15, 2022 References Approved

Having a neat, organized binder will set you up for success throughout the school year. Check out the tips below to learn the best, most effective way to organize your binder for school. Say goodbye to messy loose papers and lost homework assignments for good!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

What You'll Need

1
Check your school supply list. If your school has a school supply list, you'll need to follow that as best you can. Not necessarily to the letter, but try to have whatever binders or folders/notebooks, calculators, etc. that the teacher wants.^{[1]
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2
Gather your materials. Make sure you have the essential school supplies and materials for your binder such as pencils, erasers, highlighters, sticky notes, coloured pens and so on. Many people prefer to put these supplies inside their backpack, but it's better to keep them in your binder so you would have them wherever you go and don't forget them in your backpack.^{[2]
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3
Make sure you get a binder that you're comfortable with. Some binders are made just for separate subjects and others are made to place all your subjects in one binder. There are many types, so pick the one you want!^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Organizing Your Binder

1
Pick a binder style that works for you. Basically, there's 3 options: 1 big binder (3 inch) for everything, a bunch of little binders, (1 inch or half inch, 1 for each class) or 3 or 4 medium sized-binders (1 and a half to 2 inches). Some people like to carry around a small binder at school and transfer their old work to a bigger binder at home(3inch). Then their bag won't be too heavy with the extra weight from textbooks and notebooks. Pick whichever one your school allows/you want.
2
Buy a good-quality binder. Your binder is something you want to last through the whole year and some of the binders available definitely will not. Remember that sometimes it is worth the extra couple of dollars to get a long-lasting binder.
3
Buy dividers. You must have dividers. Preferably with pockets, so you don't need folders. They're not expensive, depending on how many you buy. They usually come in packs of 5 and 8. Get dividers with pockets. Select plastic or laminated paper dividers as plain paper ones may get ripped or crinkled more easily.
4
Clearly label each divider with whatever subject/class you want.^{[4]
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Research source} It's helpful to have the dividers in order of your classes. i.e. If math is your first class, then your first divider would be math.
- Label the spine of the binder too, so you can see what class or subject the binder is for when you stack it in your locker or on a bookshelf.
5
Have something to take notes on/in. Notes are an important part of getting into higher grades. The older you get, the more notes you'll take, so have a spiral or some paper to take notes. (If your school doesn't allow spirals, because some don't, get a composition book and put it in the pocket of that subject's divider.
6
Keep lined paper. Your pencil bag, and your planner/agenda at the front of your binder, because these are important materials that you use most often. Keep your schedule in a page protector at the front, or slip it in the clear front of your binder.
7
Keep your binder in order either from the order of your classes, by color, etc. If you keep your binder in order either by color or by classes or any other method, you will have no trouble whatsoever during the school year. It'll be so much easier to find your papers!
8
Try keeping a binder for each class. Some classes require a binder specifically for their subject.
9
Have dividers for each subject. Organize your work and notes into categories such as notes, grades, homework, assignments.^{[5]
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Try color-coding your subjects. For example: let's say science is blue. You'd get a blue half-inch binder, blue dividers (if you can, because most dividers come multicolored), a blue folder, blue highlighter- whatever else you need for science would be blue. Everything. So if you're trying to pack for science, in your locker you'd see a blue binder and folder- you'd know immediately that's science.
11
Try to keep everything you might need inside your binder. For some subjects, you need specific things and it is easier to keep that object in your binder. Another thing which is really useful is an insertable binder hole punch which will ensure you place all your papers in WHEN you get them. If you don't do this then your binder won't be as organised.

Community Q&A

Question

What is an insertable hole puncher?

Community Answer

It is a hole puncher that has holes where you can link it into your binder. You should be able to purchase these at Staples or any other school/ office supply store.
Question

How do I put in the scissors and other things?

Community Answer

They make pencil cases to go in your binder, so you can put your scissors, glue, post-it notes, pencils and so on in your binder.
Question

Would you recommend having a binder that holds everything together, or having multiple zipper binders for each subject so papers don't get lost?

Community Answer

Put holes in everything and don't put things in pockets. Stuff in pockets falls out, and if all of your papers are stacked in a folder, you're more likely to miss or forget to do something.

Warnings

If you are the kind of person who rips paper make sure you don't need it

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Even though your binder will be organized, a zip-up binder is highly recommended. Be careful. If you don't use a zip-up binder, your papers might fall out.

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