tell me what a low income kindergarten class teacher need for her class? any ideas?

[stitchfan18]

I'm at a low income school as well. The school only allows teachers to be reimbursed $50 a year, and you have to order from the expensive catalogs to be reimbursed. Things I buy OOP are:
-Construction paper
-bulletin board decorations
-prize box prizes
-snacks (we can send to the nurse if they haven't had breakfast and complain, but it's always good to have some snacks on hand.)
-dry erase markers
-Glue
-Notebooks
-Scissors
-Crayons (I prefer them over markers or colored pencils)
-educational or age appropriate games for indoor recess
-Books for classroom library
-Stickers
-Stamps
-Special grading pens (I prefer smelly markers or felt tip pens in colorful colors)
-baskets for organizing papers, books, etc.

My list could go on and on. I'm sure whatever you send will be much appreciated!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

When it comes to food jelly beans, colored goldfish and M&M's are good because you can do a sorting activity, then eat them.

At our Target the sissors are .51 and they had several other supplies marked down. Copy paper, pencils, markers and lots of tissues. If you go to a paint store you can aks them if they have any expired wallpaper books and carpet stores may donate carpets or they are really cheap. Goodwill and Garage Sales are great for gently used books, to help with her library.

Board games and card games or any thing else that could be used for indoor recess. You can always order stuff from Oriental Trading and they are really cheap and come in bulk. Hoola Hoops and any type of small manipulatives such as counting bears would be good. If you are going to send noodles you can color them with food coloring and rubbing alchohol.

There is a teacher that graduated from my school and went to teach in an area like this and her mom sends her stuff. Her kids think everything is made or comes from Ohio. They love getting their boxes. This is very nice of you to do for her and her class.

 

[staciepm]

I am an assistant at a very low income intercity school, so our needs might be different. Like everyone said we need hand sanitizer, non bleach wipes for cleaning, tissues, markers, pencils, crayons, dry erase markers and etc.

On a different note, we need new underwear and socks. We also need used (hand-me-down) pants, shorts, skirts, and shirts in sizes 5-7. We also can use used coats, sweaters, and sometimes shoes. Our students have accidents often and NEVER have clothes in their backpacks. It is extremely rare for the clothes to come back. There a good chance your friend might not need these items.

It is great that you want to help. Have fun.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

There is a teacher that graduated from my school and went to teach in an area like this and her mom sends her stuff. Her kids think everything is made or comes from Ohio. They love getting their boxes. This is very nice of you to do for her and her class.

This is so sweet! I am hopeful after I get the first box out of here, I can ask her for the first names of her students and maybe I can get personalized book marks or pencils for the kids. It really is sad to hear her talk about the kids in her classroom. They are nearly 100% free lunch and she said no one sends treats for the kids birthdays. So I'm also thinking about getting birthday napkins and such when I see them on sale and giving her spending money to buy treats!

My list is growing longer and I am happy about that! Please keep sending the ideas. Most of the things you all mentioned, I would have never though of.

 

[StephMK]

I don't know what kind of supplies she has but there are all sorts of really fun manipulatives for lessons. Games and books would also be at the top of my list. A non-essential but comfort item would be a few vinyl bean bag chairs. You are so sweet to do that, they are going to love whatever you send!

 

[erincon23]

Books! If you can find some of the really large teacher-edition books (they're like 2' x 3', so the whole class can see), they're great (I was a sub for 9 years). A CD player and some kid-friendly CDs- you may even be able to find CDs with color/number songs at a teacher store. Books with the corresponding recording. Math manipulatives -- flash cards, dice, play money, math cubes (they have "ones," "tens" -- ten ones put together -- and "hundreds" -- 10 tens put together). Groups of books on different subjects -- colors, numbers, feelings, family, pets, weather, etc. And you can find activities for any of those subjects at teacher supply stores as well. Big pencils. Grippers. Scissors, crayons, glue sticks -- the basics (you wouldn't believe how many glue sticks they go through -- have you seen those commercials for Target, where the teacher has her list? Glitter! So much glitter! Don't get any for your teacher friend.) And you said she's a long way from a Staples -- most of those stores ship, so if there's something you could think of, she could order online and get it mailed to her, using a gift card. It's great of you to do this!

