Pencil Sharpener Battle

We've all been through it before on a daily basis.  I'm talking about the battle with the pencil sharpener and I've finally WON!

Sharpening pencils has become one of my pet peeves (especially while I'm teaching).  Therefore, my students know that they need to sharpen their pencils during appropriate times.  However, it never fixed any of the problems that I continued to run into.  After my most recent battle, I was DONE!  I decide to try out the sharpener that all the teachers are talking about....the Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener.

SUCCESS!  I'm not joking!  This sharpener produces a sharp point (EVERY TIME) and it's quiet enough that it doesn't bother me if a student needs to sharpen their pencil while I'm teaching.  I even have teachers from other classrooms coming into my classroom to use this new GEM.  

The only downfall that I've found is that colored pencils don't work.  The colored pencil is so soft that the tips break off inside and prevent the next pencil from sharpening to a fine point.  Therefore, we've reverted back to the electric sharpener for those.

I would definitely recommend this sharpener to any of my fellow teachers and for those future teachers!  I have not been paid by the company for any of this, but I thought that an honest opinion may help some fellow bloggers finally win the battle!

Enjoy,

Technology Tip Tuesday-Educational Websites

1. Edmodo

Edmodo is a wonderful website to use with intermediate aged students.  It's a safe and secure way to use the idea of Facebook within the classroom.  

Click the picture to watch an informational video about what Edmodo is about.

Within my own classroom, I've used Edmodo to post questions to students about our read aloud, likes/dislikes and classroom decisions.  I love that students can personally message me if they have a question and that parents can even create their own accounts.

2. Tagxedo

Tagxedo is a fantastic website to use to turn your words into word art for any classroom project.  My class loved using this website to create word art for their biography presentations.  It's very user friendly and simple enough for intermediate students to use on their own.  

3. BrainPOP

BrainPOP is a great website to use when looking for kid-friendly informational videos.  Tim and Moby (the main characters) take educational topics and turn them into exciting videos that capture a given concept in just a few minutes.  BrainPOP does require a subscription to have access to ALL of the videos, but they do offer free ones.  In fact, BrainPOP offers a featured video for FREE!  This video changes day to day and normally corresponds with what's going on in the world or the special meaning of that day (Labor Day, Lincoln's Birthday and so on).

I'm posting for Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week.

{if you want to link up too, just right click the picture and save it to your computer}

 

Enjoy!

Teacher Week: Must-haves Monday

Must-haves Monday

My addiction...I was able to find tons of wonderful resources that will proudly be displayed in my classroom this year.

Who doesn't love fruity scents while creating an anchor chart?

It's the only way to keep my plan book organized and colorful.

I WILL be ordering one of these this year. I can't wait to have a SHARP pencil without it sounding a jack hammer.

Being organized without losing it.  I love that everything has a place and would love for everything to be in those places when I need them.

I'm posting for Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week.

{if you want to link up too, just right click the picture and save it to your computer}

 

Check back tomorrow for a helpful Technology Tip.

Enjoy!