Pleasing Office Products
Posted by Kim Murphy on 29 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Organization and Supplies, Teachers and Teaching
Do you know what I love about back-to-school time? Office products! Notebooks, pens, sticky notes, binder clips, crayons, stickers—I love them all! I want to twirl down the back-to-school aisle at the local superstore and sing a little ode to these marvelous items. (In my mind, I imagine being accompanied by a troupe of dancing writing utensils à la Disney.) Do you love office products as much as I do? Talk to me about how you acquire paper, crayons, stickers, and other items for your classroom. What does your school provide? What do you purchase yourself? What items do your youngsters bring to school? And is the economic crunch affecting your ability to acquire the items you need for your classroom? I can’t wait to hear from you.
Your blog cohost (and office geek),
Kimberly Brugger-Murphy
Congratulations to Diane Fangmeyer, Director/Teacher of Covenant Kids Preschool, Covenant Presbyterian Church; Omaha, Nebraska! She is the winner of a copy of the Big Book of Monthly Ideas, PreK-K.
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Believe it or not, State Fair time is just around the corner. In past years, I have found plenty of freebies there. Things like pencils, pens, markers, post-it-notes, etc. from booths at the fair. So what if a pencil or pen has a local television or radio station of it. It’s still a free pencil or pen that can be used for a student, right?
I love school supplies. Right now at some stores you can get free school supplies when you use their card. You pay upfront for them then when you check out, the cashier will give you extra care bucks for the money you spent. It’s awesome. Watch your sunday ads because it’s only free sunday-tuesday.
I just love going into the stores at back to school time! Sometimes I just go in to smell the new supplies or to just look at them. I would love to buy everything even it I don’t need them just because it’s back to school time. My students buy their supplies for my classroom not my supplies. I do buy a folder for each child and get it ready for open house. We ask each child to take a week and buy snacks for the whole class or to buy napkins, spoons, and cups for the whole class. That’s what we do at our preschool. I buy what I can and then ask the folks of the church where I work to buy some. My favorite things are any things teachery. I love teaching!
I love Post-it’s - especially the pop-up ones with the dispensers. Mechanical pencils are my other weakness - I rarely go to an office supply store without purchasing one of these items. I have bought so many things for my students for 25 cents and less.
Gel pens, rolling ball pens…..can’t get enough of them, extra fine point, please.
I love to write and am always jotting down ideas and reminders for myself.
Sticky notes come in a close second for my favorites.
The back to school isle brings the hope of a new and exciting school year, and it also brings to mind wonderful memories. I also like to watch parents and children as they look through the folders and binders and debate their preferences. Just yesterday I watched a Mom and daughter shop, Mom had the “list” in her hand and the daughter was kneeling on the floor, reaching to the back of the shelf to find just the perfect color folder.
Local stores are having wonderful sales this year to help families get their children ready for school.
I LOVE school supplies. They make me feel like a kid again. It also reminds me of the fun of learning. When kids see how much fun you are having they want to have it too! Fun school supplies helps to show kids learning can be fun!
I must admit that I am a sucker for post-it notes. I cannot get enough of them! I use them for everything! I especially love the ones with bright colors and fun shapes. You rarely see me pass them up in the store. Our school provides the plain yellow ones, but what fun are those? Give me the bright, bold, and fun shaped ones!
I love office supplies! I have a weekly tradition for getting the best bargains for my classroom. Every Sunday morning, over a great cup of coffee, I look over our local Sunday paper ads! There are so many items that I need that are on sale for very little money. I’ve gotten scissors, crayons, markers, rulers, etc. for .25 cents or less and sometimes items for free. The key is to get to the store early before they sell out.
This is my second year as a teacher for preschoolers with disabilities. I am so excited buying new stuff for my classroom. I do give my parents a list for supplies but love to go shopping for most of the things that I need. I work in a title one school and last year some parents apologized for the lack of supplies due to the economy. That is why I shop at Wal-mart, staples, and dollar tree for the best deals.
