Why does my first grader need 20 LARGE glue sticks?

[sjams]

Wow! I am sure glad I found this thread. My friend and I were just discussing this last night.
My DS who is entering 1st grade is to bring in 20 folders 4 of each basic color. What the heck will he use them for? 20 times 22 kids? What the heck is she going to do with 440 folders???? Also on his list is 36 sharpended 'Ticonderoga' pencils, 10 boxes of 24 count Crayola crayons, so that they can have a new box each month!
I too am not into this pooling of supplies. We pay good money to send our kids to private school so everyone should have the money to buy their own supplies. I understand in public if someone can't afford, I taught in such a school, but if I take the time to spend my money on supplies then my child should be able to use his/her own stuff. JMHO!

So off we go to Walmart and Target to get supplies for the other kids, not mine!!!

 

[Imzadi]

Unless I find a kick-butt sale, I'll be spending $35 on glue alone.

If you haven't done so already, sign up for Staples & Office Depot's rewards programs. They send you coupons all the time for dollars off. The most recent ones I got are $15 off $50 (Staples) - meaning you get another $15 of free items on your glue stick purchase, and $10 off $10 which are more rare (at Office Depot.)

I'm buying 2 cases of bottled water with the $10 coupon. Much needed in this heat. And I usually get a couple of printer cartridges with the $15 off coupon.

 

[Annette_VA]

Wow! I am sure glad I found this thread. My friend and I were just discussing this last night.
My DS who is entering 1st grade is to bring in 20 folders 4 of each basic color. What the heck will he use them for? 20 times 22 kids? What the heck is she going to do with 440 folders???? Also on his list is 36 sharpended 'Ticonderoga' pencils, 10 boxes of 24 count Crayola crayons, so that they can have a new box each month!
I too am not into this pooling of supplies. We pay good money to send our kids to private school so everyone should have the money to buy their own supplies. I understand in public if someone can't afford, I taught in such a school, but if I take the time to spend my money on supplies then my child should be able to use his/her own stuff. JMHO!

So off we go to Walmart and Target to get supplies for the other kids, not mine!!!

OK, I thought 20 glue sticks was bad, but 20 folders definitely wins! Glue wins cost-wise, but folders defintely wins -wise!

If you haven't done so already, sign up for Staples & Office Depot's rewards programs. They send you coupons all the time for dollars off. The most recent ones I got are $15 off $50 (Staples) - meaning you get another $15 of free items on your glue stick purchase, and $10 off $10 which are more rare (at Office Depot.)

I'm buying 2 cases of bottled water with the $10 coupon. Much needed in this heat. And I usually get a couple of printer cartridges with the $15 off coupon.

Ooh, thanks for the tip. I didn't realize they did rewards like that. I love e-clubs! I can't tell you how many free meals I've gotten at Texas de Brazil just for giving them my email address.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

On the pencil issue...

As a high school teacher, my list of required supplies for my students is rather short (pen, pencil, binder, paper, calculator), and I have a class set of glue sticks, markers, scissors, etc. that the kids share when necessary (the school supplies them for me if I request them while there's money left in the budget ).

One problem I do have, though, is that there always seems to be a couple of boys in every class that show up without a pen or pencil. I usually have a container of spares, but I was constantly replenishing it (the students always seemed to forget to return them at the end of the block). I finally wisened up...I now go to the dollar store and buy the "girliest" bulk pencils I can find...lots of flowers and butterflies . My attrition rate has gone way down, as the boys seem to put those pencils back as soon as they possibly can

My DDs always have about five glue sticks listed for their supplies...but they always seem to come home with a few at the end of the year (I trained them well on putting their lids back and using the box with the 'x' gluing principle!). Still love back-to-school shopping, though...even if it is vicariously through my kids!

 

[sjh801]

Time for me to add my opinion as I do each year. I am a well seasoned first grade teacher. I have never sent a list out. Our school's don't do that. Of course, some teachers ignore the guidelines and send them anyway. Nuf said.

Most lists are definitely excessive. It is a reflection of our wasteful habits and lack of responsibility. Children need to learn how to care for materials, whether they bring them from home or use those of others. As long as adults are demonstrating a "throw away" mentality, children will do the same. Teaching children and adults to be responsible is important. I take the time to teach my students how to glue and to use the pencil sharpener properly. Some people think that is silly and a waste of time. But in first grade, many of those things which are "second nature" need to be taught.

Oh, and definitely skip those crummy fancy pencils. They are not wood and they do not sharpen well. You end up with chewed up fake wood and broken leads and split pencils. Stick with the real wood, not wood composite, pencils.

Back to summer vacation!

 

[schlepsnort]

We just got our DS's kindergarten supply list. This will be my first time buying supplies for my kids! Seems silly to be so excited but I am! I went into Walmart yesterday and they were already setting up all of the school supplies aisles!
His list wasn't really out of the ordinary. But it was brand name specific. At least this year won't break the budget but once all 3 boys are in school, I'm not sure if buying brand name for all of those supplies will be happening.

