I got the kids' school supply lists today....

[luvdzne]

I have almost finished buying the school supplies. I have managed to stay under $20 for both girls supplies, not including new backpacks and lunch boxes.

I wish the school would stop asking for large glue sticks. I never can find these anywhere. I have already been to 4 stores looking for them and they are already sold out. Why is it if the schools all prefer large glue sticks is it that the stores only stock a small supply of them?

 

[paigevz]

My school's second grade list:

2 boxes 16 ct. crayons
2 large manila paper
2 small manila paper
2 small colored construction paper
1 kleenex
24 pencils
1 glue (4 oz)
6 glue sticks
3 spiral one subject notebooks
1 spiral two subject notebook
1 Fiskars blunt scissors
1 plastic school box
5 pkg notebook paper
1 ruler (12 inch)
dz. cap erasers
4 pinky erasers
1 binder (1 inch)
6 brad and pocket folders
1 pkg 5 subj dividers
1 pkg gallon ziplock bags
1 pencil sharpener
1 pkg paper plates

My son's 6th grade list:
1 binder (2 or 3 inch--no zipper)
500 sheets notebook paper
4 pens
10 pencils
2 red pens
1 ruler
4 notebooks (1 sub)
6 folders
1 scissors
1 map pencils
1 fine tip markers
1 pencil bag
7 subject dividers w/pockets
3 kleenex
3 colors highlighters
2 glue sticks
1 pkg manila paper
1 pkg construction (colored)
1 crayons (16 count)

 

[aprilgail2]

I have almost finished buying the school supplies. I have managed to stay under $20 for both girls supplies, not including new backpacks and lunch boxes.

I wish the school would stop asking for large glue sticks. I never can find these anywhere. I have already been to 4 stores looking for them and they are already sold out. Why is it if the schools all prefer large glue sticks is it that the stores only stock a small supply of them?

I saw large ones in staples. I have not gotten my daughter a lunch box yet She is getting a lunch box but as far as a backpack she is going into second grade and now backpacks are for babies in kindergarten and first grades..kids in the older grades won't use those, only messenger bags, so since she is a big kid now in 2nd grade she wants the messenger bag like the big kids so I got her one of those this year. I found a cheap one for 20.00. And the lunch box has to be plain, can't have any kind of babish cartoon thing on it..just plain LOL. They try so hard to grow up so quick!!

 

[texasthree]

My son is going to a private kindergarten and I was shocked when I got the supply list. Its actually fairly short and reasonable. It was 2 packs 24 count crayons, 2 packs pencils, scissors, colored pencils, a back pack, a towel for rest time, construction paper and an eraser. I know it will get worse as time goes on but Kindergarten was cheap and easy!

 

[paigevz]

........and then when they get to be teenagers they go back to the cartoony stuff!

 

[suzannews]

I agree! Every year, our list gets longer and longer and includes things like post it notes, copy paper, dry erase markers, etc. Last year DD was in 5th grade and most of the supplies sent in became community supplies. Half way through the year, the class ran out of paper and tissues so a note was sent home and extra credit was given if you sent in more.

This year, DD starts middle school and we were told not to buy anything until after the first day when her "team" of teachers decides what they want to use. Hello...everything is on sale now. So, we bought the basics today on sale and I will hang onto the receipt and return whats not needed or donate it to the girl scouts.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I happened to be in Staples last year with my 2 daughters and their back to school supply lists when I ran into out school superintendent and a building principal.

I had 2 Staples employess helping me find the obscure items on the list. They could not indentify some strange pencil request nor the "table paper not graph paper" request. So I asked our superintendent and principal. Guess what, neither of them knew what in the world either item was, much less why any #2 pencil wouldn't work!

This year there have been some serious modifications to the lists and they are much clearer and not brand specific. Thank goodness!!!

 

[mchames]

These are the lists for my girls off our school's website.

DD6 entering First Grade:
First Grade Supply List
– 2 boxes of #2 pencils (sharpened, please)
– 2 boxes (8-10 colors/box) of washable markers
– 8 glue sticks
– 1 small pencil box*
– 2 black and white composition notebooks*
– 1 box of tissues
– 1 container of Clorox wipes
– 1 box tall of kitchen bags (limit to 20 bags)
– 2 jumbo erasers
– 2 boxes of crayons (16 colors or less)
– 1 bottle of Elmer’s glue
– Scissors (Fiskars recommended)*
– 6 sturdy two-pocket folders*
– 1 bottle of liquid hand soap
– 1 roll of paper towels
– Notebook and a pocket folder for Spanish class

*Please label these items with your child’s name! Thank you!

DD8 entering 3rd Grade:
Third Grade Supply List

An agenda will be available for purchase for $7 at Meet and Greet. Look for the table in the auditorium.

