(Family Features) With the start of the new school year, it’s time to fill your shopping lists with the essentials that will help your child make the transition back to the classroom.

From the youngest students learning to write to older students composing analytical essays, writing instruments have been proven to be a key factor in classroom success. These tools include wood-cased pencils and markers for younger students and mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens, and highlighters for older students. Pencils haven’t changed much in the last decade, but there are some new innovations in pens as well as some tried-and-true favorites that are excellent choices for back-to-school.

Visit amazon.com/pilotpen to find more back-to-school must-haves.

Get your student’s favorite learning partner

Middle and high school students know that having the right tools is essential to achieving their goals. Pilot’s G2 provides a smooth, comfortable and long-lasting writing experience and is designed to keep up with the wide range of school assignments – from colorful study guides to memorable flashcards. Writing by hand and writing in color can have a positive impact on learning. Blue can improve concentration and problem solving, while purple can inspire creativity.

Available in more than 40 colors, your students will find the perfect color to energize themselves for the task at hand. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the pens benefits the annual G2 Student Overachievers Grant, which rewards exceptional students who go the extra mile to make a difference in their community. For more information, visit G2Overachievers.com.

Help students eliminate mistakes and school stress

Thanks to innovative thermo-sensitive ink technology, FriXion pens can write smoothly and erase cleanly, allowing students to write, erase and rewrite without leaving behind eraser crumbs or torn paper. For younger students, Colors Markers are ideal for little hands learning to write and are great for science fair posters and school projects. The Clicker is ideal for middle and high school students. This revolutionary pen allows them to start over an unlimited number of times. This can help students approach classes with more confidence and keep their work neater, leading to less school stress—something both students and parents appreciate.

It is also the first and only STEM pen authenticated by STEM.org as a STEM learning and teaching tool. This is because the science behind the erasable pens embodies the principles of STEM and enables both erasability and STEM demonstrations. It puts the power of STEM and error-free writing in the hands of your students.

You can help eradicate bullying in US schools

Words have great power, whether spoken or written. It is important that students choose them carefully, as unkind words can have a devastating impact on school-aged children. To help students, parents and teachers write fearlessly and stamp out bullying once and for all, Pilot Pen has partnered with Stomp Out Bullying – the leading national anti-bullying organization – for the Erase Bullying for Good initiative.

You too can help by visiting StompOutBullying.org to learn how to connect with your student if they have experienced or witnessed bullying. You can also add FriXion Clicker erasers to your back-to-school shopping list. This pack helps students “write fearlessly,” with a portion of the proceeds going to Stomp Out Bullying. Learn more at HelpEraseBullying.com and help eradicate bullying once and for all.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (students in classroom)