Imagine NEVER hearing the pencil sharpener grinding away again.
Imagine NEVER hearing “I don’t have a pencil” again.
Imagine kids taking responsibility for their classroom materials.
Today, I’m excited to share how all of these can be possible with only about 10-15 minutes of work per week (the same time you would use to sharpen pencils after school). I have a pencil sharpening system that has not only saved my sanity from the dreadful grinding noise, but also keeps my students from constantly flocking to (and breaking) my pencil sharpener.
Now, we all know that the sound of pencils being sharpened can be like nails on a chalkboard, especially when you’re trying to teach a room full of energetic third-graders.
First things first, I invested in some budget-friendly pencil pouches from our good old friend, Amazon. In each pouch I put 5 brand-new, sharpened pencils, 2 cap erasers, and 1 giant pink eraser. I also put a little card with their name on it (just so that I can reuse the pouches from year to year by not writing their name on them).
I chose Thursdays as my designated pencil pouch collection day. As the kids finish up their day, they drop their pouches into a basket at the front of the room. After the students have left for the day or before they arrive in the morning, I grab the basket and head to the pencil sharpener.
I sharpen the pencils and assess each bag. If everything is in GOOD condition – pencils, cap erasers, and the giant pink eraser – I slip a little surprise in their pouches. It could be a sticker, a holiday pencil, or even more budget friendly-a coupon (I use these coupons here)!
However, if anything is amiss or destroyed, no prize for that student. I’m not being mean; I’m just teaching responsibility. I replace any missing or damaged items, ensuring everyone is equipped for a fresh start for the week ahead.
Throughout the week, as we are getting ready to leave for lunch or dismissal, I say, “Remember to clean up your desks!” or “Check your pencil pouches before recess.” It’s like a gentle nudge to remind the kids that their pencil pouches need to be checked (I have the list of things they need posted at the top of my white board…for those who need to see it). And trust me, it works like a charm!
I promise, I have had the toughest, more disorganized students, and this even works most weeks for them. If any pencils/erasers are found on the floor throughout the week, I have kids and custodians stick them in a pencil cup on my counter (some kids scramble to the cup as I am collecting the pouches) to reclaim their missing items. It doesn’t matter to me if they go grab 3 pencils and 2 erasers… as long as nobody is asking me for a pencil when we are trying to get work done!
Give it a try and let me know how it goes in your classroom. Happy teaching!
~Heather
