Kids' School Supplies

[carnation]

@@##! We just got the 2006 school supply lists this week and they're even longer because all kinds of cleaning and non-educational supplies have been added--baby wipes, Clorox desk wipes, hand sanitizer, giant Ziplocs, the list goes on. Plus each teacher wants multiples of those--no way. I am not sending 4 boxes of wipes just because 3 other kids might not bring any. We're both teachers and we're not stupid.

We have gotten some good buys this week, like notebook paper for 15 cents at Staples and Office Depot and folders for a penny somewhere. Now all I have to do is watch the backpacks like a hawk so our high school boys won't do something along the lines of last year--switching their 6-year-old brother's macho pencils for Disney Princess ones.

[KunjaPrincess]

Originally Posted by carnation

We have gotten some good buys this week, like notebook paper for 15 cents at Staples and Office Depot and folders for a penny somewhere. Now all I have to do is watch the backpacks like a hawk so our high school boys won't do something along the lines of last year--switching their 6-year-old brother's macho pencils for Disney Princess ones.

That's something I can see my oldest doing

Target had some good deals this week, as did Fred Meyer. And seeing the lists you all have I am very grateful for my school.

1 back pack
12 Yellow Pencils,
4 24 packs of Crayola crayons
2 folders (one yellow one blue)
3 Erasers
4 Gluse sticks
1 box of zip lock baggies
30 stickers.

Most of it we already had on hand. Now this is for Kindergarten but it's all day and most of the other grades lists are comparable.
I won't even begin to tell you what the private school we were considerings list was like!!!!! CRAZY

[AOIIalum]

Here's my 5th graders basic list:

2 packs of wide-lined NOTEBOOK PAPER
6 (3-prong) Pocket Folders (Color Assort.)
2 Composition Books
2 packs (10 or more) #2 Pencils
(please, no MECHANICAL pencils) *this is killing my 5th grader, he loves his mechanical pencils!!!*
1 pack (Blue or Black) Pens
(please, no GEL pens)
2 Glue Sticks
1 Scissors
2 boxes of Tissues
4 Dry Erase Markers (Broad Tip)
(please, BASIC colors and Black)
1 large Pencil Eraser
3 Book Covers
2 Highlighters
1 pack of Colored Pencils (12 or more)
1 box (Gallon-size) Zip Bags-GIRLS
1 box of (Sandwich-size) Zip Bags-BOYS
5th Grade UNIFIED ARTS Classes
1 box of Tissues BOYS
1 box of Zip-Seal Bags GIRLS
* THIS IS ONLY A BASIC LIST *
Each TEAM may provide a more detailed
list when school begins…

Translate that into each team WILL provide a more detailed list!

Now, we learned last year that there's really no such thing as a supply list for high school. Some teachers may specify a certain size notebook or binder, but for the most part they decide how to manage their supply needs for classes and personal use. Of course, about a week into school our oldest realized that the huge zip binder was a pain to haul around school all day and went with a poly accordian type thing.

[WhiteDaisy128]

God, I still hate this thread...but here goes:

all kinds of cleaning and non-educational supplies have been added--baby wipes, Clorox desk wipes, hand sanitizer, giant Ziplocs, the list goes on.

You know how dirty your kids are at home...try having 25 of them in one small space for 6.5 hours a day. It get really dirty. The cleaning supplies provided by the school is some sort of bleach concoction. Hell yeah I require my kids to bring Clorox wipes. It eliminates the 10 year olds from having to use a squirt bottle (think of the fun things they can squirt -- like each other's eyes!). You give everyone a wipe and say "clean your desk." Plus, then the classroom doesn't smell like bleach...which gives many kids (and teachers) headaches. I even request Fresh Scent -- because they smell the best.

I teach at a very small school where parents are required to volunteer 4 hours a month to their child's classrooms...so we are all pretty close to the parents...out supply list is funny...on the "Wish List" part (which is qualified by the following statement: "Teacher Wish List Items…buy none…buy one!" we even list Starbucks Gift Cards (qualified with "hey, it's a wish list, right?")...and our parents are so awesome that we actually get some!

Ya'll that are complaining would probably hate me.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by KunjaPrincess

That's something I can see my oldest doing

Target had some good deals this week, as did Fred Meyer. And seeing the lists you all have I am very grateful for my school.

1 back pack
12 Yellow Pencils,
4 24 packs of Crayola crayons
2 folders (one yellow one blue)
3 Erasers
4 Gluse sticks
1 box of zip lock baggies
30 stickers.

