Storage Solutions for Writing Needs | Help Erase Bullying
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If you are on social media channels like Facebook, then you know it is Back to School Season. I’ve been seeing photos of kids headed back to the classroom since the beginning of the month. My own 7th grader began his time as a middle school student this past week and my homeschooled boys (kindergarten and high school) are already back to learning.
If there is one thing I want to do, it is to alleviate as much stress about learning as possible. This includes making sure we have all the supplies required for our learning experiences, especially storage solutions for writing needs.
Before I can even consider how to store things, I need to know what we really need. For the last 2 years, my third son had to bring erasable pens in blue or black ink to help grade other student work in class. I remember a few teachers doing the same thing; having papers shuffle in a set direction so a different student in the class would mark any wrong answers on an assignment.
His teacher wanted a good erasable pen that could be used for this purpose and we soon found that not all are created equal. We soon discovered that FriXion Clicker pens were the best option available in our local stores.
So, when it was time to buy school supplies for this new school year, I headed to our local Target.
Lucky me found the last packages of FriXion Clicker pen 3pk Assorted on the shelf the day I was there. I decided having a set for my son going to school as well as one for myself and my high school student would be perfect.
Homeschooling might look different than going to a brick and mortar school, but I identified a few areas where having an erasable pen would be fabulous.
First off, I want my high school student to use pen for certain tasks and not worry about a big mess when he makes a mistake. This is especially true when writing out an outline for his composition course prior to typing up the drafts. Also, I’m looking to ease my own workload a bit and plan to have my high school son check his math homework after I provide the teacher guide. I don’t want him to stress about accidentally marking something wrong and leaving a mark on the page.
Secondly, I find that plans sometimes need to change. I’m going to be using these pens to color code my boys activities and due dates on the calendar. I am also using them to help with tracking important to do items for daily life and the business side of blogging. Being able to erase what needed to change will give me less stress than seeing a bunch of marks through items or a series of arrows to reassign task items.
Once I have supplies in the house, I needed to find a way to make everything accessible to the kids who need them. Rather than purchasing cute containers for my pens or my youngest son’s markers, I decided to repurpose tin cans as holders.
The process is simple. Find cans that fit your particular item(s) so that they will fit without falling out or being lost IN the can. Next, remove labels and wash them out thoroughly. Make sure there are no rough edges where fingers can be cut. Then select a pretty paper (I used 12X12 scrapbooking paper for mine) and cut to fit the side of the can. You can mix and match if needed to cover the can completely. You’ll also need a sheet of clear contact paper cut slightly larger than the printed paper.
I then used tape to hold most of the paper in place. Clear contact paper was applied with some overlap past the start of the paper and then rolled along the can with my pressing down on the contact paper as it went to completely cover the surface. An alternative to paper is pretty fabric which is adhered with Mod Podge. Grab the instructions here: Storage Solutions for Writing Needs Instructions from Day by Day in Our World.
For my high school student, I pulled together the essential writing implements and housed them in a pouch which fits into a 3 ringed binder. We are working on organization of his school life and making a ‘control’ binder for assignments, etc. is part of that process. My 7th grader has the same binder system going for his school experience, too.
Regardless of your location, bullying is a real problem in U.S. Schools. Pilot is proud to be part of the solution by partnering with STOMP Out Bullying, the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization, to help build awareness and fund educational programs designed to reduce and prevent bullying in schools across the country.
Just by purchasing Pilot’s FriXion Clicker erasable gel ink pens, you help Pilot support & fund STOMP Out Bullying programs to ‘erase’ negative bullying behaviors and ‘rewrite’ positive, productive solutions. Throughout this year and next, Pilot will be making a minimum of a $125,000 donation to STOMP Out Bullying. Once their annual sales goals are exceeded, they will donate additional funds based on sales performance & purchase quantities.
Great pens for you or your child and money to help STOMP Out Bullying all with one simple purchase. How awesome is that?
Even better? This week (8/23 – 8/29), Target is offering 20% off both the FriXion Clicker pen 3pk Assorted and FriXion Clicker pen 3pk Black. As a seasoned homeschool mom, I know there is no bad time to stock up on great tools. Plus, my 7th grade and college sons are likely to go through a fair number of pens in classes this year. Now to see if my new FriXion Clicker pens will help me organize my life a bit better as I reset priorities.
How do you ‘erase your stress’ when the school year begins?
What are some ways that you use eraseable pens in your life, either kids going to school or homeschooling?
We have a whole room organized with school supplies (including desks for the kids)
That’s fabulous, Glen! I’m going to be talking more about stocking the house for learning in the next week. Sadly, our schoolroom looks like someone let a tornado through at the moment.
Cute idea and the clear contact paper would make these survive for the whole school year at least.
I like your little decorated cans for your markers and crayons. That would actually solve a problem of mine.
Such cute ideas for keeping supplies contained and in one place! Love!
I love the way you got your kids organized but I never considered using erasable pens to organize myself. I keep looking through your article to see where you got that planner but I can’t seem to find a mention of it. It looks like something I would like
Great ideas! We use a similar set up with our mason jars!
I have all of my pens, markers, pencils, etc. in one cup on my desk. I think I should separate them out like you have to be better organized… and pick up a pack of FriXion pens to add to my collection! #client
Because I am a teacher, the school year just is stress but I try to make lists and take things one day at a time.
I know what you mean. Home educating some of my boys means I don’t get to ‘celebrate’ having me time or time to manage the household. Lists are my friend and I’m really looking forward to using The 7 Minute Life Daily planner again.
Way to go you for organizing! I feel like summer went by way to fast for us! I have used Frixion pens for ever because I love that they are erasable! I cannot tell you how many times I have needed to fix something.
I haven’t used an erasable pen in a really long time, and had forgotten just how handy they can be. When I need to ‘erase’ the stress, I have to do something that calms me down and lets my mind and body relax. Oftentimes, this involves something edible or drinkable – like a fancy hot cocoa or chocolate. Work-related stress is often soothed by taking a hot shower or watching TV shows on Netflix.
Love the idea of the containers! I need to get something like this done for my son!
For me its about relaxing. When the older kids are in school, me and the other two kids relax and catch up on some shows. Once my toddler is in school I try to get my infant to nap so I can get some work done. Once they are all home they get a snack, do homework and get reading done before some TV time and then getting ready for bath time and dinner.
I need to make these in our homeschooling area. It looks like a great way to stay organized!
I’d suggest even letting the older kids make them for you! I’m seriously thinking about taking a ‘next step’ and adhering the cans to a piece of plywood for a desk top station with another can to hold scissors and rulers.