During the tough times of the school year, especially as that third quarter slump hits us, keeping students engaged can feel like herding cats. We are always looking for new, exciting ways to improve our classroom management and engagement strategies. That’s why Amanda Davies, a middle school teacher librarian, came to help with a classroom hack she shared with the We Are Teachers team—and now, we’re excited to pass it on to you.
Hacking: Have students name resources that are often lost or swiped.
Amanda came up with a creative idea to refresh the look of her classroom and library after a recent renovation. Inspired to give his book carts a new look, he didn’t stop at a fresh coat of paint: He engaged his students in a playful naming contest. This method has grown to include essential classroom tools like erasers, scissors, and borrowed pencils!
Naming classroom materials serves a dual purpose: It prevents materials from getting lost and increases student engagement.
Students are less likely to throw away their own materials, which reduces the chaos and clutter that often accompanies shared classroom resources. In addition, the act of naming helps create a more engaging and relatable learning environment. This is a win-win!
What does this look like in the classroom?
Check out these beautiful photos shared by Amanda!
Carty McCartface, Bob, and the Bulldog Book Buggy
Aren’t these hoots?! His students may have come up with these words!
Mario (Card!)
Now this is smart!
Percy, Harry, and Enola
Borrowing pencils used to be an annoying thought for me, but her idea makes them so much fun!
Rock, Paper,…
It’s easy to see why this brand of scissors has won over his students!
How to set up your naming system
Here’s how you can use this in your classroom:
- Select items that students often use or that are often lost.
- Use a Google Form to collect word suggestions or vote for words, making it interactive.
- Announce the winners and label the items with their new names using paper, markers, and labels for a visual reminder.
- Pro tip: Inspire creativity and humor in the creative process to make it memorable. This not only makes it fun but also strengthens the students’ connection in their class, making them respect and take care of their environment!
This hack is not just for the book cart or the librarian’s background. Teachers in all grades and different subjects can change this idea. Whether it’s lab equipment in the science room or musical instruments in the band hall, giving things a name can greatly improve students’ interactions with their learning tools.
Ready to try it?
Why not give your classroom a little more personality while dealing with common organizational issues? Try this naming strategy and see how quickly your students take pride in their creatively named classroom items.
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