How the Five Star Study App Works

You may know Five Star as the beloved and oh-so-durable school supply brand that’s been the standard since we were kids. By downloading the free app from the Apple App or Google Play Store and snapping photos of notes, handouts, and assignments in compatible Five Star notebooks, folders, and planners, students can save and organize information in some very cool new ways:

• Turn handwritten notes into digital flashcards: When kids shade in the special triangles next to their most important notes on a Five Star notebook page, the app instantly turns the information into editable digital flash cards for easier studying.
• Make handouts into flash cards, too: After sliding a printed handout into a compatible Five Star folder, kids can draw lines to indicate which info they want turned into flash cards.
• Organize information by subject: Scanned notes and flash cards are automatically saved and sorted by subject, so kids can easily find what they need, whenever they need it.
• Sync with Google Drive: Kids can opt to sync all their notes and flashcards with Google Drive, making it even easier to save and share information.
• Track due dates and assignments: When kids write down assignments and events in a compatible Five Star planner, a quick scan with the app allows them to sync their tasks with their Apple or Google calendar and to even set reminders. Assignments can also be organized by subject and checked off when completed.

Our Five Star Study App Review

I grew up with Five Star, so their school supplies have already earned my trust–which is well-deserved, with their 40-year history, well-constructed products, and one-year guarantee. We purchased some of the app-compatible products, which are available at Target, Walmart, Staples, Office Depot, Amazon, and on the Five Star website. The compatible items are easy to spot, with the “Study App” label visible on the various notebooks, planners, and folders.

After downloading the app and walking through a helpful tutorial, we tried scanning a page of notes to turn into flash cards. It took a little trial and error to understand how to format the flash cards, but once we set them up, it was clear that the app would make studying independently and on-the-go much easier and more fun. No more worrying about lost or forgotten flash cards and no hours spent creating them like when I was a kid.

I thought the app would convert handwriting to typed text–but I really liked that it actually reproduced my daughter’s handwriting and hand-drawn diagrams onto the flash cards, keeping the authenticity and nuances of her written notes. I also liked the ability to scan and categorize entire pages of notes, enabling my daughter to access that information without having her notebook on her.

Next, we gave the planner a try. The Five Star Student Planners are already so thoughtfully designed with plenty of space to list assignments across different subjects and with handy checkmarks to tick off tasks. With the Study App, after jotting some of my daughter’s summer work into the planner, we were able to scan the page so that the tasks appeared in the app’s digital calendar–where they could be organized and managed. Best part is that the calendar in the app can be synced with a Google or Apple Calendar. Game-changer, honestly!

Overall, I was impressed with the Five Star Study App. In a world full of distractions and an overabundance of technology and AI, I love that the Five Star Study App emphasizes the importance of handwritten notes and planners, while teaching kids to use just the right amount of tech to build organizational and study skills.

Where to Get the FREE Five Star Study App and Products

Five Star is probably already on your back-to-school shopping list, but look for the “Study App” label on your composition notebooks, loose leaf paper, academic student planners, and other products to make the most of this free and innovative new tool. Again, the app is FREE in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, and all of the compatible products are available here and at other popular shops and websites.