can't work on two text edit documents on desktop

Sorry, I'm finding this all very confusing - and Mac is all I've used for years. I open a test document, then I try to open another text document and it promptly replaces the one I had open - that is what part of the problem is. So essentially, I can only have one text edit document open at a time:). I also have a problem when trying to move a document from one folder to another one. I open a folder and find what I want to move, go to another folder and open it, and it takes the place of the previously opened folder. Could very well be me - but I used to do this stuff all the time and it did not replace my documents or folders with another one when I opened it.

I'm not sure I understand the question. I am working on the desktop of my macbook air, so initially I can see everything that is on my desktop - the hard disk, various folders and any documents that I have not yet moved to a folder. I have never worked with split screens though that was on e of the solutions proposed - sounds like extra steps to do what should be simple to me.

That did not work for me - disabled and then it still kept replacing one folder with the next one I opened:(