What kind of name tags do you have on your student's desks? I was looking today and you can buy them with everything on them but the kitchen sink. What do you think is a must? This is my first year teaching 2nd grade so I want to get the stuff I need. Thanks
I struggled with this my first year too. Last year I made my own to match my theme. They had nothing extra on them and my kids survived... and had super cute desk tags!
I do put 100s charts on the corner of my kiddo's desks. Here's the one I made.
I'll also attach a desk tag that you can personalize and print yourself, if you really want the extra stuff.
Christina
Last edited by christina4062; 06-30-2008 at 02:31 PM..
I had purchased some from Dollar Tree that had some extra things on them and worked for my kids. Later in the year I had replaced them (because they looked terrible from the kids tearing them up) with more expensive ones from the teacher store that had lots of extras on them. I did like them for quick reference, but I found that some of my kids were becoming very dependent upon them. I'm not sure if I'll use them again or not.
On a side note, I learned from another teacher that if you laminate your nametags and then attach them to the desks with electrical tape, they nametags will last longer and the tape will not leave a sticky residue. When I replaced my nametags last year, I tried the electrical tape idea and by the end of the year only 2 out of 19 students had loose nametags. I personally think electrical tape is the way to attach nametags.
This year I bought some of those with everything on them, and discovered that I really didn't need them. Also, some of the words on the tags were spelling words, and some of the shapes were on one of our math tests-- and it was tough covering them up when we had a test. This year I'm going back to the simple ones--with a cute design and lines where I will print their names. We also laminate our nametags and cover them with clear packaging tape, which makes them really durable. I end up changing the nametags in January when I start teaching cursive writing--so I write the names in cursive for the kids to practice.
I usually buy the bigger ones with the 100's chart and number line on them and put the kids names on them and laminate. But the neatest trick I learned is to attach them to the desks with a velcro dot near the top two edges! If you measure where you put the velcro(somewhat so they're all the same) then when you change seats the kids just take off their name tags and velcro them on their new desks. Or when we needed them off for state testing, they just pull them off and put them away. It's great!
Whatever you decide... if you cover them with clear contact paper they will last all year. I even give a treat at the end of the year for those that kept them on all year. Hope it works for you.
I bought the really expensive ones that had everything (even pictures of money) but I found the Students never used them and those that did needed them too much. I am going to try the dollar ones at Target this year. They are super cute. I bought ones with monkeys on them but they had a lot. Buy now because that school/teacher stuff goes REALLY REALLY fast!
If you use contact paper for anything..........round the corners before peeling off the backing. The students have a difficult time trying to find a place to begin "picking" the edges.........because there isn't an edge! My pre-k teacher friend taught me this years ago and I still use it in second grade. I place my name tags on my student's book boxes (ice cube containers) that they keep on their desks. This way I don't have to move the desk if I want to move students around, all I have to do is move the contents of their desks and the book box.
I've always just bought mine. They typically have a cute border and a place for the name, nothing extra. I think I may make mine this year. What a great idea!
Our school does DNealin handwriting and was wondering if I should get the name tags that has that on there. FYI-those hundreds charts at the Dollar Tree are very hard to get off the desks at the end of the school year. Thanks everyone.
There's a liquid called Goo-B-Gone. I use it to get the sticky residue off if I need to. My nametags are usually just the child's name. I have used the ones from Target and the teacher supply store in the past. This year, a teacher who is moving down a grade gave me her nametags that she didn't need because they were too advanced. They have lots of reference aids on them, and are longer than the ones I usually use. We'll see how they work out...
Hi Everyone,
Great ideas for name tags. This is my problem: Sometimes after the year begins, I need to move some students after I get to know them. For different reasons I move them...behavior, too chatty with neighbor, some need to be up close to the board, etc. What do you do about this? Move the name tag? Thanks for your tips! :-)
I move the desk because at the beginning of the year before I attach nametags I place students in a desk that is the right height for them. This saves me the trouble of having to adjust a bunch of desk heights myself or have someone else do it. Then I move the desk when I want to move students because then I know the desk won't be too high or too low for that particular child. Hopefully that makes sense.
I posted up near the top--I love the velcro dots --one on the top corners and they switch desks very easily, plus the kids can pull them off to use them easily.
I personally don't like the ones that have all the reference items on them. I like just the smaller ones that only have a place for a name. I use book tape and change them when we begin cursive. I like the idea of rounding the corners as students do love to pick at the edges.
I ordered clear sleeves that adhere to the desks and are open on one end for the name tags to slide into. Around December, I change their name tags from manuscript to cursive. I'm hoping I can slide their original name tag out of the sleeve and replace it with the cursive version. Normally, I use wide tape or contact paper to adhere the beginning of the year name tag and then clean off the adhesive before attaching their cursive name tag. It's my hope that the new sleeves with work for me!
Do your students pick at the dots? I have tables instead of desks and we need to clear things off every week for science investigations. I'm wondering if the dots would last. I might try it and see....I like the idea of being able to change the names if I have to switch seats.
Hi there-
I got these from a friend when I started teaching two... I hand them out in the first day or so, and kids get to color them while I collect fees and such. It gives a quick idea about neatness and effort, let me tell you. Feel free to print them out
I have tables and "picky" kids, too. :-) I like the sleeve idea so that any change of name tags wouldn't be so difficult or involved.
What great ideas!
I use very plain name tags and laminate them before I write the student's name on it. I also don't tape them to the desks, because I move my students a lot. The tag goes with the child to another desk or table. By laminating the tags, they stay nice the entire year. At the end of the year the kids get to take them home.
