Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers?
Posted by Jen Bragg on 24 Feb 2010 | Posted in: Organization and Supplies, Teachers and Teaching
On the shelf behind my desk is a gallon-size plastic bag. In it are crayons, markers, and colored pencils representing every color of the rainbow. A few of the colored pencils need to be sharpened, and I’m sure I could retire more than a few of the markers. But I keep the supplies handy because different tasks require different tools. You know, I need crayons to make worksheet keys, colored pencils when I need to draw fine lines, and markers for creating things like classroom charts. Of the three, I’d have to say I like markers best.
Now when it came to the tools my students used in class, that was a different story. I hated it when they used markers. Crayons, fine. Colored pencils, even better (except when they needed to be sharpened). But markers, yech! Markers covered my students’ hands, their clothes, and their desks. Markers covered printed text to the point where it couldn’t be read and then, when the markers began to dry out, they made students’ work look terrible. I bet you can picture those sad, faded lines, can’t you? I know, I know—I shouldn’t have been that picky. I should have been happy that my students had supplies to use. What can I say? I was picky, and I did all I could to discourage the use of markers in my classroom.
Which do you prefer: crayons, colored pencils, or markers? Or maybe you have no preference at all. Share your thoughts!
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I teach a voluntary Pre-K 4 year old class. Luckily my own parents encouraged creativity, free expression, mud pies, jumping in mud puddles, etc… I let the kids use all 3. So messes are just a part of life for me. If we don’t let kids get dirty how will they figure out a way to be responsible. Many kids only get to use markers, crayons, paint, and play-doh at preschool and never at home. I would never deny a child the right to learn. First weeks we begin with jumbo crayons and once they are being responsible go to a few markers in small groups with a mini lesson on how to properly return lids. Once we learn to put the lids on all of them I let them go to town. Each small group table has a basket with a few markers, crayons, pencils, colored pencils and paper. They learn to be responsible if you expect them to, even at 3 and 4. And as for drying out, well pretty soon after the first one or two dries out because of no lid, they figure out if they want the pretty colors, then they have to put lids back on.
I find that if I take the time up front to TEACH and RETEACH the students how to properly put on the lids and use the media, it pays off. You can do so much with markers besides color. Bleeding colors art, dot art once they dry out and get smooshed tips. If they dry out completely put them in the paint center and watch the kids really add some interesting lines to their creations. Put them in science and see if we can figure out a way to revive them. For those teachers who don;t like the mess there are always the color wonder crayola markers that only mark on the special paper (same for paint) BTW Trish I adore the pipsqueaks for the reasons you mentioned! Also there are the click top crayola markers that act like ball point pens, and the lid attached version although both of those are pricey. My new favorite is crayola color sticks. A crayon and pencil in one. they’re small and you can color in so many ways
I teach 3 year olds. We mostly use crayons but sometimes we use markers. I never really thought about using colored pencils. But I will now the kids would like something new. I also have a question for Robin( #40 ) Where do you get the small golf pencils from? We were talking about them at work one day but no one seemed to know where we could buy them in a larger quantity.
I teach kindergarten and we use crayons and markers for most activities. I have colored pencils in the writing center for the students to use. If we are using markers, it is usually during center time and is limited to one or two tables so clean up is easier. They love them and they aren’t allowed to have them in our first grade so I let them use them while they can.
I teach kindergarten and I use hi liters alot during reading. Look for the letter u and hilite it in the word. We use this in our papers and little books that they take home. You can still see it and unless they go over it more than once it doesn’t bleed through. It helps parents know which letter we are working on. We also trace over words with hi liter before they write it. We call this buttering the word. They like the thought of putting butter on it. I use markers when they have to label their picture they drew, so this is usually on construction paper which is heavier. But for most seat work I still use crayons the most and then colored pencils second.
I teach Kindergarten and we use all three. As for the Pencils, I found a WONDERFUL TRI sided pencil from Ticonderoga. I bought 2 boxes at the beginning of the year and we are still using them. I have an electric sharpener and students count to 5 and pull the pencil out. No more grinding them down to nothing, and they love to help me sharpen!