Most of it we already had on hand. Now this is for Kindergarten but it's all day and most of the other grades lists are comparable.
I won't even begin to tell you what the private school we were considerings list was like!!!!! CRAZY

I am surprised that a KINDERGARTEN kid has to bring his/her own supplies. WOW! I thought that if any grade had its own stuff in the classroom, it would be kindergarten.

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I am surprised that a KINDERGARTEN kid has to bring his/her own supplies. WOW! I thought that if any grade had its own stuff in the classroom, it would be kindergarten.

You may not realize just how much Kindergarteners actually use, especially craft supplies. I loved how our elementary school did K supplies, there was a flat fee of $25 for all K students which covered *all* of their supplies for the year. Sure, the teachers did a wish list mid-year for extras (dry erase markers, hand sanitizers and wipes, class goodies like erasers and mini crayons, etc.) but you didn't have to worry about anything but a backpack and clothes.

WD: love the Starbucks "wish list" idea. A few of our teachers did that (even included things like Capri Suns or healthy treats for a class surprise periodically). Trust me, as a parent I'd prefer knowing that my child's teacher loved Starbucks or McDonalds or candles or whatever. There are only so many ornaments/candies/notepads/generic teacher gifts a teacher can stand!

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by KunjaPrincess

30 stickers.

WTH do they need stickers for? To put on the kids' work? I know my teachers bought their own stars and stickers for us when I was in school. If the teacher can't afford it, then fine, my kid doesn't get stickers. But don't make me buy my own so YOU can put it on the paper?!?

And Whitedaisy, yes, I'd probably hate you if you were my kid's teacher! But I would just be sure to buy the CVS brand of wipes in the worst smell I could find. Then you could hate me back and we'd be even.

[EtaPhiZTA]

As a first and second grade teacher, I am shocked to see that Clorox wipes, Ziploc bags, and anti-bacterial soap are on school supply lists. We are not allowed to ask for any of these items; the teacher must supply them for the class. I probably spend upwards of $300 per year just on cleaning supplies that actually clean but are not dangerous to students. This is in addition to the $200 that I have spent on basic school supplies (folders, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks) that some of my students won't bring.

The one non-school supply item that we do ask for is one box of Kleenex from each student. Depending on the fall allergy season, I generally have to start supplying these for my classroom by Winter break.

My pet peeve is when parents buy items that are not on the school supply list and send them to school. A first or second grade student does not need to have 3" binders, graph paper, and boxes of 64 crayons. Please stick to the items on the list; we don't have room to store all of the extra stuff that is sent.

*I will now step off my soapbox. Sorry for the rant*

[Taualumna]

When I was in elementary school in the 1980s, I was supplied one pencil, one eraser, one box of crayons (a ball point pen replaced crayons in Grade 4), and enough notebooks for all the subjects for the year. The only thing we had to get ourselves was a three-ring binder for French class starting in Grade 3. Since the crayons only had 8 colours, most of the kids brought their own.

Doesn't Staples have a program for teachers?

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by aephi alum
I found a listing online for what elementary-school children in my district's public schools are required to have. It varies slightly by grade, but the basics are safety scissors, an eraser, a clipboard, markers, a pen, crayons, pencils, composition books, glue, a 3-ring binder, tissues, math flash cards, and a box to keep everything in. From the itemized list, it doesn't appear that any items would go into a community chest (they only call for 1 pair of scissors, 1 eraser, etc).

The PTO sells all the required supplies as a kit for around $25 (it varies slightly from grade to grade). Apparently they order in bulk then pass the savings along to parents. Parents get a break and kids have exactly what they need.

The mandatory donation idea rubs me the wrong way, though. The wish list is a good idea - yes, you'll get cheapskates who won't donate if it isn't required, but you'll also get some generous parents, and the teacher will probably get a wider variety of stuff needed for the classroom (white-board markers, card stock, things to decorate bulletin boards with, etc. rather than 30 boxes of pencils).

I still don't get the soap thing. When I was in elem. school, all bathrooms had liquid soap dispensers that were kept stocked (most of the time, anyway!) Have our school budgets gotten so slim that we're cutting soap??

Your first paragraph I agree with.

And it's nto a hit at teachers. I guess what I don't understand is that all this stuff was provided by teh school when I was in elementary. Maybe I just went to a really good school, but we were never asked to buy scissors and all that. And dictionaries were already in the classroom.

And in kindergarten when our teacher accidentally left our crayons on the heater and they all melted, the school provided more.

[winnieb]

Dee, I understand where you are coming from. My son's list includes the basic items-- but we also must provide Ziploc bags (quart size), Fiskar scissors, Elmers glue, dry erase markers, and other items including Purell.

