Why does my first grader need 20 LARGE glue sticks?

[Annette_VA]

That is nothing, for 1st grade my daughter had 100 pencils on her list- times that by 24 kids and I asked if perhaps they were constructing a new classroom out of them!!
What tics me off is that some of the classes tell you not to put your kids names on the supplies...they want to hand them out to the other kids that don't bring in supplies!!
This year for 3rd grade she needs:


36 pencils
2-24 count boxes of crayons
2- packs of post it notes
1- 8 count pack of markers
5 colored pocket folders
5 composition notebooks in colors to match each folder
10 blue pens
3 fabric book covers
5 packs of 3X5 index cards
1 box colored pencils
1 ruler
1 dictionary
1 sissor
1 container of no drip glue
4 glue sticks
1 pack of construction paper
1 large Mr Clean Magic Eraser
4 highlighters
1 pack lysol wipes
3 boxes of tissues
i pencil sharpener
1 smock
1 Thesaurus
1 large box of Gallon Ziplock Bags
1 bottle of hand sanitizer

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?? Wow, that's a new one!

 

[Becky_Boop]

Many of you are surprised by the number of pencils needed- I'm not! Students (especially the unorganized ones) can go through 2 every week. Not because they become stubs- they get lost easily. Think about it- pencils are small, and are used all the time. They are "borrowed" and never returned. They get lost on the floor, or even stolen. Pencils are important to buy in bulk.

 

[CEDmom]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?? Wow, that's a new one!

It's to clean up all the glue

 

[RitaZ.]

I usually wait until the school year starts for each teacher to send home her specific supply list. Those lists that are sent home at the end of the year or the ones found at Target (they have the supply lists for our local schools posted) are overkill. Most teachers don't need or will require you to supply all that stuff.

So, now I just send my kids in with the basics on the first day: pencils, paper, a couple of folders, eraser,ruler and backpack. I stopped following those ultra long lists when the kids brought home unused supplies at the end of the year.

20 glue sticks: I'd send two. Then, refill as needed.

 

[Tink123]

He also has 40 sharpened #2 pencils on his list. Guess it's too much trouble to sharpen them at school?

Do you know how long it takes a child to sharpen a pencil that has never been sharpened. 3-5 minutes, now multiple that by the oh say 3 pencil and then multiply that by 25 kids. That is a lot of time to spend on the first day of school!

Happy school supply shopping!

 

[aprilgail2]

I usually wait until the school year starts for each teacher to send home her specific supply list. Those lists that are sent home at the end of the year or the ones found at Target (they have the supply lists for our local schools posted) are overkill. Most teachers don't need or will require you to supply all that stuff.

.

our school newspaper prints a list from each teacher as to their lists for the next year-each teachers list is different. Plus over the summer each teacher sneds the list to each kid in their classes homes-they expect them all there the first day of school.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Actually, glue sticks get used pretty fast. I think that is probably not an unreasonable amount to expect to use in 1st grade. There is a lot of gluing that goes on with worksheets and arts and crafts projects and the little ones always believe that more is better! Many classrooms prefer to use the sticks over the liquid because it is less messy. My kids here at home can go through one stick or more a week. And if they forget to put the cap back on it will dry out and be useless.

I suspect that the teacher did mean 20. During the back to school sales they usually have them on pretty good sales so stock up then.

Now 100 pencils???? That one I am not so sure about

 

[RitaZ.]

our school newspaper prints a list from each teacher as to their lists for the next year-each teachers list is different. Plus over the summer each teacher sneds the list to each kid in their classes homes-they expect them all there the first day of school.

I like that. I wish it was done that way here.

 

[teacherforhi]

I have to comment on the pencils as well. I used to have students going through two or three a week. So I finally made a rule that pencils don't leave my classroom (I have a self-contained class). If they needed a pencil for exploratories, they had better have two, because the one in my class wasn't leaving. I even check pencil boxes as their "ticket" out the door. This past year went so much more smoothly because there was never an excuse to not have a pencil.

 

[CJBaby]

It's to clean up all the glue

Good one!

 

[Annette_VA]

Do you know how long it takes a child to sharpen a pencil that has never been sharpened. 3-5 minutes, now multiple that by the oh say 3 pencil and then multiply that by 25 kids. That is a lot of time to spend on the first day of school!

Happy school supply shopping!

Yeah, I see your point. I was just thinking they'd use the electric sharpener and only do one at a time, so it would be pretty quick. But, I'm sure as soon as a kid gets one sharpened, another loses one.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I'd love it if my students brought in 48 pencils. They are always misplacing them, breaking them, lending them out, etc...but I am at a high school and I don't know where you would put 48 pencils!