 

[monsterkitty]

I went through more than 4,000 pencils in my classroom last year. Yes, that was 4,000. I have about 250 come through my doors every day, so that equals about 16 pencils per student. I think the kids eat them as they taste better then the school lunches.

I do buy these myself and yes it is my own fault that I go through so many. I would rather give a pencil to a student than have the student get in trouble from another teacher because the student doesn't have a pencil.

 

[kfeuer]

Most lists are definitely excessive. It is a reflection of our wasteful habits and lack of responsibility. Children need to learn how to care for materials, whether they bring them from home or use those of others. As long as adults are demonstrating a "throw away" mentality, children will do the same. Teaching children and adults to be responsible is important. I take the time to teach my students how to glue and to use the pencil sharpener properly. Some people think that is silly and a waste of time. But in first grade, many of those things which are "second nature" need to be taught.

Best post in the whole thread, IMO. We don't do our kids any favors by not teaching them how to be responsible for their things. I wish more teachers would do what you're doing (and yes, I have one of those big supply lists, which include anti-bacterial wipes that can't be Clorox brand--huh?)

 

[castleview]

Time for me to add my opinion as I do each year. I am a well seasoned first grade teacher. I have never sent a list out. Our school's don't do that. Of course, some teachers ignore the guidelines and send them anyway. Nuf said.

Most lists are definitely excessive. It is a reflection of our wasteful habits and lack of responsibility. Children need to learn how to care for materials, whether they bring them from home or use those of others. As long as adults are demonstrating a "throw away" mentality, children will do the same. Teaching children and adults to be responsible is important. I take the time to teach my students how to glue and to use the pencil sharpener properly. Some people think that is silly and a waste of time. But in first grade, many of those things which are "second nature" need to be taught.



Back to summer vacation!

AMEN!!! And enjoy the rest of summer!

 

[fan_of_small_world]

For those who aren't fond of the requests for specific brands, there really is a reason for those requests. After years of working with every crayon, pencil, etc. brand out there, those teachers know which ones work and which ones don't.

Crayola wins the crayon contest hands down. Other brands just don't cover well, which means kids are coloring over the same area over and over again, or they break quickly, which is a pain.

Fiskars scissors cut better than others, which is especially important in the lower grades where kids are still honing their cutting skills.

Real wood #2 pencils write smoothly and erase nicely, and personally I think Ticonderoga is the best quality-wise, since the lead seems to be stronger than in other brands.

Specific requests about hand sanitizer brands probably have to do with what is in them (i.e., alcohol).

 

[torinsmom]

Fiskar also works with both right and left handers, which is one of the reasons I ask for them.

As far as Crayola brand, they usually are pretty cheap at the back to school sales, 99 cents if I remember from last year. That's cheaper than the dollar tree.

Just wait until your kids are in middle school--the scientific calculators, flash drives, 3-4 inch binder,compass, protractor, composition books, planners, and the list goes on and on. I swear I spent $100 on my DS12's list last year.

Marsha

 

[aprilgail2]

Just wait until your kids are in middle school--the scientific calculators

Marsha

I was SO happy this year when they passed that the schools had to provide the students with those if they wanted them to use them-prior to this year the parents had to buy them but now the schools here are responsible for buying them!

 

[disneyofcourse]

That is insane!!! I remember back in elementary school my lists when something like this:

1 Glue stick
1 #2 pencil
1 set of markers
1 bottle of glue
1 Folder
pack of tissues

It seems like nowadays parents pay for supplies that schools used to provide. Lets see my younger sister is going into 6th grade now. 1 year ago I went shopping for her. I swear the list was like 12 blue pens, 6 red pens, 6 green pens, no pink pens, 12 black pens, 12 mechanical pencils, 24 #2 pencils, 12 notebooks, 7 folders, book report covers, 4 glue sticks. 6 book covers, 6 packs of classroom tissue, 2 hand sanitizers(one had to have a hook to put on jeans or bags), 2 Handsoap, 1 Dish soap, anti bacterial wipes, pencil box, 5-3 ring binders, two saftey scissors.. thats all I remember now. But I do remember paying $100 something dollars. It just seems silly and most of the stuff she just had to take to school to give to the teacher!

 

[mickeyboat]

.

Most lists are definitely excessive. It is a reflection of our wasteful habits and lack of responsibility. Children need to learn how to care for materials, whether they bring them from home or use those of others. As long as adults are demonstrating a "throw away" mentality, children will do the same. Teaching children and adults to be responsible is important. I take the time to teach my students how to glue and to use the pencil sharpener properly. Some people think that is silly and a waste of time. But in first grade, many of those things which are "second nature" need to be taught.

Great post. As I mentioned before, our school supplies almost everything our kids need, but they do place individual responsibility on the kids to care for what the school is supplying. They get supplies which are "theirs" and they keep them in their desks. Some teachers even label them with the kids' names. When something gets broken, used up, etc. the kids get a replacement from the teacher.

