Sid-
I'm not sure what level of students you're talking about, but with
my Foundation students I have them make a sketchbook using 1/2
of a regular brown paper bag from the grocery store. I borrow the
front secretaries stapler and staple the journal/sketch book pages
together. (@32 pages) They use these all year in class, all year.
All the sketch books are kept separate from their regular notes,
etc.