Walmart had the lists out for various schools/grades. We picked ours up and started picking up some of the items. Anyone else have their list and started shopping for supplies yet?

Here's the list for my kids.

3rd grade:
2 pkgs wide ruled notebook paper
5 pocket folders with brads: red, yellow, blue, green, purple
1 dozen #2 pencils (no decoratives or mechanicals)
2 highlights, any color
1 pkg. of 4 dry erase markers
scissors
large bottle Elmer's glue (no glue sticks)
1 box of crayola crayons 24 pk.
1 pkg. of colored pencils
pencil box
backpack (no rolling)
12" ruler, inches and centimeters, without holes
2 boxes of tissues
1 box of band aids
1 roll of paper towels
1 box of ziplock bags
1 black and white composition book
2 boxes of antibacterial wipes
1 pkg. of post it notes
2 pkgs. of tennis balls
WISH LIST
washable markers
construction paper
wikki sticks
cans of shaving cream
extra pencils
extra dry erase markers
erasers for tops of pencils
playdoh

5th grade:
1 pkg. pencils (no mechanicals)
1 large pack of notebook paper
1 composition book
2 packs colored pencils
1 large box of crayons
1 pack of markers
1 pair of scissors
1 glue stick or glue bottle
1 ruler w/no holes
2 large boxes of tissues
6 pocket folders
1 large pack of post it notes
1 roll of paper towels
2 packages of tennis balls
1 bottle of hand sanitizer


So what's on your kid's list?
Do you buy EVERYTHING on the list?

I'll admit, I've always bought everything and sent extras later in the year. Only to walk in and find 30 boxes of tissues on the last day of school or 20 bottles of hand sanitizer still unused. So this year, I'm buying what my child needs to learn, no paper towels, hand sanitizer, etc. I told my kids if their class USES those things and they get low, I'll send some in. I've found out at our school, the paper towels, ziplock bags and a few other things ends up in the teacher's lounge and what's left at the end of the year is taken home.

We got our lists end of school last year.

I buy all required items and only the optional items I think they will need. I am done buying. Actually, I only had to buy a couple things because I bought so much last year that's left over

I don't buy stuff like the bandaids on your list. The nurses office has those and I'm sorry, I am not around to supply the school with first aid products although I do know kids need bandaids from time to time. They also need toilet paper and I am not bringing that. It's a little ridiculous all they ask for. I donate a lot of extra supplies to our school thru the year that I get really cheap so I figure it's a wash. I know lots of kids who don't bring a thing and nothing is ever said (and these are NOT low income kids)

I also don't buy hand sanitizer (but don't think that's on our list). I don't like my kids to use anti-bacterial products...just teach them to wash their hands (seems logical to me). I ring ONE box of tissues. Last year I volunteered the first week of school and my job was to cut the boxtops off of the tissues...that's mostly what they wanted them for. At the end of the year, there were still about 30 boxes of tissue in the classroom...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I am a teacher and I am amazed at some of the things that are on lists. Other than the student's supplies, I ask for kleenex. In my 20 years at this school, I only had one year when I had some kleenex left over at the end of the year. Most of the time my class is out by the end of April.

I agree with you on the Band Aids/toilet paper issue, LOL. I just told my friend that next they'll ask us to supply the toilet paper. Don't get me wrong, I know kids use tissues, band aids, etc. but many things ask for go unused and they're getting this from 15-20+ kids. Really....do they need 15-20 bottles of hand sanitizer? My oldest daughter's 3rd grade teacher ask for it and never allowed the kids to use it. The Kleenex's I'm a little more sympathetic to. Colds, runny noses...those need tissues. However, my oldest dd's teacher last year allowed the kids to take a box to their desk, put it in the desk and never share that box with anyone else. Toward the end of school, my dd was saying they needed tissues once a week. I finally got the story that one boy was putting them in his desk, taking them home and claiming he brought them in and could do that. I finally had enough and put my dd's name on the box of tissues...not that I didn't want her to share but I had sent in about 10 boxes of tissues in the last few weeks of school. This year, I'll do things differently.

My school system aggravates me because they wait til you get in school and then everything is picked over. I buy everything I think they will need while it is cheap enough

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As a school librarian for 14 years, I always appreciated the extra boxes of tissues. Our teachers were generous about sharing the extras and between the library, music, computer rooms and gym classes, there were few if any boxes of tissues left in the building by the end of the year. Thank heavens for generous tissue donors!

