Supply Problems
Students tend to get disruptive and concerned when they have a lack of supplies. These supplies may include pencils, glue sticks, erasers, pens, etc. In addition, pencil sharpening always seems to be a distraction in classrooms. Here are some ideas on how to monitor and control supply issues:
- Every table could have an organized bin with supplies on their table. Each table will have a supply manager. Their job at the end of every week their job will be to take inventory of what is in their bin. That way you can re-stock anything that is needed before the beginning of the next week. The bin will hold their pencils, erasers, pens, highlighters, glue sticks, and scissors. (Make sure you talk about the importance of taking care of supplies. You could make it a competition that the students who need the fewest things restocked at the end of the 9-week period win a prize.)
- One person is assigned the role of pencil sharpener. Their job, right away in the morning, is to sharpen any pencils in the tin where dull pencils go. Teachers should always have extra sharpened pencils for students to avoid the constant battle to sharpen them. Only allow students to sharpen pencils when you are NOT teaching.