Winning the

Pencil War

Created By Ms. Hazelton © 2012 http://wiseowlteacher.blogspot.com

Saving you time, money and sleepless nights

Never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine that PENCILS would be one of my worst teacher nightmares. You know exactly what I am talking about. The violent whirring of the electric pencil

sharpener. The wails of students without writing utensils during independent work. Oh and don’t forget the daily exercise of walking around your classroom and collecting pencils that dropped during the day

to the floor. I’ve clocked some serious mileage with that fun activity. ���

Needless to say, I was caught off guard during my first year of teaching and tried many a system and idea, all with little to no success. With my sanity slowly slipping away, I knew I needed a plan of attack

for the next year or else all could be lost….all for a flippin’ PENCIL. ���

Defeat was not an option. After some serious soul searching, I finally had it. The idea to end all ideas. A stroke of genius. Well, maybe not…but I did come up with a system that worked for me and has

worked for many other teachers who have tried it out. Since this system has made me a happier and more productive teacher, I have decided to share it with you in hopes that you will have similar fantastic,

life-changing results.��

Here’s to never hearing that pencil sharpener while you give directions EVER again. ��

Happily yours, ��

Ms. H J ��

Graphics and Fonts Courtesy of� ScrappinDoodles © www.scrappindoodles.com �

www.kevinandamanda.com �http://www.etsy.com/shop/aprilhovjacky �

�

�q  Several boxes or jumbo packs of pencils (I highly recommend the extra investment of

Ticonderoga pencils – they last longer because the lead doesn’t break and splinter)��q  Carnation erasers – Enough for each of your students to get one��q  Pencil pouches – Enough for each of your students to get one. You may also want to purchase

a few extra just in case. �

Materials

I like the ones with the front net pouch. Click on the picture to be taken to the website where you can order these! �

Prizes

For this system to work (unless you’d like to modify to fit your needs) you need to purchase or create some small prizes that will fit inside the pencil pouch. Great examples are: ��q  Individual stickers �q  “I am a Friend of Pencils” coupon (see last page)�q  Special pencils (Smelly pencils, brightly colored pencils, etc.)�q  Small individual pieces of candy (one starburst, Hershey kiss, etc.)�q  Brightly colored pencil eraser toppers �

Set Up

q  Using a black Sharpie marker, write the name of each student on each pencil pouch. This is an important step because you need to know who to return each pouch to on Monday.�

q  In each pencil pouch, place 8 pencils and one pink Carnation eraser. �q  Distribute the pencil pouches to your class on the first day of school.�

���q  Explain that each student will get only 8 pencils per week. It is their own responsibility to

keep track of their 8 pencils and eraser and return them safely to their pouch after each use. �

q  On Friday, after the last academic period, the teacher or student helper will collect the pouches. At this time, the teacher (or preferably, student helper) will sharpen the pencils.�

q  Tell your students that if all 8 pencils are in the pouch on Friday afternoon, they will find a small prize in their pouch come Monday morning when the pouches are returned. �

q  If there are any pencils missing, (THIS IS KEY) the pencil(s) WILL be replaced, but no prize will be given. All pencils need to be in good condition (no erasers snapped off or broken) in order to receive the prize.�

q  If pencils are missing, I would place a note saying “Try again next week!” �

Rules

q  Take the time to explain the directions and rules CLEARLY. Give time for students to ask questions. It’s much better to hammer the issues out beforehand than to constantly have to answer the same question throughout the year.�

q  Explain that you will not listen to pencil issues. Bottom line? The pencils are the student’s responsibility, not yours. �

q  Tie your pencil system to bucket filling or random acts of kindness. What do you do if you find yourself with an extra pencil for the week? Give it to someone who is missing a pencil. My students started doing this without my assistance and it was an added bonus towards building a positive classroom community.�

q  Create classroom jobs surrounding the pencil system. Students can be responsible for the Friday sharpening and another student can be responsible for collecting and handing out the pouches each week. The less work for you, the better! �

q  Keep your students guessing! If you sense them losing interest, throw in a highly coveted prize one week to draw them back in. Don’t give amazing prizes every week – stickers are really the best and easiest prize, but switch it up every so often with pencil toppers, small pieces of candy or special pencils! �

q  Hold monthly competitions. Who can earn their prize the most – the boys or girls? Which birth month comes out on top? Keep it fun and get creative! �

Oops! Oops! Oops!

Oops! Oops! Oops!

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

Looks like you are missing a pencil �

or two! ��

Try again next week! �

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Thanks again and enjoy! ���