Questions for Teachers...

[Soccer Princess]

Do you have to pay for all of your classroom supplies? What all does this include? How much does this usually add up to? Are you reimbursed for any of it? It seems the total would be outrageous by the end of the year. I was discussing this with a friend the other day and we were curious. Thanks!

 

[canwegosoon]

From my school district I recieved 1 pad of loose leaf paper, and about 10 pencils (I teach HS business), so this was a joke. Needless to say I ended up forking out over $250 for supplies, plus the cost of photocopying for the first month since the school's photocopier went down, and there was a huge back log. The fun thing was I had no text books for the courses I was teaching. Not fun, but I was able to deduct a portion off my tax return, so keep your reciepts.

 

[teacherforhi]

Our system reimburses up to $250 and our PTA reimburses up to $100. Unfortunately, this doesn't even begin to cover what I spend in a year. The majority of my students are low-income; if I don't provide pencils and paper, they won't have them. I also don't receive any textbooks, so I'm constantly on the look out for workbooks in teacher stores that I can use for my class.

I'd say on average I spend $500 a year above what I'm reimbursed for.

Teachers can take an deduction of $250 on their income taxes, although I had read somewhere that they were considering increasing it to $400 this year.

 

[Blondy876]

We start out the school year with all the basics. Paper, pencils, glue, crayons, boarders etc plus $50 ( , but better than nothing) to spend as we see fit for other supplies. My school orders supplies twice a year. Once in August for the new school year and once in February, if you run out in between you have to bring it in. And once February's order is gone, it's gone.

It does add up a lot. I would say I probably spend about $2000 of my own money. I do get a little back on my taxes if I save the receipts. I think I may spend more than some because I have preschoolers and they tend to ruin things or get bored with things quickly. Every weekend during the school year I'm at Staples stocking up. And I'm always keeping my eyes open for sales. But I do love seeing the kids faces when I bring in new playdough or other item that they haven't seen before. Plus when we do special activites and need supplies that we don't normally have in the room (if we cook for example) I have to bring all that stuff in.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

WE get paper, pencils, and primary color crayons. If we want anything else we pay. Last year it cost me over 1000.00 for all the things I purchased for my classroom. This year I made a promise to myself I will NOT buy any more supplies. I keep repeating it to myself over and over. It is my new mantra. Then again, I will see the great prices at Wal Mart and probably give in.

 

[Louise-Montreal]

Is there any other profession in the world where we have to pay for our own supplies!! Do doctors or nurses?? Can you see a CEO going to Staples to photocopy for his presentation because someone has decided he is over his photocopying budget?? It amazes me that society as a whole has such little regard for the people who have one of the most important jobs in the world- raising the next generation.

Will step off of soapbox- end of rant!

 

[foolishmortal]

WE get paper, pencils, and primary color crayons. If we want anything else we pay. Last year it cost me over 1000.00 for all the things I purchased for my classroom. This year I made a promise to myself I will NOT buy any more supplies. I keep repeating it to myself over and over. It is my new mantra. Then again, I will see the great prices at Wal Mart and probably give in.

I'm not a teacher, but man I walked through walmart and bought my sons supplies already!!! crayola crayons 25 cents a box, colored pencils 1 dollar a box, paper 50 cents a package...I was floored, how can you pass that up?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Well, a couple of times Staples had an ad for them for like 14c a box so I went to Wal Mart with the ad b/c Staples ran out and they not only matched it they made the price 13c!! For a 25 pk of Crayola!! Just remember guys that if you see an ad and the price is lower Wal Mart will match anything.

 

[JoyG]

I teach in the inner city. We get $20 a year to buy supplies. I spend my own money on teaching aids like giant chart paper, posters, class decorations like the caledar set, bulletin board paper and trim, construction paper (even though that should be supplied by the school, this year they didn't have any white) teacher resource books that give you extra worksheets/activities above and beyond the curriculum (really a necessity), any supplies for special projects I want to do...and I bought just about every book in my class library myself (which is hundreds)...just about any of the fun cutesy stuff you see in your child's classroom that makes it a comforting place to be was bought by me. My district provides the textbooks, crayons, and pencils and most of the math manipulatives (toys used to teach math). I spent thousands of dollars over ten years of my own money and although I don't buy as much now, I still have to replace because students take things home and don't return them, things are worn out, broken, etc...

Joy

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

As a former PTA President, we were aware of the teachers' woes and tried to do all we could to support them in the classroom.

Our PTA gave a $200 discretionary fund to each teacher, a bag of classroom supplies at the beginning of the year, and a classroom party budget. Additionally, we gave them a $50 bonus at Christmas time, and though it was never intended to go toward classroom supplies, many used it for that purpose.

Our school urged teachers to post a wish list outside their classroom door for supplies the school could not afford to give. Trust me...parents are SO HAPPY to give to their child's classroom teacher. They know the supplies are going to good use.

Teachers, have you considered beefing up your required classroom supply list that kids have to buy...or maybe putting a note at the bottom asking for donations of supplies?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Our system will not let us ask for a list of things that parents have to buy.

