Why Pencil Box Name Tags are a Game Changer for First Grade
Pencil box name tags are a game changer for first grade
When I first started teaching, share buckets were used at my school. I was a first year teacher so I went with what the other teachers in my grade level were doing. Share buckets weren’t something I remembered from elementary school. In fact, I remembered having my own personal pencil box. I continued to use share buckets for years and once I moved schools, I noticed my students were even more territorial with their supplies. I even had parents ask why their child’s supplies weren’t separate. So, this year, after teaching virtually all last year, I decided to make the switch to pencil boxes and I’ll never go back to share buckets. Keep reading to find out why pencil box name tags are a game changer for first graders (and kindergartners too!)
Pencil name tags will help classroom management of supplies
Using share buckets for student supplies was quickly becoming a classroom management issue. I realized my students preferred to keep their supplies separate.
Daily fights over who was using what color marker and who broke crayons started to become the norm. I was getting sick of having classroom management issues over art supplies. Can you relate? I realized my students preferred to keep their supplies separate so they could have ownership of their supplies. This also helped with their executive functioning skills because they were now responsible for keeping their pencil boxes organized and clean. If you’ve been searching for pencil box ideas that are DIY for kids, you’ll be shocked how easy these pencil box name tags are to assemble and how customizable they are! After I print on white cardstock and laminate (this laminator is not only inexpensive but a life changer for any classroom teacher!), I started using hot glue to secure the name tags to the pencil boxes and that mostly worked. Sometimes the hot glue will peel off and I’ve found the best method is using Gorilla Glue Tape.
Buy clear pencil boxes for each student in your classroom. It’s worth the money!
Buy clear pencil boxes for each student in your classroom. It’s worth the money!
Buying clear pencil boxes for each student in your classroom is worth the money. This year, I was able to find them at Target for $1.00. You can also find them on Amazon.
The pencil boxes don’t have to be clear, I just found them to be aesthetically pleasing with the labels on the top. I also found having them all the same color not only helped with fighting over colors, but made them look nice on the shelf in my classroom where we store them for the night.
Pencil box name tags keep supplies separate
Pencil box name tags provide a way to keep supplies separate as well as learning objectives the kids use everyday.
Of course keeping your students’ supplies separate is amazing, but what if you could also have learning objectives on the top that help with answering questions you get multiple times a day. Questions like “What are the colors of the rainbow?” and “What number comes after 11?” are easily answered when the pencil box name tag has this included on the top so your students can easily access answers.
Use learning the learning objectives seen here to help students during independent time
It helps to have each student’s name, line order number, number line, number grid, left and right, and colors of the rainbow on the pencil box label.
I don’t know how many times this year we’ve used our pencil box name tags during writing, math and Daily 5. My students have become more independent by using the tools around them and part of that is from having their own pencil box label complete with their name, line order number, number line, left and right, and the colors of the rainbow. These pencil box name tags are perfect for kindergarten, first grade and second grade and you can edit the name and number for each student. You’ll love using them again and again, year after year.
Keep your students organized and on task with these pencil box name tags
Pencil box name tags keep students organized and on task because they’re no longer worried about where their supplies are.
Do you have students who are constantly misplacing pencils, markers, and crayons? Yeah, me too. I’ve found that by using pencil boxes this year, my students love organizing their own and this helps with the executive functioning skills in the primary grades. Don't underestimate the importance of learning how to organize and take care of your supplies. This comes in handy when they are in upper elementary grades as well as middle school.
Give your students the pencil boxes as an end of the year gift
At the end of the year, give them the entire pencil box as a memento for the school year.
Most likely, you won’t be able to reuse the pencil boxes at the end of the year. They’re made of plastic and the kids will love being able to take their own pencil box name tag home for the summer. If you really want to reuse them, more power to you. I love giving my students their pencil box and this end of the year gift so they can remember how loved they were in my class.
So there you have it. So many reasons to make the switch from share buckets to personalized pencil box name tags.
Do you use pencil boxes? Let me know in the comments!
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