Eradicate the favourite time-wasting trick of sharpening pencils mid-lesson: label two tubs: one 'Sharpened pencils&', one &';Blunt pencils'. A pencil sharpening monitor (rotated regularly) is responsible for keeping the &'sharp&'; tub well-stocked. If a pencil becomes blunted, the child returns it to the 'blunt&' tub and takes a new one from the &';sharp'.