The first thing a teacher should do: pencil system!

What was the #1 time waster my first year of teaching? "Miss I need a pencil!!" Now that it's my 3rd year I'm no pro, but I thought I'd share some time saving and headache saving advice! Its easy for teachers to go through close to 100 pencils a week. 

Failed systems:
Pencil in exchange for a shoe- smelly
Get one from a friend- loud and time consuming
Points off an assignment- then what's their grade based on, responsibility?
The worst of all is "figure it out"... Middle schoolers? They can't figure out how to put deodorant on let alone how to pull a pencil out of thin air. 

Successful system!:

For this system I implemented last year I bought 5 mechanical pencils or pens (not regular....they sharpen down to nothing in 1 day). Hotglue them to popsicle sticks. Hotglue ribbon every 2 inches to a stick or ruler or the wall. They have to sign out the pencil on their way in the door BEFORE the bell rings. This makes for a classroom full of seated children, pencil in hand, ready to learn!....when the bell rings! The dream right!? (I just had to threaten for the first week of school that if they walk away with one I'll come to their next class and embarrass them and it worked like a charm!)

Do a quick glance-check by the door when the bell rings to make sure they are all back hanging there! If you see one missing hold the class back for a few seconds--it doesn't take long for someone to realize they have one or fess up for taking it!

Side effects may include work being turned in, names on papers, saved money, and a happy teacher!

**I tried this once using 30 of these in a bin, and they all got stolen within 2 weeks. Make sure you only use 5-7 and that you make them visible to you at quick glance!!**