Containerizing My Papers

Once I became motivated to organize my school stuff, I sat down to brainstorm about all the different papers I need to keep track of for each class. I came up with four consistent categories: assignments from teachers (worksheets, readings), homework to hand in, graded work returned to me, and regular class notes. These categories became the foundation of my paper flow system, which includes containers at home, in my backpack, and in my locker. Here's what I do. 

Every September, I create a separate binder for each class and divide each into four sections labeled as follows: "Assignments," "Class Notes,' "Old Work," and "To Hand In." Some classes have special kinds of papers specific to just them. For example, the periodic table of elements was something I needed to draw upon often when I took chemistry, so I made a special section in my chemistry binder for all the reference tables. In Spanish, I made a special section for verbs and vocabulary, organized alphabetically like my own little dictionary. 

I keep my binders in my locker. Each class has a different color binder so I can easily grab the one I need when I am in a hurry. When I have homework in any one of the classes, I take just those binders home that night. I keep a portable three-hole punch in my locker and another one at home so I can always put work away immediately-there's no risk of losing anything that way. Last, I keep an extra pack of lined paper in my locker just in case I run out; that way, I never have to mix notes from different classes.

As the year goes on, of course, my binders can get very full and heavy, so I need to lighten the load. Our school year is broken up into quarters, so I have a portable file box at home set up with two corresponding folders for each class for each quarter: "Old Work" and "Class Notes." The folder colors match the colors of the binders so that I never mix anything up. At the end of each quarter I empty out my binders into the appropriate sections.

Though it seems like a lot of work, having to put in a good two hours before school starts each September, I can breeze right through the year without ever having to search for one little past assignment. And if a teacher loses my work (it's been known to happen), I can instantly produce a copy.

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