School projects costing a fortune

[3mickeymom]

My son has so many school projects. I am always buying tri boards, printer ink and supplies. Add to that the cost of gas when shuttling kids around for group project work. Keep in mind that I live in a school district where the teachers have the kids print out worksheets at home because thay don't want to use their own school supplies. I try to buy things on sale and use coupons from Michael's etc. Just really needed to vent since I just spent $9.00 on a world map for a WWII presentation. He probably could have drawn one but it needed to be poster isze and that would have meant poster board markers etc. Now he just has to print out photos of the type of artillery and ships/planes/submarines/ that the different countries used to fight the war and mount them on the map as well as invasion routes etc. More ink, glue paper etc. I buy contact cement with my weekly groceries!! Just needed to vent to my budget minded friends.

 

[tink576]

It stinks, I have the same thing right now. All my professors email everything to us because the school doesn't give them a printing balance to print any of our workheets. That's the true hidden cost of grad school in my opinion, all the money for printing and making our own materials. But good idea on just buying the map, it was probally worth the time and frusturation making it just to buy it pre-done.

 

[SJMomof4]

Wow that stinks about having to print out worksheets I hear ya on the projects. I want them to look nice, but it gets pricey, especially the ink.

 

[andymattmom]

School projects do add up. I sympathize with the money you are spending.
Things to help: when back to school time comes around stock up on poster board, extra markers, colored pencils, colored paper, etc. I have a stock pile of stuff and normally don't have to go out and buy stuff during the year unless it is some 'odd' project.

The other side to look at is the teachers aren't doing this to see how much money families have to spend. I was at our elementary last week (my boys are high school but I had to do a party for a first grade class who won a contest for our golf team). Anyway I was talking to the teacher--- I had taken in bowls, napkins, pop, etc. I told her to keep the 'extra stuff'. She was SO THANKFUL! She said she budgets $10 per week out of her money for classroom items. She was down to 1 box of kleenex (oh the 2 boxes we ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT--- I even have to supply in middle and high school). If you think about it that is a minimum of $360 per school year 'extra' that she is paying. That is probably a minimal amount that teachers spend--- who is going to replace those boxes of kleenex they need for the rest of the year...sure teachers send notes home BUT we know most parents ignore saying I sent my boxes in at the start of the year or my child doesn't use them! I can honestly say my boys probably use 20 kleenex a year in school if that BUT anytime a note came home saying they were short I would get an extra box or two and send them in (at Walmart the other day I saw holiday ones on clearance still---kids don't care if Xmas box of kleenex).

It is frustrating to us as parents to have to spend so much on supplies, it is frustrating to teachers to have to spend so much out of pocket BUT the schools are hurting and we all have to step up and pay. The teachers are using their money, gas, etc. too like we are to buy stuff for kids. They are in the same financial situations we are....high gas prices, high food prices, spouses out of jobs, etc. We all need to watch for the sales ---tell teachers if you see a good deal too. Or just pick up an extra. We all know basic back to school items. I also watch Staples free after rebate items and stock up then too.

 

[GinnyEmma]

There isn't any need to make everything into a big expensive project. Teachers should get it.

 

[MonkersMama]

I totally understand, I had a grad school project and had to do an academic poster presentation (3'x4') of my research project...$70 later...(and that was with a $15 coupon).

But I do the same stocking up on cheap school supplies and then send a surprise bag to the teacher right after Christmas holidays.

 

[RangerPooh]

It stinks, I have the same thing right now. All my professors email everything to us because the school doesn't give them a printing balance to print any of our workheets. That's the true hidden cost of grad school in my opinion, all the money for printing and making our own materials.

I agree. I think this year alone I've spent easily $200+ on toner cartridges, and $40 on paper. Gotta love having to print out multiple journal articles for each class every week. Then there's the $55 to print out professional posters for presntations...

 

[RangerPooh]

School projects do add up. I sympathize with the money you are spending.
Things to help: when back to school time comes around stock up on poster board, extra markers, colored pencils, colored paper, etc. I have a stock pile of stuff and normally don't have to go out and buy stuff during the year unless it is some 'odd' project.

The other side to look at is the teachers aren't doing this to see how much money families have to spend. I was at our elementary last week (my boys are high school but I had to do a party for a first grade class who won a contest for our golf team). Anyway I was talking to the teacher--- I had taken in bowls, napkins, pop, etc. I told her to keep the 'extra stuff'. She was SO THANKFUL! She said she budgets $10 per week out of her money for classroom items. She was down to 1 box of kleenex (oh the 2 boxes we ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT--- I even have to supply in middle and high school). If you think about it that is a minimum of $360 per school year 'extra' that she is paying. That is probably a minimal amount that teachers spend--- who is going to replace those boxes of kleenex they need for the rest of the year...sure teachers send notes home BUT we know most parents ignore saying I sent my boxes in at the start of the year or my child doesn't use them! I can honestly say my boys probably use 20 kleenex a year in school if that BUT anytime a note came home saying they were short I would get an extra box or two and send them in (at Walmart the other day I saw holiday ones on clearance still---kids don't care if Xmas box of kleenex).

It is frustrating to us as parents to have to spend so much on supplies, it is frustrating to teachers to have to spend so much out of pocket BUT the schools are hurting and we all have to step up and pay. The teachers are using their money, gas, etc. too like we are to buy stuff for kids. They are in the same financial situations we are....high gas prices, high food prices, spouses out of jobs, etc. We all need to watch for the sales ---tell teachers if you see a good deal too. Or just pick up an extra. We all know basic back to school items. I also watch Staples free after rebate items and stock up then too.