Back to School is so much fun (for me, not my kiddos)! I love to go out and shop as soon as I see the supplies have hit the stores. My kids hate it, so we get our lists and pick up everything and then pack it all away for 6 weeks, until school starts.
I know why Crayolas smell so good too; they are the smell of new beginnings! Excitement, new friends, reuniting with old friends and shiney, freshly waxed floors!
For me, the best purchase this year was a splurge on my very own labeling machine! You should see my file cabinet now!
School supplies! I watch and go for every sale with all available kids and relatives in tow so I can get enough of those really good bargins that have quantity limits! I make use of all the parents who work in industries that get a lot of “freebies” from vendors. I now have enough clipboards for every child. Printing companies have the leftover “oops!” notepads. Parents track down the “oops!” keys from the locksmiths in town for our math center. For those garage sale addicted parents, I give them a list, cash, and a “no more than” price per item. A long time ago, in St. Louis, MO, there was a teacher’s recycling center. It was the best $25 I ever spent…can you say Toyota full, had to leave a child behind to collect later!!!!!! Just kidding…it was another teacher (smile).
I have two favorite stores. Staples and Discount Supply. As owner/teacher/janitor, etc. (child care center) having a budget and sticking to it is crucial. I enjoy purchasing all of the “deals” Staples has just before school. And they have great teacher bags! We live in a small community and everyone is very supportive of our program. Parents and community members sometimes drop off items for the children.
I, too, love to go down the school supply aisle! I love buying crayons, binders, and pencils! My kids are older 16,16, & 21 and don’t like all the “cute” stuff anymore but I still do! I love the sticky notes and stickers. I am fortunate that I work in a district that supplies us with the crayons, scissors, paper, glue, etc. We have smart teacher assistants who know how to ration these items so we will have them last throughout the year. Parents pull items from our “wish list” on open house days items such as baby wipes, cleaning wipes, kleenex and paper towels come to us during the first weeks. Our PTO has started giving us $100/semester to use on items we use alot and normally would pay for ourselves such as items for a special project, etc. We are very fortunate that we work in such a supportive district but I still love to buy my own stuff!
I am fortunately given $200 for supplies at end of each year for following year, we also receive $75 from our PTO from their fund raisers, we get $50 from Fac. Sen. I also spend a bunch of my own money, but I look at it as an investment into my classroom. It takes a huge hit on my wallet, with having to raise three children of my own, but they benefit as well. I love the Dollar Tree stores, they are great all year round shopping for almost all the items you may need in your classroom, I also purchase books with my book club bonus points for my library and I also have a few parents each year that if I need it they will run out and get it for me. I again am fortunate, but my career has not always been so fortunate. I worked in districts where money wasn’t available and that is why I love flea markets, book sales, and auctions.
I forgot to mention I love reading all the great ideas. Thanks for sharing everyone. Also, any extra materials/supplies like tissues, hand soap, etc. I offer to our (art, music, computer, librarian, physical educators). Have a great day.
We have a wish list at our school that we don’t require, but offers those that wish to assist a list of items that are consumable and frequently used that is our “staple”, we have a PO for two hundred dollars for paper, glue, pencils, calculators, etc., and the $Dollar Tree’s are a blessing in disguise. Especially at this time of year, but has always offered great variety of teaching tools from flash cards, treasure chest prizes,stickers, motivational certificates etc. I find I average spend a substantial amount each year for items that I think add to our learning. Our PTO raises money each year by having books sales, breakfasts, dances, bake sales, “WVU Mountaineer Night” and bought our kids a wonderful new playground and with the extra money they gave each teacher $75 dollars, and you have several wonderful fortunate parents that can offer a little something extra. I had a year where a parent bought the Harry Potter book series for class and a globe, since our globe broke. Other years they have brought 20 spiral notebooks for a dime a piece. Our Principle spoils us with as much as she can offer as well. I can’t complain…yet.
