7 Best Student Planners for 2011-2012 School Year

2011-12 Student Planner

Dated from 7/25/11-6/22/12
Weekly format, 8.25" x 10.75"
Four Subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies



Sorry - sold out!!!

I choose this one in part because of the feature of a daily reading log and a separate space for up to 25 spelling words. Having worked with my niece on her homework, I know these are important in the middle elementary grades. She spent a lot of time on spelling words.

I like the parent/teacher communication part, although that might be overkill. Many teachers provide a sheet that goes back and forth for kids to keep up with homework. I had to sign my niece's every day saying I had seen it and she had done her work. This planner could replace that if the teacher is willing to use it. (Well, and your child, of course!)

This one is more visually pleasing as well with only the five school days represented and in columns rather than rows. For a young child who's never used a planner this format might work better. This planner covers a different theme each week to keep students thinking positively about themselves and planners assembled with plastic coil binding, laminated front cover w/ rounded corners, and rigid poly back cover.

Mead Project Planning
2011-12 Student Planner

August 2011 thru July 2012
Weekly format with bonus monthly grids
9.875 in x 8.375 in

This one wins out over the others just because of its emphasis on project planning. A more useful skill to teach kids I can't imagine! All of life is project planning and getting a solid understanding of that is actually a great idea.

That said, it is still a planner with lots of resources like the periodic table, commonly misspelled words and so forth. The calendar pages aren't that special, but again, the project planning concept is great. It teaches kids to break down projects into smaller steps and work in a way that lets them keep an eye on the big picture and smaller tasks at the same time. They also offer desk pad and wall calendar versions.

2011-12 Student Planner

Dated from 7/25/11-6/24/12
Weekly Format, 5.25" x 8.25"
New Character Content Every Month

This planner stood out to me for a couple of reasons. First being the photographs of real people rather than just graphics. Second being the character lessons throughout. They're tied in each month with vocabulary words and goal-setting tasks and journaling ideas. One thing that would make it even better would be if they had included blank pages to do the journaling. (Might consider getting them a blank book along with the planner.)

Each month has a different character-themed focus: Making a Difference, Positive Attitude, Compassion, Empathy, Tolerance, Self-Control, Respect, Cooperation, Trustworthiness, Leadership, & Courtesy.

Palgrave Student Planner
2011-2012

8.5" x 6.7"
224 pages

OK, I have to admit, I'm picking this one just because it's pretty. Well, not a single one of these planners actually gives you any real information to make a choice with. With the others, you could see the calendar pages and how things were organized. But, I did do some additional research on this one and while I didn't get further details, I could see that people just rave about this planner.

One nice thing I note is the size. This company is in England, so their paper sizes are different from ours. So rather than 8.5x11 or 5x7, this one is 8.5x6.7, which seems like a great size - not to small, not too big. Goldilocks would approve. The planner contains everything students need to organise their time and information effectively, including study skills advice, diary pages (with weekly tips, time slots and to do lists), timetables, useful contacts and websites, personal finance guidance, spelling rules, international information, notes pages, maps, a plastic pocket, and a bookmark, with many added features available for the first time for the 2011/12 edition.

2011/2012 Advance Student
Agenda Day Planner

August 2011-August 2012
5.25 x 8.5 - 144 pages

This planner is part of a series of Action Student Planners (the rest are listed below) built around inspiring content to push students to do their best. Each is geared toward a different age group, which means the content changes as well as the design. And this one was my favorite mostly because of the layout of the weekly pages. Oh, and it's more of a compact planner. I notice the ones for really young kids tend to be larger, probably to keep them from losing them as easily.

This particular planner includes study skill information, SAT vocabulary and a robust academic reference section in an easy-to-carry, compact package. Heavy duty double loop wire binding and a sealed-edge laminated front cover hold up to tough use.

"The Green Planner"
2011-12 Student Planner

Dated 7/25/11-6/24/12
Weekly format, 8.25" x 10.75"
100% Recycled & Recyclable
4 Subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies

I was looking here at planners that carried some kind of theme and information outside of normal school topics. I'm kind of surprised there aren't more options here. I mean, don't you think a Twilight student planner full of pictures and trivia would be a big seller?

Anyway, this one appealed to me because of the interior graphics. Someone did a great job packing a lot of information in there without making the pages overly crowded. And the book is printed with soy inks on recycled paper, a designer's nightmare in my book. So even more impressive in its looks.

The planner includes weekly green puzzles, definitions and green living tips along with the typical monthly calendars and study skills information. It's geared for elementary and middle school students and completely recyclable once the year is complete. Even the plastic coil binding!

Letts of London Image Academic Paper Clips
2011-2012 Planner

Dated from July 10, 2011- August 11, 2012
Week view, 8 1/4" X 5 7/8"

What can I say? I'm a sucker for a pretty face. And these student planners have got that. Not necessarily anything special under the covers, mind you. But pretty covers. And this one from Letts of London is definitely my favorite. These guys make pretty planners, for sure. And practical with spiral bindings and laminated hard covers.

Inside, you'll find a weekly two-page format and space for personal notes and your class schedule. There are a few other pieces of information like time zones (really?), travel info and a few address and telephone pages. Stuff you'd expect in a planner, but not a student planner. Odd.