With budgets tightening and state funding decreasing, many teachers find that they’re able to order less for their class and must pass some of the responsibility to parents. Deciding which supplies are truly essential can be challenging. Must students’ folders be a specific color? Should coloring utensils be a certain brand? If parents’ budgets are as tight as the school budget is, questions such as these can and should be asked. Before the back-to-school rush begins, you can work together with parents to prepare kids for school by using our list of essential supplies that parents should buy.
Supplies for the Child
Specify that parents can tailor these basics to their child’s needs and preferences since he or she will be the only one to use them. This is where favorite colors, character themes or left hand/right hand preferences should be considered. At the same time, feathery pencils, glitter markers and other frilly items are unnecessary. Don’t be afraid to let parents know that these items would be a waste of money.
- Writing Utensils: Number 2 pencils, blue and black ballpoint pens, pink eraser and pencil sharpener
- Paper Products: Age-appropriate lined paper, graph paper for middle and high schoolers, a composition notebook and 3 – 5 spiral notebooks
- Glue stick and a four-ounce bottle of school glue
- Coloring Supplies: 16-pack (minimum) of crayons, watercolor paints, colored pencils and 8 classic colored markers
- Age-appropriate scissors
- Folders & Binders: 3-5 pocket folders with prongs, 1 1/2-inch to 3-inch three-ring binder
- Stay Organized: Plastic pencil pouch or small school supplies container, sturdy school backpack with sufficient space for folders, textbooks, lunch and necessary school supplies for homework
- Ruler with standard and metric measurements
Supplies for the Whole Classroom
Shared supplies are a necessity these days to compensate for lack of funding. Your attempts to purchase supplies for your whole class can be stressful as you must pay out-of-pocket for them. To solve this problem, your school is likely to issue a list of classroom supplies as by the teacher or grade level. Be specific with the information you provide to parents so shopping for these items will be easy and result in your students having access to the things they need.
- Facial tissue that’s unscented and soft
- Hand soap or sanitizer
- An extra glue stick
- 2-3 unused number 2 pencils with erasers
- Colored pencils or washable markers
- Post-It notes, index cards
Shopping for School Supplies
Let parents know they don’t need to be a teacher to shop at SchoolSpecialty.com! Skip the store, find everything for back-to-school right at your fingertips.
