Using Three Ring Binders at School

Three ring binders are a popular choice for schools because they are practical and easy to use. Good binders can be customized and reused, which can be critical for schools operating on tight budgets. This article outlines some ways you can put binders into action at your school.

Administration

Schools must maintain paper copies of all sorts of documents. Binders are a good way to house and protect these records while ensuring they remain accessible to office personnel. Some ways administrators may use binders include:

*School lunch forms
*Disciplinary records
*Teacher and staff personnel files
*Office supply orders and requests
*Check-in/check-out sheets for students and staff
*Payroll submission sheets
*Staff resumes and transcripts for No Child Left Behind requirements
*Audio Visual reservations and check-out
*Emergency contact information for students and staff
*Policies and procedures documentation
*Emergency plans
*Student schedules
*Copies of school newsletters and communications
*Student handbooks
*Lunch and after school duty rosters

Teachers

Teachers can feel overwhelmed by the administrative responsibilities they have in addition to teaching. Getting organized can help teachers minimize these stresses. Have your teachers consider using binders to handle these items:

*Attendance
*Discipline and behavior records
*Lesson plans
*Club management *Classroom library records
*Field trip permission slips, itineraries, and payments

School Lunch Administration

Anyone who has worked in the food service industry knows there are a lot of rules and regulations regarding food preparation. School cafeterias must follow those laws plus several more in order to receive funding from the government. Good record keeping is a key part of that process. School cafeterias may use binders to organize:

*Recipes
*Food and supply orders
*Kitchen records required by the state (such as food and freezer temperature checks)
*Menus
*Lunch program participation records
*Lunch card payment information

Students

Part of going to school is learning to be organized. Students can learn good habits for life by starting early. Binders offer a simple and easy way to gain some practice in sorting and organizing information. Some ways students can use binders are:

*Notes
*Homework
*Science projects
*Lab book
*PE activity/time records

Facilities Management

Janitors and repair personnel do not just clean and repair the school. They cannot perform their jobs if they do not have the right materials to do so. To help these staff members stay organized and efficient, think about using notebooks to help them organize:

*Supply requests and usage
*Facilities requests forms
*Duty rosters and schedules

Schools have so much to accomplish with limited time and financial resources. It only makes sense to maximize instructional time and student contact by streamlining paperwork and other administrative functions. Three ring binders offer a flexible solution, as they are reusable, customizable, affordable, and simple. This article has provided some ideas for putting binders to work at your school, but I am sure you can come up with even more paper management solutions using notebooks.
Posted on December 5th 2008 in bomisasia.com edit