DS' Kindergarten supply list.....

[dreamin_disney]

I wish they would give us the list at the end of the previous school year or at least earlier in the summer so I could bargain shop. I don't have lists for my DDs yet.

i agree with you. I wouldnt mind getting a list of supplies from the two teachers she might get, that way i can shop at the sales and what isnt needed can be returned. DD will be in 5th grade so there are only two 5th grade teachers. School doesnt start for another 1 1/2 weeks.
we did buy a few things like glue sticks 2/.25 bought 2-3 packs, folder 2.50
crayons .25 , markers 2 packs 1.00 ea

 

[teedisney]

Oh I didn't think about using a sock as an eraser. I got a pair out of the $1 bin with CVS ECBs!! LOL He did need dry erase pens.

 

[mchames]

I teach 3rd grade and the school does the lists and we get little input. But, I would say if you wanted to cut costs and you have a really long list- you can skip:

ziploc baggies
hand sanatizer
clorox wipes
lysol spray
index cards
tape

I have SO much of this stuff left at the end of the year. I bring it down to the low income schools. I used to teach at one and I know they don't get many supplies. Our school actually does half and half on this stuff (girls bring wipes, boys bring spray etc.).

It really helps when the kids bring at a minimum:
scissors
glue, glue and more glue
crayons/ markers/ colored pencils
kleenex (last year I had 1 box left)
pencils
erasers (can't get enough!)
folders (and the kind we ask for!)

We also share supplies and I have found they last a LOT longer that way. The year I let each kid keep it, they lost it or broke it within a month. If they are sharing between four of them, they take better care of it. It might be because with their own, the supplies are abundant and sharing they seem scarcer- not sure. But, the difference is huge! I store them all and change them out as needed. I actually save the used stuff for if we run out at the end of the year. Then I give anything usable back at the end (round robin, each kid picks 1-2 things).

Oh, and PLEASE don't buy pencil sharpeners without a place for the shavings to go. You might think they sharpen over the trash. They don't.

I want to second this. My girls are going into 4th and 6th grades and I've stopped bringing the cleaning supplies (paper towels, hand soap, wipes, etc.)in the first day of school. I've found that teachers really don't have the space to store 20+ of each of these items all at once. I usually double-check with the teacher if they want them right away or not and wind up bringing stuff in to replenish the supply around Nov/Dec.

Also, it's really not unusal for kids in K and 1st grade to share supplies. It's not about covering supplies for those kids who can't afford them, it's more about fostering community and just cutting down on the "Hey, that's my pencil. Make him give it back." It's also much easier for teachers to pass out one box of supplies per table than to have 20 kids find and unpack their supplies and inevitably find that they are missing the red crayon that is needed for the exercise.

In my kids school, if a child is unable to bring in supplies the teacher will let the school counselor know and those supplies will be provided discreetly by the PTA.

Mary

 

[Princess April]

*WOW* the supply list really do vary! My DD's list was a mile long ... but she is an only child so we happily purchased every last item on the list. I even prepared a "back to school" bag for her teacher with stuff that I thought she would find useful: stickers (reward) special pencils and erasers, sticky notes, highlighters, bag of wrapped candy and some other assorted goodies for the classroom. I have noticed 2 things from reading this and preparing DD for school (talking to other parents)
#1: People are starting to get "mad" about having to "share" supplies with other (less fortunate) children. I understand that their parents "should" provide them with all the necessary school supplies, but sometimes things cannot be helped and they don't get them the supplies they need. I personally think that this is sad and I don't mind sharing my DD's supplies....I see both sides but seriously, these are young children, let's not take it out on them, budget or not. I have spoken to several parents that are not going to buy the requested school supplies for their children on purpose.
#2 I read somewhere that the average teacher spends about $2,000.00 out of pocket for supplies for their classroom. Not fair, when was the last time you had to pay to work? I hope more people chip in so they won't have to dig so deep.
... just one person's humble opinion... flame away.

 

[Leajess99]

They require brand names?

This thread choked me up a bit. I started thinking about how this will be me... in a mere FIVE years.

