When you teach in a high school you know that students can get easily distracted with their devices, laptops, tablets, and especially their cellphones.

One classroom procedure that I have use for the past three years that been really helpful, is having students place their cellphones in a pocket holder (shoe holder).

I bought mine at Walmart for under $5.00 dollars. I have my students place their cell phones in the pockets as they are coming into class to the corresponding number they signed up for at the beginning of the year.

Students also have the opportunity to charge their cellphones in the back of my classroom away from distractions. This helps students stay focus on their task since they are not looking at their phones. When they decide to charge their phone instead of placing it in the pocket number they instead place a phone charging card in their pocket so I know their phone is in the back at the charging station.

I use this to take attendance, however you can decided what works best for you. The end product shows all the numbers either having a phone or a charging card. So when its time to take attendance I know which student is absent for that day.

I’ve bee using this procedure for the past three years and honestly it has made a huge difference. I would recommend you try something like this in your classroom.