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#2 Pencils are an essential school supply in every classroom! But, alas, not all pencils make the grade. What exactly are the qualities of the BEST pencil? A pencil that has a strong, yet, pliable eraser that doesn’t rip the paper when you use it. A pencil with a strong tip. A pencil that sharpens easily. This pencil does exist! You may be wondering what pencil can do all that or you may already have a name in mind (but want confirmation if it’s true).
Before I share the BEST pencil, I have to start at the bottom. That way when the “other” pencils come into your classroom, your frustration will be saved and you’ll know that it’s best just to give them away.
Worst Pencils: E-Clips
I had some of these donated to my classroom. When students kept taking pencils, I brought the E-Clips pencils out. Their erasers are hard as rocks and rip the paper when used. If any amount of pressure is put on the pencil while writing, the tip breaks. And I don’t mean just the graphite breaks, the whole tip of the pencil breaks off. Then, when you go to sharpen them, you lose half the pencil. They weren’t even worth using. We spent more time sharpening pencils than actually using them! At .08 per pencil, their price reflects their quality.
Bad: Dezha
These pencils were also donations. As a teacher, you take what you can get. These pencils are only slightly better than the worst in that their erasers have a little give. The erasers get used up quickly, but don’t typically rip the paper, unless, you have an aggressive eraserer in your class. The tips on these pencils don’t last long. However, you don’t lose the whole tip, just the graphite breaks. Dezha pencils do not sharpen well either. It’s difficult to get them to sharpen evenly. If you are looking for a long-lasting pencil, these are not it! The bulk classroom pack runs $1.04 per pencil.
Average: Staples TRU Red
If you’re looking for an o.k. pencil that is a little more budget-friendly, Staples TRU Red fits this description. Everything about them is mid. They sharpen pretty good, the erasers work, and the tips can resist a little pressure without breaking. They write fairly smooth and are generally decent pencils. These are about .14 per pencil; it depends on the package you purchase.
Good: U.S.A Gold
If you’re looking for an affordable pencil of good quality, you can’t go wrong with these! When pencils are on the school supply list, as a parent and teacher, I will buy U.S.A Gold. These pencils can withstand a little pressure when writing, so students do not constantly need to sharpen them. Their erasers work well, with little smudging. They sharpen easily and evenly. I was surprised to find out that U.S.A Gold pencils are a Cra-Z-Art product. They are approximately .22 per pencil, again, it depends on the package you purchase. Keep a look out for Back-to-School deals to save even more!
Best: Dixon Ticonderoga
Was this your guess? If so, you guessed correctly! These are absolutely the BEST pencils for the classroom! They have everything you want in a pencil and more. Ticonderoga pencils have strong tips and sharpen like a dream. They write smoothly and the erasers last the longest I have seen in my classroom. The erasers erase cleanly, not ripping or smudging the paper. It’s no wonder they are called “The World’s Best Pencil.” The box isn’t lying! And to top it off, I found out these pencils come in pastel colors! These pencils run about .24 per pencil. Again, keep a look out for Back-to-School deals to save even more!
Final Notes
The type of pencils you have in your classroom make a difference for your students! When student pencils are constantly breaking, this interrupts learning. Bad quality pencils take away valuable learning time for students. Furthermore, having good quality pencils prevent frustration for you and your students!
I also recommend having a pencil procedure in place that is set up during the first few days of school. This procedure should let students know what to do when their pencil breaks. Are they allowed to use a sharpener? Do you have cups set up to place the broken pencil into one and get a fresh one from the other? Is pencil sharpening a classroom job that gets done in the morning or at the end of the day? How many pencils should students have at their seat at the beginning of the day? Having a procedure in place will minimize distractions in your class due to pencils.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my post on Dry Erase Markers Ranked: Worst to Best or Highlighter Markers Ranked: Worst to Best. Or try this post on school supplies, 10 Must-Have Student Supplies.