The brands I listed are specific and REQUIRED. As far as the Fiskar scissors--we are even given the model number they MUST have. And the dry erase markers--well there isn't a white board in the room!!--not one I saw. And while I would by Fiskars for me, not for my son who lost 2 pairs last year in kindergarten--each time I was senta note to buy a new pair for the next day.

I understand that teachers aren't paid well, which is wrong! But I also know teachers get to use what they spend in their classrooms as a tax deduction. The money I spend and donate is not a deduction for me. I also know I spend LOTS on tax money for my child's education.

I have no issues giving donations and helping in the classroom--I am happy to do so. But the demand on parents is getting unreal. My son came home on the second day of school with the Entertainment Book fundraiser. We sold 6 @$20/each. There will be 2 or 3 more fundraisers this year. I also received the envelope to send $10 back to the class for the holiday parties, which I will also get a list of required items to send at the time of the party. I will buy off of the teacher wish list at the book fair. School pics are on Tuesday, we got the flyer on Friday due back on Monday with my $25 for the small package. And we will have pics in February too. And finally in the backpack this week we received the "snack list" . Approx once a month each child is assigned a snack day and I will send snacks for the entire class.

And my final vent-- Teacher Appriecation Week. I would prefer to buy the teacher a gift of my choosing. The PTA,last year, assigned a different theme each day.... flower day, sweet day, relaxation day, candle day, etc. We were also told to send the same present for the PE, art, music, computer teachers, librarians and lunch ladies--- what in the heck--- beyond the money--- why would the PE teacher want a candle from each kid in the school-- 400 candles would be insane!!!!

I don't mind hellping or giving--it is not the teachers job to buy everything--but my tax money should cover that basic stuff like soap!

-wendi

[PlymouthDZ]

Originally Posted by winnieb

I understand that teachers aren't paid well, which is wrong! But I also know teachers get to use what they spend in their classrooms as a tax deduction. The money I spend and donate is not a deduction for me. I also know I spend LOTS on tax money for my child's education.

I too am a teacher and spend $1000 EASILY for my classroom. Then again, I don't teach in a well-to-do district. Actually, I was photocopying pages from a textbook for one of my classes last year, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BOOKS.

Wendi - I don't know how much you can claim on your taxes for supplies, but I know that legally, I can only claim $250 for "Out of Pocket" School Supplies.

I wish more parents would help our and donate things - the truth is, unless you live in those "good" districts they DON'T. The truth is, most of my kids, and their parents are more concerned with when the next meal is coming, are they going to have enough money to pay the water bill, etc.

By no means am I whining or complaining, I LOVE MY SCHOOL and I love my Students.

I did offer my student 5 bonus points for bringing in tissues. My school doesn't supply tissues OR white-lined paper. I asked ALL 200 of my students to bring in a box of tissues and 2 packages of loose-leaf paper at the beginning of the year.

And still, but mid way through the semester, I was purchasing my own.


On a side rant:
People are constantly dumping on teachers "Oh... must be SO nice to have the summer off!" Yes, and during the summers, most of us have another job. Or, there are a LOT of us who have 2nd jobs DURING the school year.
My mom CONSTANTLY gets me with the comment "Teachers don't need to be paid more, really, they only work part time." PART-TIME? I am at school at 6:15 in the morning, classes end at 2pm, I coach - practice starts at 3 and ends at 8. THEN, I go home, take care of my husband and then grade or get ready for the next day.

Anyway - my point - I know it is a pain for you, as parents to spend extra money for things your child may not need, but I know for sure that teachers appreciate every bit of help you can offer. If you don't like the community chest idea, or whatever, maybe contact the teacher and see if there is something else you can do instead? I don't know. But I do know that I would LOVE it if I could have markers, or scissors (any brand, really!) donated to my class.

[jadis96]

Originally Posted by PlymouthDZ

On a side rant:
People are constantly dumping on teachers "Oh... must be SO nice to have the summer off!" Yes, and during the summers, most of us have another job. Or, there are a LOT of us who have 2nd jobs DURING the school year.
My mom CONSTANTLY gets me with the comment "Teachers don't need to be paid more, really, they only work part time." PART-TIME? I am at school at 6:15 in the morning, classes end at 2pm, I coach - practice starts at 3 and ends at 8. THEN, I go home, take care of my husband and then grade or get ready for the next day.

I don't know any teachers who stop being teachers when the bell rings. Last semester I taught 6:45-2:30, had play rehearsals until 4:30 (or meetings) taught a GED class two nights a week (6-9), took classes at a local college 2 nights a week to renew my teaching license (6-8:30) and when I got home at 9:00 I would start grading papers. Oh and that doesn't include the saturdays I spent coaching the Science Olympiad team or the weekends I took them to tournaments, or the dances and basketball games I chaperoned for free, or the three days I was in Chicago with my students on the clock 24 hours a day.