I stop with the school list.They do not need all that stuff.I used to go out and buy everthing on that list hunt and hunt for all that stuff then one year i stop about 5 years now.Special notebooks and stuff is not going to make those kids learn any better.Those special binder 2 inch 3 inch not needed.So i stop,i watch parents and students all looking for the same thing.They should make the school stop wasting that paper and puttting parents threw all that nosense.No teacher is there right mind is going to check to see if they have a 2 inch binder.HOw many box of crayons do you need? i go with the flow,and not once has someone call me and said i am sorry your ds does not have the right binder or want is on my list. SC

I wish you were one of my moms. I'm always buying boxes of tissues for the classroom. At my school we can't send supply lists home. So we are given a very "generous" $100 to last us the whole year and to buy the necessary supplies students will need and whatever supplies we need in the classroom. For whatever reason tissue is not a "necessary supply" and it gets X'd everytime I try to buy.

Hand sanitizer is viewed as a chemical and in our district we aren't allowed to have that in the classroom.

If your school isn't appreciating the extra goodies you are sending in perhaps you could donate them to school that is located in a low economic area.

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[quote=lovelace2;3022805]I stop with the school list.They do not need all that stuff.I used to go out and buy everthing on that list hunt and hunt for all that stuff then one year i stop about 5 years now.Special notebooks and stuff is not going to make those kids learn any better.Those special binder 2 inch 3 inch not needed.So i stop,i watch parents and students all looking for the same thing.They should make the school stop wasting that paper and puttting parents threw all that nosense.No teacher is there right mind is going to check to see if they have a 2 inch binder.HOw many box of crayons do you need? i go with the flow,and not once has someone call me and said i am sorry your ds does not have the right binder or want is on my list. SC[/QUOTe

My list is limited to items needed by the student in school. I would not have a place to store all the other things that some teachers ask for. But I can explain about 2 in. binders etc. In my case by the time you put the books in the desk a binder will not fit. We use color coded folders. It fits in the desk and it is easy to find the correct folder for the correct class. I ask for zippered pencil cases so their pencils, etc do not fall all over the place esp. if they are moving to another room. I remind parents to buy extra pencils, paper but keep them at home when they use up what they brought the first day. We use to have a budget of $125 per year for extras but that was stopped about 4 years ago by a principal.
Any borders, bulletin board materials, or any extra to make the class look nice are bought by the teacher. Since I work in a private school, I can't even claim it on my taxes. Luckily, I have been teaching for a while so each year I add a few things.

They sent home the school supply list with the final report cards.

I found out they do a communal type thing and put all the supplies in a big box on the first day of school and draw from it as needed well I stopped that by taking labels or a sharpie and marking all of DS's supplies with his name on it. Some parents don't buy as many supplies some dont even bother to buy supplies at all !

I do stick to the list and I am trying to figure out why in the world 5th graders need 20 Spiral Notebooks !!! Good thing Walmart has them for 5 cents and I got a GC from Mypoints to help out this year

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I got my son's Kindergarten supply list when I signed him up. I don't have a list for my daughter that's going into 5th grade. I think they give those out when we go pick up her schedule. They are in "teams" and I think each "team" of teachers has their own list. I have been using these sales to buy all the basics and I already have a stash of stuff, so surely we'll be okay.
The only things I haven't picked up are the manila paper & construction paper. I need to go ahead and get them, though, because that stuff always sells out around here if you wait until too close to school starting. I never see those on sale.

My son's K list has baby wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels and gallon ziploc bags and a box 4 oz dixie cups on it...and they specify two 120 count kleenex tissues.

peapie

I noticed one year shopping with my 'list' yet the one the store had was completely different than my 'offical' list I had came with.

I got the feeling that the store printed up their own or used an older version. My list was a LOT shorter then theirs.


I recall when DD started school. I put her name on everything before I sent it in. Her teacher didn't put names on supplies so even the 'special' items I had gotten her were put in with the group supplies. The end of the year DD came home leftover slightly (if even) used school supplies.

LOL, now DD's supply list is what I find on sale! There are no supply list to fill but it fun looking at what the schools require and request. - Home schooling is cool!

I got my kids supply lists off the school web site in June. Most of the items I already had (bought on clearance 75% off last year). There were a few I needed, so I've been picking those up as they go on sale. As I did last year, I'm writing my kids names on the items I want to be specific for them (scissors, box of crayons, markers, etc.). I learned that the hard way. When my DS#1 was in first grade, it was community supplies and my DS ended up with all the cheap-o stuff when I had sent the good stuff.

Once we find out who their teachers are, we may need a few more things. Some teachers ask for different things that aren't on the list.