– #2 pencils
– 2 packages of wide-ruled loose-leaf notebook paper
– 3 pocket folders
– Crayons
– Markers
– 3 spiral notebooks
– Scissors
– Glue or glue stick
– Small pencil box or zipper case
– 2 boxes of Kleenex
– Ruler -- inches and centimeters
– 1 small bottle of liquid antibacterial soap
– 1 roll of paper towels
– 2 packs of 3x5 index cards
– Dry erase markers
– Clorox/Lysol antibacterial wipes
– Notebook and a pocket folder for Spanish class


What I plan on doing this year, is purchase the crayons, markers, paper, pencils, and glue sticks, etc. before school starts while everything is super cheap. I will also pick up extras for homework and for later in the school year for when they run out. I will wait to purchase the "house-keeping supplies" ie: Clorox wipes, antibacterial soap, etc. as well as the notebooks and folders until after "Meet and Greet" so I can get exactly what each teacher wants.

Last year DD8's 2nd grade teacher didn't want most of the stuff on the list and I wound up having to return half of it. DD6's kindergarten teacher didn't want the whole class to bring all the house-keeping stuff in at once (no storage). Instead, she requested 5 kids bring paper towels, 5 kids bring Ziplocs, etc. and just replenished supplies throughout the year.

Meet and Greet is the Friday morning before school starts and by 1pm everyone is at Target returning un-needed supplies and picking up additional ones. I'm just hoping to avoid the return line this year!

They start school August 14, so I gues I need to stop procrastinating and get started!

Mary

 

[Aidensmom]

My son is starting kindergarten next week, and I have not yet received his list. I called the school and they said I will be getting it sometime before school starts. Um, that is in 7 days.

Anyways, reading here and the thread on the budget board has me dumbfounded. When I was in K-3, about all we needed was crayons, glue, scissors, pencils, and a writing tablet, with no brand names specified.

I will totally admit, I will be asking a lot of WHY'S if my kid needs 3 boxes of 64 Crayolas, or a specific brand of glue. My mom and my sister are both teachers, I do understand they have low budgets, but for Pete's sakes, not all parents can afford to spend a lot of money on this stuff. If my child has a cold, he can bring in Kleenex, why the heck should he be bringing it if he doesn't need it? And if the school district can't buy their own paper towels (I am thinking ours can, because I have never heard my SIL, who is more of a tightwad than me complain about buying them), well I would be attending all the school board meetings and county board meetings to find out exactly why we can build multi-million dollar stadiums but not give our children paper towels.

 

[BeckWhy]

When I was in school I hated the school supply list. Yeah, we never used 1/2 of the stuff. But like, each teacher would ask for a spiral notebook. I HATE SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS. I think I got detention the first day because I didn't bring spiral notebooks, but a 3 ring binder with loose leaf. That didn't last long though, my dad took care of it.

 

[Stacerita]

Geee......the sweetpea has never had a supply list given to her. Anytime she needs something, I buy it. At the begining of the year, I will get her a few basics that I think she would need. But other than that, nothing. I send her to school with what she needs and if she needs something else, her teachers have told me or sent notes home.

 

[Fionasmommy]

OMG, my DD's list is just outrageous. I don't really mind buying her every office supply known to man - and even specific brands if need be. What gets me is that she seems to need 2 or 3 of everything. The only thing that will be hers is one folder, everything else they Kindergarten class shares. That's fine, but you'd think if each kid brings in that much stuff they'll have enough for an army! All I can think is that there must be a lot of parents that don't bring anything.

 

[aprilgail2]

OMG, my DD's list is just outrageous. I don't really mind buying her every office supply known to man - and even specific brands if need be. What gets me is that she seems to need 2 or 3 of everything. The only thing that will be hers is one folder, everything else they Kindergarten class shares. That's fine, but you'd think if each kid brings in that much stuff they'll have enough for an army! All I can think is that there must be a lot of parents that don't bring anything.

That is the thing that irks me..when they try to have you bring in things for the group pool. Sorry...nope....I buy things for my daughter, everything gets marked with her name on them, pencils I buy with her name stamped in them. I do send in the tissues and things that will be used by the class but as far as the actual supplies they need for schoolwork I prefer to just buy for my own. When they put them in a group pool the nice crayolas you send go to some kid that brought in the crappy rose art ones my kid now gets. And the same few never bring in a thing, just use everyone elses. If they needed a box of crayons for a kid or a notebook, I would be fine with them sending a note home stating that they have need for a specific thing for a child (not naming the kids of course, though everyone knows which ones it is because the kids come home saying "johnny and mary never have their school supplies)..but as far as the school supply list, give me what my kid needs and no more. I KNOW she doesn not need 50 pencils the first day of school, I send in a few and as she needs them I replace them.

