The Best Pencil Sharpener Ever...Product Review

I've purchased many electrical pencil sharpeners with the hopes of them lasting the entire year. And each year I'm continuously disappointed. The electric sharpeners are noisy and distracting and are easily over-heated leaving many students without their much needed sharpened pencils. Not to mention, when the motor dies, so does the pencil sharpener.

When I heard about this pencil sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies, I knew I had to try it! The owner, Troy Decoff, whom is also a classroom teacher, sent one out within days!

When I brought this new pencil sharpener into the room, I had to model how to use it since my students had zero idea how such a device worked!

In this case, I sharpened a Smencil (pencils made from recycled newspaper). This sharpener can sharpen colored pencils as well without a problem!

My students love the ease at which they can sharpen their pencils and I love that it is so quiet! There are times where pencil points get stuck in the blade (especially with colored pencils).  This is a simple fix because the sharpener is very easy to open allowing you to remove the blade. (There are Photos and How To Videos on their website to help you!) 

I also love that the blade is replaceable! You can buy replacement blades at the site--that way you don't have to buy another whole sharpener!

To end this review, I thought it might be nice to hear from the ones who use the sharpeners the most...

"These pencil sharpeners are amazing. They're very quiet unlike electric sharpeners and they stop so you know the pencil is done and when the pencil is very sharp and this sharpener doesn't use plugs so you can save electricity. They have big containers and they won't cause a fire."

"I think the sharpeners are awesome. When I sharpen my pencil it doesn't take it 1 million times. It only takes 1 time to make it sharp. There is also really quiet which makes it really good when you're taking a test." ~~~~~~~~~~~"The sharpener is easy to sharpen with. It is adjustable to small pencils. It is easy to take the shreds out."

 

"I think that the pencil sharpeners are helpful because they make less noise than mechanical sharpeners. Your pencil gets sharpened in 3 turns and the tip is really sharp and if the sharpener is broken, there's a way to fix it. But if it was a different sharpener it will not fix and if it can it will be a lot of work."

What do you look for in a pencil sharpener? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

Word Nerds Chapter 6

I'm linking up with Sabra from Teaching with a Touch of Twang for a book study on Word Nerds!

I am absolutely LOVING this book and all the amazing ideas for helping our students appreciate words!!  Check out the link ups for the other chapters if you haven't yet:

Chapter One: What's the Big Deal About Vocabulary Instruction?

Chapter Two: Classrooms the Foster Word Confidence

Chapter Three:  Making Introductions

 Chapter Four:  Squeezing the Juicy Words-Adding Synonyms and Antonyms

I am posting about Chapter Six: Celebrate to Validate today. Chapter six is filled with fun and interactive ways to celebrate the learning of new words!

The celebrations take place at the end of the vocabulary cycle--as a means of honoring learning. The authors warn us that the celebrations look a lot like the vocabulary practice, but there is one big difference. The celebrations show students confidently using their new words as way to review and apply across different contexts.

The best part of these celebrations is that they act as a review before the actual assessment! 

I compiled some of the main ways the authors celebrate--I am so excited to try some of these out in my room! I think the students will have so much fun :)

Click Here to access your own copy :)

How do you review in your room? Is there one type of celebration you really want to try?

Summer Planning Giveaway Stop C-6

Thanks for stopping by on the scavenger hunt! Grab my secret word above and be sure to follow my blog with Bloglovin' by clicking Follow my blog with Bloglovin. If you're just starting the Summer Planning Scavenger Hunt, start at I'm Lovin Lit. Here is the item I've donated to the giveaway:

You can use this pack to create a fun and interactive way to help students make real life connections to math.

You might also be interested in my {Owl Themed} Parent/Teacher Conference Pack, which you can purchase in my TpT store for only $5!

 Good luck planning for your school year and thanks for stopping by!

A Traveling Mathematician's Notebook and Winners :)

So...I've been on vacation for 5 days and already I managed to look at my first days of school plans...sick I know! Luckily, as I was reading I remembered an awesome activity that I would do with my class...

enter...The Traveling Mathematician's Notebook...

What is it? 

It is a plain composition notebook that is used to collect ideas about math. Everyday, ordinary tasks and routines with a math spin :)

Purpose?

The purpose of a traveling mathematician’s notebook is to help students make real world connections to math. They think about the tasks or situations they encounter each day and how those scenarios relate to math.

I always introduce the Traveling Mathematician's Notebook after reading aloud, Counting on Frank, by Rod Clement.

In the book Frank makes noticings about what's going on and then wonders about the scenario. It is the same thinking I want the students to use as they encounter math outside of school!

I created a Traveling Mathematician's Pack...here's a close-up of the other parts of the pack...

If you would like a copy of The Traveling Mathematician's Notebook pack, you can get it from TpT or TN :)

And the winners of my BlogLovin' Giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Bridget and Doreen!! There will be an email in your inbox very shortly :)

Thank you to everyone who entered :)