Regardless if you teach kindergarten, 12th grade, or anything in between, you have heard this question about a million times. At some point in time it became our job as teachers to become a provider of pencils/pens to our students…but borrowing leads to ownership with students more often than not.

So, how do you get your materials back and make students remember to bring their own the next day? Take a shoe…that’s right, tell your students that you will gladly exchange a pencil for a one shoe. For me this helps insure that I get all my pencils back and leaves the student with a little bare foot reminder to bring their materials next time.

Next time you find yourself frustrated and starring at an empty pencil holder…don’t get mad, get a shoe from you kiddos.

Mr. McClung