I am planning to buy the more expensive calculators since they will need them for the advanced classes later on.DD's list had the same thing when she was in middle school. We got hers at Target for around $25 its a Texas Instrument T something, I think. She's going in 10th grade now, still has it and still uses it. Don't spend the $100 because they do have better priced ones.
Too bad that he doesn't like the LL Bean backpacks. I love the lifetime guarantee. My DH had one that he used in college and then we took on vacations for him to carry stuff during the day. It finally wore out (after over 20 years of use) and LL Bean replaced it for free!! Last year I ordered the ones for my girls from the website but if I had been thinking better, I would have taken them to the LL Bean outlet and paid half as much. Oh well!I need to print off my ds school supply list. I did get some uniforms ordered this week with Land's End penny logo and free shipping. Very excited about that deal. He needs a new backpack and wants a navy and red one. I have found one at PBK, but am not sure about the quality. I want one that will last a few years. He does'nt like the LL bean ones, but is okay with one of the Land's End ones. Decisions, Decisions.
Math/physics teacher here. When they get to algebra II/trig they WILL have to have the $100 calculator, more so if they intend to do precal/calculus and physics. We use them every day in physics. It needs to be able to graph functions, determine verticies ect. It is not practical for them to do them by had because it takes so long. They would never be able to get through thier homework donig it by hand. I recommend a certain one for my kids becuase it is the model I know how to use. These things come with maulas that stretch to 100 plus pages and can be complicated to figure out on your own. The $25 TI will work through chemistry, algebra I, and geometry, but they will need the big one for anything beyond that.
I did hear that you can make it throught Algebra 1 with the less expensive calculator but my 7th grader will be taking Algebra 1 next year. I don't want to have to spend $25 on a calculator for next year to then have to spend $100 in another year or two. I might as well bite the bullet and get them what they need to last through HS and maybe into college.
I got a nice surprise at my Walmart yesterday. They had racks and racks of $1 items!!!! Mostly women's t-shirts, sweaters and plus sized leggins, but I picked up two pairs of jeans for the girls too!
I'm thinking of going back and looking through some of the t-shirts. I noticed that some I got were a lycra blend, and I've been looking for cotton/lycra fabric to make leggins and underwear with for Lyddie! They had a lot of plus sizes, so I figured that might work out nicely.
When I was in FL visiting my in-laws one of the Walmarts had racks of stuff for $3. I picked up a Minnie hoodie and a Mickey tee on the sale. If the stuff was only $1 I might have looked to see if there were some things that I could buy to use for material.
I took my girls to the mall in Tysons Corner today. We walked through the new AG store there. It was very nice. Certainly not like the one in NY though. My girls are too old for the dolls now but they still loved walking through the store and my younger one was drooling over the AG cello since she plays cello.