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.
64 Comments |
Subscribe
|
Email This
64 Responses to “Pleasing Office Products”
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 » Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 » Show All Comments
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.