I blame it on my Type A personality and excessive need for organization. Give me all the pretty bins and classroom labels. Please tell me I’m not alone.
I mean, that’s partly why I became a teacher. Listen to this. My mom told me that when I was in 3rd grade, I told her I wanted to become a teacher because I loved school supplies.
Well. Not much has changed. Ha. So, “third grade Nesli” still lives on and is still obsessed with school supplies and labeling all the things.
Classroom Labels + Organization = Effective Classroom Management
I believe one of the most important puzzle pieces to effective classroom management, is an organized classroom. An organized classroom fosters student independence, it provides routine and structure, and allows a classroom to run smoothly.
Classroom Labels: Free Sharp and Dull Pencil Labels
Okay so I’m really happy you found this pin on Pinterest or found this post on Google because I have used this simple classroom management strategy in my classroom for literally the last 8 years.
Sometimes the simplest strategy makes a WORLD of difference, especially when dealing with twenty something 6 and 7 year olds. This dull and sharp pencil procedure is one of the very first procedures I teach my students. I actually teach my students this routine on the first day of school.
How I Use These Free Classroom Labels
First, I print and laminate the labels. Then I hot glue them onto small buckets that I find at the Dollar Tree or the Target Dollar Spot–gosh that place gets me in trouble! I’ve also re-used old PASTA JARS {like the one in the picture here}.
Here’s how the pencil system works:
- Whenever my students need a sharpened pencil, they go to the designated pencil area. Put their dull pencil in the “Sharpen Please” jar. {They MUST put a dull pencil in the jar–they are not allowed to just grab a sharpened pencil}
- Grab a sharpened pencil from the “Ready to Write” jar.
- Quietly return to their seat.
- At the end of the day, I usually have “Pencil Patrol” {this is a student job} sharpen all of the dull pencils so they are ready for the next day.
Simple, yet effective.
Can I get an AMEN?!
After you get these printed and laminated, your students will have a simple routine for getting a new pencil.
That means they won’t be disrupting you when you’re in the middle of small groups or working with another student. Can I get a freaking AMEN?!
If you weren’t already excited, I hope you are now. 🙂
4 Reasons Why You’ll Want These Classroom Labels
- Imagine hearing the pencil sharpener in the middle of a lesson or during guided reading groups {although it’s a classroom rule to NOT do this..it still happens *insert eye roll here*.}
- Imagine a long waiting line at the pencil sharpener at the beginning of a test or independent work time. {SO MUCH TIME being wasted} #NoThankYou
- Imagine the pencil sharpener breaking in the middle of a test…
- I can see it now. I can see all the pencil shavings leaking from student’s desks…all over the floor… from using their own hand-held pencil sharpeners.
Are you convinced yet? 🙂
Do you already use this sharp & dull system in your classroom? If you’d like to try this simple classroom management system, you can download these free labels.
Drop your name & email and they’ll be sent straight to your inbox.
Pin the images below to your Classroom Inspiration Boards to save for later.
