Please explain school supply requirements

[DISvirgin1]

That amount doesn't seem like a lot at all, nor does it mean they are communal. As many others have pointed out, they will get lost, broken, etc.

 

[Coconut36]

OK, teachers. Come on now. Someone explain why these (usually amounts) are "required" for EACH child...

3rd Grader
72(!) Pencils
6(!) Black Dry Erase Markerts

1st Grader
36(!) Pencils

I'm guessing these go into a "community" pile and those that bring what's required will support those who don't. But these just seem extreme to me.

Some teachers will tell you how fast kids lose pencils, break them, chew them up..etc. For an entire year 36 pencils for a younger child and 72 for an older one really isn't outrageous. Goodness knows they come in large packs so it's not like it costs a fortune to get that number and it's not like they dry out or go bad or something.

Dry erase markers dry out and are unusable pretty quickly. Glue and glue sticks are used extremely liberally by the young ones..they go through them like water so lots are always helpful..same with crayons, markers..etc.

Also as a pp has pointed out you would be astounded at how few parents actually do send supplies so if they are communal then again..not so outrageous.

Here in my state supply lists are NOT required..by law the school/district must supply everything a child needs for school..but as the wife of a teacher let me tell you..funding is minimal at best and never enough for what you really need...we spend hundreds each year on supplies for my husbands class as do most teachers. We know what it's like..we also supply what is asked and in double where possible. My oldest is going into 3rd grade and this will be the first year his supplies are to be labeled and his and not communal.

We have never had issues with our back packs and my oldest is very rough on them..dragging, tossing..etc and last year we bought a Land's End one that still looks like new at the end of the year. With the youngest entering school we got oldest an LL Bean one for this year..I hope it holds up as well as the Land's End one did.

 

[Mkrop]

I have a boy going into 4th, and one starting HS and we have NEVER used 72 pencils in a school year! What the heck are they doing with them? My kids have pencil cases and they are kept there. Even DS14 who was the one who lost everything and also lent everything to everyone and never got it back never used 72 pencils

 

[Diet Dr Chill]

I was surprised how much this varied from district to district. I must have spent around $60 on my daughter's kindergarten supplies. I never bought so many glue sticks in my life. I just looked over the first grade supply list for her new district and I might spend $20? Most items they only want one of. Go figure.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Middle school teacher here. Based on the number of pencils that get left behind on my floor after each hour, 72 seems low.

I agree with a PP---send a few at a time and check in with your child to see when they need more, but definitely buy them now when they're cheap! I buy lots of extras, because I just can't stand the thought of someone spending $1 on a folder in January that was cents in August.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Just spoke to DW about this. We used ~20 pencils total between both girls last year for 1st & 5th grade, and that includes what the 5th grader uses at home (she's an aspiring writer). She bought a 24-pack at the beginning of the year & it lasted all year & so far this Summer.

 

[Bungle]

Last year we went through at LEAST 100 pencils. 72 sounds like a low estimate to us. We've learned through trial and error over the years which things we go through a lot of like pencils, erasers, spirals and stock up on those before school starts. But with things like the 3 inch binder that is only on there because ONE teacher thought 2 inches wasn't enough stays off our list. We stick with a 2 inch because it is more than enough every year and his backpack won't close properly with a 3 inch binder and his books. We follow the list to a certain extent but also go by what we know he will use.

 

[teacherforhi]

My usual class size is about 10 and a few years ago, they managed to go through 200 pencils in a school year. I had some students that seemed to need a new one every day, while others rarely needed one of my mine.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

I don't know about you all, but the backpacks in our house are holding themselves together by two threads by the end of the school year. Duct tape has been known to get us through the last month or so.

The lunch boxes just get gross....

When they were younger a new backpack every year was a must, now the middle schooler gets a couple years (I mean, when you have 3 or 4 you must rotate, they last longer ) and the lunch boxes (Vera Bradley, of course) go in the washer very well.

SInce they wanted the Vera Bradley stuff, and I told them they had to pay for it, they've taken pretty good care of the stuff...

 

[Southernmiss]

Just went through my stash of school supplies with my DD who is going into 5th grade. I couldn't help think of this thread as we went along.

She helped me cull out the crayons and pencils and here are her unsolicited comments--"the crayola crayons are best, don't save the Sargent, Rose Art or restaurant crayons. They get too waxy, oil or break too easily."

"Roseart markers are no good. The Crayolas color the best."

"And for pencils, the Ticonderoga are the best, not the Halloween ones or Penway ones, they break easily and are hard to sharpen."