The reason many teachers request crayola and elmers and fiskars is because they are a better quality. Many of the crayon brands are just a waste as they break or are really waxy to color with. I prefer those brands at home with my own children. I found crayola 24 ct crayons and elmer's glue and glue sticks for 19 cents each at Meijer and really stocked up. Last year the teacher was asking for stuff half way throuh the school year when the prices were way back up. By stocking up I can provide in the middle of the school year and not have to pay $1 for 24 crayons.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd5 is starting Kindergarten and they have to supply nothing. My ds8 will be in 3rd grade and his list makes up for the lack of hers. Last year in preschool she had a list of about 20 items (and none of those came back at the end of the year).

 

[Kteacher]

Wow!! I can't believe some of the lists for kindergarteners!!! My list:

change of clothes in a plastic bag labeled w/child's name




That's it. We have a wide range of income levels at my school, and I never like to put pressure on parents to send in things that they can't afford. Our PGO publishes a "wish list" in the school newsletter, and if there is anything I feel like my classroom is in dire need of I post it there.
I know I will never get wealthy working in public education, so a lot of things are OOP for me.

 

[kellieb71]

Please don't flame me - but I often wonder when I see these shopping lists - what happens to the huge amounts of tax dollars I spend every year to support the schools? Why do parents need to provide things that are necessary for education on top of funding it as well?

(Seriously, I'm just wondering..)

 

[DisneyBabies]

I don't mind buying the extra things for DS's classmates . . . if I could afford it. And I'm sorry, but we have to live by our budget. I've already spent over $80 on the uniforms they are requiring this year. I am lucky DS had an extra backpack he could use so I don't have to buy one of those.

And in my DS's school, each child is given a big box at the beginning of the year that all their supplies are put into so when they do a project, they just go to their box and get what the teacher asked for. They don't share supplies as a class (although that is a good idea). As they do projects during the year, they put the finished product in their supply box and we get to take the box home on the last day of school to see the progress they have made. But there are no leftover supplies in the boxes at the end of the year; anything that was left in the boxes are taken out on the last day of school and kept by the teacher.

I will buy as much of the stuff as I am able, but if the supplies aren't for DS and any kids whos parents can't afford the supplies (ie the PTO picks up the tab for those children) and the kids don't share the supplies, then how is my child going to use 48 pencils in a school year?

My son was in HeadStart for two years, so I understand how much of their own money teachers put into their classrooms. We even bought bookbags for two of DS's classmates last year because their parents couldn't/didn't/wouldn't. But we can't afford to do that this year.

 

[torinsmom]

I want to second this. My girls are going into 4th and 6th grades and I've stopped bringing the cleaning supplies (paper towels, hand soap, wipes, etc.)in the first day of school. I've found that teachers really don't have the space to store 20+ of each of these items all at once. I usually double-check with the teacher if they want them right away or not and wind up bringing stuff in to replenish the supply around Nov/Dec.

Also, it's really not unusal for kids in K and 1st grade to share supplies. It's not about covering supplies for those kids who can't afford them, it's more about fostering community and just cutting down on the "Hey, that's my pencil. Make him give it back." It's also much easier for teachers to pass out one box of supplies per table than to have 20 kids find and unpack their supplies and inevitably find that they are missing the red crayon that is needed for the exercise.

In my kids school, if a child is unable to bring in supplies the teacher will let the school counselor know and those supplies will be provided discreetly by the PTA.

Mary

As a teacher, thanks for bringing things in mid-year! We always run out of clorox wipes, markers, and especially pencils after few months. And you are right, we DON'T have much storage space in the classroom.

I teach pre-K/K and we do share supplies. I have a pencil can with 20 sharpened pencils in it at all times. I sharpen pencils every afternoon or morning and also sharpen when a child needs me to. Colored pencils are kept in colored wooden cups, separated by color(we mostly use colored pencils for schoolwork) We have a few sets of glue sticks, and crayons on our art shelf for drawing. The other crayons, glue sticks and markers are given out when we do art projects.

One thing---PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not bring in glitter or character pencils, if your child's list says supplies will be shared. I can't put those type of pencils out because it will cause fights or tears every time. I keep them for prizes. Plain old yellow pencils are perfect, preferably a decent brand that won't break 3 times in one daily writing session(Dollar Tree's brand is the worst!)

Teachers don't ask for name brands because we are picky; we just know what brands have held up for us. Crayola crayons, colored pencils and markers, fiskar scissors(I actually don't need scissors anymore, because I have fiskars from two years ago that still cut well), Dixon or Mead pencils, and Elmer's glue sticks. Things to buy generic would be the ziplocs, disinfecting wipes, dry erase markers, pens, tape and erasers, among other things. And it is NOT a requirement, just a request for those that can afford it.

