What says back to school better than a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil?  Here are some easy tutorials to dress up your new pencils.

Materials needed:
pencils
washi tape (available at craft stores and some big box stores, like Target)

Directions:
Simply wrap the tape around your pencil in whatever pattern you like!

image and idea courtesy of Confetti Sunshine Blog

Materials needed:
pencils
pipe cleaners

Directions:
Shape the pipe cleaners, then wrap the end around your pencil.

image and idea courtesy of Make and Takes

This month's Parents' Corner topic is all about study skills.  The websites you will find here have tips for all age levels.  You might even find that some are relevant for yourself!

Study Skill Tips

http://www.how-to-study.com/  A wide variety of helpful study tips

http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/member/parent/homework1.cfm provides 4 basic principles to enhance study skills.

The following file also has a list of study tips, organized by the helpful acronym ASPIRE.

Relieving Test Anxiety

http://www.testtakingtips.com/anxiety/ Tips to reduce anxiety

http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/test-anxiety.asp  Reducing Test Anxiety