How to organize in high school?

Question

I'm a very organized person and usually don't have trouble with staying neat. However, I'm curious to knowing what others have done for organizing in high school and would do with my class schedule.

My school does block scheduling so I have four 1 1/2 hour classes a day and lunch.
In the first half of the year, I'm taking four of these classes (I don't have my schedule yet, just classes). The rest will come in throughout the course of the year:

AP European History
Honors English
Honors Spanish III
Honors Chemistry
Honors Biology
Geometry/Trig II
Photography 1
Exploring Architecture
PE/Health

I'm going into tenth grade. This is my first year of being in an actual high school building because the middle school in our district is grades 7-9. So this scheduling system is new to me.
Specifically I'm wondering what you all do to organize notes (binders, notebooks, etc), stay on track, keep your desk neat, lockers, backpacks, etc.
I'm a very busy person considering I have track/cross-country for 2-3 hours six days a week + meets after school and on weekends. I also work at a retirement home and I may start a second job at a restaurant. I also babysit.

Any input is much appreciated (: I start in September, thanks!

Answer 1

WOW. you have your hands full! Usually, the first day, I go to class with a folder to put all important papers in. Then your teachers should give you a sylabus that suggests or requires what you need. For example, some teachers REQUIRE a binder, notebook, etc. Personally, I have a Vera Bradley agenda. Any agenda will do. And everytime you get homework, or a hint about when a test is, WRITE IT DOWN! Then, write next to it in your agenda what you need to bring home, Ex: Math Problems 1-12 pg. 60---->Math Book, Math Notebook. Then, at the end of the day, you open your agenda and look down your list of what to bring home so you never forget anything! :) This always worked for me. Its a little extra work to always write stuff down but it is worth being organzied and getting stuff down. ALSO! DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Get home, have a snack, and KNOCK OUT THAT HW! And, WHEN YOU COMPLETE AN ASSIGNMENT, go to your agenda, and check off the homework you have completed. It really helps take pressure off because you take one thing at a time. It is worth it when it is 8:00 at night and you can relax and watch some T.V. Being and STAYING organized takes work and it will all be worth it when you finish off with all A's :) If you have anymore Q's, just email me! Im a Senior this year and my methods have been pretty succesfull :) Good Luck!

Answer 2

I had a binder with dividers. I had a tab at the front labeled "Homework." Anything in that section I knew was homework. Then I had a tab for every class I was in. I put the assignments I got back from teachers and notes there. I also had a planner. I'd write down the assignments as I got them and crossed them off when I finished them. I carried everything in my backpack and never used my locker once in the four years I was there. It was out of the way and nowhere near any class I had so it wasn't worth it when I only got five minutes to get to class. I was never much of a procrastinator so keeping on track wasn't a problem.

Answer 3

Whenever I take notes (or get a handout), the first thing I do is write the date in the right hand corner and highlight it. For each class, determine which color you want to use and always highlight the date and title in that color. The different colors for writing is a good idea. Red is better for underlining the really important things rather than writing because it's a color that draws a lot of attention. Use the darker colors for writing and underline/highlight what you find is the best information for you to use in studying. I'm assuming your classes are English, History, Science, and a math class of some sort... Use the yellow highlighter for highlighting notes in all classes, but decide which classes the orange, green, blue, and pink will each be for.

Answer 4

1. High School Students don't have one desk they sit at all day. They move from class to class.



2. At my school it's not really ideal to have a locker.



3. I have that scheduling system, and it's really not hard to understand once you get into the routine.



4. I use folders and notebooks, for high school binders aren't really ideal. Most kids just have a folder and notebook for each class that requires one.

Answer 5

GOALS. Set realistic goals at the beginning of the school year, and break those large goals into mini-goals. Write these goals down on index cards and keep them in a highly visible place where you can see them every day. Writing down your goals makes them more concrete, and motivates you to keep working towards them.



AVOID CLUTTER. At the beginning of the school year, you have no clutter. Be careful not to build clutter as the year progresses.



MAKE TO DO LISTS. Always spend a minimum of 15 minutes per day, preparing your To Do list for tomorrow. In doing so, you will know exactly what tasks you have to accomplish the next day.



EFFECTIVE STUDY AREA. Designate a quiet, well-lit area for studying. Don’t study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you’re bound to be distracted.



AVOID OVERLOAD. While you may sign up for extra school activities, such as basketball or cheerleading, don’t take on too much.



USE A STUDENT PLANNER. Use a good student planner or organizer. The ones that have pocket folders, dividers and planning calendars are ideal.



USE ONE CALENDAR. Use one calendar to plan all of your school and personal activities, rather than two or more. Heed the old proverb, A man who wears two watches, never knows the correct time.



COLOR-CODE. You may consider color-coding similar activities on your calendar and binder. For example, highlight all upcoming tests in yellow, study time in green and recreational activities in pink, and also have color coded dividers. For example, red for math,green for english,and orange for science.



WRITE IT DOWN. When you learn of an upcoming test, event, or anything you must prepare for or attend, immediately jot it in your planner. Don’t wait for later, or you may forget about it.



BREAK UP YOUR STUDY TIME. Determine how many study hours you need, and schedule study time in a planner. For example, if you need six hours of time to study for a test, you may break that time up into six sessions, of one hour each.



SCHEDULE CONSISTENT STUDY TIMES. Set aside time every day for study, and make it consistent. For example, set your study time for each afternoon from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Whatever you do, avoid last minute studying and cramming.



BREAK IT UP. Break up big tasks, into smaller, bite-sized jobs. For instance, if you have to study three chapters in your history book, study one chapter at a time each day. If you have to work on a project, break it down into three or four stages.





******HOW I GET ORGANIZED******

- I have a binder for each of my core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies,English) with tabs (homework, test/quizzes, worksheets, notes). If you don't have tabs all of your work is scatted all over the place. You need easy access to your notes.



- I have a calender that reminds me when I have test/quizzes, and when to study for it (depending on the hardness of the test/quiz)



- Also if your school provides one, write down your homework and upcoming test/quizzes in your planner. If you don't have one you can always go out and buy one. Cross out the homework when you're done with it



- Have a folder for each subject (or just one) that has all of your homework for your classes. You can divide the homework with paperclips



- Know where everything is (backpack, lunch, homework) so you can get it easily