The Best Way to Attach Name Tags to Student Desks

What is the best way to attach name tags?  

Let’s talk about something that quietly drives every elementary teacher a little bit nuts: student name tags that won’t stay put.

  

I laminate the name tags and attach them to the desk with heavy tape. The name tag looks great until that "one" student starts picking at the tape, and everyone else notices. Before you know it, everyone's name tag falls off their desk. Teacher nightmare!!!

I have tried ALL.THE.WAYS to attach my name tags:  

• double-sided tape
• packing tape
• sticky tack

None of these methods has lasted long term. The kids picked at them, or the custodians had issues with them. 

I finally found a foolproof, time-saving, and reusable method to attach my name tags to desks that:

• Kept them on all year
• Made it easy for me to make desk switches without having to peel off a name tag
• Don't get destroyed by little fingers picking! 

My answer is Velcro dots or strips! 

• Print and laminate your name tags.
• Stick the Velcro to the back (tip: put both pieces together so that when you turn the name tag over, the piece for the desk will be perfectly aligned).
• Press down to ensure it sticks, and you are golden!   

Now you have name tags that stay put, can be swapped in seconds and don't leave a residue on the desk.  

You might be wondering:

Did students play with them? YES, they're kids after all. However, the novelty wore off quickly.  

Did the custodial staff have an issue with them? NO, they liked that they could be removed to clean under them. I often took them off once a week and put them in the center basket so the table would get cleaned underneath.  

Do you know something else that drove me crazy? 

Getting a student mid-year and not having a name tag for them!!! 

We've all run out of supplies like this and know the frustration. To compound that, our teacher supply store closed, so I created my name tags out of necessity. I designed exactly what I wanted and am so much happier with it.  

NO more commercial nametags! It's only custom nametags from now on! 

Some of the perks of a digital file name tag:

• When a name tag looks worn, you can easily print a new one.
• Do you often get a new student mid-year? No problem! Just print out a name tag for the student.
• Write your students' names or type them into the editable file. 

Check out all of my Editable Student Name Tags or Name Plates HERE!  

So if you’re tired of peeling tape, wasted tags, and sticky desk battles, Velcro + editable, digital name tags might just be your new favourite teacher hack.

Got your own trick for attaching name tags to desks? Drop it in the comments! 

Until next time,