Crayons are second, and once a week I sharpen them with a cheap pencil sharpener, usually while I am doing another task…they love it and no more peeling paper back on a crayon. I have a cup for each student (8 crayons, glue stick, 2 pencils, scissors) Markers…last…we use them for graphing and sorting exercises, and art.
What can I say, my Pre-Kinder students used to love them all and I tried really hard to use them all. I considered it a skill in listening if they could get the correct one that I had asked for. If they had their choice- everyone had their favorite! What I hate is when parents buy cheap quality markers, crayons and pencil colors. The pencil colors where the lead keeps breaking, the crayons that streak and do not color evenly and the markers that are finished after one use. I also can’t stand when parents send in adult permanent markers instead of child friendly ones- were these parents never kids?
In my VPK (Voluntary Pre Kindergarten) class we encourage the use of all 3. We use Crayons with our work. Colored Pencils and Markers are a choice when they are at the Creative Center. We also use small golf pencils, they are 1/4 of the size of regular pencils and also encourage the correct grip. I believe children should have the ability to choose which writing utensils they prefer at certain times, it encourages individuality, and creativeness. Like most, I do not enjoy the cleaning of markers but have found that most cleaning agents get rid of the markers on surfaces, and since I have to wipe down the tables every day, it’s not such a hassle.
I teach 2nd grade, and have taught up through 5th…And I love colored pencils! Even my 2nd graders can blend colors later in the year. My next choice is crayon…so many options when coloring. I hate markers, but the kids love them, so we use them occasionally. The twistable colored pencils and crayons are great, but cost more.
I usually have my 4 year olds use crayons. Their hands are small and they seem to work the best. Also, I just had a refresher on the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. They discourage the use of pencils and actually prefer broken crayons and broken chalk. These smaller tools encourage children to use the correct grip. I usually don’t use a lot of markers with my little kids because they are soooooo messy and also they always seem to wreck the tips!
I help teach a 3/4 yr. class. I personally don’t have a preference. I know with crayons you have the silly paper that may need to be ripped off and colored pencils need sharpened, and the markers, mark everything and eventually run out. I figure what my kids enjoy I enjoy. Creativity is important to me and letting the kids decide what they perfer to use is always good. Kids really never get the chance to decide what they want to do. They are always being told what to do and by letting them choose what tool they perfer lets them have their independance and happiness… AS long as they know how to use the tools safely and dont try to eat them, well I’m okay with that and if they get marker on them, it only takes a few seconds to get soap and water.
Crayons, definitely! Here in China, many brands even come without the annoying paper you have to peel off! I hate how markers bleed or dry out, too, so we leave those on the craft/coloring table. Colored pencils, I’ve found, take much longer when doing a big project.
I agree with comment #24 by Sherrie
I hate hate hate cheap pencils and that is what our school has. They are made by Dixon and they break faster than I can sharpen them. The kids are frustrated with them and I am frustrated with them. I teach first grade and my students are constantly complaining “my pencil broke”. As far as markers, crayons or colored pencils. We use markers and my kids are learning not to get it everywhere. I like them better than crayons because I’m not constantly picking up crayon pieces off the floor and scrubbing crayon off the floor (the janitor does not do this). We have crayola crayons but they break so easy and I have studnets who won’t use them without a point and then they sharpen them down to nothing. That I am now in favor of markers. They don’t disappear near as fast, they don’t break into a bunch of tiny pieces for me to clean up and I don’t have to use goo-gone to get them off the floor. PS - I have taught for 15 years and have never heard of breaking crayons in half, what is this about?
I teach Kindergarten. We use all three of them. Crayons are used most often. I use colored pencils a lot in math. The kids really love them and ask to use them. We have a day set aside for colored pencils to be sharpened. Markers are used only for special occassions. They tend to get all over. The kids know to place a mat under their work before using them. I have attended a handwriting work shop and yes they said that the little short crayons, markers, and pencils are best for little hands. The creator of this program is on the board of Crayola, thus the pipsqueaks are available. They come in all three mediums. I have them available for special center times.
