Submitted by Ellen Barker, Wichita, Kansas
Idea posted January 3, 2002
My students sit on a large piece of carpet on the floor of a multi-purpose room. I won't let them have pencils if we have the textbooks out (somehow, stray marks are always found by other students at inappropriate times). Instead, we use clipboards as a writing surface.
The kids know that when it's time to do a worksheet, they pick up a piece of paper, a pencil (which I have in a box), and a clipboard. It's very easily taken care of (I put them in a large tub), and every student has one to use. They are fairly inexpensive, and they're not easily broken... just the normal "wear and tear." I think that in seven years, I've only had to throw away one or two.