Monday, March 18, 2013

Pencil Craziness!!

Hello all!
Sorry it has been awhile since my last post. I have been crazy busy at school and home! My husband was on TAD (Marine Corps) in Norway for over a week which meant that I had household and kids duty all to myself! On a better note, today was his Promotion Ceremony to Captain. Yaaaay! So proud of him!
Well, at school we are busy, busy! The kids (and me) are READY for Spring Break!
I wanted to share with you a great idea that I put into action last week. I was having SO MUCH pencil drama in my room it was insane. I could not go more than 5 minutes without someone complaining, "I lost my pencil!" or "my pencil broke!" I was giving away a box of pencils a day! Where did they go? Also, I had TONS of pencils always all over the floor. I let them sharpen in the morning and we keep a small bucket of sharpened pencils but that still was not working. Anyway, I decided to figure out a way to solve this ongoing problem. I saw on another blog (I am sorry but I forgot where to give them credit) about marking the pencils with names and having them turn in on Friday for a prize. Well, I took that idea and put it with one of my own. I wanted to keep them responsible for their own pencils and not have them all over the place. So I decided to put velcro on the bottom of plastic cups and attach to desks. I then put two sharpened pencils with their names on them in cup. I told them if they have them at end of week, they will get a ticket for each to spend on treasure box goodies. Well, OMG I could not believe what a difference! I think in the two weeks I have done this I have been asked for a pencil maybe 3 times!! And they still have the original at the end of the week! Hardly any on the floor and no more disruptions! So simple I wish I thought of this sooner! How do you handle pencils in your class?
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4 comments:

  1. OMGoodness.. what a fantastic idea! We always have pencil drama in my room too! I am going to try this tomorrow! Thank you so much for the idea! I am a new follower!
    Hilary
    Second Grade is Out of This World!

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    1. You won't regret it! It was so cheap and easy to do! Thanks for following, looking forward to hearing how it goes for you!

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  2. Well, we don't have pencil drama in my room but I do like your idea. I always have a bucket of pencils sharpened for the students and they just exchange their old pencils with new ones. It has worked will for me but I'm thinking I like the cup idea on their desks so they are not always getting into their boxes for their pencils or trying to find them in their desks. Thanks for the idea.

    Mrs. Flickinger's Butterfly Oasis

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    1. Hope it works as well for you! It solved them always looking for a pencil and definitely keeps them off the floor! :)

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