The Name Pen!

Oh my goodness!  It has been weeks since I have posted! (Sorry!)  Needless to say school has begun and teaching life (with two little ones) is in full swing.  At our house we affectionately call our weekly schedule "the hamster wheel!"  (You working moms know what I am talking about!)  Yet, in all the activity and craziness, I have to admit, I really love my job!

A sure cure for no names on papers!

In the past weeks, I have had the chance to set up my room, organize, meet my students, organize, begin the year, organize, teach some and organize some more!  I love organization. (Did you pick that up in the last sentence?)  It always makes my instructional day run smoothly!  Because I am organization crazy, I am always on the look out for good ideas that foster organization in my classroom. 

I recently ran across this helpful little tip ... The Name Pen... from my friend and fellow teacher Katie! (Not only is she a wonderful teacher she is amazingly organized!) The Name Pen is a sure fire way to help your students remember to write their names on their papers!  I don't know about you, but I have quite a few little ones who forget to do so, especially early in the year. 

Here is how it works...  When students are ready to turn in their work they highlight their name (one quick line across their name) and place it into the "All Done" basket.  The "All Done" basket is where kids turn in completed work in our classroom.  If a student pulls out the Name Pen to highlight their name and can't find it on their paper, it is a sure fire reminder to write it at that time.  Yea, no more nameless papers!  I kid you not, the Name Pen immediately cured the occurrence of those  "no name" papers which often frustrate my record keeping and paper management routines.  To make using the Name Pen even easier, use retractable highlighters.  It makes the process quick and easy for all kids to use.  This is an awesome little tip... thanks Katie!  Give it a try, you will love it!