So even at 5th grade, DD already knows about the quality of school supplies!

 

[sam_gordon]

The class would go through 2-3 12packs of pencils each week. Pencils get lost, broken, taken home, and even chewed on.

So, on the high side, 36 pencils/week. With a class size of 20, that's a little over 1.5 pencils/week/student.
That's still about 50 pencils/student/year, and that's the HIGH side.

I understand parents being upset about supplies that a required then not used, but $40 or even $50 over 180 or so days of school really isn't much.

Sure, it's not much, until you have multiple kids. Also, it's not like you're spending $50 over 180... it's all coming at once. With multiple kids, it adds up, and it's all one lump sum.

Goodness knows they come in large packs so it's not like it costs a fortune to get that number and it's not like they dry out or go bad or something.

So because they're packaged that way, parents should be happy to get them?

Dry erase markers dry out and are unusable pretty quickly. Glue and glue sticks are used extremely liberally by the young ones..they go through them like water so lots are always helpful..same with crayons, markers..etc.

If I knew the students were using the dry erase markers, I could understand each needing six. If it's only the teacher? I can't believe she'd need 120 markers in a year (assuming a class size of 20).

Also as a pp has pointed out you would be astounded at how few parents actually do send supplies so if they are communal then again..not so outrageous.

Ah, THERE'S the problem.

My usual class size is about 10 and a few years ago, they managed to go through 200 pencils in a school year. I had some students that seemed to need a new one every day, while others rarely needed one of my mine.

So 20 pencils for each kid over the year? That makes sense to me.

 

[jmpooh]

here is the list for my kids school. You have the option of buying it yourself or buying into the supply fundraiser...

4th grade-$30 if you bought it in the fundraiser
1 box #2 24 pencils (Oriole)
1 pkg 3x5 lined index cards
3 pkgs of 3x3 sticky notes
1 composition notebooks 3 rolls of Scotch tape
1 Crayola crayons 24 pk
1 box Crayola markers 10/ct (asst. colors)
1 pkg Crayola colored pencils 12/ct
2 highlighters
2 lg.erasers latex free
1 clip board
1 pencil sharpener with chamber
2 glue sticks
1 pair Fiskar sharp point scissors
binder
loose leaf paper

Kindergarten $20 if you bought it in the fundraiser

10 glue sticks
2 pkg of crayola 24 pk crayons
2 sheets of 500 copy paper
1 pk 12 washable crayola markers
2 pkg mr clean magic erasers
1 pkg of expo dry erase markers black

This is a great idea for a fundraiser! I definitely would participate if our schools did this!

 

[Coconut36]

So, on the high side, 36 pencils/week. With a class size of 20, that's a little over 1.5 pencils/week/student.
That's still about 50 pencils/student/year, and that's the HIGH side.

Sure, it's not much, until you have multiple kids. Also, it's not like you're spending $50 over 180... it's all coming at once. With multiple kids, it adds up, and it's all one lump sum.

So because they're packaged that way, parents should be happy to get them?

If I knew the students were using the dry erase markers, I could understand each needing six. If it's only the teacher? I can't believe she'd need 120 markers in a year (assuming a class size of 20).

Ah, THERE'S the problem.

So 20 pencils for each kid over the year? That makes sense to me.

You can't make parents send supplies and like I said..here if the parents do supply it, then it is coming out of the teachers personal pocket. You can get on a high horse about it or you can chip in. I chip in because I know what if feels like when our budget is hit.

Dry erase markers wear out and dry out fast...120 a year seems like alot but again..go back to the fact that NOT everyone is bringing them and of all the supplies asked for parents are least likely to get what they know is supplies for the teacher/class (Kleenex, hand sanitizer, dry erase markers..etc) so you are looking at a much much lower number..hence the reason the teacher asks up front.

As for the bold..are you really getting in a twist over a few bucks for 36 pencils? From the sales I am seeing..the most expensive place it would cost you $3 tops for those. Maybe $7 total for the 72 (Walmart has a 72 count on sale). If that's a hill you want to die on I guess that is up to you. If they don't get used up this year keep them for next year..they don't expire, dry up or go bad.

I never understand why parents get in such a rage over school supplies...everything else about parenting is thought of as "if you can't afford kids, don't have them" (referencing the "when you have multiple kids it adds up" comment..everything else about our kids we should be prepared to be able to handle/pay, right?) but when it comes to their education it's often outrageous that they need X, Y Z items because you have "multiple kids" or because it "all adds up". How dare the schools ask for the children to be prepared for class?!?! Of course if it is horrible you likely don't need all 72 up front but when you can pay less than a $1 per pack for pencils now or twice that or more later in the year..what makes more financial sense?