 

[Blondy876]

Just as an FYI (and I'm sure many of the teachers here know about these sites) but Booksamillion.com and Bookcloseouts.com often have some great kids books in their clearance sections. I stocked my classroom library from here a couple of years ago, I bought around 200 books and it cost me just under $100. Know I go and buy a few new ones whenever I see some I know would be helpful.

 

[Blondy876]

Teachers, have you considered beefing up your required classroom supply list that kids have to buy...or maybe putting a note at the bottom asking for donations of supplies?

My school prohibits this. I still have some parents that will bring things in but I'm not allowed to ask.

 

[mudnuri]

I'm not a teacher, but man I walked through walmart and bought my sons supplies already!!! crayola crayons 25 cents a box, colored pencils 1 dollar a box, paper 50 cents a package...I was floored, how can you pass that up?

I purchase a bunch of these "extra" supplies and send them into DD's teachers before school starts. Usually I'll spend about 20 bucks on each classroom. This area, is very low-income with a VERY high percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, (last year I believe the elementary school the girls go to was 80%)... I figure, if its 20 bucks less the teacher who doesnt make more than 25-30K has to spend, then so be it. Its 20 bucks once a year for a classroom that my daughters are in, and if it makes one kid feel "special" for seeing a box of crayons, pencils, a ruler etc. on their desk, then it was worth it"

Brandy

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My school prohibits this. I still have some parents that will bring things in but I'm not allowed to ask.

Are you just supposed to go without, or do they have another method of getting you what you need? It seems unreasonable that they could not provide it AND not allow you to ask that it be donated...

 

[Blondy876]

Are you just supposed to go without, or do they have another method of getting you what you need? It seems unreasonable that they could not provide it AND not allow you to ask that it be donated...

It is unspoken but the teachers are expected to buy it. It is unreasonable and the other teachers and I stopped buying supplies one year to try and make our point but the administration didn't care and it was only hurting the kids.

They don't allow us to ask for donations because we are state mandated preschool and therefore "fully" funded. So the parents are not expected to pay for anything.

 

[aprilgail2]

Our system will not let us ask for a list of things that parents have to buy.

Do they have to bring anything the first day of school??..my goodness the list I get I feel I am supplying the whole class with just what I have to buy!!
This is all for first grade, they have to bring it all in the first day (I have to drive her and walk her in with the stuff, she could never carry it all!!....as the grades go up the list gets bigger

5 Composition Notebooks
100 pencils
4 boxes of crayons
6 bottles of white glue
12 erasers
10 glue sticks
pencil box (where to find a box that fits 100 pencils!!!)
4 pocket folders
10 packs of 3x5 index cards
2 index card boxes
4 boxes of tissues
2 pair of sissors
4 highlighters
2 boxes of markers
2 boxes large ziplock bags
2 boxes small ziplock bags
2 boxes baby wipes
1 smock
1 ruler
pencil sharpener
3 books covers (one red one blue and one green)
1 dictionary
1 looseleaf binder
1 packet of loosleaf paper

 

[Blondy876]

Do they have to bring anything the first day of school??..my goodness the list I get I feel I am supplying the whole class with just what I have to buy!!
This is all for first grade, they have to bring it all in the first day (I have to drive her and walk her in with the stuff, she could never carry it all!!....as the grades go up the list gets bigger

5 Composition Notebooks
100 pencils
4 boxes of crayons
6 bottles of white glue
12 erasers
10 glue sticks
pencil box (where to find a box that fits 100 pencils!!!)
4 pocket folders
10 packs of 3x5 index cards
2 index card boxes
4 boxes of tissues
2 pair of sissors
4 highlighters
2 boxes of markers
2 boxes large ziplock bags
2 boxes small ziplock bags
2 boxes baby wipes
1 smock
1 ruler
pencil sharpener
3 books covers (one red one blue and one green)
1 dictionary
1 looseleaf binder
1 packet of loosleaf paper

Holy moly!!!

That's a lot of stuff! We're not allowed to ask for anything on the first day either but even if I was I don't think I could ask for that much stuff.

 

[teacherforhi]

Do they have to bring anything the first day of school??..my goodness the list I get I feel I am supplying the whole class with just what I have to buy!!
This is all for first grade, they have to bring it all in the first day (I have to drive her and walk her in with the stuff, she could never carry it all!!....as the grades go up the list gets bigger

5 Composition Notebooks
100 pencils
4 boxes of crayons
6 bottles of white glue
12 erasers
10 glue sticks
pencil box (where to find a box that fits 100 pencils!!!)
4 pocket folders
10 packs of 3x5 index cards
2 index card boxes
4 boxes of tissues
2 pair of sissors
4 highlighters
2 boxes of markers
2 boxes large ziplock bags
2 boxes small ziplock bags
2 boxes baby wipes
1 smock
1 ruler
pencil sharpener
3 books covers (one red one blue and one green)
1 dictionary
1 looseleaf binder
1 packet of loosleaf paper

I dare say you are supplying a class. It sounds like the teacher is just stocking up on all the things she may need during the year. I wish I could do that.

 

[aprilgail2]

I dare say you are supplying a class. It sounds like the teacher is just stocking up on all the things she may need during the year. I wish I could do that.

I wish that were true but that is only the FIRST half list....we will get another one at some point during the year telling what else we need to send in!!!!