It’s always about fun tools, isn’t it?
Any project is much more approachable if there are fun pens, pencils, and a great notebook available. I’ve mentioned my love of index cards, and I need my cup of blue Bic stics, black Dixon Ticonderogas, and an assortment of all colors of Flair felt tips to attack any writing morning. Don’t even get me started on the notebooks.
For the kids, the first question in this department I always ask is: what’s your favorite marker? Then we move on to “Do you like to write in a notebook or on a big piece of paper?” (for the older students and research projects). Back in the good old days --before the pandemic -- I often worked with some of my younger students in coffee shops. I would pull out the iconic Bic 4-color retractable pen – I called it my “clicky” pen – hand it over, and watch their eyes widen.
That was fun.