Deciding on name tags is such a big deal! For teachers, finding the right way to label students’ desks can make a significant difference in classroom management and student engagement. Traditional name plates can be cumbersome, easily damaged, or simply uninspiring. Fortunately, there are innovative and practical alternatives that can transform the way you organize your classroom. In this post, we will explore to be the LEAST messy and most effective alternative. I love these editable printable name tags that add a touch of creativity and personalization to your students’ learning environment.
How do you attach name plates to desks?
Velcro dots have been the most successful way to attach name tags that I have found. I love it because they can take them off their desk easily which is useful in so many ways! Sometimes, we bring out name tags to the carpet. You can pop them off to wipe down desks. Or, if you use tables, it’s easy to swap seats! In my years of using Velcro Dots, I very rarely have to replace them mid-year. And, they are much easier to remove at the end of the year than having to scrape off a huge sticky name tag.
What are the BEST name tags?
Before stepping into the classroom, I would have never guessed that something as simple as attaching name tags to desks could be so complicated! In my first year of teaching, I got these HUGE name tags from some fancy teaching store. They were overpriced ($$$), not super cute, enormous, and essentially a big piece of tape. The tape was wrong, sure. But not strong enough for 180 days of children’s fingers picking away at them, day after day. (Did I mention how ginormous they were? They took over 1/4 of the desk!)
The next year, I got smarter and I made my own name tags. I laminated with my home laminator because the lamination is WAY stronger. And I stuck them on with one simple Velcro dot. This worked WAY better. Since they cost very little, I could replace them mid-year without pause.
Why I love these Name Tags
No name tag is perfect. But these are pretty close. I love that I can type their name right on the name tag (because who wants to write 20+ names?). My students pick at them minimally. If they pick off the Velcro dot (which is really hard to do), then they just sit their name tag on their desk until I feel like replacing them.
Since they are cheap, I replace them 1-2 times a year. This means I can change up what is on the front and back to match what we are learning. My students can take the name tag around the room with them as they work and use it as a reference tool ALL the time.
That wasted space on the back is now meaningful. If you have flexible seating, students can move their name tags around and re-attach them to where ever they are sitting that day. I don’t know about you, but nothing warms my teacher heart more than seeing students use the reference tools available to them.
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If you are on the fence about what type of name tags to use this year, I urge you to try out double-sided name tags and attach them with Velcro dots! These alternatives offer flexibility, durability, and a touch of creativity that can enhance your classroom environment. Plus, the ease of swapping and repositioning name tags will save you time and hassle throughout the school year. Give them a try, and you’ll quickly see why so many teachers have made the switch. You won’t go back!