I'd bet the teacher meant to write 2 glue sticks.

That's what I thought.

I am a high school teacher and I *beg* students to bring their textbook, notebook, looseleaf and pen and pencil.

On writing workshop days when I request them to bring in a highlighter, they look at me like I am asking for mandrake root.

I buy boxes of pens and pencils (5 of each) at the beginning of the year, as well as a package of 12 highlighters - for student use. I put them in a silver cup by my desk and if they "forget" to return one, that's one less extra to lend out. I spent a fortune my first year on supplies and I don't want to keep burning through money.

Wouldn't 20 glue sticks dry out by the spring anyway?

Re: sharpening pencils at school is a trick kids use for wasting time. Bzzz. Look at the pencil. Bzzz. Look around the room. Bzzz. Blow away the shavings. Bzzz. Bobby, I think it's sharp, let's go.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Well I am sure this will be like my much debated "buying little debbies while on welfare " thread LOL But it is so that kids whose parents do not send them will be able to have glue .

Last year I had to buy a pack of 25 glue sticks for my nephew when he went into 1st grade then about Jan the teacher asked me to send 25 more . I did of course along with 10 more boxs of kleenex : ) WITHOUT complaining of course

 

[rparmfamily]

I bet the # of gluesticks is right too. It's to make up for parents who don't send in supplies. I don't mind doing that, but just ask!!!

 

[torinsmom]

My son(7th grade) went through about 10 pencils a week. He loses them, lends them out, etc. I don't think 48 is outrageous for the whole school year.

I teach pre-K and K together and we ask that parents bring in school supplies for the whole class to use. I ask for PLAIN pencils, only because the kids fight over the princess, power ranger and other character pencils. I think I asked for 6 glue sticks each this year(small). We have 25 kids, so thats 150 if everyone brings them in. I usually ask for either markers or scissors, depending on how supplies are from the year before. I ask for colored pencils, because we use them a lot. I ask for plastic spoons and forks and straws for snack and lunch. I ask for 2 composition books for the kids to write once they are writing. 1 pack of ziplocs for classroom use, 2 reams of copy paper(teachers supply their own) 1 big box of tissues. I think that's it for us, but I'm probably forgetting some things.

We started a few years ago offering the parents the option of paying a supply fee to the school. It is always cheaper than what the going price of the items are. The school has an account for each of us and when we need something, we will just order it through the school. I like that a lot better, because then I can buy exactly what I want. Many people will buy the Dollar Tree brand colored pencils, even though I specifically list Crayola. I understand its cheaper, but the low quality means they will not last long at all. Plus, it is hard to store 25x all those supplies! With the supply fee, I can buy a box of paper at a time. At the end of the year, if there is money left, we buy new materials for the classroom.

If we run out of something we can't order in bulk, we let the parents know. This year, it was spoons and straws.

OP-I would not bring in 20 glue sticks! That is way too much!

Marsha

 

[Talking Hands]

I work with deaf and hard of hearing kids a lot and 20 glue sticks with the younger ones would definately be used up in a year. We do a lot of visual and hands on projects since they are visual learners.

 

[JustHolly]

20 sounds a little excessive, but maybe they do a lot of projects in that classroom.

I bought packages of glue sticks at Walmart last summer. I paid 5 for $1.00 during one of their back to school specials. Hold out a couple of weeks. Walmart should be clearning out the 4th of July stuff and putting out their school supplies.

torinsmom- I can't believe you have to supply your own copy paper!!! That's just ridiculous!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Wow. My DS goes to a small private school and all we had to send last year (granted, it was Kindergarten) was 5 pencils at the beginning (he told me when he needed more, and the teacher sent reminders on the weekly note she sent to the parents), blunt Fiskars scissors and a pencil box. The school supplied the rest, including the paper and crayons. Halfway through the year, DS wanted some of the twistable crayons and the teacher said that was fine, if we wanted to buy them. If not, he could use the ones that were in the classroom.

From what I've heard from my neighbor who teaches 2nd grade at the school, the list will be similar for first grade.

I guess we pay enough tuition to cover the supplies? We were asked to send a 2 boxes of Kleenex and 2 rolls of paper towels at the beginning of the year, and I think MIL sent more when she kept our kids while we went away for anniversary.

 

[T1130]

My dd is also going into first grade. She needs 8 marble notebooks. What is she going to write the Great American Novel.

 

[aprilgail2]

I guess we pay enough tuition to cover the supplies? .

You would think paying between 8000-10,000 property taxes- with 80 percent of that going towards school taxes it would cover tissues wouldn't you???