The best remedies for noises of this sort are intense drive on
interesting work, and indifference to the noise, if there is an apparent
concerted movement to annoy the teacher.
In case you find it needful to speak privately to any pupil, assume that
his motives are good all the way through and that he would like to lay
his pencil down properly. Perhaps the following words will be
appropriate:
“I see you have some difficulty in keeping your pencil. My own desk has
a slant and sometimes gives me trouble on that account. If we will lay
our pencils down carefully in the groove, they will surely stay where
they belong.”