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Besides being sharpened right before the class,
It's often the result of owning many tools but using the ones that hold an edge well.

Carvers (not only beginners) think if they have the same tool as the instructor, it will cut as easily. This doesn't happen out-of-the-box. Some tools benefit from regrinding; either to improve the angle or to remove some of the bulk of the tool.

To check your knife; look at the side of the blade while rotating the handle slightly with a light above.
Do you see several 'facets' or a smooth round surface? Both are conditions that create resistance.

To check for chips in the cutting edge, make a cut 'across the end grain' and look for white lines in the tools path.

[mdallensr]

I've said for a long time our favorite tool is usually the sharpest, not necessarily the right sweep or size. I've re-ground most of my gouges to get rid of rounded edges and bad angles. Makes a huge difference. No matter how much you hone and strop, if the gouges and chisels have the wrong shape, they won't carve easily.

If thier tools aren't sharp they should not be teachers. Big Al