I have to admit that I haven't actually had any issues with pencils, but I was curious to see how far I could push my students! Here is how I adapted the pencil challenge to my classroom. I gave each student five pencils at the beginning of the school year. I made sure that each one was securely labeled with his/her initials. I told them that we were doing a "game" to see how long they could take care of the pencils and use them wisely. As of today I have about 4 out of 18 students that are "out" of the pencil challenge and I have given out about 5 additional pencils since the beginning of the school year!
One thing I have learned is the erasers get used faster than the lead and having some extra small cap erasers is very helpful to helping the students savor their pencils. Once the pencils get too small to fit inside our electric pencils sharpener then they are tossed. I actually haven't planned what to do for the student or students actually make 5 pencils last for the entire 3rd grade, but I actually think it will happen! Now, you might be wondering....how do you actually MOTIVATE the students to take care of the pencils?! In our class we use sticker charts and class coupons. It is so simple! Each student gets a sticker chart with 50 blanks and earns stickers for various favorable behaviors. Once the sticker chart is full, then he/she earns a class coupon. In our class we have treat jar, no shoes, show and tell, and teacher's chair. It is that simple!!
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