Do you think the teacher is selling dry erase markers and #2 on the black market to make some profit or something? Of course not (although at what teachers get paid they probably wouldn't mind the profit!). What do you think they are doing with the "alleged" 120 dry erase markers? Do you think if they have tons and tons of stuff that is going unused they want to store all that crap and carry it over to the next year as well? Of course not..it's because the reality you have in your head of a certain number of items is unrealistic. It's highly unlikely in a class of 20 each student is bringing in dry erase markers or has 72 pencils or has their own pack of crayons and so on.

 

[erincon23]

I was a sub for 9 years in elementary school, and being in the classroom really opened my eyes to the supply question. If you're in doubt, volunteer for a day. In any class, there are at least three boxes of Kleenex opened at any time -- one by the door, one on the teacher's desk, one by the art supplies. The music/art/health/gym teachers don't get supplies from the kids, so the classroom teachers share kleenex, pencils, ziplocs, crayons, binders, folders. Pencils -- have you ever seen a 2nd grader sharpen a pencil? Nice new long pencil becomes 2" long in a matter of seconds. Crayons -- color both sides of your spelling paper because you finished early and the teacher is working with the slower students, and there goes all the red and blacks. Dry erase -- you need multiple colors to indicate consonants, vowels, things in (), spelling and grammar and math -- not all is in black, and they dry out really quick. Hand sanitizer -- every kid gets a blast on their way to lunch and after recess -- at least two bottles a week. Glue sticks -- tops get lost, the glue is dried out by morning, need another one.

Those of you who say "I only send in what I think my kid will actually use" -- you're the ones that cause everyone else to have to send in extra -- you think it's your neighbor who couldn't be bothered, but if you think your kid will only use 12 pencils and that's what you send in, you're making someone else subsidize your kid's pencil habit. Or if you send in 2 glue sticks or 2 pencils at a time, do you really think your kid is telling you when they need another one, or remembering that they borrowed one from their tablemate three days in a row?

Our family budget has been stretched more years than not, but I'm not going to ask a teacher to pay for supplies that I couldn't be bothered to send in for my kid because I don't believe that they really use all that stuff.

 

[MouseLover]

Jansport backpacks are totally worth it. After years of buying new ones every year with cartoon characters I got smart & bought each kid a Jansport. Both are still going strong & have been well loved.

I totally agree. My daughter got a new character/cutesie backpack every year and sometimes they didn't even last a year.

Last year I spent $40 on a Jansport and it still looks brand new. I think it will last for several years. None of the zippers are even broken yet. She piles it full also. I weighed it once. 22 lbs

 

[Coconut36]

I was a sub for 9 years in elementary school, and being in the classroom really opened my eyes to the supply question. If you're in doubt, volunteer for a day. In any class, there are at least three boxes of Kleenex opened at any time -- one by the door, one on the teacher's desk, one by the art supplies. The music/art/health/gym teachers don't get supplies from the kids, so the classroom teachers share kleenex, pencils, ziplocs, crayons, binders, folders. Pencils -- have you ever seen a 2nd grader sharpen a pencil? Nice new long pencil becomes 2" long in a matter of seconds. Crayons -- color both sides of your spelling paper because you finished early and the teacher is working with the slower students, and there goes all the red and blacks. Dry erase -- you need multiple colors to indicate consonants, vowels, things in (), spelling and grammar and math -- not all is in black, and they dry out really quick. Hand sanitizer -- every kid gets a blast on their way to lunch and after recess -- at least two bottles a week. Glue sticks -- tops get lost, the glue is dried out by morning, need another one.

Those of you who say "I only send in what I think my kid will actually use" -- you're the ones that cause everyone else to have to send in extra -- you think it's your neighbor who couldn't be bothered, but if you think your kid will only use 12 pencils and that's what you send in, you're making someone else subsidize your kid's pencil habit. Or if you send in 2 glue sticks or 2 pencils at a time, do you really think your kid is telling you when they need another one, or remembering that they borrowed one from their tablemate three days in a row?

Our family budget has been stretched more years than not, but I'm not going to ask a teacher to pay for supplies that I couldn't be bothered to send in for my kid because I don't believe that they really use all that stuff.

Very well said..the bold is especially true...some parents think their darling would "never use so many pencils, glue sticks, crayons..etc" could just as easily have the kid that goes through 2 glue sticks for small piece of paper but the child is highly unlikely to come home and give you a break down on the number of supplies they used, how much they used and what they need to replace/replenish it.

