Pencil Cans

     Anyone else get tired of the noise and mess of students digging all over for the red grading pen or high-lighter that you gave out earlier in the week, or the constant hand in the air asking if they can sharpen their one and only pencil?             Well, I do!!!               I have had pencil cases of all sizes, shapes and makes, but just hadn't found anything that I loved.  This past weekend, we enjoyed a 3 day weekend due to MLK Day and my lovely, wonderful, crafty, awesome sister covered these cans for me.  I took them to school on Tuesday and attached them to the desks with a Velcro dot and WALLA--so far so good. I gave every student a new pencil with a name flag on it, a red pen and a high-lighter, it was like Christmas.
     The next thing I did was start pulling a name (Popsicle stick) out of a can every day and if I feel like the student has done a good job of behaving and participating throughout the day he/she gets a jem to decorate the can, if the student didn't do such a great job, I tell them if it was a boy or girl but that is it, no name.  I got this idea from Mr. Coley's website, I think he called it "Secret Seat" and let me tell you----the kiddos will remind you if you forget----they want to add that bling.  The first picture is my can, I have only done this for 3 days so one student doesn't have all of those jems yet.  It warms my heart when they say "Can we take these home at the end of the year?"  The little things in life :)