My third grader switches classes and has to take her backpack from class to class with her notebooks and folders and pencils. Her vinyl pencil case/bag (like a cosmetic bag) is FILTHY with lead and the ruler and erasers are also filthy with lead. It's positively disgusting. One side of it is clear and I can't even see thru it...it's just BLACK. I don't know any other way to have her carry around her pencils, though. Any ideas?? They have to go in her backpack....I wish pencils had tops, like pens! Mechanical pencils don't work well for her, she always has problems with them. Maybe a plastic toothbrush holder?? I wonder if she'd be too embarrassed for that. Any ideas?? It has to be small and flat to fit in her backpack.

By Sue3 on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 05:05 pm:

What about a plastic box pencil carrier ? It seems it would be easier to clean.
My kids have the same problem with their pencil bags.
I think the toothbrush holder is a good idea !

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 06:50 pm:

I've seen pencil holders shaped like large yellow pencils, but that may be too childish for her.

But, whatever she uses, it is going to have the same problem of getting filthy from pencil lead rubbing off.

Would the tops from used up ballpoint pens fit on the pencils? And would she use them? I tried it on some unused pencils with a cap from a Bic roundstick pen and the cap fit firmly, but I am not sure how well it would fit if the pencil were shapened, which makes it narrower part of the way up.

Or, you could buy some of those foam cylinders meant to go on pens and pencils for people with arthritis or others who find writing painful, and slide the pencils in from the point end, enough to cover the point.

If it were me, I'd just ignore it and get her a new vinyl carrier twice a year - at the beginning of each semester. I think it is just one the hazards, and if the inside of the pencil carrier is black, at least it is confined to that carrier and not all through her book bag.

By Palmbchprincess on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 06:55 pm:

How about something with slots to hold them in place? I used to carry a Trapper Keeper (lol) that had little rubber band type things to hold pens/pencils. My dayplanner now has them, and it also has a place for mini-ruler, erasers, whatever.

By Kate on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 09:17 pm:

Thanks for all the ideas! At this point I ended up with a round travel toothbrush holder. It fits three pencils and I jammed a quarter in one end so the pencil points don't come out the air holes. I told her to always put the points in the quarter end, so HOPEFULLY the only lead mess will be on the quarter (which I will never be able to dislodge anyway!) It doesn't fit in her pencil case, but she's happy enough letting it just be loose in her bag. I put the pencil case inside out and literally erased most of the marks, then erased all the marks off her pens and ruler. The pens, ruler, and eraser still live in the pencil case. I also removed her manual pencil sharpener as I bet that also added to the mess. I did buy pencil grips to slide over the tips but because it gets narrow there they don't stay in that spot. I would LOVE to have found a small case with the elastics to stick the pencils thru but had no luck. Thanks again, everyone! Let's hope this was a simple ($.69!!) cure!