Anyone else get annoyed.. (School Supplies)

[shaunaday]

Welcome back! Bless you for the work you do!

Thanks. I couldn't imagine doing anything else...school supplies and all.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Yes, I am serious. My child should get to use the stuff I buy. I want him to use washable markers and washable crayons. I dont want his entire wardrobe destroyed with stains because some other parent purchased crayons that aren't washable. I don't want him coming home crying because some kid was using a specific pencil and he wanted it. I don't think its unreasonable to want him to be able to use what I buy or that everyone needs to use the same thing.

 

[shaunaday]

I don't want him coming home crying because some kid was using a specific pencil and he wanted it.

Why not? This is an important life lesson.

I don't think its unreasonable to want him to be able to use what I buy or that everyone needs to use the same thing.

So poor kids should use the supplies you call sub-standard?

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Yep, if thats what they can afford, yes. My husband works hard so our kids can have the nice things in life. I will gladly send extras but I want my child to get the things my husband works hard for!

 

[Aristomommy]

Why not? This is an important life lesson.



So poor kids should use the supplies you call sub-standard?

There is another school supply thread and some teachers posted how they want Crayola crayons and markers and reinforced notebook paper etc. So there are teacher that think differently than you and want specific brands because they feel the quality is different.

As far as the earlier post about novelty school supplies. I think shopping for school supplies is fun for kids, they enjoy the experience and gets them excited about school. I don't expect my child's teachers to keep track of my child's things. That's why they are labeled. I also don't mind community supplies for filler paper etc, but what is the harm in having a Hello Kitty pencil box that stays in her desk?

I appreciate all that you do for the children you teach. Many of us spend time and money in our professions that are never reimbursed and teachers certainly do that. I was surprised though of the tone in your post, if you just started for the year

 

[Aristomommy]

P.S. With all due respect...anyone want to start a thread on how much your child's teachers are spending on school supplies?

P.S. I am happy to send whatever is needed, if I am made aware of it

 

[J3nn78]

P.S. With all due respect...anyone want to start a thread on how much your child's teachers are spending on school supplies?

I am a teacher and I spend a couple hundred dollars of my own money every year on school supplies for my students. I buy them all the same pencil boxes. I buy 3 boxes of crayons for each student to have throughout the year. I usually have 28-30 kids in my class too. There is many more things I buy all year long. I spend my own money to buy the craft materials for my students to make gifts for their parents on holidays, etc...

As for the original question/issue about being POd about not labeling items. I tell my students NOT to label. Not so I can distribute their things to others, but so that I can label MY way. I make labels ahead of time with their names and a number system that I use. Some things also go in a community bin for things like dry erase markers, so they do not need to be labeled.

Honestly, I think you have better things to be worried about. I am sure your child will not be losing out even if their teacher does share the items.

 

[mjantz]

Why do parents buy "novelty" items for SCHOOL?!?! School supplies are NOT "special treats for your kids"! I am sick to death of seeing glue that lights up when you squeeze it, combination locked pencil boxes, plastic glitter coated pencils (which by the way is the reason we go through so many pencil sharpeners each year) and spring loaded rulers. I mean seriously...think about what the average teacher has to deal with in class. As a second grade teacher, I do not want to have to do desk and backpack searches because little Suzy's puppy pencil with the battery operated, spinning eraser has come up missing!!

I tell kids to either drop the supplies in the community supply box on the first day of school or take the supplies home for a "special homework supply box". I don't care which...but I refuse to spend valuable time tracking down the crap that never should have been brought to school to begin with. We have a no toy policy for a reason...yet so many of the supplies kids bring to school are as distracting as toys!...

I buy novelty stuff (usually pencils) because my kids like them. I always send in the standard yellow ones the supply list asks for but they also get extra 'cool' ones to keep in their pencil boxes. My parents & I love putting special pencils in their stockings & they love getting them on vacations as well. My DS was in 2nd grade last year & she'd only take 1 special pencil at a time. If it got too short or was lost, she could take another one to school.
I see your point about stuff that lights up or makes noise but is a Hannah Montana or Transformers pencil really that much of a distraction?

 

[shaunaday]

I appreciate all that you do for the children you teach. Many of us spend time and money in our professions that are never reimbursed and teachers certainly do that. I was surprised though of the tone in your post, if you just started for the year

You are surprised at the tone of my post?

