Cindy | 2013/05/19

In our 3rd grade class, we believe in logical consequences. If you do not come prepared, you can borrow from a friend, or choose to write with a crayon, or take ALL of your class work home for extra homework. It's amazing how students do not like theses consequences are become more responsible because friends do get tired of constantly supplying others & no BIG kid wants to work in crayon or get extra homework!

Kathleen | 2013/05/18

I teach in an elementary school and it's as if they eat them! I started writing their names on the pencil when I gave them one. If they still had their pencil by the end of the week, they got an extra raffle ticket for our weekly drawing (a piece of candy for 3 lucky students). It also helps at the end of the day and all those pencils on the floor...if it has their name on it, then you can easily put it on/in their desk. I assign a pencil person job and they can pick up all the pencils at the end of the day for you.

Kathleen | 2013/05/18

I teach in an elementary school and it's as if they eat them! I started writing their names on the pencil when I gave them one. If they still had their pencil by the end of the week, they got an extra raffle ticket for our weekly drawing (a piece of candy for 3 lucky students). It also helps at the end of the day and all those pencils on the floor...if it has their name on it, then you can easily put it on/in their desk. I assign a pencil person job and they can pick up all the pencils at the end of the day for you.

Tara Bivins | 2013/05/18

Though I love the idea of cell phone = borrowed pencil, I am hesitant to have possession of a student's phone. If it was lost at any point in the day, I could see blame getting wrongly placed on a teacher. I'd rather not deal with that. However, the idea sparked the thought of requiring the student's school ID card as collateral. Not all carry their ID card, but those that do, don't like to part with it. It doesn't have a monetary value, so it wouldn't create problems in that way. It would also help me know who borrowed the pencils at the end of each class. Thanks to everyone who posted these great ideas! In the past, I've had a cup of pencils on a front table.... take one, give one.... pencils found on the floor go in the cup, when the cup is empty, there are no pencils to loan out. It has actually worked pretty well most years.

Virginia Parks | 2013/05/18

I used to loan pencils, paper, etc in order to get my students to turn their work in and succeed. Then, I realized that I was only enabling them and creating expectations that would not be met in the work world after high school. I hired two previous students who had started their own summer business only to find that they continued to need to borrow tools for their job because they "forgot" theirs. Now, I my students must buy their pencils by bartering (ex: clean all desks in the room = 1 new pencil). Students know to ask friends first or better yet to bring their own.

Karen | 2013/05/17

I make sure to get to the Back to School sales at Staples/Office Depot when the pencils are 5-10 cents a pack. Teachers are allowed to purchase more than the limit.

Jennifer L. Oldaker | 2013/05/17

I usually try to buy my classroom pencils at a cut rate place. I teach in a very impoverished area. We are not allowed to sell anything to our students because if we do-----we'll be dismissed. I try to look at loaning pencils as an investment in education. I also have the janitor rescue pencils from the garbage. You would be surprised how many you can get that way too.

d-fly | 2013/05/16

I loan supplies once in a while, too. But chronic borrowers have to surrender their cell phones to me as ransom. I always get the borrowed supplies back.

Judy | 2013/05/16

Atlas pencil company sell misprinted pencils for $7.00 for 144! They also sell golf pencils with erasers, also very inexpensive. Just not a battle I choose to fight.

vicki | 2013/05/16

Retired Art teacher here. In the early years I tried all of the above loaning methods and none improved the situation. Finally, I stopped enabling and let my students learn to become responsible. When someone would ask for a pencil, I'd first let them try to solve the problem on their own. Next, offer alternatives, if needed.(check bag, ask a friend, check the floor) If after all that they still didn't have a pencil, I'd offer a pass to the hall to look around the lockers floor, but this option came with a tardy for class. It's surprising how many students can find a pencil in the classroom rather than take a tardy. Looking back, it would have been easier for me to hand out pencils from a can.

Fran | 2013/05/16

I, too, ordered those little golf/math compass pencils from our school supplies, but they don't have erasers. So I bought my own erasers and put them on. However, I found a guy on ebay who sells little pencils with erasers for $20.00 (good quality, too). I think there were 244 pencils and well worth my investment. I believe we teachers can write that expense off on our income taxes.

Stephen | 2013/05/16

I visit our district supply fair and ask them to try to save me some pencils. This year I got a box of 1440. Then I cut them in half with my table saw and made 2880. Your Ag dept may be able to do the same.

Lauren | 2013/05/16

I actually charge them 10 cents per pen or pencil. I then save the money in a bucket and at the end of the year, I donate it to the Humane Society of the United States in the name of "Students at ...Middle School!"

Linda Gavin | 2013/05/16

I have the student give me their keys, phone, or billfold and they get it back when they return the pencil or pen.

Kevin Stockwell | 2013/05/16

If a students needs to borrow a pen or a pencil, they need to leave an Item. Change, dollars agendas etc. if they forget to return it, they most certainly return the pencil to get the item they left for deposit!

