- in How-tos , Tips by Jimmie Quick
How to Choose the Best Notebooks for Your Homeschool
There are 4 main types of notebooks that you can use in your homeschool. When deciding which type to use, consider the pros and cons of each type. And of course, trial and error is the best way to make a final decision. Often you don’t how what you need until you try it out.
1. Spiral Notebooks
PROS
inexpensive
Especially during back to school sales, spiral notebooks are a cheap investment. You can have one for each subject.
CONS
fixed pages
You can’t move pages around or add pages.
flimsy paper
If you like to add postcards, brochures, or other thick or heavy things to your notebooks, you may find the paper in a spiral notebook too thin to support them.
2. Composition Notebooks or Hardback Journals
PROS
no confetti
When you tear out a page, there’s no shower of little white bits of paper.
attractive looking
Composition notebooks look classy already, and the thick cardboard covers can be decorated and personalized.
thicker paper quality
The nicer paper makes it easier to affix thicker items or envelopes for holding small objects.
CONS
Just like the spiral notebooks, composition notebooks have fixed pages which don’t allow for rearranging or adding pages.
3. Three Ring Binders
PROS
availability
Three ring binders are easy to find, even at thrift stores.
flexibility
Pages can be moved, added, or taken out easily. If you buy a large enough notebook, you can add thick objects in page protectors.
durability
Quality binders will last for years and years.
CONS
bulky to store
Binders can take up a lot of shelf space and be very heavy.
can be expensive
The larger binders can be costly.
4. Self-bound Notebooks
PROS
professional looking results
It’s so rewarding to bind your own work into a fancy looking, bound notebook.
CONS
initial investment
Binding machines, like Pro-click, cost around $50.
Based on all the pros and cons, my top choice is a three ring binder. Although they are admittedly bulky, they are durable and versatile.
What about you? What are your favorite types of notebooks? Do you use one type or mix it up? How do you decide what style of notebook to use? I’d love to hear your feedback.