Let the sharpener catch its own mess.

The easiest way to keep pencil shavings from scattering is to use a sharpener with a closed container and empty it straight into the trash.

That means a twist-style barrel sharpener or a small handheld one with a plastic case. They’re cheap, they hold a surprising amount, and the shavings stay contained until you pop the lid off over the bin. If your classroom uses those little wedge-shaped sharpeners that are just a blade in a block of plastic, that’s the thing causing the mess — there’s nowhere for shavings to go.

If you’re stuck with a bare blade sharpener, you can still keep the mess down. Sharpen while holding it directly over the trash