Kelly | 2013/05/16

I buy discounted pencils during Back-to-School sales. Each student gets assigned a sticker at the beginning of the school year, which is put on the pencils, erasers, hi-liters etc. to keep track of them. I hand out pencils every other week, and the janitor also supplies us with hallway pencils which are kept in a can. They like having their own symbol and usually keep track of them. When the pencil gets too short, they grab one from the can.

Alice | 2013/05/16

I colect pencils too plus buy them at back to school savings.However I am tierd of my classes beaking pencils or taking them back to their homeroom clases.I thought by providing pencils in my STEM rotation class it would make it easier. But the frustration of them beaking the pencls put me right over the edge! I will do the shoe thing next year and insist that they bring their own pencil.The person who asked the custodian to pick them up for them is ridiculos. They have more than they can handle just trying to get the school vacumed, mopped and bathrooms cleaned to add pencil collector too their job discription.Show them a little respect here!

Gabs | 2013/05/16

Oh...by the way...anyone else seeing through the steaming pile of doo that is "The Common Core"? Just another way the ultra rich are tring to get even richer: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/the-coming-revolution-in-public-education/275163/?utm_source=4/28 It's time to take back our schools.

Gabs | 2013/05/16

When a student come to me to ask for a pencil, I politely tell said student, to acquire a pencil themselves. If a custodian can pick up pencils, and I can pick them up, then surely our students can. I teach high school, so this method may not fly with the younger crowd. What are we doind? Now we have to supply our students, feed them? Give them extra time on an assignment because they were sleeping, or texting with a BFF...pretty soon, all a kid is going to need to walk at graduation is a teacher who will carry them down the red carpet. Oh, that and a friggin pencil!

Patti | 2013/05/15

I teach HS Math and Science. I have a box of golf pencils available for students who do not have one. Students only take them if they really need them! I used to buy pencils (at back to school savings) and have them available. However, students would take them because they were too lazy to get their own pencil out of their backpack. Now... they would much rather use a "real" pencil if they have one... but if not, a golf pencil is available. (I also bought pencil top erasers to lend out on test days). For scientific calculators... I have students leave a shoe. I have tried leaving keys, IDs, cell phones, etc. and students walk out with my phone and I am left trying to hunt them down to give them their cell phones. I have never had a student leave without a shoe!

Lisa | 2013/05/15

I pick up pencils and pens at fairs, conventions and conferences. My siblings also pick them up for me. I always have a supply then for the forgetful kids.

Kris | 2013/05/15

I buy school supplies on sale and keep them available for my students. There are just too many other battles to fight! (At conferences, I let families know this is my policy, and that I'm happy to accept donations of school supplies.)

Marcia V. Grossbard | 2013/05/05

The decorations would interfere with "automatic pocketing" which some people do without intent. A good idea, I think.

Marcia V. Grossbard | 2013/05/05

The decorations would interfere with "automatic pocketing" which some people do without intent. A good idea, I think.

Marcia V. Grossbard | 2013/05/05

The decorations would interfere with "automatic pocketing" which some people do without intent. A good idea, I think.

Andrea | 2013/05/01

Each group in my class has a set design. They have a set amount (20). At the end of the day there must be 20 pencils in the can. They get a prize for having the designated amount of pencils. Ever since starting this, have seen an increase in my 2nd graders cooperation and responsibility. And in 2 months only two pencils have disappeared.

S | 2013/05/01

I read a hint to put bite marks on the pencils, I do it with a hammer. This worked, the pencils aren't so inviting. I also give each child a "pass card." If they want to borrow anything from me- pencil, ruler, scissors, book- I get their pass card. I always know where my supplies are. If a student misplaces their card, they must borrow a card from someone else. They don't usually forget where they put their cards.

Jan | 2013/04/28

I do what Pat does. A student needs a pencil, they leave me a shoe. I have 1 student that doesn't like taking his shoe off, so he remembers a pencil. Only problem I have is when a student wants to take off both shoes and takes 2 pencils.

Lynn | 2013/04/27

I had a student who grandfather was a custodian at a nearby school and he kept a whole grade level in pencils the entire year!

Tammy | 2013/04/25

Another idea for pencil donations...banks, auto part stores, grocery stores...usually if you are a consistent customer they will come up with extra pens and pencils for classroom use.

Pat | 2013/04/25

I use a student's shoe as collateral. They never leave without their shoe, and I am not responsible for anything of value. Those that don't like giving me a shoe tend to remember their pencils!

Sharleen | 2013/04/25

I require them to leave something they value with me until they return the pencil. It could be a phone, a bracelet, keys, or even a hat. They always remember, even if they have left the class, they eventually return for their item.

jill | 2013/04/25

I've asked the military for pencils; they've given my a box each time (I contact them during the summer). I also purchase some pencils, but I duct tape a flower (or other item) to the pencil (I got this idea from local stores--they attach an item to the pen at the check out).