Overloaded backpacks, crossing guards and 3-ring binders all have their places in the iconography, but nothing says school like a sharp, yellow, No. 2 pencil. Pencils were there when we learned to ...

The No. 2 pencil could be called the Goldilocks of pencils, because it's not too soft and not too hard, making it the preferred choice on that school supply list.

3) Office supply store pencils (Staples and Office Depot brands, Penway). Many parents opt for these pencils because they’re affordable and readily available in most school supply sections.

The Palomino Golden Bear USA Blue #2 Pencil is made of top-tier incense cedar, which has a uniform wood grain and a faintly woodsy smell when sharpened. Its hexagonal shape makes it comfortable to ...