Back to School : Pencils, Pens and Paper

Here we go again—it’s time to start thinking about stocking up for back to school. One item that is on every teacher’s and student’s supply list is pencils. With so many pencil options out there, it can feel overwhelming to make a choice on what pencils to add-to-cart. We tested out the best pencils and are excited to report our findings. You’ll find a mix of both mechanical and traditional wood pencils here.

We also took cost into account and tried to find pencils at different price points. But keep in mind the price will vary depending on when and where you purchase the pencils and how many are in the package.

Best Overall Traditional Wood Pencil: Ticonderoga #2 Pencil

From the Manufacturer: “Ticonderoga has a tradition of fine quality writing instruments in the U.S. for over 100 years. The exclusive graphite core features a proprietary formula focusing on graphite mined from carefully controlled sources to deliver extra-smooth performance. Top-quality latex-free erasers remove marks completely without smudging. Premium wood harvested from responsibly managed sources provides smooth, even sharpening with minimal breakage. These pencils are pre-sharpened to save you time and hassle. Teachers prefer Ticonderoga for its dependability and craftsmanship. When only the best will do, choose Ticonderoga-brand pencils.”

Our Take: This pencil is the no. 1 wood pencil for us. There is a reason that there are two Ticonderoga pencil options on this list: They make amazing pencils! Spending a little bit more for the pre-sharpened pencils is worth it. This pencil writes smoothly, erases well, and sharpens easily. It is a highly rated pencil for good reaso

Best bargin pencil #2 Wooden papermate Everstrong pencil or Amazon #2 Basic Essential Wooden pre sharpened pencil.

Best student Pens:

Smooth & Long-lasting: Enjoy a smooth writing experience thanks to the gel ink that glides effortlessly across paper; G2 has been proven to be the longest-lasting gel ink pen so you can write more without having to refill often (Data on File)
Comfortable Grip: A contoured rubber grip provides ergonomic support, making long writing projects easier
Versatile: Perfect for everyday writing tasks such as taking notes and jotting down grocery lists; The G2 tip delivers crisp, clean lines ideal for writing, intricate designs, drawing, sketching or doodling

If your kid somehow manages to lose every writing utensil you bought them by the second week of school, these are the pens for you. They’re cheap, work great, and come in bulk!

Which makes the perfect classroom gift 🎁

Diffrence in Paper:

For elementary school aged children, wide ruled paper is the preferred choice for students from kindergarten up to 4^th grade. The ruled lines are 11/37 inches apart and are for children still learning to write letters and numbers as well as for persons who have larger than average handwriting.

Middle school, high school, and college students use medium or “college” ruled paper, with 9/32 inch spacing between lines. This is the type of paper has lines closer together to allow more writing on a single page. The term “college” is a colloquialism used to denote students have graduated from using wide ruled paper. Older kids usually have handwriting which is smaller than younger children and don’t need the larger spacing. Though, teenagers and college students would much prefer wide ruled paper for writing essays and book reports.

A far more less common type of paper is called narrow paper. As the name denotes, narrow paper has lines which are closer together, ¼ inch spacing, and are used for people who have smaller handwriting and allows for more writing per page.

Regardless of the brand of loose-leaf paper you buy, wide ruled and college ruled paper will all have the same type of spacing. There is also practically no difference in the quality of ruled paper from brand to brand.