If you prefer the old wooden kind, then sharpen several of them before you start each homework. Make sure you have a clean, usable eraser as well. Although neatness might not get you extra points, it does help keep you from confusion. Keep your work organized. You will be surprised at how much easier it will be for you to follow your own work when it's not so densely packed onto the page.
Paper is cheap.
Don't be afraid to use lots of it. Your classmates are in the same boat as you. Organize a study group. Try to coax at least one of the top students in the class into your group. I recommend that the group size be three to five.