A teacher whose class went through 2,000 pencils in four months has been applauded across social media for her creative solution.
Posting on TikTok, Jess (@inspo_by_jess) explained that in seven years of teaching, she has never seen pencils broken and thrown away at such a high rate.
“There is a lack of respect for property that isn’t theirs,” she noted, “and a lack of accountability. Then it occurred to me. These students don’t know what they have.”
That realization led her to rethink how supplies are distributed and valued.
Jess explained that she buys Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils with her own money because she believes students should have access to high-quality materials.
After winter break, she plans to remove the communal pencil dispenser. Instead, each student will return to find one pencil engraved with their name.
They will be responsible for keeping that pencil for a full month before a new round of engraving begins.
Students also filled out a survey about their pencil preferences, with Jess noting that many reported not owning a pencil at all.
Those students will receive their own pencil and a pouch.
Users React
Many commenters zeroed in on the type of pencil being used, with one user declaring, “Dixon Ticonderoga pencils are amazing.”
Another noted, “My teacher put me on to DIXON TICONDEROGA, and I’ve never looked back. I graduated 9 years ago and still keep it on me.”
Many comments turned to teacher compensation: “We don’t pay teachers enough,” one user wrote.
“Teachers really need a pay increase,” another added.
TikTok has become a space where teachers share both everyday frustrations and creative classroom solutions.
One previous Newsweek story reported on a teacher who took to the platform to reveal the fun way she likes to incorporate gymnastics into her classroom, and her students can’t get enough.
Another Newsweek story reported on a teacher who posted a TikTok about how she tricked her ninth-grade class into thinking that she accidentally published exam answers.
The TikTok shows a laptop screen and many documents, with one titled: “Final Exam Answers DON’T PUBLISH.” However, when she clicks on the link, it has a photo of a dog who appears to be smirking.
Newsweek has reached out to @inspo_by_jess for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.