I wonder if you can get these containers online? I really have been wanting these for book baskets for the children. But they are usually so expensive when you are talking about buying 25! These would be perfect. We are in a small town and the closest target is about 1 1/2 hrs. drive. hmmmm.
Sandy
I will check my supply orders when I'm at school tomorrow (7/3.) I will try to post the information after that! I really am hoping the sleeves will work and be a convenience!
Okay...I ordered these from Really Good Stuff. The official name of the product is - Nameplate Self-Adhesive Vinyl Sleeves. They come in a package of 12 that are 9 7/8" by 3 7/8" for $16.00 or 3 packages or more for $14.99. There are larger ones - 18 1/2" X 5 1/2" for $24.99 or three packages of 12 for $19.99.
Thanks for your sleeve information. It's so nice to have a little bit more time during the summer to "talk" with each other and get new ideas! I like that!
but I have my kids put them in a long pencil box at the end of the day so they don't really get ruined. They take them out when they are spelling someone's name. This way they can be moved if necessary.
I love the make your own ones but printing is so expensive. I just bought a pack for 3.99 at the teacher store.
Last year I decided we didn't need nametags on the desks for the whole year. I use the inexpensive ones from Target. I leave them laying on the student's desks for about the first week of school. Then I collect them and only put them out if there is a sub. (If I am unexpectedly absent a student tells the sub where there are kept and passes them out.) No more peeling, dirty edges. It has made my life much simpler.
I have taught upper grades and lower grades both and I use name tags for both.
With my younger grades they were always afixed to the desk with clear tape and student numbers were assigned as well that were on their name tags. I also included a weekly behavior/homework sheet that I could quickly stamp when checking their assignments or behaivor in classroom group work. I could stamp/wash off and use week after week...WE loved it!
As for the older groups...we move around and I have a homeroom class and 4 other classes. I have a pocket chart afixed to a bullentin board that the students arrive to class, display their names that is color coded by class colors, and then quickly sit in their cordinating seat. This helps the sub with seating, names and i can quickly take roll each class without missing a beat.
This works well and as it is laminated, holds up very well.
I have bought the pre-made. I have even written names on the desk as to not deal with the picking. I finally went to purchasing sentence strips and cutting them into thirds for name tags. I also take a picture of each student and make a seating chart in Word/Excel with name and picture for subs. The rule in my class has become that I will not replace a tag if the student destroyed it. I will replace those that have become damaged from normal use or accediental damage do to some project being done. I use either book tape or clear contact paper to attach the name tags.
I struggle with sticky contact paper every year- how do you use the electrical tape? Do you put in around the edges on the top, or do you make a circle and use it underneath? Thanks! I was going to try just the standing nametags this year(I have tables) because it's such a hassle moving them when I need to move kids around.
I tried the velcro a couple of years ago, since I have tables, too, and like to change the seating around every month or so. They didn't last for me- the tags didn't lay flat so the kids poked at them and the velcro didn't last very long. This year I'm either going to use the folding ones that stand up, or just small ones that I'll laminate and take out when we need them. I'm trying to simplify!
My friend (and her son) took down her ceiling tiles and painted them blue. It took some time and 2 gallons of paint, but it looked great. After that, she took the thin brown packaging paper (Dollar World has it) and twisted it into vines. She hung them with fishing line from her tile supports. Then we took old flower arrangements and cut off all of the leaves and hot-glued them to the vines. It really looks cute and the fire marshall never said a word......
Someone had posted on another thread a while ago to use the furniture plastic that you can buy at Walmart for about $5 a yard. You can cut it to the size you need. I still don't quite understand how it works. I guess you tape it to the desk then, but I was thinking the point of the sleeves was to avoid having anything for the kids to pick at as well as to protect the name tags/plates. I don't know. I just wanted to suggest that to everyone since it's much cheaper.
Christina4062 - Your name tags are so cute. My husband and I are really trying to save money and cut corners where we can. I am so bad about spending my own money and tons of it on my classroom. You have just saved me! Now I can use your idea to make my own. Thanks for sharing!!
Don't forget to save your receipts when you buy things for your class (or if you take a course, union dues, etc.) to take off on your taxes. I'm always amazed how it adds up, but at least we can take a deduction.
No matter how much I bribe the kids or what I cover them with, the name tags never seem to last. Last year I tried something new. I used colorful markers that usually write on glass/windows. I believe they are called Bright Sticks. You can get them at Wal-mart. They are wet erase so the kids can't wipe them off very easily. If they do come off it is easy to re-write them back on. Also, if I don't want to move the desks around, I can just write their name on a new desk. We also team teach at my school, so this made it really easy to write 2 sets of kids names on the desks. I even used 2 different colors (one for each class).
I put the electrical tape around the outside edge. Just the 2 short sides worked for my students. I laminated the nametags before placing them on the desks and the tape came off easily of the desk (and nametag if needed).
They are called File Folders at Target. I purchased 20 today for $20.00. They are a very good quality. Mine are all royal blue. Perhaps you can call the store and ask them to put them aside for you? I have purchased similar baskets from Really Good Stuff--they are much more expensive PLUS shipping costs... Just a suggestion...what do you have to lose?
When first entering Target there is a Dollar section...find the spot that says File Folder, if it is empty ask them to please zap the upc to see if there are any in stock...explain you're a teacher...most love to help! Good Luck!
06-30-2008, 02:01 PM
I ordered these from really good stuff. 
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