School supply rant! Too much $$$

[patsal]

Hi Teacher and parent of HS and MS kids. The school gives us teachers about $100.00 including the shipping fee and we have to order from an approved list of venders=$$ than I would pay OOP at Target or Office Max. Here is what I do. I purchase the most bang for my buck--from the vendor--large reams of paper, multi packs of pens, stuff all kids will get the benefit o using. OOP I purchase whatever I can get for .10-.25 as I am picking it up for my own kids.
What I have learned--the school supply list is a best case scenario wish list--I have paid $13.00 (yes $13.00) for a specific color and size of binder that my DS never even used--now I just ask him--his answer, go to class with some kind of paper to take notes, a pen or pencil to write with and your text book=no problems. Some things like a 3 ring binder for science labs or whatever is necessary but overall the lists are greatly embellished==take this from the anal mom who bought every item on the list--no more the lists say 1 1/2 in binder and they cost $6.99 but 1 inch binders are $1.50 guess what they get now? Sure I'll provide the basics including the box of tissues.
I ask kids to bring in hand sanitizer and kleenex for two reasons--my OOP costs get out of control during flu season, I can keep more of them in school if I have the hand sanitizer,to put in a purchse order for either of these items will take up over 1/2 my allotted budget for the year and I offer a free homework coupon for the "donation". As afor in building cleaning--I pay for sanitizing the tables with my lysol wipes, the custodial staff does two things--sweep the floor and empty the trash--I clean and pay for the supplies to clean my whiteboard, I pay for my lysol wipes and I have to close and lock my windows--if I forget I will actually get a discipline referral placed in my work folder for non-compliance!

 

[MM27]

This is my pet peeve I'm ok sending in all the other stuff but people whats the matter with them using the CHALK BOARDS in the room instead of those dang dry erase boards?? Our school has a rectangle section maybe of the chalk board that was taken out and replaced w/a dry erase board, why? What's the matter with using chalk? Really I want to know?

I have chalkboards in my classroom, which I use daily. However, the kids all have dry erase boards for math. We use the Everyday Math Program and every lesson has a mental math warmup where the kids write their answers on the whiteboard so I can assess which kids have it and which kids don't.

 

[writersblock42]

My son has attended school in two different states MD and PA. In MD, I spent about $50 on supplies and here in PA I spend $0 on supplies because everything is provided. Taxes are way high though. But to put something in comparison it costs about $7,000 a year per child for education so something to compare to how much you pay in taxes.
I have to agree with a lot of people though. If I purchase school supplies for my child I want my child using those supplies. If the teachers would request a list of must haves supplies and then a list of donated supplies that would be better.
I might get flamed for this but we don't live in communism not all supplies should be distributed evenly. I teach high school in MD where we do not supply items-if you can afford nicer folders then you have nicer folders, markers, etc. But I will say that kids don't really need to purchase a lot of items...a pencil, a pen, a notebook, some paper are all they really need. We supply calculators, markers if they need them and any other supply.
One thing that I do though is at the end of the year I have a box where all unused supplies and old supplies can go. I give those out throughout the year. I have an attic full of notebooks none that I bought. I do have to buy pencils, pens, staples and stuff like that and my stuff disappears throughout the year. The nurse supplies the tissues but they feel like sandpaper. I tell the kids if they want better ones they can bring them in for extra credit.

 

[Minnie_me]

I have to agree with a lot of people though. If I purchase school supplies for my child I want my child using those supplies. If the teachers would request a list of must haves supplies and then a list of donated supplies that would be better.
I might get flamed for this but we don't live in communism not all supplies should be distributed evenly.

Communism - LOL!

Have you ever taught Kindergarten? Have you ever had 26 kids in a classroom and tried to keep straight whose crayons and pencils were whose?? It can be a freaking nightmare. If each kid brings the standard pack of 24 crayons, that's more than 600 crayons to keep track of! They are CONSTANTLY rolling off the tables. It is soooooo much easier to take them all and put them in a couple of baskets in the middle of the table and have them share. SHARING. That sounds so much nicer than communism.

The kids don't share their resting blankets, backpacks, etc. They are certainly allowed personal items that make them feel "special". The kids in my classroom keep their own "take-home folders" as well.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We got DS' list for first grade today. Not bad at all!