 

[Dislifer]

FYI: I teach 4th grade in an inner city. The students are not required to buy ANYTHING!!!!! Which means I end up buying many of the supplies for my 24 students with my own money
I don't mind getting them started BUT I must say that I am a single mom of 2 of my own children, so it really irks me when the students come up to me and say I need a new folder or I don't have crayons (after I fully set them up with everything). I now say to them: "I got you started, now you have to tell your parents to buy what you need."
Do you think that is mean??????
I feel their parents need to take some responsibility I mean geez!!! Students will tell me that they have no paper or pencils at home! I mean you can find a pack of lined paper at Staples/Walmart/Target periodically on sale for .50! The majority of the students in my class have nicer clothes, more playstation, etc. games, and go to movies/Chucky Cheese/local amusement parks more than my own kids ever do!!!
Certainly the district provides most things, but I buy a lot too!

 

[crazyme5kids]

I probably have half the stuff my kids need already. I buy things as I see them throughout the year and when things are on sale. I have a supply stash that they go to and pull things when they need it. Less stressful and time consuming for me.

 

[wilderness01]

One of the nurses I know had the best one I've seen yet- a Polaroid camera

WTH?!

Needless to say, she didn't buy it.

We had to buy a polaroid camera as well. It was when my kids were in Kindergarden. They received a scrapbook of pictures they were in from the school year. It went through the schoolyear quite nicely and was a great keepsake.

Did your friend ask what the camera was for? If I didn't buy the camera my child would have still received the scrapbook but then the poor teacher would have had to pay for it. Not fair in my book. It cost me a few bucks for the camera but is priceless to me for the memories.

 

[JustHolly]

We ask the churches to help us with supplies each year, so those who don't buy get the basics from there.
My dh came home one day and said the lady in his office said she heard on TV to go to the dumpsters on the last day of school and get supplies for next year, as the teachers throw out everything they don't use. I was flabbergasted..........we use it all and buy more ourselves. I can't believe anyone has that much extra to throw out brand new stuff.

The lady at the office MUST have been mistaken. Teachers hoard supplies, and don't throw away ANYTHING, EVER!

I agree the lists are long, but in my school, supplies run out mid-year anyway, and the teachers spend $100's of their own money.

 

[Danauk]

All I can say is wow to what you are expected to buy. I teach 9 - 11 year olds in England and my school provides everything (it's my job to order it which takes ages!!). The only thing we ever ask parents for are contributions towards educational visits and even then the school contributes towards these as well. In class we provide all the pencils, folders, colouring crayons that the children will need. Some do bring pencil cases in from home but they don't really need to. My husband teaches in high school where children are required to bring things in as they change classrooms for each lesson so it is easier, but even then it is just pencil cases and a graphical calculator for maths.
As for pictures we have digial cameras for each class so if we need to take photos which we often do we just print them off straight away.

 

[golfgal]

FYI: I teach 4th grade in an inner city. The students are not required to buy ANYTHING!!!!! Which means I end up buying many of the supplies for my 24 students with my own money
I don't mind getting them started BUT I must say that I am a single mom of 2 of my own children, so it really irks me when the students come up to me and say I need a new folder or I don't have crayons (after I fully set them up with everything). I now say to them: "I got you started, now you have to tell your parents to buy what you need."
Do you think that is mean??????
I feel their parents need to take some responsibility I mean geez!!! Students will tell me that they have no paper or pencils at home! I mean you can find a pack of lined paper at Staples/Walmart/Target periodically on sale for .50! The majority of the students in my class have nicer clothes, more playstation, etc. games, and go to movies/Chucky Cheese/local amusement parks more than my own kids ever do!!!
Certainly the district provides most things, but I buy a lot too!

I can't believe that the school expects teachers to pay for these things out of their own pocket. I think you are more then generous and that perhaps the school needs to step up and supply what the kids need. I do not think you are out of line requesting that the parents pay for their kids' supplies.

I just can't fathom not sending in supplies or making arrangements for my kids to get what they need. We have never been at a school where it is common for kids not to have their own supplies. They have never had teachers that have the kids pool supplies, other then kleenex, either. I wouldn't like that.

 

[Belle1962]

DGS's kindergarten list:

Kindergarten Supplies

1 box of #2 Dixon Ticonderoga pencils

4 boxes of 24 Crayola crayons

10 large Elmer’s glue sticks

2 Boxes of tissues

1 box of snack size Ziploc bags

1 box of Hefty One-Zip type freezer bags (quart)

1 box of Hefty One-Zip type freezer bags (gallon)

2 boxes of baby wipes

2 bottles of hand sanitizer

2 containers of Lysol or Clorox disinfectant wipes




No mat for nap? no backpack?

From this list it looks like they'll be spending the year coloring on ?????, writing on ???, and cleaning! I have news for the teacher but those one zip bags are AWFUL--almost every other one in the bag has the zip broken after the first slide.