What notebook system works for kids?

[tridlette]

I just came from an IEP meeting, and we know that Michael, 13 y.o. 8th grader, needs major work on his notebook system. We want to add that into his IEP, but every option that was put on the table was shot down be either a teacher, a counselor, a parent, or Michael himself. I would like to know if any one has a system that works for a borderline ODD kid! We actually asked Michael why he objected to a certain system... is it because the old way "works" or because the new way came from Mr. D! His answer was a very honest "cuz it's Mr. D's way!" So, we are opening the discussion up to everyone's suggestions. Michael will more readily take advice from my on-line family (this board) than from someone sitting in front of his face! He has always been open to the boards ideas, even if he has previously rejected the same idea from someone else!

Thanks for any and all suggestions. I have high hopes that every one of the suggestions that comes in will be useful to somebody's child, even if my kid rejects it!

Laurie

[Allanque]

I kept all my stuff in one big notebook. I had a divider with a pocket for each subject, then whatever other dividers I required for that class behind it.

My normal dividers for any given class:
Overview/Syllabus/Assignment Sheet
Notes/Handouts
Assignments
Tests/Quizzes
Projects

Of course, any dividers can be added or subtracted as needed. My foreign language classes generally had a grammar section.

[sierra]

Expandable folder works better for my sprouts. But their notebooks get graded now so they have to keep material in that format.

It's a pain especially when something tears loose and gets lost. Things generally don't fall out of expandable folders.

[adhdtimes4]

We've done everything under the sun, I think, but this is what most of my boys like the best: We use a flexible three ring binder for each class, along with a pocket folder of the same color. We punch holes in the folder and put it into the binder, OR we use the pocket dividers. Homework papers are supposed to go in the pockets - to bring home, to take back.

We also use tabbed dividers, as required by teachers: notes, classwork, quizzes and tests, and warmups. One of my boys actually pre-numbers the pages in the warmup pages. For notebook checks, everything is required to be numbered, so this helps in that department.

(Warmups are the problems or questions on the board that the children are supposed to begin the moment they enter the classroom. In elementary school they call it 'morning work'.)

BTW There's another thread with similar information that you might find helpful - Pre-Algebra blues. In it, I mention that none of this works without constant diligence on the part of the parent.