Crayons (any)
#2 pencils
pencil box
Fiskars scissors (have these from last year)
1 bottle Elmer's glue
2 glue sticks
art smock
2 folders with bottom pockets (prefer plastic, they hold up better)
2 boxes of tissues
2 rolls of paper towels

Everything except the tissues and paper towels are supposed to be marked with his name. He goes to a small private school, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

 

[patsal]

I have chalkboards in my classroom, which I use daily. However, the kids all have dry erase boards for math. We use the Everyday Math Program and every lesson has a mental math warmup where the kids write their answers on the whiteboard so I can assess which kids have it and which kids don't.

In my building it has to do with an outdated HVAC system, less $ for janitors and increased number of kids with allergies and asthma.

 

[livndisney]

I shopped for school supplies for my first grader today.
23 REQUIRED items (not including the "optional" items) to be taken to school the first day-
some of the most noteable.....
100 SPECIFIC brand pencils (per the school)
4 boxes of kleenex
8 specific type folders .88 @ (8? why 8)
2Boxes of ZIPLOC gallon
2Boxes of ZIPLOC sandwich
2 Clorox wipes
construction paper from a specific teaching store.
I am going to spend over $100 (even bargain shopping)
for PUBLIC school in a high tax county

I saw a woman today shopping for 4 children-she probably had to take out a second mortgage!

 

[java]

Ok I just got our lists- first 2 anyway one more to go.
On my 13 year old(8th grade) he has 5 binders!! 5!!! Isn't the point of a binder to organize a few subjects? How can they need 5?
He also needs a graphing calculator which thanks to the budget board I was able to snag for the low low price of $85!
And then there is a list a mile long. 32 items- some more than one too!

DD's isn't as bad. She only needs 2 binders. and a cheaper calculator(only $25 ) and about 20 items.

I think they are trying to kill me. And I know on the first day of school they will come home with the gift wrap fund raiser. Every year.
Oh yeah and we are in NJ Paying the highest property tax in the nation(or so we think)

 

[maggiew]

Ok I just got our lists- first 2 anyway one more to go.
On my 13 year old(8th grade) he has 5 binders!! 5!!! Isn't the point of a binder to organize a few subjects? How can they need 5?
He also needs a graphing calculator which thanks to the budget board I was able to snag for the low low price of $85!
And then there is a list a mile long. 32 items- some more than one too!

DD's isn't as bad. She only needs 2 binders. and a cheaper calculator(only $25 ) and about 20 items.

I think they are trying to kill me. And I know on the first day of school they will come home with the gift wrap fund raiser. Every year.
Oh yeah and we are in NJ Paying the highest property tax in the nation(or so we think)

My DD needs the 1-1/2 inch binders which are expensive!!!! I have been saving my used ink cartridges all year from work and so I have been turning them in for the $3 gift certificates and used those to buy the binders. The cheapest I could find were $4.59 each, so it took 3 cartridges to buy 2 binders!! They also need dividers in all the binders too. And those are .99 on sale each!!

Most of the other stuff I have been able to buy on sale somewhere, but not the 1-1/2 inch binders!

Maggie

 

[java]

My DD needs the 1-1/2 inch binders which are expensive!!!! I have been saving my used ink cartridges all year from work and so I have been turning them in for the $3 gift certificates and used those to buy the binders. The cheapest I could find were $4.59 each, so it took 3 cartridges to buy 2 binders!! They also need dividers in all the binders too. And those are .99 on sale each!!

Most of the other stuff I have been able to buy on sale somewhere, but not the 1-1/2 inch binders!

Maggie

Thankfully I was given a choice on the 3 for science - they could be either 1 1/2 inch or 2!
Oh and my other peeve - we are given specific Colors of notebooks they need- I guess in theory to make it easier for the kids to remember their books? But really if eveyone has a yellow notebook for math how long before you end up with someone elses yellow math notebook.

Plus have you ever tried to find a yellow 3 subject notebook- wide ruled? Not so easy-

 

[tl_swift]

Ok I just got our lists- first 2 anyway one more to go.
On my 13 year old(8th grade) he has 5 binders!! 5!!! Isn't the point of a binder to organize a few subjects? How can they need 5?
He also needs a graphing calculator which thanks to the budget board I was able to snag for the low low price of $85!
And then there is a list a mile long. 32 items- some more than one too!

DD's isn't as bad. She only needs 2 binders. and a cheaper calculator(only $25 ) and about 20 items.

