Re: Students coming to class without a pencil

Jon

Posted on 12/30/10

More | Report Post

I too make a collection of writing utensils left behind, and have tham
available to my students. However, I have an issue with certain
values in my community focusing on student entitlement. Specifically,
I feel that there are too many (of course not all) students in my
community have grown up learning that adults (subtext: parents) cater
to their every whim, and that they can get something for nothing. In
an attempt to re-program and make sure that they don't walk off with
the pencil/pen as their own when class is over, I ask them to give
something as collateral until class is over. I tell them it's just a
reminder to come give the pencil back. They'll leave a wallet, phone
or iPod (statement about my community? :) and they are very good about
giving it back. As a result, I'm always flush with supplies in that
regard.

On 12/28/10, Lynde wrote:
> I agree with both of you. I, too, feel that I have much more
> important things to worry about than jeopardizing a student's
> learning because of lack of paper and pencil. Although I must
> admit it just irks the heck out of me--25% of my students at least
> NEVER, EVER come to class prepared. And they're cocky about it, to
> boot. But for the most part, these are also kids who have other
> problems in the classroom as well. So, in the overall scheme of
> things, irresponsibility at coming prepared is small potatoes
> compared to the other areas where they're challenged at. Although
> it has occurred to me perhaps teaching them responsibility in small
> areas could be departured into bigger areasa--but I doubt it.
> Also, these are the same kids who shut down at the least
> provocation, so making it difficult to obtain supplies would be a
> kill-shot for them. Someone else on this thread talked about
> buying golf pencils. YAY! I've been doing that for the past 5
> years myself. The kids hate it because they've got no erasers, and
> they can't have the "fun" of breaking them. But it saves me alot
> of dimes (Staples for 8 bucks). And it actually has deterred a few
> kids over the years.
>
> I really like your idea of "People's Pencils." I keep mine in a
> pewter mug but I rarely ever get any pencils back. I tell the kids
> they can take one IF there's any in the mug to take (I periodically
> re-supply when no one's looking--I'm trying to discourage them from
> thinking I'm a free five-and-dime). I'm very "whatever" about it--
> use a flat, disinterested tone of voice, very matter-of-fact--"See
> if there are any left. If not, I guess you're out of luck. Check
> to see if someone else has one to loan you." The People's
> Pencils idea might encourage a sense of give-back with my kids--
> this is a culture that is very giving when they see a need or a
> reason or a tradition. It might work. Good idea.
>
>
> On 12/28/10, agree with Steph wrote:
>> On 12/17/10, Steph wrote:
>>> I collect pencils from the floor of my classroom and the
>>> halls (if I see one, I pick it up) and keep them in a jar on
>>> my desk. If students don't have a pencil, they can grab one
>>> from that jar (and hope it works!)
>>> On a related note, if a student doesn't have paper, I have a
>>> big bin of scrap paper from class activities. They can help
>>> themselves. Usually they choose to beg from their friends.
>>> As a second-year teacher, this isn't a battle I'm ready to
>>> fight with consequences. Maybe in a few years...
>>
>> I've been teaching for many years and I agree with Steph - I have
>> bigger battles to fight then pencil stubs and paper. Every day
>> there are pencils on my floor that the janitor picks up and throws
>> away. I pick them up and put them on my desk in a box called "The
>> Peoples' Pencils." Sometimes kids actually donate pencils to the
>> Peoples' Pencils and for Christmas a family sent in a whole box of
>> pencils for the Peoples' Pencils. If a kid forgets a pencil, there
>> are some there.
>>
>> And I keep scraps of paper - I'm a big 'don't let it go to waste'
>> and kids can take scrap paper from the pile. We only use 1 side of
>> the paper when we type - it's so wasteful!
>>
>> So I teach a recycling lesson - reduce, reuse, recycle.

Posts on this thread, including this one