I enter the week with my lesson plans already done — with last week’s currently inked. A full 20% of my anticipated writing is taken care of prior to any tweaks to last week’s rotation. So I only need enough inked pens to carry me through meetings, marking, and journaling.

Five inked pens should serve my needs well. One grey ink as my typical core. And four options to keep me excitedly writing throughout the week.

Three bold nibs and three (extra) fines. A collaboration of opposites. A healthy balance of wide and thin lines provides a nib options for both small and large writing; for rapid and slow writing. Both of which are expected during my first full week of teaching.

This week also includes six round nibs. A generalist of currently inked rotations.

Two of last week’s pen-and-ink pairings did not work well for the kinds of writing I do during the school year. So, I’m playing it safe this week. With inks and pens I’ve come to trust to write unfailingly well.

A sparkling, shiny new sextet for the week. My students return to campus this week. A fresh set greets them.

Four new pen-and-ink combinations enter rotation this week. The KACO, Narwhal, Kaweco and Pilot all sport round, unground nibs. The first days of a school year a whirlwinds of activity. Quick jottings abound. And desk surfaces are not always available while writing. Round nibs are forgiving, even at odd angles.