In the thick of the school year, especially as that third-quarter slump sneaks up on us, keeping students engaged can feel like herding cats. We’re always on the lookout for fresh, fun ways to spruce up our classroom management and engagement strategies. That’s why Amanda Davies, a middle school teacher and librarian, has come to the rescue with a classroom hack she’s shared with the We Are Teachers team—and now, we’re excited to pass it along to you.
The hack: Let students name the supplies that typically go missing or get swiped.
Amanda stumbled upon a creative idea to revitalize her classroom’s and library’s atmosphere following a recent renovation. Inspired to give her book carts a fresh look, she didn’t stop at a new coat of paint: She involved her students in a playful naming contest. This approach has since expanded to include essential classroom tools like dry-erase markers, scissors, and even loaner pencils!
Naming classroom objects serves a dual purpose: It prevents items from going missing and increases student engagement.
Students are less likely to misplace items that they have personally named, reducing the chaos and clutter that often accompany shared classroom resources. Furthermore, the act of naming helps create a more personable and relatable learning environment. This is a win-win!
What does this look like in a classroom?
Check out these cute pictures Amanda shared!
Carty McCartface, Bob, and Bulldog Book Buggy
Aren’t these a hoot?! Her students probably had a blast coming up with these names!
Mario (Kart!)
Now this one is clever!
Percy, Harry, and Enola
Loaner pencils used to be such an annoying thought for me, but her idea makes them so much more fun!
Rock, Paper, …
It’s easy to see why this inventive name for the scissors won over her students!
How to set up your own naming system
Here’s how you can implement this in your classroom:
- Choose items that students frequently use or that often get lost.
- Use a Google Form to gather name suggestions or to vote on names, making it an interactive experience.
- Announce winners and label the items with their new names using paper, markers, and labels for a visual reminder.
- Pro tip: Encourage creativity and humor in the naming process to make it memorable. This not only makes it fun but also strengthens the students’ connection to their classroom, making them more likely to respect and care for their environment!
This hack isn’t just for book carts or a librarian’s domain. Teachers across various grades and subjects can adapt this idea. Whether it’s lab equipment in a science room or musical instruments in a band hall, giving objects a name can significantly enhance students’ interactions with their learning tools.
Ready to try it out?
Why not give your classroom a little extra personality while also tackling common organizational issues? Try out this naming strategy and see how quickly your students take pride in their creatively named classroom objects.