I love back to school supply shopping too. I teach in a Catholic School where money is tight. I buy many items such as glue, glue sticks ,pens, and crayons etc. and save them during the year to give to the students as gifts for Christmas ,Valentines and Easter. They usually need new supplies by that time any way and love the little gifts. I save money that way too and avoid the candy splurge.
As a K teacher in a Title I school I have first hand knowledge of just how tight budgets can be. I’m not shy about asking my parents for classroom donations and have been blessed to have a few in every group that go above and beyond to help. That said I do purchase a lot of materials out of pocket and adore Staples penny sales for this reason! I’m also careful to ask if a store provides a teacher rewards program or discount for teachers . . . . never hurts to ask!
On a side note, I really appreciate the above comment about helping out the Encore teachers (music, art, pe, etc.). Not having a homebase class of their own can make acquiring supplies particularly difficult for these teachers. So thanks!
I LOVE back to school time! Back-to-school shopping has always been a favorite of mine, even when I was a child! Walking through those aisles full of new pencils, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, crayons, markers, etc. just thrills me all the way to my toes! Now as a teacher I still find those thrills, but I enjoy seeing what my students have purchased more than looking for myself. I teach at a private school and the school provides supplies (via a tuition fee) so all the students have the same folders, notebooks, etc. But I still find myself wandering down those aisles just drooling over the new stuff and always needing to buy at least one new package of pens or pencils just so it really feels like “back to school”!
I love getting all my supplies for my class ready and in their crayon cubbies. Most of my needed items are supplied by my local smart start office and my center. I do give my parents a list of art items that I use all year and they chose 3 items to bring in to share with the class. I also put on the list things like Kleenex, paper plates, hand sanitizer, coffee filters for art projects, etc. The children enjoyed bringing in the items because they were like their older siblings taking items to school. We had enough Kleenexes to last us until May which was great. Back to school is an exciting time with all new stuff and fresh bulletin boards.
I enjoy getting my new supplies and organizing the folders, pens, and paper. Unfortunately for me, that is the most organized I’ll be all year. I had $125 for classroom supplies but that wasn’t enough for all of the folders and pens I need. So I’ll watch for all of the back to school sales to get everything else. During the year, I love to shop Dollar Tree for extra reward pencils (12 for $1), laser and motion stickers, and fun erasers. Jo-Ann Fabrics has fun paper clips and other stuff in their $1 section by the check-out. I love to collect and give out fun stuff all during the year.
I have been kidded for several years by peers for always having sticky note tabs on pages of various notebooks for the faculty. I finally gave in to this idea that I really do love sticky notes of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. My students this past year would bring me one here and there for a nice surprise! Being in a Title 1 school, I know it is hard (and is getting harder) for parents to provide the basics so I ask that the child/parent write me a note for Christmas or any other special day. Many have attached their note to a small but special sticky pad while others have given me a gift bag full of multiple fun writing pads. With the budget being zero this year, salaries being cut, and furlough days coming I don’t have the extra money either to purchase the little extra supplies for 24+ students like I have the last 23 years. We even went through a closet and found packages of somewhat faded construction paper but it will get the job done with a little imagination and who can’t always work on motor skills of cutting!? This is going to be the most challenging year yet with extremely limited supplies but I ventured out and purchased all ‘my kids’ with Crayola Crayons…….they do smell the best and are certainly more vibrant! I also collect a great collection of paper clips. Staples has the best selection and when they are on sale - look out!
I love back to school time. Walking down those aisles with all those smells brings me back to when I was a child. I can’t wait to stock up on the crayons and pencils, paper and markers. My kids think I’m crazy but I love being organized and prepared. Our center supplies all the basics, so we are pretty lucky.
I Love Back to School Shopping…my husband hates it. He tries to get in and out, I want around to find the great buys.
I also found that if you wait…besides the after school begins and they are trying to get rid of everything sales…Target has good buys in their $1 section throughout the year. You wont get plain pencils or folders, but for teachers who cares.
As a teacher and a mommy, I also make sure I go to the Art Room, PE Room and Music Room and take a wish list item off their trees…especially in this economic time and when they are trying to get rid of those subjects, I feel anything that can help.
