April Currently

Today is April 2nd and I'm linking up with Farley for the April Currently!

Listening: to the peaceful silence in my bedroom. I'm working on this blog post. Avery's in bed, husband's out of town, and animals are actually settled. I have peaceful silence- what!?!?

Loving: Loving all the signs of Spring. I have such a great view of the outside from my classroom window. I noticed today all the trees budding and the new green leaves beginning to pop out. Love it!! Avery and I have been going outside every day when we get home to just be outside in the mild Spring air. I'm really loving this. When Summer comes I know I'll miss the mild days and cool nights.

Thinking: I have jury duty next week. Boo! I would rather be in class with my students. After testing this week and spending the last week reviewing for the test I feel like we haven't spent much quality time together at all. I miss it. I've tried getting out of it and am still holding out for not getting on the jury or it being called off. I'm not going to hold my breath or anything though.

Wanting: With the school year winding down I'm starting to look forward to what's to come next year. I want to start planning for classes next year and what to change or continue.

Needing: I need a new Classroom Friendly Supplies Pencil Sharpener! Only to have another one. Fear not my friends- this is still an amazing pencil sharpener. They have one now for large pencils too!

Hours and Last Day: June 6 at 2PM (assuming no more days added on for the ice storms)

Tried It Tuesday!

I know. I know. I know. The quietest classroom pencil sharpener has been blogged about before. But not by me! Today I'm linking up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday!

A few weeks ago, I blogged about ordering the quietest pencil sharpener. Well, it came in! I was so excited to try it out. The problem was I didn't have any pencils! How was that possible that I didn't have pencils? My husband works for an office supply company and I'm a teacher. No idea! Problem solved by going to the Target Dollar Spot. For $1, I bought a pack of pencils and brought them home to get started.

Step 1: Attach the pencil sharpener to a surface. I chose my countertop. I have no other surface to put it on.

Step 2: Get your pencils ready!

Step 3: Pull out the front piece and squeeze the black pincher thingy at the top to insert your pencil. (These are technical terms here. Try not to be confused!)

Step 4: Sharpen your pencil! (Photobombing courtesy of Collin, the pug)

After all those steps and in a matter of minutes you will end up with some perfectly sharpened pencils. Some mighty sharp pencils too!

A suggestion: don't leave this permanently on your countertop because first your husband or significant other may ask you why you bought a pencil sharpener for the house and why it's in your kitchen of all places. Also, the countertop is not the best place to attach this. It's a little wobbly. I'm thinking it has to do with the rounded part of my counters. 

I can't wait to use this in my classroom. I'm hoping my 8th graders love it as much as I do!

The Quietest Pencil Sharpener

"Wwwhhhrrrrr" "Wwwwhhhrrrrr" "Miss! This sharpener broke my pencil." "I think someone broke the electric pencil sharpener." Ugh. These are the sounds I hate the most in my classroom. I hate the pencil sharpener above all. Last year, I would unplug the pencil sharpener when class started as a passive aggressive attempt to stop those sounds. Those kids are smart! They caught on. When they went to put their pencil in and nothing happened, they plugged it back in. Students-1 Mrs. Bush-0.

I found the Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener a couple of years ago and pinned it then. In the back of my mind while battling the pencil sharpening noises I would think about it. Then I started reading blogs with other teachers who used it. I knew I had to do it too. Today is that day. With the husband's budgetary meeting pending, I told him I needed to spend $25. He told me $25 isn't a big deal (who knew!) and to go ahead and buy it. So that is exactly what I did! Today I placed my order for the pencil sharpener to end all my headaches. More to come when it gets here. I sure hope this works!

Classroom Friendly Supplies