I have also turned the desk around. I don’t think not alllowing all students to learn responsibility is the answer. Over half of my classes are always able to keep there own supplie,s be responsible about them, and do good work. The others need to be taught how, and community supplies don’t help them learn to be responsible.

I've had kids play constantly with things in their desk before. I've had to tell them if I see them doing it again, I will turn the desk around. I did end up turning the desk around, but only for the student it was a problem with. That student had to stand up and walk to the front of his desk to get supplies when we transitioned subject. It actually did help. Getting up out of his seat to get something from the front of the his desk actually gave him a little break to get some movement and energy out. At the end of the day, though, he hated doing this and promised he wouldn't play in his desk anymore, so we tried the next day with his desk back to normal and it worked great. He did just fine. I think that was all he needed to do the trick.

I would handle supplies the way I do with my tables. Have a caddie for each table for shared supplies. Hand out books when needed. Have crates to store book bags for reading- they get them at reading time.

My kids have seat pockets that store a few things- would that work? They can’t really play with items because they are behind them oh their chairs.

You could also limit what’s in their desk to just workbooks so they won’t be tempted to play. Any “contraband” gets confiscated and returned at the end of the year.

Good luck!

Each child keeps his/her supplies in the desk of the person behind them. (Last kid in the row would need a bin or something.)

My students play with the things in their desks. I want to turn their desks around so they are not usable as storage, but then how do we handle supplies? Any suggestions?