I teach in a small school district in the Mid West and our budget has been cut this year. We do give students a supply list but they often come without supplies or just pencils or bare basics, Our supply list includes ziplock bags, hand sanitizer, baby wipes and Kleenex in addition to the basic school supplies. I have a $100 classroom budget and spend a lot of my own money!
I love back to school time! The smell of new crayons! However, with the economy the way it is I find myself spending more of my own money than ever before which of course impacts my wallet! I just keep looking for bargains and am making some things like journals this year and not buying them.
Is it just me or is it only the Crayola crayons that make you go “AHH!” The cheapy brands just don’t do it for me. Maybe it is just that yellow and green box but I love CRAYOLA crayons! I already had 20 boxes at school but I bought 50 more… one box to start 1st semester and 1 to start 2nd semester! It is just an addiction buying things and preparing for the next year. I started in June figuring out what was on hand in my room and what I needed to buy!
I am definitely finding the economic crunch impacting my own WALLET as many parents last year were unable to buy all the supplies on the list that were requested. As supplies ran out many of my parent newsletter requests for more of an item often went ignored. Parents think the school system provides us with everything in our classrooms. I have spent thousands of dollars on my rooms over the 2 decades I have taught. I have already spent $200 on sale items that I know I will need. Our district only refunds $50 of what we spend. My husband knows that if I have the supplies I need my job is much easier so he never complains anymore and watches sales for me too!
I am in one of those $100. for the year schools and that includes all my office supplies plus my copy paper! I buy my own pens, notepads, etc; seems fair since I ask my students to supply theirs. So of course I am always looking for bargains. Those bargain sales (I find 10 cent sales, too) are a bonanza so keep watching the ads. Also, our local office supply store gives teachers a discount through August, and in Staples, with their teacher reward card and a school ID, you can increase the typical limit of 5 or 10 up to 25. A nice store manager will increase this to 30 if you have larger classes. We identify what we need, and have each team member, family or friends go in til we have a grade level set of folders, pencils, erasers, etc. Our supply list includes the sanitizers, tissues and paper towels. And I also include the information for organizations that give away school supplies for those kids that cannot afford them. We send out the list in June for the upcoming grade, so the parents have the info and can bargain hunt also.
I love it when stores have their folders for a penny! I pick them up in sets of colors for homework folders, reading folders, unfinished work folders and parent night folders. At 4 cents per child it is a bargain!
I loved back to school supplies even before I became a teacher! I love the smell of crayons! At Christmas time, I always have new coloring books out for my guest to color. My children, now grown, (28 & 30)always buy me school supplies for Christmas and birthdays. At the beginning of each school year, I stock up on all of the great sales at discount stores.
Before I became a teacher I would get so annoyed with the Back to School section going up in stores because it felt like it just cut my summers with my kids in half. NOW - I love the Back to School section. I drag my kids down the aisle as they repeated claim - “it’s to early to shop school supplies” (my famous quote)
My school does not supplies and the kids are from low income families so my favorite thing is to watch for the penny - well quarter this year - sells. I then go in and collect a class set and that way if I have a student that doesn’t have the supplies I can provide for them.
I love the beginning of the year and starting out with brand new crayons, folders, etc. Our school district provides some school supplies and teachers also send home a list for students. This year our budget for classroom supplies was cut 20% first time in 6 yrs.
New supplies are one of the exciting things about the beginning of a new school year. My students are not required to bring items, our school district puts supplies into the budget and we order them each year. I have bins in my classroom that hold crayons, glue sticks, scissors, pencils, etc. Those students who would like to bring their own supplies can, but it isn’t necessary
I would love to know how the smell of colored wax can make so many people so happy
I have always loved shopping for back to school supplies.
I love the image of the back-to-school aisle dance number! That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?
