My 10-year-old starts middle school this fall, and while she’s quietly confident, I’m freaking out inside. Since there’s not much I can do to help her make friends with her new classmates or dazzle her teachers with a great first impression, I’m doing everything within my power to make sure she’s set up for success academically.
That means this year I’m going all-out when it comes to her new school supplies, starting with Pilot Pen products in her pencil pouch. The right writing tools can boost organization, streamline studying, and even calm pre-test jitters. Here’s what I’m slipping into her backpack.
Make Color Work Harder
I color-code everything in my daily life, from the events in my digital calendar to the emails in my inbox. I always like to see a lot of orange and yellow in my month-at-a-glance, because those are the colors I use for vacations and days off. A lot of red, on the other hand, means my deadlines are looming or I have a lot of important meetings. If I send my 10-year-old to school with only blue and black ink, I’m depriving her of a vital organizational tool.
That’s why I’m getting her Pilot G2 Boost pens. Inspired by color science, the curated collections make it easy to create personalized systems for every subject, project, or study session. Blues can signal productivity and greens encourage balance, while warmer pink tones bring optimism and purples can promote creativity. Instead of every page looking the same, my daughter can build a visual roadmap, making her study process feel more empowering and less overwhelming.
Study smart tip: When it’s test time, I’m going to teach my 10-year-old the “blurting method.” That’s when you take a clean sheet of paper and write down everything you remember about a certain topic in a single color, leaving space between the things you recall. Then, you go back and review the study materials and write everything new you recall in a different color. You keep going until it’s all there on the page. The technique is ideal for helping students retain the information and identify knowledge gaps. And the G2 is perfect for the task. It has super smooth, long-lasting, vibrant ink, so it can keep up with her. Plus, only G2 offers a wide range of curated colors.
Turn Mistakes Into Momentum
I remember when I entered middle school and was told I had to switch from pencils to erasable pens. They always leaked when I used one for the first time. And they smeared when I tried to write cursive. When it came to erasing, they rarely got the job done. So imagine my surprise when I tested out Pilot FriXion Erasable Pen and discovered it actually erased my writing—all the way!
My daughter will definitely be using FriXion pens. Their smooth-writing, clean-erasing gel ink makes it easy to revise notes, reorganize ideas, or rethink an answer without pencils to sharpen, messy eraser crumbs, or having to start over. I’m especially excited about the FriXion Vibe Collection. Inspired by the science of colorology, each pack is designed around a specific mood, with pinks and purples in the DreamGlow pack for positivity and creativity and blues and greens for calmness in the ZenFocus pack.
This is exciting to me, since I’m trying to instill a growth mindset in my daughter, which means we’re more focused on process than outcomes. Making mistakes offers more opportunity for learning than getting everything perfect the first time. Being able to erase those mistakes will let her move on even faster, and being able to experiment and try again will be a boon to her creativity.
Study smart tip: Middle school is when students start outlining essays, solving multi-step math problems, and experimenting with different ways to organize information. FriXion lets her rethink an answer, reorganize a page, or rewrite a flashcard without starting over.
Engage Your Senses
Last year, our state introduced a bell-to-bell cellphone ban, and kids now have to lock up their phones, smartwatches, and internet-connected devices when they head to class. This has led some kids to do “phantom scrolling,” or swiping their hands over surfaces just because they don’t know what to do with their hands. Instead of getting my daughter a fidget toy that serves no useful purpose, I’m going with sensory input from her writing tools.
First, G2 Edge Metallics. Beyond the smooth, long-lasting writing G2 is known and loved for, its laser-etched barrel and shimmering metallic inks create a writing experience that engages the senses before they even start writing. With six sensory touchpoints—including the click of the pen, the curve of the clip, the textured barrel, the grounding grip, and the smooth glide of the ink—this pen can help keep students focused and clear-headed.
Next, the G2 | SmileyWorld® Collection to add some playful expression to my daughter’s everyday writing. She can use them to bring a smile to her work, and I’ve even gotten some for her to share with her friends.
Study smart tip: Before a big test, encourage your student to spend five minutes journaling. Research on expressive writing suggests that putting thoughts and worries onto paper may help reduce anxiety while improving focus before an exam. While college is still a ways off for my 10-year-old, getting her into the practice of writing out her feelings—with all-new pens in cool colors—will only help her on her academic journey.
The School Supplies I’m Feeling Best About This Year
Middle school is full of new experiences, new expectations, and plenty of opportunities to grow. More than just complex schedules and tougher homework, it’s an opportunity for students to begin developing the positive habits they’ll carry for years to come. If the right writing tools can help my daughter stay organized, feel confident enough to make mistakes, and actually enjoy the process of learning, that’s a back-to-school purchase I’m happy to make.
