Student Binder System + Freebie

I have been teaching now for five years, and I am blessed to say that I have taught the same grade in the same room at the same school for all of those five years. How many newish teachers can say that? I'm sure the numbers are pretty low. I am so grateful to have been given the chance to stay in one spot and really begin mastering my craft. Of course, I am FAR from an expert, but I feel pretty confident in my knowledge of the curriculum and how to handle even these toughest of 4th graders.

A few years ago, I decided to make some changes in my overall style and management in my classroom, and one of the best decisions I made was to start using a student binder system. Teachers have all kinds of systems and routines for getting students to stay organized throughout the year, I am pretty pleased with my system. This system has resulted in fewer missing assignments and confused parents, which means my life is just a tiny bit easier, too.

You might hear these binders called HERO books, BEE books, MOOSE books, STAR books, and the list could go on. All of these words are acronyms for little phrases such as Have Everything Ready and Organized (HERO), Bring Everything Everyday (BEE), and well, you get the idea. A lot of the primary teachers will use these types of names for their binders. I used HERO my first year in doing them, but then I started to feel a little silly calling them HERO books with my 4th graders...so now I just say binder and it all works out.

There's nothing specifically amazing about my system versus anyone else's, but I have just tried to perfect it as the years have gone on and have had success. The best thing to do is to assess the needs in your classroom and design your binder around them, but here is a place to start.

Each student uses a 1.5" 3 ring binder. 1.5" is a good size because it is wide enough to fit a lot of stuff in it, but it's not so large that it becomes cumbersome and huge. I always get the ones with the clear view pocket in the front so that a cute binder cover can be inserted in the front. I also prefer black binders because they don't look as dirty as the year goes on.

Inside the binder, each student needs two folders (two pockets each). It's helpful if the folders are already 3-hole punched, but if they aren't, you can hole punch them for them. I call one folder the "Goes Home, Stays Home" (for graded assignments and another announcements from school that do not need to be returned) folder and the second folder the "Goes Home, Comes Back" (for homework, permission slips, and other things that need to be seen by a parent and then returned) folder. Some teachers are particular about certain colors for the folders like red and green, but I don't really care what they look like, as long as they are sturdy.

After the folders come the divider tabs. I use 5-tab dividers and label the sections according to the needs in our classroom. My sections are 1) Spelling Lists, 2) Word Stems, 3) Math Notes, 4) Science/SS, 5) Miscellaneous. These tabs help the students to hold on to important papers from me and allow the parents to have access to all kinds of information.

In the back (or you could do the front), the students have a poly zippered pouch which is for notes from home and/or lunch money. The students also store extra loose-leaf notebook paper so that they always have some with them when they are doing homework.

In the very front, my students put their assignment books (given to them by the school and are already 3-hole punched).

I am really big on labeling, so the folders, tabbed sections, and the money/notes pouch are all labeled. I want parents to be able to open the binder up at any time and know exactly where to find what information. Teaching children that everything has a place and that things should not be crammed into any available space is super important in my opinion.

I have been told by many parents that even after students leave my class, they continue the binder system in 5th grade and especially in middle school. I am happy to be teaching the life skill of organization.

I am including my labels for my binder and a picture of the cover that I use to give you some ideas for your own student binder system. Have fun and give your students the gift of organization this school year!