I LOVE GETTING NEW CRAYONS, PENCILS, PENS, AND MARKERS. THE GREAT ITEMS ON THE BACK TO SCHOOL AISLE
ARE WONDERFUL. KEEP THEM COMING. I ALSO FEEL STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE LATEST DESIGNS IN NOTEBOOKS AND MATCHING PENCILS.
I love to watch for the bargain items, like 20 cent glue sticks, which will be over a dollar in another month. Many of the “office” type items are supplied by my school. Parents also provide the basic supplies that their children will personally use. I always buy extra supplies for those students whose families cannot afford things and to fill a few school boxes to have on hand for those students who move in and have nothing. My grandson is starting kindergarten and his list is different, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, zip-loc bags, multiple packs of sticky notes, no crayons, glue or scissors.
Wow, hearing about teachers with $250-$350 budgets AND parent donations makes me jealous! We get $100 from the office for the entire year, and while we do post wish lists at back to school night, we do not send home supply lists with students. I teach at a low-income school where most kids can’t afford supplies, in fact I had a little girl ask if she could take home her school pencil because she didn’t have one at home to do her homework.
$100/year for 20 kids doesn’t go far, so I spend a lot of time at garage sales, back to school sales, and a LOT out of pocket.
YOU GO GIRLS!!!!!
I am with you all the way. Even though I love summer and getting the chance to get caught up, time with family, etc…. I do get excited when the supplies come out in the stores. I have two boys who could care less. I have to pretend I don’t care if we’re shopping because they do not like going down those aisles in July or even in early August. However, when I do get a chance to shop by myself I just devour the smell, the new colors of things, the new items they have and well, what teacher is not excited to get a bargain!!!! I was a little disappointed in some of the sales too. However, in the town I teach crayons were .25 cents at Wal-Mart. When I went shopping in a bigger city and went to Wal-Mart, they had the same kind for .15 cents. So keep looking for the bargains.
The parents at my school pay a supply fee at the beginning of the year that covers all of our students’ school supplies (except their backpacks). I purchase things like die-cuts, nameplates, and stickers to start the year off. I also send a wish list home with each child at the beginning of the year, requesting things like paper, envelopes, stickers, treasure box items, and gift cards for Lakeshore, Target, Michaels, and Borders (to purchase special items throughout the year).
I work for Headstart. The majority of my children are from low income families and cannot bring in a lot. We do, however, have parents who can purchase some materials for us to use in the classroom. Our center does supply our classrooms with construction paper, paint, markers, crayons, collage materials, etc. My co-worker and I usually get together and plan the themes we would like to use and come up with a theme for our classroom. From there, we figure out what materials we want and split the cost. I also love to stock up on the back to school supplies such as crayons, markers, pencils, etc. When you can purchase them for 30¢ each, you can stock up for the year.
July 29, 2009
Dear Kimberly,
My school has never bought the student’s supplies. Parents are given a supply list and are to purchase items like:
3-prong folders with pockets,
boxes of crayons
spiral notebook
plastic schoolbox
tubs of Play Doh
boxes of tissues
#2 pencils
pink pearl erasers
backpack or buy a school bag
bottles of Elmers, black label, glue
glue sticks
copy paper
sanitize gel
baby wipes
disinfectant wipes
case of watercolor paints
scissors
washable markers
ziploc bags (various sizes)
That’s all “well and good” but about 1/3-1/2 of the parents send nothing or neglect to send: watercolor paint sets, 3-prong folders with pockets, backpacks, tissues, spiral notebooks, scissors, or pink pearl erasers. I usually spend about $40.00-$50.00 or my own money to make up the difference. Also, we do not receive any money for start up supplies or maintenance supplies, so I spend around $500.00-$700.00 of my own money; (on printer paper, printer ink, science, soc. stud. and art supplies).
My school is at about 87% free and/or reduced lunch.
I absolutely love it when school supply time comes! It’s a weakness. I particularly love the smell of new pencils and paper. However, I’m a little dissapointed that Staples did not have more 1 cent sales this year. I still got crayolas in 24 box for 25 cents @ Wal-Mart!