Well said! Having taught before I certainly spent plenty of my own money. Our income wasn't that great considering the high cost of living, but my husband was understanding that I needed Kleenex for the classroom, glue sticks, and pencils, and various supplies to teach effective lessons. I appreciated when parents thought of us and donated things that they thought we could use, even if it was random art supplies like tissue paper and pompoms, they will be used!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Where are the class supply lists? our school district hands out supply lists each student must purchase. This includes things like pencils, gluesticks, crayons, notebooks, even a $30.00 calculator .

Then the teachers ask the parents to donate items like kleenex, handsanitizer, extra paper to the classroom.

Classroom project costs are extra. We haven't been hit too hard this year other than ink for the computer. DS's friend who is in the same grade (different class) is doing a different project everytime you turn around.
The one I remember the most is he had to dress as a Greek God while he delivered a speech on Greece.

Seriously? Is that necessary? My son had to do the same kind of speech but with no dress up. My friend (sons friends mom) spent money on sheets, items to make some sort of crown, a septor . She spent alot of money and alot of her time for a 3 minute speech.

IMOP. ridiculous. What did it really teach him? I told my friend at least her son will be better prepared for the future toga parties in college.

 

[GinnyEmma]

That is my point. Teachers should get that times are tough. There isn't any reason for the big showy projects.

 

[Danibelle]

That is my point. Teachers should get that times are tough. There isn't any reason for the big showy projects.

I don't get the dressing up part. I think teachers should be more aware of what the class can and can't do as to extra projects.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I don't get the dressing up part. I think teachers should be more aware of what the class can and can't do as to extra projects.

I agree. There isn't anything that can't be made on an inexpensive small scale.

 

[kamik86]

I think your teachers have too high expectations.

I never gave a presentation using one of those tri-fold things. They never required me too. We did some craft projects but most of the time they were made with shoe boxes and other stuff I could find aorund the house. Really just glue, construction paper, markers, and a few other staples needed to be bought.

I guess I don't get the point of all the crafty projects with fancy stuff.

 

[allison443]

I hear you OP!!

In case anyone is interested, there is a wonderful product-stone-look spray paint.
The light tan color works wonderfully for models of the Egyptian pyramids, and the gray works well for models of medieval castles.

Sadly it cost around $9 a can!! That pyramid soaked up 3 cans!!

 

[allison443]

I think your teachers have too high expectations.

I never gave a presentation using one of those tri-fold things. They never required me too. We did some craft projects but most of the time they were made with shoe boxes and other stuff I could find aorund the house. Really just glue, construction paper, markers, and a few other staples needed to be bought.

I guess I don't get the point of all the crafty projects with fancy stuff.

The tri fold boards are commonly used for science fair projects I think...some of them even come with the science fair headings...like Hypothesis, Conclusion, etc.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Happily we seem to not have as many projects to buy supplies for anymore. There were times though, that I felt like I was spending too much at Michaels for stuff. I always felt sad for some of my kids clasmates, who didnt have parents that could shell out the money for supplies......

OP, I feel your pain......

 

[Sparkleshine]

Check out your local dollar store for these items! You can find all sorts of great items for projects there - just make sure that you are aware of what the items sell for in other stores as some items regularly can be under $1 elsewhere. I can find poster board, glues, markers, etc at my Dollar Tree!

 

[scottmel]

I hear ya! I just spent well over 70.00 on a 6th grade science project testing water quality
1111

 

[MomToOne]

Even "back in the day", my parents hated being nickled and dimed over the cost of school projects. With 5 kids, it got to be a lot of $$$ over the year. Unfortunately it's not a new problem, just one that's never changed....

Here's something my Dad did years ago when my brother and I both had science projects and needed tri-boards: he took an old large box, cut off the top and bottom flaps then cut it in half down the middle on two opposite sides. A quick coat of white paint left over from some room or another (yes, you can paint cardboard LOL) and presto! - two tri boards

Then after the projects were over, he "reclaimed" them, took off all the stuff we had stuck on them, painted over them with another coat of leftover paint, and they were ready to go the next time we needed them I think we reused those same boards 5 or 6 times each over the years!

I try to use the same "ingenuity" that my father did when it comes to these things. I only buy things if I absolutely cannot think of something else that we have around the house that can be repurposed. It drives my daughter nuts when I won't run out right away and buy, but usually she's perfectly happy with the outcome - it's unique, and her teachers often single out her projects as creative and fun! Just recently she came home insisting we had to go right out and buy black leggings and a black camisole for a school play she was in because her teacher said they needed them. Instead I insisted on going home to look through our drawers first to see what might work since neither one was an item she would ever wear again (DD10 has a definite sense of her own style and neither of these items fit into it). We ended up with one of my old black camisoles, with a few carefully placed stitches to shorten the straps, and a old pair of black tights of mine, cut off at about mid-calf on her. Since the teacher had a shift dress "costume" she wore over them, they worked perfectly. She actually looked really cute on stage! And she had to begrudgingly admit afterwards that it would have been a total waste of money to buy the items

 

[ilovepete]

Wow you are making me glad I homeschool! Well, maybe not, I did just spend a fortune on curriculum.