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

Please don't flame me - but I often wonder when I see these shopping lists - what happens to the huge amounts of tax dollars I spend every year to support the schools? Why do parents need to provide things that are necessary for education on top of funding it as well?

(Seriously, I'm just wondering..)

Believe me, teachers are wondering that too! Our school ran out of copy paper at the end of May and there was no money to buy more. But somehow we were supposed to keep the kids working. North Carolina has had an "education" lottery for the last few years, but somehow, the school's budget allowance has actually decreased and it did not go to teacher raises either. We even had a furlough to make up for budget deficits.

This year is looking to be even worse and I imagine with the economy, less parents will be able to afford supplies. My budget has been stretched too, so I don't know how we will make it through the year.

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

And in my DS's school, each child is given a big box at the beginning of the year that all their supplies are put into so when they do a project, they just go to their box and get what the teacher asked for. They don't share supplies as a class (although that is a good idea). As they do projects during the year, they put the finished product in their supply box and we get to take the box home on the last day of school to see the progress they have made. But there are no leftover supplies in the boxes at the end of the year; anything that was left in the boxes are taken out on the last day of school and kept by the teacher.

What do you think the teacher does? Sell them on the black market?

I will buy as much of the stuff as I am able, but if the supplies aren't for DS and any kids whos parents can't afford the supplies (ie the PTO picks up the tab for those children) and the kids don't share the supplies, then how is my child going to use 48 pencils in a school year?

Okay, how many weeks are kids in school, 40? If so, that is a little more than 1 pencil a week, right? I don't know how much your kids have to write, but even my kindergarteners go through more than one pencil a week, and that doesn't include the ones they LOSE. My DS(in high school) goes through at least 10 pencils a week.

Marsha

 

[Princess April]

What do you think the teacher does? Sell them on the black market?

Marsha

I know this is a serious conversation but this really made me ROTFLMAO...

 

[torinsmom]

I know this is a serious conversation but this really made me ROTFLMAO...

Sorry, but that is the first thing I thought of when I read that. I was just wondering if I was missing out on some big business dealings. We rarely have anything left and if we do, it is things we have bought with our own money.

Marsha

 

[lattemomof3]

Dh & I just towed all 3 kids to walmart yesterday and bought $75 worth of school supplies. Almost everything was on sale, but we have 3 kids with VERY long lists, including strange things like headphones, a glass vase for an art project, clorox wipes, etc. Also all of the markers, crayons, paints, dry erase markers, pens, pencils, notebooks etc, etc, etc. My brother & his family live in a school district where they only have to show up with a backpack! That would be great! We also had to buy hand sanitizer & kleenex to share w/ the classes and 5$ to go towards a class fund. I'm so grateful that dh went with, it is hard to concentrate w/ the kids with! We did make it a fun trip by going to see G-Force, though. I am a former teacher so I know how much of their hard earned $ teachers dump into their classrooms. We don't mind buying everything on the list. For several years I took extras of some things bec. it breaks my heart that there are some kids whose parents can't afford supplies, and some whose parents just don't care. Until this year I would just get doubles of crayons, pencils, gluesticks, etc, bec. we usually get a note in Dec. asking us to replenish these thing. With 3 lists, now, though we just didn't want the extra expense. We also got each child a new backpack - I just have an "ick" factor about re-using them - my kids' backpacks get so dirty in a year - and they love to pick out a new one each year. I love to see the progression from Dora, to Princess, to a no character one for dd's, and for ds - from Thomas to Star Wars to Mario - a fun part of childhood!

 

[DisneyBabies]

What do you think the teacher does? Sell them on the black market?

No, I never imagined for a minute that DS's 5' 3" tall, 100 lb teacher was going out behind the back of the school to sell pencils for $2 each to all the little kids who don't have them. That thought never occurred to me (although picturing it in my head is pretty funny).

We rarely have anything left and if we do, it is things we have bought with our own money.

But that is not the case everywhere. It's different at our school. One of my neighbors is a teachers aide and she said that most of the kids in her class last year used just over half of their pencils and only one box of crayons. I asked her what happens to the rest of the supplies and she said that she doesn't know because the teacher handles all that. So do the teachers keep them to use for the next years students? If so, why are those parents then given the same list we had the year before if they know the kids aren't going to use all those supplies?