I love getting back to school supplies. I think I have passed that love on to my girls. We are already finished shopping and we still have a month off;)
I buy a lot of my stuff, the school gets us some supplies, and the children bring some supplies of their own. I also hang a tree in my room with apples hanging on it. On each apple I write supplies that I would love to have. I try to make it easy and inexpensive for parents to help if they can. I add things like foamies, small paper plates, and glitter glue. I make a point of sending each parent that helps a hand written thank you. I feel that lets them know just how much I appreciate their help.
This will be the first year that I do not have a child of my own to get ready for school as my youngest is off to college in the fall. While I should be thankful that this expense is behind me ( compared to his college expenses it seems like nothing!) I find myself a little misty about losing the experience. I think I will go ahead and get some of what he would usually need and donate it to a student in my class that doesn’t seem to have enough.
My children always think that I am a bit odd, but there is nothing like a new pack of crayons! I always love to open up the box and look at all the colors and neat sharp points. Maybe that is why I am a preschool teacher..hmmm. A new crayon junkie exposed.
OMG, just the smell of a new box of crayons and new markers with sharp tips, it’s the best. Not to mention all the cool organizing things. I love it all. As far as school supplies my school issues a supply list for parents to purchase. For those that are unable to purchase our counslor along with the PTA have kits available.
I teach in a Head Start program and many of our children come from low income homes. We cannot ask them to provide anything. Head Start here provides our file folders, paints, construction paper, glue and some glue sticks, and other misc. supplies. I usually watch for the sales and try to purchase and send home with each child: a box of crayons, a pencil, scissors, and a glue stick. This allow them to have a “school box” at home and encourages practice of skills learned at school. I purchase extras for the class. I have a very understanding husband who realizes that after 30 years of teaching, I STILL need new crayons and such to start the year!
I also love school supplies. I like to see what is new. My weakness is gel pens/markers in different colors. I buy markers/highlighters, erasers, and crayons when they are on sale now to give as prizes and gifts at Christmas time. The different pens have been a hit for my older students. This is the time to find the bargains!
I love the shopping for school supplies. I manage a church mothers’ day out program and we do a developmentally appropriate program for our children. When stores have sales and you can only buy a certain limit, I take my husband so he can buy a quanity also. The first year he hated the school shopping, now he also scans the sale papers for items we may need. Our local school supply store always has a big sale in July. We plan our vacation around the sale date. The other great bargins are the library sales. I already have a big note on my bulletin board to go to one on 15 Aug. I have bought new items for my program at garage sales. You just have to keep your eyes open.
Isupply a lot of my students supplies. I buy a lot on sale. Students are also asked to bring in class supplies(whatever they bring is shared by the class). However, I have a resource that many teachers in our district can (BUT do NOT take advantage of). I call it the free store. It is a teacher salvage warehouse and if the school meets certain criteria, teachers can go once a month to get some supplies. I LOVE it! I, also, love searching out teacher and office supplies at different stores. Searching for bargains is such fun!
I love the beginning of a new school year! All the new supplies and bulliten board sets. My kids love back to school too and have been pestering me for new backpacks and clothes. Back to school means SHOPPING!! woohoo!
It is the hunt for the bargain - making a dollar stretch and the many different ways to use old or new things in different ways.
A friend of mine joked that one reason people become teachers is so they have an excuse to buy school supplies. I love going down the school supplies aisle. My students bring most of the supplies they need- notebooks, pencils, glue, crayons, markers, etc. My classroom has rulers and scissors for the students to use. I use the classroom budget to buy incentives like stickers and prizes, as well as other classroom items- things for bulletin boards, posters, art project supplies, things for centers, and games for indoor recess.
I love school supplies!! I love to shop for them and find the best bargains. My kids want to get all the supplies at the first store we go to but I tell them we need bargains. That is part of it but I love to go to all the stores and find the best deals. My favorite is gel pens to grade papers and I always get all my kids a new box of 24 crayons to start off the school year. There is nothing better than a brand new box of crayons! I get one for myself also.
