I am looking for a way to help my students remember to put their name on their paper. I already repeat that several times and if they do turn in papers with out names they then have to preactice writing their name 10 times during recess. I am just looking for different ideas and want to know what works for you.
I just post them on the wall so everyone can see the work with no name in it. Sometimes it's with the grade right in the front (good or bad) and other times its not. They often don't stay up on the wall longer than a day, unless the person is absent.
I don't remind my 2ndies to put their names on their papers. Instead I do a couple of things. As they are getting started on their work, I say put a circle around the 3rd letter in your name or underline the second letter in your name, for example.
Another thing I do when they start work really gets their attention. I walk around observing their work and look for papers with no name. I quietly stop and point at the empty line and suddenly give a VERY loud and dramatic G.A.S.P. Usually it startles them so they quickly get their name written. Others around the room scurry to add their names before I come to their desk and do the same.
After my primary students were to have their names on their papers I would ask them to draw a tiny star, or some other easy ovject, after their name so they could check to see that they had names on their paper. Some times I would ask them to write a secret code ISI (I'm so intelligent.) I had few "no name papers" and it gave the adhd kids a chance to get their names on their papers without public embarrassment.
I don't have much of a problem in class, but what do you do about homework papers? That's what drives me crazy. I announce to the class that so and so did not turn in homework, but I have some nameless papers! They come and claim them, but it never gets any better.
I have a can of highlighters by the turn in basket. They must circle their name with a highlighter before turning in any work. Since they love using the highlighters I hardly ever have no name papers anymore.
In a large group I ask my students to put their names on their papers then put their finger on their nose or their hand on their head or whatever else. I then say something like, I see I have 3 friends who are ready and just wait them out. They know the only mandatory places to go are lunch and home and I have no problem with working into their recess or specials.
I also use highlighters. I have a bucket of them next to the bin where they turn in their papers. They have to highlight their name before their paper goes in the bin.
I hand them out and drop the no names in the trash - kids with no paper go look for theirs, put their name on it and hand it in again. I return it with a happy face.
I read something online (maybe Pinterest? I don't know lol) about the highlighters. I was going to mention that, but two already did. I don't do that in my classroom, but it seems like it would work. When I hand out a paper, I give my kids a minute or two to get their name on the page. Then we go over directions. Then I say "Put your finger on your first name. Put your finger on your last name. Put your finger on today's complete date, February 10, 2013. If you can put your finger on all three of those things, you may begin." Everyone gets their name on their paper at that point, and it's embedded into going over directions so it doesn't take up too much extra time.
use a highlighter on their name. I had several students at the first of the school year that would never put their names on their papers. I gave each table a highlighter and told them it was ONLY for their names on their papers. Problem solved
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02-06-2013, 08:00 PM
Usually it startles them so they quickly get their name written. Others around the room scurry to add their names before I come to their desk and do the same. 