I am not sure I understand. I'm clearly frustrated with this thread, but I stated that...so I am not sure what you are surprised about. I didn't mean to come off with a "tone" towards anyone in particular, if that is what you mean.

Now, I am signing off on this thread before I lose my reputation for being sweet and laid back.

Feel free to debate over glow in the dark glue sticks, glitter pencils and the best marker brands for 5 year olds. I have to go finish up next week's reading lesson plans for 16 students (who, trust me care a lot less about pencil boxes than parents would like to think).

 

[J3nn78]

I have no problem with my students having their own novelty pencil. But, I guess I am mean when it comes to things not on my list. They are sent home. I also HATE all the nonsense school supplies. They just become "toys" and distractions to the kids. This is why my list is simple and they are not allowed an extra things.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Alright, I just got home from Walmart and heres what our list required and here is what I bought.


List Required:

1—Package (12) of # 2 pencils

1—Plastic supply box

10—Glue sticks (large)

2- Bottle of hand sanitizer (7.5 oz.)

1— Box of zipper lock bags (girls – sand wich size, boys – gallon size )

1—Backpack (no rolling backpacks!)

3—duo-tang folders (3 prong with pockets / 1 each: red, blue, yellow)

1—box of tissues

2—box of baby wipes

3—box of 24 count crayons

2—boxes of “fat” crayons



Here is what I bought:

3 boxes of baby wipes at $2.16 each = $6.48
10 Large Elmer's Glue Sticks at $1.58 each = $15.80
2 of the 24 pack yellow pencils at $0.97 each = $1.94
1 plastic pencil box = $0.97
4 boxes of 24 pack washable Crayola crayons at $2.54 each = $10.16
1 pack of 4 High School Musical Pencils = $1.00
3 boxes of fat Crayola washable crayons at $2.12 each = $6.36
1 value sized box of ziploc gallon sized storage bags = $2.83
1 red folder asked for = $1.97
1 blue folder asked for = $1.97
3 boxes of Kleenex = $3.47
40 oz. Hand Sanitizer = $5.24

I also bought a small hand sanitizer for his desk. I don't mind buying extras, I just want to be sure he will get to use the same stuff I buy. I bought 1 extra of things to be sure he will get them. I will label one of each thing.

All that we have to buy now is a backpack (he has picked out a skull Jansport that we need to find), a lunch box, a yellow folder, and some lunch containers and he will be set.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I will ask for forgiveness ahead of time...

Today was our first day of school and every year supplies are a big pain in the tooshie for us teachers!! Just as I suspected, this year was no different.

Why do parents buy "novelty" items for SCHOOL?!?! School supplies are NOT "special treats for your kids"! I am sick to death of seeing glue that lights up when you squeeze it, combination locked pencil boxes, plastic glitter coated pencils (which by the way is the reason we go through so many pencil sharpeners each year) and spring loaded rulers. I mean seriously...think about what the average teacher has to deal with in class. As a second grade teacher, I do not want to have to do desk and backpack searches because little Suzy's puppy pencil with the battery operated, spinning eraser has come up missing!!

I tell kids to either drop the supplies in the community supply box on the first day of school or take the supplies home for a "special homework supply box". I don't care which...but I refuse to spend valuable time tracking down the crap that never should have been brought to school to begin with. We have a no toy policy for a reason...yet so many of the supplies kids bring to school are as distracting as toys!

Also, there isn't room in the desks for any extra stuff!!

Now having said that...our list only amounts to about 25 bucks worth of stuff. I can't imagine having to spend much more than that per student at one time.

Climbing down off soapbox...

Why not? This is an important life lesson.


:

First, I don't understand how not being able to use a special pencil is a life lesson a child should learn.

Second, I am a former public school teacher. I never had more than a few simple things on my list. If my students wanted Hannah Montana pencils instead of yellow pencils, so be it. It is just a pencil. It seems like there are so many more important things to worry about than whose parent bought supplies that are more toyish. Maybe because I taught 4th grade these things didn't concern me as much. Maybe because after years of teaching they didn't bother me anymore? Not sure. But you seem to be upset considering you claim you love being a teacher.

I have been there. I spent the money on my own class. I saw the students bring in glow in the dark glue. Now I teach my own children and they can use whatever pencil, glue, paper they want. I don't think they are missing out on any important life lesson.