I teach preschool special education so I use them all, although sometimes I have certain students use a particular type more often than the others. For example, my students with traumatic brain injury, severe cerebral palsy, or vision issues, I have them use markers because it takes less resistance to make marks on paper and they can see it better. I do prefer using the crayola pipsqueaks markers over the regular sized ones because they are shorter and promote a better grip. Markers that are dried out can be dipped in water to “watercolor color,” which practices a 2 step action. And, since most of the time multiple tops are off at the same time, I get a little color matching practice in, not to mention fine motor strengthening when putting tops back on!
Crayons are what I use for my older students, when we are working on pre-writing and when we do Handwriting without Tears. This program does not promote the use of pencils in the pre-k program, so we are crayons all the way here-or chalk…which can be made permanent by spraying hairspray over their paper.
Colored pencils are pretty much an option only when they are doing art and given free choice to use any kind of medium.
our district says all media to be used. Personally, I would get rid of markers in the room except dry erase.
I agree with Diana, even though it is hard to break those new crayons in half at the beginning of the school year!
Though all the kids would prefer to use markers, they make bolder lines and color in faster, the crayolas are best because they offer the most resistance, and will strengthen their hands.
also, every class i have taken in the last 2 years say to break the crayola into 2 pieces. it will automatically make the kids hold the color the correct way.
Colored pencils are fun, but they need sharpened so often, and takes forever to color with
Hi I agree with Kara about letting the children use the markers, crayons and pencils. They need to experience it all. I work with two year olds and yes the mess is amazing but it is all part of the process too.
Markers are a more vibrant color especially on light colored paper.
It really does help the children develope a good fine motor skill.
Let them use it all
I have no problem with the mess of markers or playdoh, but in preschool, Kinder, and first grade I much prefer crayons. Markers flow very easy and the kids don’t have to press very hard to get the intensity of color. With crayons, they have to use more fine motor muscles to get the look they want. I teach first grade and have many kids who do not press down hard enough when writing with a pencil. Don’t get me wrong, I think every medium should be used, but crayons for the majority of their coloring. They use colored pencils, but the task of sharpening them each day is not my cup of tea. I won’t let them use the “good” sharpener as the colored pencil tips break off and jam the machine. They have manual sharpeners at their tables.
I too hate markers. There is more of the marker on the student and the desk than on the piece of work. I have converted to highlighters. They let the work show through but are easy to get off. Highlighters also work well on mazes. I have laminated easy and difficult mazes for my students to do when their work is completed. I keep a container of highlighters and/or dry erase markers with the mazes. The highlighters come off with wet wipes. I keep those with the mazes also. Now they come in many different colors so the students have a choice. When we need to be colorful we use colored pencils or crayons.
Use them all! I work with 3’s and 4’s and yes while markers can be messy, the children need to know how to use them properly. When first learning how to manipulate and use various writing tools the first thing they will do is experiment…hands, tables, scribbles, marking over print, etc. At this stage of writing, emergent, the idea is to get children interested in drawing and print. If they have a choice of using a certain writing tool based on certain properties they will be more engaged. We have journal time daily. The children write on white computer paper and have a choice of markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, and chalk. At the beginning of the year it was somewhat messy and experimental but now they are efficient at using any of these writing instruments…. and have fun doing it!
I like anything that writes. It’s good to let the kids use all utensils. You never know where that might lead them later in life. With that said, I would rather use markers if it didn’t make those crazy lines. My children/students used crayons more than anything when they were younger.
I have kids bring all of the above -crayons, cored pencils and markers. They also bring oil pastels. Pastels are for “special projects” and are stored by me because they are quite messy. They are a beautiful media for kids to learn with. Markers are messy- but we have certain pages that are marker pgs. and others that are not.Yes, colored pencils do need lots of sharpening and tend to get stuck in pencil sharpeners but are a great medium for kids to lern from. Crayons need peeling but that is what fingernails are for. My first graders use all this media and we love it-Messy -yes but kids are learning and experimenting and sometimes that is just messy business. Kids are washable and “paint shirts” or aprons protect their clothing.
