Tip! Good organization starts with your binder. Keep your papers, homework and handouts separated by class.

Never file language arts papers or handouts with science stuff, or math papers in your biology section — you get the idea. Keep important handouts in sheet protectors in your binder. The sheet protectors will keep them right where you can see them, and keep them from falling out of your binder and getting lost or trashed. Homework, permission slips, and papers that go from school to home and back, should be kept in a pocket folder in your binder. Always put your homework in your binder as soon as it’s finished. Never leave it on your desk to put into your binder the next morning.