Another school supply thread....

[EKW]

This one is a suggestion! For some, it may be unwanted advice, but I'll offer it anyway.

Buy three of everything on your child's supply list that would fall under the "supplies my child will personally consume"- now- while everything is on sale! If you can afford it, quadruple those items.

Here's why you need so many sets:

Set #1 goes to school now.

Set #2 is stashed either in your child's bedroom desk drawer or in a tote. This set is to be used for homework purposes.

Sets #3 and 4 are replacements. I have my kids tell me when they've lost colors of markers and crayons, and I send new of just the missing colors. That's set 3. Set 4 is the set I send to school in January. I ask my kids to bring home the old used crayons and markers and start fresh. I also send fresh pencils/pens and glue sticks this way.

You might think this is silliness, but for your kids these are learning tools!

Imagine trying to work in an office without a stapler or white-out. It's the same for your kids. If a social studies lesson asks them to color-code a map, it's a major distraction when they don't have the right colors and have to stop the lesson to ask the teacher what colors to use instead.

I can't tell you how often I've had kids come to school with a note from a parent saying their child couldn't do the homework because they didn't have writing paper, or markers, or glue, or whatever. Teachers are expected to hold students accountable for assignments, but, how can that be if the kids don't have basic supplies at home?

For those parents who can't afford supplies, contact the school or your local social service agencies. There are supplies available for the asking.

Buying your child the supplies they need is one way you can show your child that you value education and expect them to succeed!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Great suggestion We have always done something similar.

if you have the ability, another thing we always did (now the kids go to a school where all supplies are provided) was buy an extra set for each class to give to either the teacher or school office (ask first to make sure they want it and WHO to give it to) that they could give to a child who had no supplies (either because they could not afford it or their parent just didn't care--I think often ours went to the latter because there was other help for the former available). We asked to never know who the supplies went to--just to make sure a kid who may not get to have new supplies otherwise got them.

 

[PaulaSue]

This one is a suggestion! For some, it may be unwanted advice, but I'll offer it anyway.

Buy three of everything on your child's supply list that would fall under the "supplies my child will personally consume"- now- while everything is on sale! If you can afford it, quadruple those items.

Here's why you need so many sets:

Set #1 goes to school now.

Set #2 is stashed either in your child's bedroom desk drawer or in a tote. This set is to be used for homework purposes.

Sets #3 and 4 are replacements. I have my kids tell me when they've lost colors of markers and crayons, and I send new of just the missing colors. That's set 3. Set 4 is the set I send to school in January. I ask my kids to bring home the old used crayons and markers and start fresh. I also send fresh pencils/pens and glue sticks this way.

You might think this is silliness, but for your kids these are learning tools!

Imagine trying to work in an office without a stapler or white-out. It's the same for your kids. If a social studies lesson asks them to color-code a map, it's a major distraction when they don't have the right colors and have to stop the lesson to ask the teacher what colors to use instead.

I can't tell you how often I've had kids come to school with a note from a parent saying their child couldn't do the homework because they didn't have writing paper, or markers, or glue, or whatever. Teachers are expected to hold students accountable for assignments, but, how can that be if the kids don't have basic supplies at home?

For those parents who can't afford supplies, contact the school or your local social service agencies. There are supplies available for the asking.

Buying your child the supplies they need is one way you can show your child that you value education and expect them to succeed!

Do you really need 2 extra pairs? I would donate a set or 2 to a child in need. We have a fundraiser that is fill a school bus. My girls LOVE to give to others and it teaches kindness.

 

[EKW]

I always get two extra sets of the markers, pencils, and crayons. Before I did this my kids would tell me they needed new boxes of them...because of one lost color! I finally got smart and bought two sets.

At this time of the year those two sets cost less than $2.

If I wait until October, when the crisis usually hits, those same three items cost about 3x as much...AND...I have to make a special trip to the store for them!

As for donating, I'm a teacher, so I spend a lot of money on school supplies for my own students. I buy each student a spiral notebook. I also buy half a dozen sets of markers and crayons for communal use...plus glue, glue sticks, and a dozen or so pairs of scissors.

 

[delmar411]

That's what we do as well. Actually we buy a lot more than 3 or 4 sets. This year since the penny sales weren't really penny sales, I simply avoided them and the kids 'shopped' from my stash for things. What they couldn't find I easily filled in from other sales.

We'll end up donating things as needed to the classroom during the year. The little kids go through school supplies like crazy.