 

[rlk]

We usually need to spend approx. $150.00 per child (I have 2). What really gets me is every year they ask for scissors, yet we never get them back at the end of the year. Where do all those scissors go?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

While we're on the subject of school supplies, I just got my daughter's list, which includes a list from 4 different teachers (homeroom/English, Social Studies, Science and Math. The list is HUGE. But here's my question -- her homeroom teacher listed the following, among other things:

(1) 1 subject notebook
(1) spiral notebook
Loose-leaf
(2) 3 ring binders with theme paper

Now maybe I'm an idiot, but what's the difference between a 1 subject notebook and a spiral notebook; same question for the loose-leaf and the 3 ring binder w/theme paper? Aren't the first two items and the second two items the same thing?

Life was easier when we used to get a list home at the beginning of the year saying please send us a check and we'll supply everything.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Where do all the scissors go? Good question. I am a daycare provider, and I buy more every year. My house must have at least 30 pairs of kids scissors floating around somewhere. Also given all the pens I buy, why can I never find one when the phone rings and I need to write something down.

 

[perkinsrose]

While we're on the subject of school supplies, I just got my daughter's list, which includes a list from 4 different teachers (homeroom/English, Social Studies, Science and Math. The list is HUGE. But here's my question -- her homeroom teacher listed the following, among other things:

(1) 1 subject notebook
(1) spiral notebook
Loose-leaf
(2) 3 ring binders with theme paper

Now maybe I'm an idiot, but what's the difference between a 1 subject notebook and a spiral notebook; same question for the loose-leaf and the 3 ring binder w/theme paper? Aren't the first two items and the second two items the same thing?

Life was easier when we used to get a list home at the beginning of the year saying please send us a check and we'll supply everything.

??? Maybe they mean one should be the kind with perforated paper than can be torn out cleanly--not the jagged, frayed spiral rip out kind???

One time (1st grade) the school list included photos of the kind of items she was requesting-- a certain pencil/bag that would fit in a 3 ring binder and a certain kind of wipes (not for the kids to use --but for wiping down the tables).

I'm sure some people in our area would be all up in arms about public schools asking for money for classroom items, but it does seem like it would cut out alot of hassle & controversy if teachers need specific items especially if they plan on pooling supplies.

 

[perkinsrose]

Where do all the scissors go? Good question. I am a daycare provider, and I buy more every year. My house must have at least 30 pairs of kids scissors floating around somewhere. Also given all the pens I buy, why can I never find one when the phone rings and I need to write something down.

I had the same problem with pens& pencils. Finally got a wirebasket with magnet on the back that attaches to fridge. Now I always know where to find one.

 

[rt2dz]

Where do all the scissors go? Good question. I am a daycare provider, and I buy more every year. My house must have at least 30 pairs of kids scissors floating around somewhere. Also given all the pens I buy, why can I never find one when the phone rings and I need to write something down.

I have a solution for you—DS2. I was house-sitting for my parents. Every day that little guy brought me *at least* 5 pairs of scissors. When my parents got home and I had a huge pile of at least 30 scissors, my mom wanted to know where I found them all; she can never find a pair of scissors. He has the same radar for pens, pencils, crayons and chalk—just look at my walls!

 

[Asellus]

I have a solution for you—DS2. I was house-sitting for my parents. Every day that little guy brought me *at least* 5 pairs of scissors. When my parents got home and I had a huge pile of at least 30 scissors, my mom wanted to know where I found them all; she can never find a pair of scissors. He has the same radar for pens, pencils, crayons and chalk—just look at my walls!

My 2 yr old is the same way.....we can never find any pens but somehow she manages to find every single one to draw with.

 

[shaunaday]

But you seem to be upset considering you claim you love being a teacher.

Okay, I said I am stepping out of the debate over supplies and I am. I don't feel the need for everyone to agree with my point of view. However, this comment had rubbed me wrong...

I do love being a teacher. I don't see a relationship between not allowing my less fortunate kids use the Crayolas while we are in centers because their parents can't afford them, equates to not loving this profession. Quite the opposite. Perhaps you have been out of the field too long?

I was thinking about this today. And so I am just throwing this out here...do you see a relationship between school dress code debates and this school supply debate? Think about it. Many people can't understand why teachers don't want "special supplies". Well...why do schools have school uniforms? I have heard the arguement that clothing choices can be a distracton...it creates seperation of classes, jealousy and therefore can create an environment unfit for learning. Is there much of a difference between this arguement over "special supplies" and the arguement over school dress codes?

What are your thoughts?