Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on October 4, 2023 1:16 pm Add to Favorites suRuQe Reps: 104 Materials running out My elementary school students have an issues with losing materials. I am constantly supplying the classroom with communal pencils, paper, etc. and they just keep running out. How can I better manage the materials they are using?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted October 4, 2023 2:28 pm zaSuNu Reps: 202 I would only give the students a certain amount of materials rather than giving them an abundancy or an unlimited amount. Depending on what it is and how much the materials cost, you could be more generous or not so generous for materials. This way you are not trying to purchase new materials so often. Votes: +7 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution eDezaN Reps: 100 I agree, I would say instead of just giving the supplies to the student have your own teacher stash that the students can borrow if they need. Just be sure to get your materials back after they’re done using them.   Posted on: October 8, 2023 10:30 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted October 4, 2023 10:18 pm zuLuZy Reps: 208 You could limit the amount of supplies that you give to a student at a time to try to ration them. But you could also make sure that there is some way to identify the materials to the specific student maybe by writing their names on them or assigning a number to the student. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted October 6, 2023 7:38 pm uPanaS Reps: 203 One solution would be sending a list to parents with materials that the class needs and asking for donations. Another would be to separate the materials into different chunks. I.e. 4 realms of copy paper for one month and once the students use all of the materials they do not get anymore and have to bring in their own, this will make them savor the materials more. Perhaps also take some time to discuss the issue with co-teachers and administration to see of there is a different solution that can be proposed. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 8, 2023 2:06 pm eLaqeV Reps: 101 You could incorporate a token system into your classroom management daily routine where students would be able to earn currency based on the number of points they earn. If a student loses their materials, they will have to pay for them with their earned points/tokens. Students could earn points for things like staying in their seats, doing their work, raising their hand, etc. How many points students earn and how they earn their points is decided by the teacher. I recommend having your points system connected to your classroom rules so that students can be reinforced to follow them. As students earn points, they can earn rewards purchased or free. For example, free computer time, reading a book of choice, but the reward must interest the student. Other ways you can reduce materials from running out are storing materials in a cabinet and only providing them when necessary. A teacher may want a return material checklist sheet where students must return materials before they leave class. If materials are not returned by the student at the end of class, they should be responsible for any work undone and supplies needed in the future until materials are returned. A teacher may request for the student to ask their peers for materials until the materials are returned. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 6, 2023 7:05 pm eLyreV Reps: 101 Have students start with a certain amount of materials. Make it clear to them that this is the amount they will start with, and once they are gone, they're gone, so they need to be very careful. This will help students to ensure they are being careful and will help them not misplace the materials. Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 8, 2023 4:01 am veVuDy Reps: 103 limit the amount of materials my setting up a station where each student picks up their own assigned material's such as a box for pencils and glue which students must return before leaving the class. it Budgeting is also important to keep in mind limit the amount of material you give out and be sparing with them. (For some assignment revolving around printed work try and print assignments and tasks on both sides of the paper in order to save on cost)(also for some more creative assignments try and recycle items you use in class like paper and pencil). Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted October 4, 2023 8:17 pm TumuWu Reps: 103 A good solution would be to have a pencil box that every student gets and they keep it at their desk so that it is not leaving the classroom and doesn't have a way to get lost. Votes: +3 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted October 5, 2023 2:38 am evyDuB Reps: 101 Make sure that each student comes to class prepared with materials. Have designated materials that are meant to be borrowed and once done being borrowed, must be put back. Votes: +3 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted October 8, 2023 11:50 pm Emma Beatty Reps: 101 Keep shared class materials in a central area, with designated, labelled spots. Students will feel more responsibility to return materials if they are seen as a permanent fixture of the classroom. Labelling specific materials with students names will also lessen these losses... if lost they will be found and returned, but students may not lose materials that they feel personally responsible for. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted October 8, 2023 11:58 pm aqazez Reps: 101 I think it would be helpful to have individual pouches with supplies in them. Then you can have them on their desks before class and they can hand them in at the end of class. That way, if they need additional materials, you can distribute the supplies as needed. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 31, 2023 6:18 am yzeqeT Reps: 101 If you have your students seated in clusters, I would have a bucket assigned to each group and each bucket will have a small amount of supplies. I would keep track at the end of class what is missing and if so, talk with the group to put the missing item back. If you have them seated in rows (or any other manner), I would have a list of which student borrowed something and that item listed. If the item hasn't been returned before the end of class I would remind the student to return the item back. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 12 Posted November 2, 2023 1:01 am eLyreV Reps: 101 Good luck! Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 13 Posted November 2, 2023 1:01 am eLyreV Reps: 101 :) Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 14 Posted November 2, 2023 1:01 am eLyreV Reps: 101 Buy more! Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 15 Posted November 2, 2023 1:01 am eLyreV Reps: 101 Buy more! Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 16 Posted February 21, 2024 4:41 pm uNaBuT Reps: 200 We has a "Pencil Parking Lot" where the student would put their name card in the slot and take the material they need. This helped hold the students accountable but they also held each other accountable. If the resource was not returned, they had to replace it (look in their desks and backpacks). 99% of the time they had it stashed in their bag or desk. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.