 

[CarlisleMom]

I assist in a low income K class. Here's my input:

stretch gloves : we lend them to the kids for recess time only. wash on the weekend.

barrettes ( some parents let the kids hair hang in the eye - not good for learning)

glue sticks (not the cheap ones)

hot glue gun : great for us adults to glue projects or decorations in place

toys for indoor recess: matchbox cars, Mr. potato head, puppets, lego kits, etc

This one's may be to expensive but a digital camera. We take pictures during the year and show sideshows during special treat time before Christmas etc. At the end of the year, the kids take home a picture from the first day of school and one from towards the end of year. The parents loved seeing the slideshow on the last day of the year, since many can't go on the field trips or visit the classroom.

 

[TyTysMommy]

I am an assistant at a very low income intercity school, so our needs might be different. Like everyone said we need hand sanitizer, non bleach wipes for cleaning, tissues, markers, pencils, crayons, dry erase markers and etc.

On a different note, we need new underwear and socks. We also need used (hand-me-down) pants, shorts, skirts, and shirts in sizes 5-7. We also can use used coats, sweaters, and sometimes shoes. Our students have accidents often and NEVER have clothes in their backpacks. It is extremely rare for the clothes to come back. There a good chance your friend might not need these items.

It is great that you want to help. Have fun.

We had the same problem at our school. When kids had an accident and we put them in our clothes, the clothes would never come back. So we started taking a thick black Sharpie marker and writing "Please Return to (Name of School)" across the front and back of all pieces of clothing. Who wants their kid to run around with that written all over them? Everyone who sees it will know they are wearing clothing that they are not supposed to keep. Now we get most of the accident clothes returned to us.

 

[thomas998]

I suggest you call and talk to another teacher at the school to find out.

You can't assume that because a low income school is filled with low income kids that it is under funded, their are some in my state that have 60% of the kids below poverty level but have some of the highest tech classrooms you could ever imagine, we're talking computers in all the classes, special white boards that record whatever is written on them the works.... the things they run short of are not high tech... they are things like white glue and basic supplies.

So before you go buy something you think would be perfect, double check with someone who is really in the know of that school.

 

[cole6179]

This is so sweet! I am hopeful after I get the first box out of here, I can ask her for the first names of her students and maybe I can get personalized book marks or pencils for the kids. It really is sad to hear her talk about the kids in her classroom. They are nearly 100% free lunch and she said no one sends treats for the kids birthdays. So I'm also thinking about getting birthday napkins and such when I see them on sale and giving her spending money to buy treats!

My list is growing longer and I am happy about that! Please keep sending the ideas. Most of the things you all mentioned, I would have never though of.

My kids' school is getting away from 'snacks and cupcakes' for birthdays. One thing they have this year in our KG class is a T shirt the birthday kid gets to wear for the day. It is just a bigger size T shirt that is decorated. I think it has a felt party hat on the front. Just something fun that they get to wear around on their day. Then, there is an 'activity book' that the birthday child can choose to do on their day. (Extra 20 min of recess, lunch with the teacher, dance party, popcorn party, etc)

Our class is always asking for any type of craft supplies. (Popsicle sticks, googly eyes, glue sticks, etc)

 

[furb & dez]

This doesn't help, but...

...my immediate reaction to this thread's title would be: parents that are involved but not complete ogres.

 

[Maddie2]

Rubber stamps - I just checked ebay under "hero arts teacher stamps" and found a bunch of great stamps which can be purchased singly or as a set. Especially love the "praise" stamps!

Sounds like a great box to put together! Have fun!

 

[DebMcDonald]

A lot depends on the school. When our school was new, we had very little. Fortunately I had been teaching for years and already had a lot of my own books and manipulatives.

I would suggest:
books,
wooden puzzles,
floor puzzles,
buttons, keys, spools, bottle caps, bread tags (these last items can be counted, sorted, used for patterns, and order by size)
dress up clothes (I used size 12 girls and boys dresses and suit coats--that way they weren't too big, but big enough to seem "grown up")
a set of different scrap booking punches for the art center (develops fine motor skills and the kids love them)
a set of different scrapping scissors
small scraps of fabric, lace, ribbons to make collages
alphabet macaroni and/or different shapes of macaroni
nuts and bolts of different sizes to sort and practice fine motor skills
different kinds of beans

My students loved using the "real" things. I had my mother's button box and they loved sorting and looking at the buttons as much as I did as a child. I went to some hardware stores and got the keys they has made mistakes on. I spray painted one side of a couple of bags of lima beans and used those for counting and for lots of math things. I used lots of different kinds of beans in the pouring table (problem solving--why did that bean go through the funnel and that one got stuck? as well as fine motor)

This may not be what you were expecting, but all that money spent a little at a time counts up! It is great that you want to help.