My real pet peeve is “cheap” pencils-ugh! what a pain to sharpen.
I prefer having my students use crayons on a daily basis-however when there is a special project, markers are used-it also reminds them that the project is special because they don’t use markers everyday!
I teach in the northern part of México in our public schools we have been supplied with crayons the big size ones I think they are too big for little hands, my kids like the regular size and use the little pieces as well since some of them do not have crayons at home. Mi kids like to use crayons on individual laminated letters and numbers that they like to trace they like the cursive ones too and on the back they like to make little drawings and they love to erase them with a piece of wet cloth we hang them and let dry.
I prefer crayons for my first graders. Since I have to purchase all the supplies for my students ( parents do not) I prefer crayons because they last longer and make beautiful pictures. I also like to peel them when they are broken and teach kids to shade with them. It is a difficult concept for first graders that an unsharpened crayon is still useful; but we try to get them to learn it. One year I purchased a 24 pack of 12 different markers and found the tips all smushed and the markers dried out at the end of the year. I think it was a waste of my money. If you are able to get your parents to purchase the supplies you want the children to use then I say, “Explore the different types.” However, for my buck- the crayons work best.
We use different tools for different jobs as well. The only markers they are allowed at school are dry erase markers for their ’slates’. They are only allowed to use the dry erase markers on the slates. I had students write on themselves, so they can no longer use the markers. They have to use their pencil and their writing journals. We correct different things in class such as morning work or workbook pages and for editing. For this we use a checking pencil. They are not allowed to use the checking pencil for anything else becuase it is supposed to stand out from the est of the writing. We use crayons for coloring or they can use it for checking and correcting.
OK, I have a very low tolerance level for mess. I know, I know, when you work with kids you have mess, but I don’t want more than necessary. I have argued against including markers on the supply list to no avail. So on the first day of school, when the kids bring in supplies, the markers go right back in their backpacks and go back home. End of story. Crayons all the way. They work when they are broken. They come in every color a kid could need. They never dry out. Kids can shade and highlight with them. And when nothing is left but crumbs, you can warm them up, squish them together and make conglomerates with them!
When I teach a three year old class I pick-up a four compartment cup holder(dunkin donuts)and have the child color it their favorite color. We insert painted coffee cups into the openings(first place some glue so that the cups do not come out).The students then put in coloring pencils,crayons,markers(chunky,thin),glue sticks, glue bottles in center, and a scissor. This is the time for children to explore different types of mediums.As educators, we can’t be concerned about messes.I always keep wet ones at their table to teach that they are responsible for themselves and each other. They are more than willing to clean up.We use bingo markers,stampers and painting with Q-Tips. Some of my boys have painted mustaches on themselves. Parents understand that they are exploring!!! Children must be allowed to have fun. You certainly are not going to do when you’re a grown-up.
I now teach four year olds. At the beginning of the school year I gave everyone their own container to store their art supplies. They now carry their counting cubes (I use the containers form the Mini-M&Ms to hold them) and their chunky writing pencil! They love having their supplies at their fingertips. It’s O.K. to be messy. It also teaches them early how to take care of their supplies and also to use them.
Don’t through out those markers when or if they dry out. You can use them again by dipping the tips in water. It makes beautiful pictures and gives the art impression of similar to water colors.
Markers? Crayons? Colored Pencils? Yes, all of them please. Each one has its rightful place in the classroom arsenal. Markers, albeit messy, are a perfect medium for children working on fine motor control needed for writing–especially fine tipped ones. They lend themselves to less resistance and allow for easier flow than, say, a pencil. Dry erase markers are also a good option. They erase easily from laminated sheets and personal white boards.
Crayons are ideal to use with a child who is developing a pincer grasp. (Snap the crayon in half–it forces the child to hold with his fingertips.) The crayon gives the child the opportunity to experiment with different pressure on the writing surface. Colored pencils are a fun, colorful transition into writing with a pencil. All three of these writing utensils are available always to my students. Depending on the child’s needs and level of development, I encourage use of one or the other.
