tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post1406833320090757470..comments2023-10-13T00:38:25.635-07:00Comments on Artopotamus: Pencils and Why they Bug MeMissa Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06013309718028573224noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-5674296661467880212014-07-23T07:59:00.848-07:002014-07-23T07:59:00.848-07:00I'm not an art teacher, but as a classroom tea...I'm not an art teacher, but as a classroom teacher, I hate the constant getting up to sharpen pencils, or kids who lose their pencil and have to bother everyone around them for a spare. I seriously hate pencils. My solution is I have two cups: one for perfectly sharpened pencils, and one for broken pencils. At the beginning of the day, every student takes one sharpened pencil and uses it until he/she breaks the tip or misplaces it. Broken ones get placed in the other cup. Kids take turns having the job of sharpening the broken pencils at the end of the day and replacing them to the sharpened pencils cup. Yes, my inventory of pencils is greatly diminished over time, but it works great in eliminating the distraction of constantly hearing that pencil sharpener. Pens are great for spelling tests, writing assignments etc. but pencils are a must for math.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-21717988767263243592013-05-21T06:52:39.567-07:002013-05-21T06:52:39.567-07:00This is even encouraging as a homeschool parent. M...This is even encouraging as a homeschool parent. My kids do the same thing, there is only two of them. Guess it is in their DNA. Maybe I should look into some good pens or good felt tip markers. I don't feel so crazy now. The whole sharpening thing drives me nuts, or taking apart the mechanical pencils as well. Pens are looking better everyday. Thanks for the posts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-24012551217134514472012-09-23T15:03:14.802-07:002012-09-23T15:03:14.802-07:00I've used pen on my own sketches and find it w...I've used pen on my own sketches and find it works great. I haven't started it in my classroom yet, but might give it a try. The two things that bug me, in addition to the "disappearing erasers", are students who bring in mechanical pencils and students who purposely break the pencils in the basket so no one else has a sharp one to use. Sounds like we all have our stories to tell. Hang in there and have a great year! CynthiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-9927464892918602872012-09-07T15:10:27.093-07:002012-09-07T15:10:27.093-07:00Thanks y'all. I don't feel like I'm t...Thanks y'all. I don't feel like I'm the crazy art nazi now!Missa Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013309718028573224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-35674534677690937442012-09-07T08:30:12.880-07:002012-09-07T08:30:12.880-07:00I feel your pain! There are a lot of pencils now ...I feel your pain! There are a lot of pencils now that I just don't allow pencils. We only use pencils on projects if they are an ABSOLUTE necessity!Andreahttp://facebook.com/anabellsternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-72926012961982804012012-09-06T08:35:00.122-07:002012-09-06T08:35:00.122-07:00I was shocked when I took over a KINDERGARTEN clas...I was shocked when I took over a KINDERGARTEN class and the teacher had started them off using pens for their Writers Workshop. Brilliant, for the same reasons you mention AND it caused them to focus on writing, not picking, erasing, etc. It wasn't until the last few weeks of school that I allowed them to use pencil in order to produce cleaner end products. I thought it was genius. Although... they all had to be the same color ink :).Jacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02886430395887600180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-51210850922626904932012-09-05T20:15:54.680-07:002012-09-05T20:15:54.680-07:00I've always used pen to teach drawing in my cl...I've always used pen to teach drawing in my class, pencils are rarely used, hence, I don't have pencil/ eraser issues :) The quality of the work is better too. Good luck.Nenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08143767668681789624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276480693863873812.post-47458025105322584942012-09-05T15:14:06.840-07:002012-09-05T15:14:06.840-07:00Lol, good luck! Kepp us posted on the progress of ...Lol, good luck! Kepp us posted on the progress of the pen! :)ArtMusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09874925980760981599noreply@blogger.com