The Quietest Pencil Sharpener

I wish I could say that I just received this green pencil sharpener in the mail a few days ago...but it would be a lie... I received it in August (I think)!  I’m such a procrastinator.  I’ve been meaning to write about it...but I was kind of torn about what to write.  Everyone has raved and raved about it...but I have mixed feelings.  If you don’t know anything about the pencil sharpener that  I’m talking about you can check it out at Classroom Friendly Supplies.

Here is what I absolutely love about the pencil sharpener:

• The pencils always come out SHARP – I mean really really really sharp... (I think they could even be considered a weapon!)

• The pencil sharpener is VERY quiet!You don’t have to hold the pencil while you are sharpening it. The pencil is pulled in as you turn the handle.  

• It will sharpen even the cheap pencils as well as those special pencils that mean so much to my little ones! 

• It has never locked up or eaten up any pencil.

• It can be moved anywhere easily.

• They come in a variety of great colors: groovy green, cool blue, firehouse red, and midnight black. 

 Here are the things that I have issues with:  

• It is such a pain to pull out the clasps for every single pencil!!  Maybe I’m just lazy, but I do not like it one little bit. I can use my electric pencil sharpener much quicker.  (Which needs replaced at least once a year).

• I have not been successful using the clamp to hold the pencil sharpener down.  It always moves when my students sharpen their pencils. 

So there you go... my thoughts on this beautiful pencil sharpener.  If you would like to watch a video about how the pencil sharpener works, please click on the pencil sharpener below to view.

Go check is out for yourself.   It was designed by Troy Decoff who is the owner and founder of The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener.

Draw Princess in 4 Easy Steps

Draw Princesses in 4 Easy Steps: Then Write a Story

Written by: Stephanie LaBaff

Illustrated by: Tom Labaff

ISBN 978-1-4644-0011-7

If you have ever been interested in learning how to draw fairy tale characters, then this is definitely the book for you. The title leads you to believe it is only about learning how to draw princesses, but actually the book shows you how to draw other things as well. If you are interested in learning how to draw a princess, then you will also want to learn how to draw her shoes, crown, throne and many other things that you would see in fairy tales. Each one of the drawings begins with the basic outline of the shape. More and more details are added in each of the steps. I am not an artist, so I didn't find the steps "easy". There are very few written directions - which allow the artist to make it their own.

The second part of the book gives you directions on how to write a story in 5 easy steps that will go with your drawing. For those writers that sometimes have problems getting started, they have provided several story starters.

I have found this book to be one of my 1st graders favorite books to go to when they have time to draw - especially the girls!

Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

The second part of the book gives you directions on how to write a story in 5 easy steps that will go with your drawing. For those writers that sometimes have problems getting started, they have provided several story starters.

I have found this book to be one of my 1st graders favorite books to go to when they have time to draw - especially the girls!

Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.