Students are able to earn a small amount of extra credit if they [pouch] their phone in a Safe Pouch for the whole period. This helps their grade because they want the EC but then they focus more on assignments because they do not have the cell phone distraction. Students with less than 75% are required to place their phone in the pouch until their grade is above a 75%. Most of these students improve their grades because they want the option of accessing their phones. Reduces tardies because students who are late have to put the phone in the pouch.

The Safe Pouch removes the phone as a distraction and allows students to focus on their work. I require students that have a D or an F to automatically pouch up their phone. Since doing this, students have been working harder to complete their assignments and raise their grades in my class. I don't have as many students failing my class.

Use of the safe pouch allows students to proactively choose to "[pouch up]/put away" their phones and to give themselves an opportunity to be able to focus and be present to their learning. They intuitively know that phone use and screen time distracts them and impacts their focus on their coursework. Some students choose not to [pouch up] their phones and are directed by the teacher to do so if they are found to be on the phone without permission. Usually, more work results as they have more focus to do what is asked of them. In this manner, students can see the positive use of the pouch and generally, albeit slowly, they will willingly [pouch up] their phones. Parent contact can also help this realization to occur.

I have tried many different solutions to reduce cell phone distractions for the last five years. I spent a lot of money, time, and effort, but I had few positive results. It's like a restart every school year for me. Safe Pouch changed all of that. I used Safe Pouch to enforce cell phone policies and expectations easily and quickly. Because students still have their phones, they don't argue with me. At the same, the students do not want to get a parent call or referral to administrators. Safe Pouch is quick and non-disruptive, but it's so effective. I also use Safe Pouch to give students extra credit and re-engage students failing chemistry classes.

Safe Pouch empowers classroom teachers like me to stop cell phone distractions, but I also use Safe Pouch to motivate all students to do well in my Chemistry classes. Safe Pouch helped redefine my classroom management when I took over my chemistry classes in October from a long-term substitute. Then, after a few weeks, I reduce the number of Ds and Fs. But most importantly, often caused by cell phones. When I call parents, I use Safe Pouch as an invaluable tool to support and re-engage students. Safe Pouch allows me to have the power of parenting in my class to improve students’ positive behaviors and stop negative behaviors.

Choice is key. I ask students to put their cell phones away in their backpacks or pocket. If they choose not to do so then I ask them to choose between the safe pouch or the front office and call home. The key is choice and allowing students to face consequences for poor choices without the need for punitive discipline.