What I am trying to figure out is why the teachers are keeping what is left of the supplies when they could be given back to me and I could use them as part of DS's supplies for the next year. I am just trying to find out where the extra supplies are going because they would be helpful in reducing the cost of what I have to pay next year.

If the economy was where it had been 3 or 4 years ago, I probably wouldn't care as much, but every penny counts for us now.

 

[torinsmom]

So do the teachers keep them to use for the next years students? If so, why are those parents then given the same list we had the year before if they know the kids aren't going to use all those supplies?

What I am trying to figure out is why the teachers are keeping what is left of the supplies when they could be given back to me and I could use them as part of DS's supplies for the next year. I am just trying to find out where the extra supplies are going because they would be helpful in reducing the cost of what I have to pay next year.

If the economy was where it had been 3 or 4 years ago, I probably wouldn't care as much, but every penny counts for us now.

If I have anything left over, I save it for the next year. When I was at a charter school, I would inventory what I had and ask for things I didn't have. Now, our school makes us plan as a grade, so we sometimes end up requesting things one or two of us don't really need. Worse yet, this year the district is sending out a general list, so we will get things we don't need and won't get things we DO need. I will have a list of what we actually need at Open House, so those who have not bought yet will get the right things. Last year, I took a load of stuff to Walmart and got the supplies we didn't get.

Marsha

 

[disneylove69]

Please don't flame me - but I often wonder when I see these shopping lists - what happens to the huge amounts of tax dollars I spend every year to support the schools? Why do parents need to provide things that are necessary for education on top of funding it as well?

(Seriously, I'm just wondering..)

LOLYou must not live in California. I remember my parents did not buy school supplies until I was in junior high. School suppllied everything. Now many organizations are trying to get backpacks filled with supplies to give students. I don't think parents should have to supply sanitziers, chalk, etc. My boss doesn't make me bring my own phone, stapler, etc.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Okay, this is probably pretty stupid, and I know I shouldn't open my big mouth but. . .

Here's the deal, as per numerous studies, on why there's no money for schools:

1. To keep businesses and draw in new businesses, local governments give big tax breaks to those businesses. In many places, that reduces the amount of money in the kitty for schools. In places with property taxes, many times, all it takes to reduce your tax load is a call to the assessor's office. Less money in the kitty for schools. Honestly, who here thinks their own measly property tax is actually enough to pay for a good education, and servies, and police services and everything else? Business and large property owners traditionally have paid the lion's share of taxes.

2. In most places, adjusted for inflation, government is actually collecting just about the same amount of money per child that they always have. The problem is that so many more programs and requirements are mandated. Every child who needs a one-on-one assistant all day is money. Every child who needs smaller classes is money. Every child who need modifications and additional testing is money. Every child who needs counseling is money. Every child who needs ANYTHING AT ALL costs more money. Now don't think I'm against ANY of those programs. I'm not. I'm just saying that if you only have X dollars to spend and you MUST spend a larger sum on a sub-set of kids, that leaves less money to spend on the others. It's just a fact.


And that's why your kids have less than you did.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Believe me, teachers are wondering that too! Our school ran out of copy paper at the end of May and there was no money to buy more. But somehow we were supposed to keep the kids working. North Carolina has had an "education" lottery for the last few years, but somehow, the school's budget allowance has actually decreased and it did not go to teacher raises either. We even had a furlough to make up for budget deficits.

This year is looking to be even worse and I imagine with the economy, less parents will be able to afford supplies. My budget has been stretched too, so I don't know how we will make it through the year.

Marsha

Our school ran out of copy paper, too! What is it with the NC budget? My kids and I went into DD6's classroom the day after school got out and separated broken crayons from crayons that might be usable next year. I have bought extra boxes of crayons and pencils this year because I know the school will need some mid-year and the prices will be high. I was DD6's grademom last year and needed to buy glue in April for the kindergarten class - it was 79 cents a bottle. I have about 12 bottles in my closet now (purchased at 20 cents per bottle) so I can restock the class mid-year without buying stuff at crazy prices.

It's going to be really bad this school year, and NC doesn't even have a budget yet. I'm stocking up now because I know the school is not going to have the money to get things.

We won't get a supply list until open house, but I'm buying things that are good deals that I know the kids will need at school or at home. We'll fill in the gaps after open house.