So do they not make lead pencils like they used to or what?
Since 6 year old has started school, he’s already sharpened 2 WHOLE pencils down to little nibs. He sharpens and then the lead just breaks off. I am convinced it is the poor quality of the pencils but he thinks it’s the sharpener. Husband surprisingly has been silent on the matter. I would have thought not only would he have a theory but he would have successfully come up with a solution by now. It’s no secret that McGyver is his hero.
Well, it isn’t a secret now.
I guess I will have to buy a different brand of pencil and a new sharpener to see which ones give better results.
No, I haven’t run out of things to blog about, why do ask?
Oh yeah!!
How can you NOT love a TV Show that has a tagline of “His mind is the ultimate weapon”!?
… and his mind IS the ultimate weapon!
The best sort of sharpener that I’ve found is those little single metal ones. I haven’t found a decent plastic one yet. The plastic sharpeners seem to chomp away chunks of the pencil taking the nice sharp lead with it. I haven’t had a problem with the metal ones.
Oh and the other reason kids sharpener their pencils to death is that huddled over near the bin is usually several kids having a chin wag. And I mean who wouldn’t want to get out of their desk to stretch their legs on a walk over to the bin.
So get him the metal sharpener but keep the pencil supply coming.
I think a good, well-sharpened pencil is the ultimate weapon!
Faber Castell is your only hope.
I have a problem with sharpeners – every single one broke or is no longer sharp enough to sharpen! it’s so annoying. And then the pencils are usually low quality and won’t sharpen either. So, if the sharpener is old, it’s probably the sharpener, if the sharpener is new, it’s probably the pencil. I don’t know what is so hard about making good pencils and good sharpeners?
ohhhhhhh, steadler pencils are the bestest.
It’s the CRAPPY pencils !!!
Tracey: Hey! I was hoping you’d pipe in.
We have one of those metal sharpeners but the school list asked for a sharpener with the plastic container for the shavings – I suppose to stop the kids from their little chats at the communal sharpener. NO SOCIALISING in schools (and they worry about the homeschooled kids socialisation – madness)
Suroor – my husband would disagree!
Susan & Mona and Mona UmIbrahim – OK. I think I might have to a little experiment. I couldn’t find Faber Castell so settled for Staedlers for now. We will see how we go both with my metal sharpener at home and son’s other sharpener at school. (Both sharpeners are reasonably new.)
Aly – LOL! Do I detect a hint of frustration there?
YES!!!! It’s hard enough getting the kids parents here to fork out for a pencil at all, and sadly the ones they do buy are dead within two days of sharpening.
I am losing all my pencils, lol!
My five year old has been in school for 6 weeks this year and she has sharpened three pencils to little stubs. I think in her case, it’s not the pencil or the sharpener that’s the problem; she just loves to sharpen. And will do so even when her pencil just starts to get blunt. She sharpens her pencils from both ends, a habit I find most annoying.
drop your pencil enough times, and it won’t matter what kind of sharpener you have… the ‘lead’ inside breaks up anyway. And I’m agreeing with Taiba too.. some kids just love sharpening. I know I used to love sharpening. Heck, I just love pencils, erasers and sharpeners (and stationery in general… it’s not healthy
)
anyway… Staedtler stationery FTW!
oh and here’s another vote for McGyver!
cmon, the man’s a genius. Who else do you know who can escape from prison using a paperclip, dental floss and a piece of gum?!
didn’t think so.
McGyver FTW!
Assalamu Alaikum
Just had to weigh in. As a teacher I refuse to allow any pencil into my classroom with the exception of Paper Mate pencils. They are the only ones that can be reasonably sharpened by a simple hand held sharpner
Ummhana