My wife is fastidious when it comes to reusing old stuff instead of buying something new. Recently while going through some of her things, she accumulated enough old paper and notebooks that, once reworked, were enough to keep her stocked for the new semester.
Students will accumulate vast amounts of paper very quickly. It doesn't matter that a lot of students are using computers now, there will always be a place for paper when you need to write things down. While I'm a bit more anal when it comes to my notebooks, I should learn a few things from my wife, who has no qualms about reusing her notebooks over and over again to get things done.
There is a way about going about this without creating too much waste, especially if you are planning on keeping some of your notes. Once you've made a pile of your notebooks, go through them carefully. Generally, if a notebook has at least 20 pages free, it's worth keeping. Recycle old notes if you don't need them. If you do, cut them out using scissors or a utility knife. This will keep the papers nice and flat compared to ripping them out. Then create a laminated cover or bind those notes together to keep them organized, if you desire. (Staples or your university bookstore should be able to help you out with this. It can be really effective and professional-looking. Some of the ones we've seen even look like hardcover books.)
And there you have it! Just a simple reminder to find ways to make due with what you have.
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I find I don't normally use an entire 70- or 100-page "single-subject" notebook for a single class, so I make them into 2- or 3-subject notebooks by adding tabs or just starting from the beginning of the notebook for one class and starting from the back for another.
Good tip about using a blade to cut out unused pages.
I've started doing the same - just divide up my single-subject notebook with tabs and use one notebook for two or three classes. This way my bag is lighter, too, without five notebooks to lug around. I also try to write all the way to the outside edge of the page, cause those margins add up to a lot of wasted space, and it's just my own notes anyways. :)
This is such a great idea! I'm glad to hear people are using paper :) I figured it was ALL laptops/netbooks in classes these days.
Can we hear about the "re-use" projects? I never thought about using the back of the notebook and going forward...how funny. My notebooks always had a pocket on the front, so I would have needed folders, too. But a great idea, as I always had a lot of space left.
I use notebooks in class but i'm scanning and archiving any important notes with a doxie. Then i recycle the notebook. I also tear out any blank pages to use for scrap notes etc. at a later time.
Just a tip - if you have old notebooks that you won't use, see if a local school would be willing to take them. I have some students who don't have money to buy notebooks; if I can give them a notebook, I will. (Many teachers stock up at the back-to-school sales, but I need a constant supply throughout the school year.) Also, even if I don't give them away, I hand out notebook paper for doing work in class.
Why go to the trouble and expense of binding? Pull the paper out, snip off the ruffly edges, and throw in a binder. Not everything needs to be handmade and artisanal, or whatever -- it's notebook paper!