I think they are trying to kill me. And I know on the first day of school they will come home with the gift wrap fund raiser. Every year.
Oh yeah and we are in NJ Paying the highest property tax in the nation(or so we think)

Do you have an Office Depot where you live. Or try them online. They have a graphing calculator for $39.00 http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=146248&Nr=200000&N=200351&An=browse

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I must put my complaint in. I went shopping for the dreaded dry erase markers. I say dreaded asmy kids always need the exact ones that are not available. Well I found them todayfor my DD9. They were 3.89 for a 4-pack...not bad at all. Until I read that she need 10 packs...YES 10 packs. Why in the world would any kid need 40 black dry erase marker in one year????? This is not even including the 4 colored packs she needs. I am sorry but I will not buy 40.00 worth of dry erase markers. If there are any teachers on this board that can explain to me why one child needs 40 expo dry erase marker I will gladly shut up and listen.

 

[lady9]

I shopped for school supplies for my first grader today.
23 REQUIRED items (not including the "optional" items) to be taken to school the first day-
some of the most noteable.....
100 SPECIFIC brand pencils (per the school)
4 boxes of kleenex
8 specific type folders .88 @ (8? why 8)
2Boxes of ZIPLOC gallon
2Boxes of ZIPLOC sandwich
2 Clorox wipes
construction paper from a specific teaching store.
I am going to spend over $100 (even bargain shopping)
for PUBLIC school in a high tax county

Is this a joke? I am a teacher and I can't believe this! 100 pencils? That is like each student only using a pencil for 2 days! (assuming each student brought the required supplies) This list is ridiculous and if I was the parent, I'd would have a serious talk with someone at that school. I have found that in order to reduce the cost to parents, I can get by each year if the girls bring sandwich ziplocs and 2 boxes of tissues and the boys bring gallon ziplocs and hand sanitizer. I always have a few boxes of tissues leftover or a bottle or 2 of sanitizer which I donate to the gym teacher who doesn't have a budget for these things and was always buying out of her own pocket.

I do believe that pooling some items does reduce the cost to parents. For example, each student brings only 1 pack of notebook paper. I keep it on a shelf and when students need it, it is passed out. Before I began doing this, students brought in 2 packs of paper and they kept the paper in their folders and would use it to draw on. Many times I had to ask parents to purchase more paper. (as an aside-if homework requires notebook paper, students take home 2 sheets so parents don't really need it at home). Glue is also pooled and kept in a basket on the shelf. This was also wasted, usually accidentally, when the cap wasn't closed and it spilled all over the inside of the desk.

I know taxes are high and people wonder why many schools don't supply crayons, folders. etc. First, not all of your property taxes go to the school, only part. Second, many large business that used to pay taxes to the school are closing down so the schools are losing large amounts of money. Choices are being made to update textbooks and technology rather than buy crayons. I would ask those who are upset over the supplies they are asked to contribute (especially pooled supplies)to talk to the teacher about what those supplies are used for like the Clorox wipes. I consider myself a germ-a-phobe and I buy the 3 pack of wipes (78 wipes per pack) and can just about make it through the year. I wipe off desks at the end of the day using 2 wipes and other items like the mouse. I soak plastic items like math manipulatives about once a week in Mr. Clean and let dry overnight rather than waste wipes on them-Oh and I do put them on paper towels supplied by parents from my "wish list" for donated items to dry. The hard brown towels supplied by the school don't absorb anything.

 

[lady9]

I must put my complaint in. I went shopping for the dreaded dry erase markers. I say dreaded asmy kids always need the exact ones that are not available. Well I found them todayfor my DD9. They were 3.89 for a 4-pack...not bad at all. Until I read that she need 10 packs...YES 10 packs. Why in the world would any kid need 40 black dry erase marker in one year????? This is not even including the 4 colored packs she needs. I am sorry but I will not buy 40.00 worth of dry erase markers. If there are any teachers on this board that can explain to me why one child needs 40 expo dry erase marker I will gladly shut up and listen.

I am teacher and I am having a hard time justify that one! I have my kids bring 2-any color. These are also pooled items in my room. I keep pooled items in a basket, one for each group of students. We get the basket of pooled items when we are going to use them, that way the items are not wasted. When a child says the marker is dry, I give him/her another one from the extra ones. It sounds like a lot of teachers are trying to compensate for parents in their rooms that they know will not send in supplies. This is unfair. I also think it is unfair for those parents to not send in the supplies and expect teachers to pay for the supplies themselves. Most schools do not have the resources to provide the supplies.