I also want to point something out, when you are a teacher you are never "off duty". I learned early on from my dad to be careful having a glass of wine at dinner when out in public because if a student or parent sees you drinking it can become gossip about you at school. Also I can be at the mall/ grocery store/ movie theater with friends and run into my students or their parents and they expect me to discuss school stuff right there. I have had parents call me at 11:00 at night expecting me to answer a question. I don't know many other professions where the client feels like they can call your house or see you at the grocery store and expect you to drop everything for them. If you politely say "This really isn't the time to discuss that, why don't you call me at school tomorrow?" they get offended. Not all parents are like that, many of my parents are wonderful, but I have had this happen to me on more then one occasion.

I don't know of any teacher who wants to bankrupt a parent, but the bottom line is that if the school district doesn't provide the supplies and the parent refuses to then the teacher has to choose between spending their own money or making the children do without. It's one thing if it's a hardship to purchase supplies because it means the difference between supplies or feeding you child, it is another when it means the difference between supplies or a Coach purse. Sorry if this sounds mean but I am frustrated. I love my students and I would never ask them to buy something I didn't feel was necessary for them to have. Students at my school can spend 20$ total on school supplies for the wholoe school year, that is less then some of us spend on dinner. Most teachers will tell you we ask for stuff all the time for our classrooms and are turned down all the time. If you really want to school system to supply more things then parents need to start asking adminstrators why teachers or parents are being asked to pay for scissors and markers? If I ask for it as a teacher I will not get it, if parents ask for it they have a better shot then me of getting it.

Maybe there are some schools that are asking a lot for parents to buy more then that, but instead of getting upset try talking to the teacher, why do they want you to buy certain brands or types of things? Did they find that buying Sharpies instead of another brand of markers made them last the whole year instead of drying up before Christmas? Most teachers aren't evil, they often have very good reasons for what they are asking, try talking to them about it or even asking other parents if their child who had the teacher last year needed XYZ for a reason? I know with 6th graders it is hard to get them organized so we asked for different color folder for each subject so we can help the students get organized, it cuts down on students bringing the wrong folder for class if they know everyday they need their yellow folder for English and their blue folder for math. Also I tell my students every year on the first day, if you can't afford or can't get a supply for some reason let me know in the next day or so because I often have extra supples left from students last year. Maybe not enough to get all 120 kids a new folder, but I normally have 5 or 6 folders left over when kids were cleaning out their locker.

Adelphean- being a public school law junkie (was my favorite class in college) I am interested to know what federal law you are talking about that says parents do not have to furnish supplies? I searched http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/#federal and didn't see anything so I was wondering if this is a state statute in your state or maybe district? (like I said this interests me so I am a geek about it ) In my state we can require parents to furnish supplies as long as we have an alternative to parents who this would be a fiscal hardship for. For example all students who are free/ reduced lunch in our district get free book rental and the bookstore will supply them with one set of supplies for the year. We also have people at registration to help parents with filling out forms for assistance for supplies and books.

[jadis96]

Originally Posted by AXiD670

Many professions are this way. My attorneys are never "off duty." Even when they're on vacation (out of the country, even!) they have to call in and check emails, return calls, etc. Oftentimes their clients expect them to be at their beck and call.

Maybe your attornys are different from mine. Of course the only way I can afford an attorney is to use the one that I get through the teachers association allowing me up to 1000$ a year (j/k). I am not talking about emails left or voice mails, these are calls to my home phone number. Maybe I am a wuss, but as a female living alone calls to my home late at night from unfamiliar numbers are scary. I had a parent call and leave 3 messages on my home number (I was visiting a friend in the hopsitial and did not get home til late), when I tried to return them the next morning before school at 7am her exact words where "why didn't you call me last night? now I need to get ready for work instead of talking to you."

Don't get me wrong I love my job and I LOVE my students but I have had some situations that frankly are out of line in the way I have been treated. I may not be a Doctor or rich like some of my kids parents but I deserve respect as a human being. okay off the soapbox, I need to go look for shelves for my classroom.

[jadis96]

Originally Posted by winnieb

I understand that teachers aren't paid well, which is wrong! But I also know teachers get to use what they spend in their classrooms as a tax deduction. The money I spend and donate is not a deduction for me. I also know I spend LOTS on tax money for my child's education.-wendi

The tax deduction here is 250$. I passed that before the end of last semester for the year. I already spend 175$ on supplies this summer for the coming school year and I still have to go buy bookcases because my school won't purchase extra ones and I need them for the bookks for kids to read that I talked a friends company into donating.

BTW, can anyone tell I spent the morning in my classroom.