In the middle of the school year, especially with the third quarter recession creeping in, keeping students engaged can feel like a herd of cats. We’re always looking for fresh and fun ways to improve classroom management and engagement strategies. That’s why Amanda Davis, a middle school teacher and librarian, is here to help with classroom hacks she shared with the We Are Teachers team. And now we’re excited to bring it to you.
Hack: Have students name items that are commonly lost or stolen.
Following recent renovations, Amanda came up with creative ideas to revitalize the atmosphere in the classrooms and library. Wanting to give the library cart a fresh look, she didn’t stop with a new coat of paint. She engaged her students in a playful naming contest. This approach has since expanded to include classroom essential tools like dry erase markers, scissors, and even loaner pencils.
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Naming classroom objects serves two purposes. The goal is to prevent items from getting lost and increase student participation.
Students are less likely to misplace personally named items, reducing the confusion and clutter often associated with shared classroom resources. Additionally, the act of naming helps create a more personal and friendly learning environment. This is a win-win!
What does this look like in the classroom?
Check out the cute photos Amanda shared!
Carty McCartface, Bob, Bulldog Book Buggy
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Isn’t this dangerous? Her students probably had a blast coming up with these names.
Mario (kart!)
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Now, this is clever!
percy, harry, enola
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Renting pencils used to be a very tedious idea for me, but her idea made it a lot of fun.
Rock paper scissors, paper,…
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It’s easy to see why this creative name for scissors struck a chord with students.
How to set up your own naming system
Here’s how to implement this in your classroom.
Choose items that students use frequently or that are easy to lose. Create an interactive experience by using Google Forms to collect name suggestions and vote on names. Announce the winner and give the item a new name using paper, markers, and labels as a visual reminder. Pro tip: Encourage creativity and humor in the naming process to make it memorable. Not only is this fun, but it strengthens the connection between students and the classroom, making them more likely to respect and care for their environment.
This hack isn’t just for the realm of book carts and librarians. Teachers of different grades and subjects can adapt this idea. Whether it’s lab equipment in the science lab or instruments in the band hall, naming objects greatly enhances student interaction with learning tools.
Ready to try it?
Why not add a little more personality to your classroom while also tackling common organizational issues? Try this naming strategy and see how quickly your students take pride in the classroom objects they creatively name. Please check if you can hold it.