 

[HsvTeacher]

My answers are in blue:

So, on the high side, 36 pencils/week. With a class size of 20, that's a little over 1.5 pencils/week/student.
That's still about 50 pencils/student/year, and that's the HIGH side.

I teach 4th grade, and we ask for 48 pencils from each student. I can assure you that is not an excessive amount. I basically allow for one pencil per week with 12 leftovers for homework, lost pencils, broken pencils, etc. By the end of the year, we are using pencils from my stash.

Also, I wanted to point out that our classroom supplies are not communal. I expect my students to be responsible for their own supplies. I also have sets of supplies (that I have bought) for students who do not bring them in during the first week.

Sure, it's not much, until you have multiple kids. Also, it's not like you're spending $50 over 180... it's all coming at once. With multiple kids, it adds up, and it's all one lump sum.

I don't get this statement. The beginning of school is roughly the same time every year, right? Maybe you should put a little aside throughout the year to pay for supplies.

So because they're packaged that way, parents should be happy to get them?

If I knew the students were using the dry erase markers, I could understand each needing six. If it's only the teacher? I can't believe she'd need 120 markers in a year (assuming a class size of 20).

I ask for four dry erase markers per student, because they use them multiple times per day. When they run out, and they always do, the replacements come out of my pocket.

Ah, THERE'S the problem.

So 20 pencils for each kid over the year? That makes sense to me.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

With the youngest entering school we got oldest an LL Bean one for this year..I hope it holds up as well as the Land's End one did.

LL Bean had a lifetime warranty, not sure if they still do? My brother who graduated college 10 years ago still has the ll bean book bag he got in 6th grade!

 

[Coconut36]

LL Bean had a lifetime warranty, not sure if they still do? My brother who graduated college 10 years ago still has the ll bean book bag he got in 6th grade!

That's good to know..I will check into that!

 

[sam_gordon]

As for the bold..are you really getting in a twist over a few bucks for 36 pencils? From the sales I am seeing..the most expensive place it would cost you $3 tops for those. Maybe $7 total for the 72 (Walmart has a 72 count on sale). If that's a hill you want to die on I guess that is up to you. If they don't get used up this year keep them for next year..they don't expire, dry up or go bad.

It's the Dis, it was only a matter of time until this thread became "a hill I want to die on". I'm not protesting in front of the school, I'm not writing nasty notes to the teacher, I'm not calling the principal and complaining. But somehow, I'm making a "big deal" because I'm arguing on a message board.

Dry erase markers wear out and dry out fast...120 a year seems like alot but again..go back to the fact that NOT everyone is bringing them and of all the supplies asked for parents are least likely to get what they know is supplies for the teacher/class (Kleenex, hand sanitizer, dry erase markers..etc) so you are looking at a much much lower number..hence the reason the teacher asks up front.

Ask your husband... what percentage of kids in the class don't bring in the supplies. When I say a class of 20, isn't it possible the class size is 25, but only 20 kids bring in the supplies? Oh wait, didn't you say your school system supplies everything, that you don't send out lists? So how would you know how many parents don't send in the list.

I never understand why parents get in such a rage over school supplies...everything else about parenting is thought of as "if you can't afford kids, don't have them" (referencing the "when you have multiple kids it adds up" comment..everything else about our kids we should be prepared to be able to handle/pay, right?) but when it comes to their education it's often outrageous that they need X, Y Z items because you have "multiple kids" or because it "all adds up". How dare the schools ask for the children to be prepared for class?!?! Of course if it is horrible you likely don't need all 72 up front but when you can pay less than a $1 per pack for pencils now or twice that or more later in the year..what makes more financial sense?

Next time I think something is horrible, I'll make sure to check with you to make sure it's ok for me to post.

Do you think the teacher is selling dry erase markers and #2 on the black market to make some profit or something? Of course not (although at what teachers get paid they probably wouldn't mind the profit!). What do you think they are doing with the "alleged" 120 dry erase markers? Do you think if they have tons and tons of stuff that is going unused they want to store all that crap and carry it over to the next year as well? Of course not..it's because the reality you have in your head of a certain number of items is unrealistic. It's highly unlikely in a class of 20 each student is bringing in dry erase markers or has 72 pencils or has their own pack of crayons and so on.

And this thread was an opportunity for teachers to explain why they need so many items. I have no idea what they do with whatever they get. What's wrong with asking? But, as is normal with the Dis, instead of explaining "the other side", MY opinions get shot down simply because "I don't understand."