Here is my suggestion: There are many organizations who are willing to help those in need, especially churches. Why not ask a church or 2 to donate some school supplies? We are very lucky at my school, we have a church that does this every year. If each person at the church only brought 1-2 items, most items for students who don't have any, could be supplied. We almost always have supplies for the children who dont' have any. If teachers knew they could get supplies for students not having any, they wouldn't have to ask parents for a ridiculous amount, like 40 dry erase markers. Maybe more parents would be willing to try to send in supplies if they weren't so overwhelmed by the quantity and cost.

 

[Lisa_M]

Do you have an Office Depot where you live. Or try them online. They have a graphing calculator for $39.00 http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=146248&Nr=200000&N=200351&An=browse

I'm betting the graphing calculator the student needs is a Texas Instruments. When I was in high school, I had a TI-85 and everyone else had a TI-82. It was so much more difficult for me to learn how to use mine when the teacher was teaching everyone how to use an 82. This is one area, where one should buy the brand and model suggested always.

 

[MrsPete]

Do you have an Office Depot where you live. Or try them online. They have a graphing calculator for $39.00 http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=146248&Nr=200000&N=200351&An=browse

I don't know calculators, but I know that it's cheaper to buy the right one in the first place rather than replace it later. If you're buying a graphing calculator, I assume the child's in 9th grade; I'd ask the math teacher to suggest a calculator that'll see the student through the rest of his high school math career. If you find out that the $90 calculator's going to be necessary for 11th grade trig, it'd be better to go ahead and get it now instead of buying "a bargain" now AND still needing the more expensive one later.

Also, once I had to administer a state math test -- strange, 'cause I'm not a math teacher -- and my job included passing out the calculators to any student who didn't have one, and then checking to see that everyone's calc-memory was "cleared". The school's calculators and most of the personally-owned calculators are black. The few students who owned red, blue, or clear calculators stood out from the crowd. I'd even pay a few dollars extra for an unusual color in a calculator -- it'd be a little bit easier for the student to keep up with his own item.

 

[MrsPete]

If there are any teachers on this board that can explain to me why one child needs 40 expo dry erase marker I will gladly shut up and listen.

I suspect it's because many students bring in none -- some because their parents can't, some because their parents won't. Same thing for 100 pencils. Some students have none. The supplies simply don't exist at school; we can say "my taxes are high" all day long, but that won't make supplies appear in the closet. So the teacher ends up buying them out of her pocket.

 

[java]

I don't know calculators, but I know that it's cheaper to buy the right one in the first place rather than replace it later. If you're buying a graphing calculator, I assume the child's in 9th grade; I'd ask the math teacher to suggest a calculator that'll see the student through the rest of his high school math career. If you find out that the $90 calculator's going to be necessary for 11th grade trig, it'd be better to go ahead and get it now instead of buying "a bargain" now AND still needing the more expensive one later.

.

My son is going into 8th grade(accelerated math program)and yes it has to be a specific Graphing Calculator(TI one)and I did call the high school and ask which one they used to make sure it would be money well spent. Thanks to something I read on the Dis!

Oh but thanks on the Office Depot tip. We don't have one of those around here but I am going to have to put them on my online search.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

My son is going into 8th grade(accelerated math program)and yes it has to be a specific Graphing Calculator(TI one)and I did call the high school and ask which one they used to make sure it would be money well spent. Thanks to something I read on the Dis!

Oh but thanks on the Office Depot tip. We don't have one of those around here but I am going to have to put them on my online search.

I see where you're at with this one. When DD17 took Algebra II, thecourse required a specific calculator. The teacher would connect hers to the overhead projector and run thru the steps to the calculations there. The students could follow along on their own calculators at their seats. Technology is expensive...hers cost almost $100 and it was not paid for by the school (however, H&SA bought extras for classroom use for students who were financially strapped)!

 

[Momto3Disneyprinces]

I suspect it's because many students bring in none -- some because their parents can't, some because their parents won't. Same thing for 100 pencils. Some students have none. The supplies simply don't exist at school; we can say "my taxes are high" all day long, but that won't make supplies appear in the closet. So the teacher ends up buying them out of her pocket.

Whatever happened to writing their answers on paper???!!! Why do the studnets all need their own individual whiteboards? And, if they are not using their own whiteboards, why am I supplying the teacher with dry erase markers? That is something the school should be supplying each room with. Sorry, I am all for helping out, but after buying all the other stuff, and shelling out for MORE wrapping paper and harrasing all of my relatives to buy MORE wrapping paper (can't harrass the neighbors, they are all selling the same thing ) I have had enough. If they would come up with a better fundraiser, maybe I wouldn't have to shell out so much. It seems every kid in our area (not even just our state) sells the same stuff at the same time.