I ditto the list above.

 

[MickeyP]

Check out a company called Really Good Stuff. Believe it or not, it has just that... a whole catalog full.

I would love surprises from that company or Upstart. This is a company that promotes reading and there are reading incentives for the classroom and the kids that are beautiful.

Don't forget about Bath & Body hand sanitizer and foam soap.

There is a book called Mrs. Spitzer's Garden. It parallels a real garden and a kindergarten. It's beautiful and makes every teacher cry.

There are lots of companies that personalize pencils. Maybe have them imprinted with: Mrs. Jones' Favorite Student and give one to every student.

Birthdays are a hard one. Parents can be remiss and it's heartbreaking. I always had vanilla wafers, frosting and sprinkles for those whose parents didn't bother. I had the kids decorate them themselves using disposable popsicle sticks. (I know, what other kind is there?)

You are very sweet to think of making up such a thoughtful gift!

 

[GatorMama]

This might be a project for you to work on for a while, but BEAN BAGS! You can make your own with fun fabric or old socks and dried beans or rice. One of my education classes (PE) required that we make a set of 3 bean bags and some games and learning activities to use them. At the end of the class, the professor asked that we donate our bean bags... and then if we're ever in NEED of bean bags to please call him with the # of students in our class and he'd bring them to us.

I have two shoe boxes full because I cleaned out my sock drawer (I had TONS of singletons in cutesy prints) and I'm handy with a sewing machine. (I DID donate my three for class, but I made more...) I know I'll be glad to have them when I finally get my own class!

In addition to bean bags, one of my friends LOVES to get old, CLEAN socks for her students, especially if they have fun patterns on them because they're great for matching.

Pretend play is still important in kindergarten and some costumes for little ones would be greatly appreciated too. With Halloween nearing, you could probably find some super cheap costumes for a police officer, doctor, astronaut, fireman, baker. Or you could enlist help to make them if you're crafty.

Pretty much ANYTHING from Oriental Trading...

I also agree with the snacks! Please pick something relatively healthy and not gummy fruit snacks or Chips Ahoy or oreos. My kindergarteners loved popcorn (we had snack time right after they were in PE/art/music), so I had time to pop a few bags while they were gone and put it in coffee filters for them to collect and carry to their desks.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Bulletin board borders (get two packages of each style because one isn't enough for larger boards) with coordinating bulletin board letters would be great. They are hard to find in small areas and most teachers like to switch out the bulletin boards regularly. They will also be something she can keep and use every year.

 

[Janepod]

Here are some of the things on my son's teacher's wish list (kindergarten):

Legos (does not have to be sets)
Games
Velcro
Masking tape/blue painter's tape

 

[momtosam]

Just wanted to say you are very kind!

 

[v.t.]

The suggestions given have been wonderful and right on target.
One thing I would suggest is toothbrushes and toothpaste. When I lived in a very low income district we would have the kids brush their teeth when they arrived and then again after lunch. I know that was the only time some of those kids ever brushed their teeth. I imagine you would be able to get them donated if you called around to local dentists and explained her situation.

If there are Sonic's in her area, they have a program called Limeades for Learning. We had a few teachers receive grants from that program. The website is www.limeadesforlearning.com. You could share the info with friends, and dis friends, and maybe get her some votes.

What a wonderful gift you are given, not only the teacher but her students as well.

 

[KennesawNemo]

it seems most schools have gone to dry erase boards for everything and my daughters teacher always mentioned dry erase markers everytime i asked what she needed.

I am going to ask a question. It might be ignorant and I don't meant to offend anyone. It's just something I am having a hard time to understand.

My son just started K. His teacher gave us a wish list. Things included are treasure box items, markers for white board, and copy paper.

I could understand prize items are extra so the school won't supply it, but why the school don' t provide the teacher with erasable markers, erasers or copy papers? These are necessary classroom needs.

I grew up in a developing country. We only have free education up to junior high. However, as long as they put up a school, the teachers will be provided basic school supplies.

Instead, in US, why do teacher need to provide for their own classroom? I ask this not because I don't support the teacher or have a problem with her. I bought in bulk from costco almost everything she put on the list. I just think the teacher should not have the trouble of handing out the wish list to get basic supplies from parents. What if nobody donates? Would the teacher have to buy everything out of her own pocket? That's sounds really unfair to me and I would absolutely feel bad for the teacher.