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With a master's degree in education and years of teaching under my belt, I've seen my fair share of notebooks.
Some students, school districts, and colleges have made the switch away from paper and gone completely digital. However, research has shown that students who write their notes down — as opposed to typing them — perform better on tests.
As a teacher, I've seen this firsthand. Students may not internalize their notes as well when they don't write them out by hand. It's also easier for them to get distracted when using a device — it's almost impossible for them to ignore a notification.
You don't need to splurge to get a good notebook for school, but there are some things to consider when shopping for this ubiquitous school supply. Andy Beauchamp, a second grade teacher in Minnesota, advises parents to wait until they hear from their child's teacher before purchasing notebooks. Always keep in mind that different teachers may have different requirements.
To find the best notebooks, I conducted research, talked to current teachers, and tested 12 popular options, which were provided as editorial review samples by their manufacturers. My testing included writing, ripping out pages, spilling water on them, and more — which you can read about in the next slide.
Here are the best school notebooks
Best overall - Five Star Advance 3 Subject Notebook See at Amazon
The Five Star Advance 3 Subject Notebook with moveable pocket dividers keeps notes in great shape through the school year and beyond.
Best for elementary school - Amazon Basics Wide-Ruled Composition Notebook See at Amazon
The Amazon Basics Wide-Ruled Composition Notebook helps kids perfect their handwriting and the sewn binding eliminates the danger of wires for younger kids.
Best for middle and high school - Five Star Wirebound 1 Subject Notebook See at Walmart
The Five Star Wirebound 1 Subject Notebook is simple, versatile, and exceptionally durable with a water-resistant plastic cover.
Best for college - Hamelin 1 Subject Spiral Notebook See at Walmart
The Hamelin 1 Subject has 150 pages of college-ruled paper to accommodate notes-intensive courses, and it comes with access to a note management app.
Best for lefties - Moleskine Classic Notebook, Hard Cover, XL See at Amazon
The Moleskine Classic Notebook, Hard Cover, XL is ideal for lefties because the pages lie flat and ink doesn't smudge.
Best budget - Mead 1 Subject Spiral Notebook See at Amazon
The simple Mead 1 Subject Spiral Notebook does the job at half the price of similar notebooks.