Executive Dysfunction in high school -- folders or binder?

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My son is going into high school, and has the very common organizational problems.

Just wondering what you felt worked better for you -- having a folder for each class in high school, or having everything jammed into one binder?

I keep a binder with everything in it. Seperate folders are easier to lose.

My binders in school looked like they were casualties of war - with everything jammed in, smushed and crinkled - but if I had folders it would be the same thing.. only in folder form. I like having a separate one for each class, keeps me semi-organised. Though it really depends on his own style and what helps him organise.

I had separate folders, spiral notebooks, etc.

I don't remember having folders or binders in High School.
I did have one notebook that I wrote everything into and stuffed paper in. When it was full, I'd get a new one. An educational diary of sorts. Full of ideas, deadlines, and other nonsense..mostly nonsense. That was about as organized I EVERY was in High School. I never missed a deadline or assignment. Seems that I kept a lot of these things in my head too.

With that said, I nearly failed out of High School (apathy and depression) and had to do summer school....but I tested at the top of my class and out of many introductory classes in college. Go figure.

Good luck to him.

Same. In a class when I was young, 10 or so I think, I had a 'teacher' take my binder and turn it on its side because I could not 'find' the assignment. Well everything went all over the place and he was able to humiliate me once again. I had the assignment and it was complete, I just cannot read out loud from a book, and he knew this, yet expected me to read my assignment and be the first one, nope, I will take the punishment over the other option.


Now I use multi binders and notepads, colour coded and 'protective sleeves' for loose papers. I also use OneNote. And a day-planner. Those somewhat help.

Oddly, people used to consider me one of the most organised people they knew, they would bug me about having OCD because of how organised I appeared. Until I went back to school. I thought I was somewhat organised, but could do better, in the past. Now I feel almost a hopeless wreck and I have to always double check and try to sort out papers and stuff. Its like going back to school tossed me into some weird time-warp. Or Dr Jeckle Ms Hyde.

During my first three years of high school, I used a folder for every class. I ended up having a whole bunch of papers stuffed inside each folder, and some of the folders were all worn out by the end of the year.

For my senior year, I decided to use a binder for each class instead. That proved to be a much better alternative to folders. With binders, I was more organized, and I had more room for my stuff.

That being said, I recognize binders instead of folders; and by binders, I'm talking about those plastic ones.

If you go for the "one binder" option, be sure to have several of those divider tabs so that he can still separate papers from different classes. Also it would be handy for him to have those reinforcement stickers to place around the holes at the side of the papers, otherwise the older papers will wear out with time and get loose. Also be sure to have a three-hole-punch so that if he gets any papers without the binder holes he can add them himself.

Furthermore, if you invest in only one binder, make sure you get a good, sturdy one. You'd be surprised how quickly the cheap ones get worn out.

I hope this helps.