 

[ZPT1022]

That is insane!!! I remember back in elementary school my lists when something like this:

1 Glue stick
1 #2 pencil
1 set of markers
1 bottle of glue
1 Folder
pack of tissues

It seems like nowadays parents pay for supplies that schools used to provide. Lets see my younger sister is going into 6th grade now. 1 year ago I went shopping for her. I swear the list was like 12 blue pens, 6 red pens, 6 green pens, no pink pens, 12 black pens, 12 mechanical pencils, 24 #2 pencils, 12 notebooks, 7 folders, book report covers, 4 glue sticks. 6 book covers, 6 packs of classroom tissue, 2 hand sanitizers(one had to have a hook to put on jeans or bags), 2 Handsoap, 1 Dish soap, anti bacterial wipes, pencil box, 5-3 ring binders, two saftey scissors.. thats all I remember now. But I do remember paying $100 something dollars. It just seems silly and most of the stuff she just had to take to school to give to the teacher!

you forgot the partridge in a pear tree

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

On my older DS's list is 20 LARGE glue sticks. Holy cow, why in the world does he need that many large ones? For K, he needed 15 regular size ones. I just can't imagine what he'll be doing in the first grade that will require such a massive consumption of glue!

Unless I find a kick-butt sale, I'll be spending $35 on glue alone.

Maybe the school is doing a charity project patching up all the holes in the Huguenot Bridge.

 

[Tikicampers]

First, I just want to second pretty much everything that Daxx said. I taught title one first grade, and I now teach Kinder. and my experiences seem to have matched hers.

Second, I pool the supplies sent in. Other than folders for school-home correspondence, everything goes in together. My kids have cubbies, but things have a way of not getting put up or disappearing in them. If I had to wait for each child to find his or her stuff, I would lose valuable instruction time. If a parent sends in something for their child's specific use, I send it home. It is too much trouble to deal with.

Third, I absolutely teach students to respect materials and not to waste them, but there is only so much you can do. Last year we went over how to put caps back on about 20 times, and I was out starting in March due to maternity leave.

Last, as a parent, I have no problem providing extra for students who would otherwise go without. I was raised to feel that as someone who is lucky enough to have my needs met, I have a responsibility to help those who do not. There are many reasons why a family may not be able to provide supplies for their child. I could tell you some heartbreaking stories. And for the record, DH and I do all right, but we are by no means well off.
It would be nice if the state, district or whatever gave teachers money for supplies, but they don't. If that bothers people, then the thing to do is start contacting your congressmen and women.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

wait until Walmart or Kmart or Target has the end of season clearnace on school supplies -- you know the sale -- where you can buy things for a nickel or a dime.

Then, spend $10. You can get A BUNCH OF STUFF for $10 at a sale like this.

Then, take it to the least financially stable school in your town and leave it with the receptionist. Pick a grade......any grade......and ask for it to be delivered to the first grade teacher. Put a note inside to ask her/him to share as they wish.

MAKE A TEACHER'S DAY!

I did this last year I was at Target when they put the school supplies down to 90% off I bought ALL of it loaded it in boxes (15 boxes) went to the school (we only have one school small town) and asked in the office if they keep a stock of supplies for kids who can't afford them... the principal took me into a room with one box with like 4 pencils and 2 rulers and told me to take when I needed haha He was happy when I started carrying in boxes the notebooks were a penny boxes of pencils were 14 cents My favorite part was "cool" folders were 8 cents It seems my kids classes are SO into teh fun folders it will be great for someone who can't afford it to have tha Hannah Montana folders right? Maybe I am just weird that way... I plan to stalk Target again this year and do the same thing. I did laugh though at the end of the year when my DD was not allowed to pick up her report card because she owed her teacher $2.00 cents for a notebook (the 4th grade teacher charges if they run out of something) I toook teh money in to the office and laughed saying next time she is out send her into the room where they put all the notebooks I paid less than a dime for

 

[MM27]

I teach 4th grade and would never expect students to bring in supplies for other kids to use (unless they wanted to share). From a teacher's point of view some of the requests are really not that bizarre. Unless you've been in a classroom I don't think you would understand what it's like when 10 kids suddenly need to sharpen a pencil during a math lesson. I don't give a quantity, but I expect my students to come to school with pencils on a daily basis. Oh, and that electric sharpener...guess who had to buy it with their own money? When I arrived in my classroom I had textbooks, desks, chairs and one small box of books that looked older than me.

I don't know about other districts, but I receive very little each year for supplies. Unless the kids bring in things like tissues, wipes, pens, pencils, etc. I have to buy them with my own money. I easily spend about $500 a year on school related things. What other profession does this happen in?

I only ask for the things we really use on a daily basis. I had 49 students (2 classes) this year and I can't tell you how many pencils I went through. By January I started charging the kids 25 cents for a pencil so that I could buy replacements. They held onto those pencils since they bought them. I will start September like that this year.

BTW: our librarian does the shoe thing for pencils, but got into trouble when we had a fire drill and several kids had to hop outside with one shoe.

 

[Imzadi]

This thread is over on the Budget Board:
Staples $.01 sale