ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the constant habit of students asking for a writing utensil. No matter the grade or the class, it seems that more and more students cannot keep a writing utensil consistently. Rather than fight this battle or take off points for unpreparedness, use a class set of writing utensils to be borrowed and returned. As most teachers know, these often will be taken by the student intentionally or unintentionally, leaving the extra supply of writing utensils depleted within a day. I suggest buying silly pens or pencils and keep a handful of them in the room. The students get a kick out of the humor, and they are more likely to return them, especially if they are displayed prominently.