Back to school sales rock!!!! I am always on the look out for the best buy on crayons, they seems to go the fastest with kinders, at least in my room.
Our school doesn’t supply us with much and our 250 classroom budget doesn’t go far when file folders and stuff come out of it too. I recycle all that I can from year to year and shop yard sales and resell shops looking for bargins all year long.
I do really enjoy the first days of the school year when everything is new.
I can hear your Ode to Office Products in my mind …
Sung to “Ode to Joy” …
Sticky Notes and BallPoint Pens and
Pink Erasers, Small and Large!
Pencils wood, mechanical and
Notebooks: “High School Musical”!
My own children are always amazed (and a little frustrated) that everytime we go shopping their mom has to look at potential sales for preschool. We are a church preschool with a tight budget so I am always searching for the best deals. Our preschool doesn’t make supply lists for the children; we do post ‘wish’ lists in our monthly newsletter and at Christmas we encourage families to purchase a gift for the classroom instead of individual teachers. That has been a wonderful way to get new items for the classroom and stock up on office supplies, kleenex, soap, etc. And all my teachers love sharpies and all the wonderful colors - the metallic silver is always a popular one.
I heard a parent complain awhile back that it was too early for school supplies. But I love them too! I go back evey couple of weeks to see what prices have dropped especially once school has started so I get the best deals on items the stores are trying to get rid of.
This year our principal informed us we each have a classroom budget of $350 for the WHOLE school year. So I decided I was going to need to rely on parents even more than usual. What I decided to do is make each student a supply bag. I am going to request certain items such as crayons, glue sticks, pencils, etc from each parent. There child’s supplies will go in their bag and will only be replenished from their bag. Not only does that show me which students need a crash course in glue usage but if they run out parents are only buying a few items at a time. I may even advise them to stock up at the sales for later in the year. And if there is a student whose parents can’t or won’t provide for him then I’m only buying a few things instead of 20+ at a time.
As a preschool teacher we have the ultimate in back-to-school items. It’s so exciting to see the rainbows of construction paper, crayons, markers, glitter, paint and new playdough!
I am in love with office/school supplies! I am also an organization freak, which you probably could tell if I had the money to buy the containers I really want! We send home a supply list with every child, but this year we do have several families who said it would be difficult to afford. So, we just tell them if they can swing it great, if not don’t sweat it! But that first day is magical! All the new tissue boxes, crayons, markers, glue, ohhh it’s beautiful! Our budget it so tight since we are just starting our second year as a preschool and childcare that teachers are responsible for anything other than the basics like construction paper, glue and scissors. So it definitely has taught all of us to be resourceful, that’s for sure!
I have gone about three times a week to different stores trying to find the best sales!
The students in my school also can not afford half of what is on the list. I myself watch for those great deals (like notebooks for a penny!) and stock up. This way I have the things kids need.
My district does buy a few things for the teachers. I got binders and composition notebooks as well as a large box of crayons that has 30 of each color, this has lasted several years.
I also do community supplies. All the pencils you bring go in a box and we share, same with glue and other things. This way things go a little further.
Our school district has a long list of supplies the students are asked to purchase. Last year, I noticed that more and more of the students were unable to buy all the needed supplies. As a result, the students would borrow the extra supplies I have on hand or they shared with their classmates.
The economic crunch has affected my own ability to purchase the items I need for my classroom. Our school has cut back on what they will provide for us as well. It has taught us all to become more creative with the resources we have on hand. The students seem to take better care of their supplies and are more appreciative of what they are given.
I LOVE Sharpies!!! And Post it notes,and the smell of new crayons!!!!
One of the students I’m working with this summer complained to me yesterday that his mom went out and got all his school supplies, which made him mad. He went on to say, “It’s such a rip off! I didn’t even get to go and see all the cool stuff I could wish for, you know, like cool notebooks and stuff.”
Guess teachers aren’t the only ones that are smitten with back-to-school “stuff” that’s out there!