Parents are often reluctant to allow their children to use “tools” such as markers and play-doh because of the mess. Sometimes, the only opportunity these children have to use such items are in our classrooms. Happy coloring!
Twistables are the best. They don’t have to be sharpened and they work like crayons.
I have mixed feelings about using crayons and markers with my toddlers. I usually prefer crayons, (less mess). But you can see markers on the page even if they’re not pushing down hard. The bad thing is I have a toddler right now that bites the tip off.-He gets crayons:)
CRAYONS are the best!!! Students do such nice work with crayons! I’ve tried colored pencils this year but they always get stuck in the pencil sharpener! Our rule is if it’s shiny or there’s a backside, we never use markers.
I also am a crayon lover. Besides the messy hands the markers leave behind, they also bleed through most papers. However, they are needed for some art projects. I discovered long ago that since my students prefer markers, they would run them dry in a short time and would not have the necessary colors for said art projects. I started “Marker Monday” several years ago so markers last longer. Also my students usually request a “Marker Tuesday” after a Monday holiday. I am delighted and amazed at the little things that bring a smile to their faces.
I have always been a “crayon” teacher, because of all of the reasons already expressed about the pitfalls of markers, and colored pencils just haven’t been a presence in my third grade classroom. But I do agree with the teachers I read in this blog, and I do think I am going to make markers part of my classroom and on a special use basis. Thanks for your ideas.
My kids mostly use crayons. However if I am making things that need laminated or kids are making books then I prefer colored pencils, they don’t melt.
Even though it tends to be a little messier, I let my 2 and 3 year olds use markers. They almost always choose markers over any other tool. Since they are just beginning to gain fine motor coordination, the markers allow them to create without frustration over angle and grip. FYI: markers easily wipe off of slick surfaces such as laminate.
OOPS I said crayons or markers….I meant crayons and colored pencils are better for the muscles in the kido’s hands.
If you have markers that are on their last legs, give a little tiny bit of water and let the child dip it into the water like water color paint. I also don’t really use markers a lot. It isn’t because they are messy but it isn’t as good for the child. They don’t have to gauge pressure or use hand muscles like they do with crayons or markers. (I only use markers for art projects) I will say, I like the idea or skinny markers though. I think next year that criteria will be on my supply list. Personally, I have my students use colored pencils when we do our “Letter Journals” each morning. I really feel like it is a great first step to learning to write. The students look forward to it. I write the date, the letter in capital and lower case on the board. Then I draw three pictures of something that starts with the letter. I write the word next to each item. They get to draw a little, but the main focus is on the letter of that day. My students are 4 and 5 and they feel like “big kids” when they do their journals.
My classroom has a marker Friday rule.They can only use markers on Fridays. It works out great. It eliminates the question of “Can we use markers?” I just reply, “Is it Friday?”
Exploring different art mediums is so important that I love colored pencils, crayons, and markers. I especially like the markers because they are easy for small hands to grip. You can resolve some of the drying out issues by creating several egg carton size storage container where the markers caps are stuck in plaster paris or some other product that holds them in place. Then when the students finish with a marker they simply stick it back in its cap in the storage container. Of course their is the stand by phrase to say to kids when they are drawing on things other then paper, “If you can’t use it right, then you loose it, right?” I also find going over how we use markers very helpful, too. My three year old has markers and other art supplies at her disposal since she turned two and (knock on wood) we haven’t had an issue yet.
Yes, those markers can be messy! I have found that my children in Extended Day love to help me check the markers to see which ones are keepers! We sit together as volunteers put marks on a piece of paper. If the marker is a keeper, it goes in a container. If it is not, into the trash bin it goes. After we finish we even have some interesting art creations!
You know, I really never thought about removing markers! I hate them! They are gone forever.
Now, can someone please give me some tips on keeping my desk clutter free? HELP!!!
Without a doubt I prefer colored pencils first, then crayons. Markers…..hardly EVER!! I wish I could “require” twistables, but not a reality unfortunately.
I love the twistable crayons and pencils. The pencils never need sharpening and the tips of the crayons do not break off. Next year they go on my required list.