My kids lists were pretty reasonable this year. The one thing I wonder about is a package of assorted dry erase markers on the kindergarten list. What on earth is the teacher going to do with 15 packages of dry erase markers. I also am a little annoyed that they only want the 'jumbo' glue sticks. I understand that the small ones get used up fast or dry out, but I would rather send 100 small ones than 10 jumbo ones because they are so expensive. I did find 3-pks of jumbo glue sticks for $.99 at Target, (Target brand) so I got those.

Last year my DS#1 was in second grade and from March on the teacher was begging for glue sticks and tissues. I sent some extra in. I would rather wait and know that the class needs them than for the teacher to have a closet packed full of supplies that don't get used.

Sarah.......mom to Jason & Devin

Ok, I have to ask, tennis balls? What on earth do they use those for? I'm sure there's a reason, I'm just stumped as to what it might be!

I've heard some schools put the tennis balls over feet of the chairs to prevent that horrible scraping noise and damage to the floors. Why the kids should have to provide something that I would consider a building maintenance supply is beyond me, but that is what I have heard.

What I want to know is what is the shaving cream for? Do the schools provide instruction on shaving now? If so, I want to attend a class-I always nick the back of my ankle!

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Shaving cream is for practicing spelling (the kids can "spell" in the cream on their desks). It is also used to clean the desks. I don't like it personally.

Here is my suggested list.. I think it is pretty reasonable.

__1 pair of student scissors (pointed end)
__1 pencil pouch, labeled with student’s name
__3 glue sticks
__2 boxes of Kleenex tissues
__1 box of 12 colored pencils
__36 #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils please)
__4 packages of wide ruled notebook paper
__1 bottle of hand sanitizer
Other items we would like anytime:
___ skittles
___ individually wrapped candies
___ paper towels
___ spray cleaner (409, Windex)
___ Clorox or Lysol wipes
___ gallon, quart, or sandwich sized Ziplock bags

-No trapper keeper style notebooks please (zip up binders)! We do not have space in our desks for them.

-Some items will be collected for use later in the year. Unused items will be returned.

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They make the chairs slide easier and keep the noise level down. I was shocked and had to question that when I first saw it a couple of years ago too.

The shaving cream is supposedly used to clean the desks with. Crazy, IMO and I won't be taking any in. The school should have cleaners for the desks and I don't feel I should be responsible for providing cleaners. JMO though.

Our school used to have the zillion items on it until the last two years. The school administration voted to use a district wide list now (instead of individual schools) and they took all of the Kleenex, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, reams of copy paper, Expo markers, etc., off. I was glad to see that happen as I have 3 kids in school and was easily spending $150 a year on school supplies. It was getting way out of hand. They also were asking for like 100 pencils at a time--just crazy stuff like that. We never got supplies back at the end of the year either. I also put my kids' names on their supplies add me to the list of the parents that are tired of the classroom pooling of supplies. I do buy whatever is on the list though. It's not cheap, but I try to keep in mind that my kids are in public school and what I pay in tax dollars is nothing compared to what I could be paying for private school; luckily we have a great school district. I agree with you guys though--toilet paper? That's a bit much. Are you guys in school districts that are struggling, etc.? I know we have a few around us that are about to close; maybe there's a reason they are asking. I'd like to know what they are saving per year; would be interesting to hear.

I'm not a big complainer when it comes to the supply list, However, It does tick me off to no end to know I buy every single thing on my 4 children's list and 90% goes into a "pool".Why not complain some may ask, Because we have done the complaining for YEARS AND YEARS and get the same answer each time, Even tho, The items are shared, One day it could be you needing your child to share the items if you fall on hard times. I say Whom to say this is NOT my hard time ??. Of course I don't say it because it's not totally the truth. I'm lucky I watch the sales but the .01 sales,.05 sales and .10 sales, So really all I'm buying is the tissues, hand wipes and zipper bags for full price or on sale at times.

Now my DD and her husband OMG they really get under my skin as they think they shouldn't have to buy ANYTHING at all other than the uniforms. Would you believe they were complaining about buying pencils >? ,DD swears my grandson didn't get 1 pencil last year at school from the 20 she sent in. When I asked her did you ever give him a pencil from home she said no, well DUH you really think he used 1 pencil for 9 months ??? Give me a break Please !!..

Not here, but back home the school asked for not only TP but paper towels, soap for the bathrooms and trash bags, WTH ?? I THINK NOT !!...I'm not running a home for them !

I find some of the request just too much for the asking IMHO.

Next they will be asking for gas cards for the buses and teachers cars/ LOL.( hmm better X that , as they might do this if prices keep going up ).

I hate the pooling of supplies as well but if you put your kids name on everything (which they ask you not too), you will either get it sent home or they will simply line thru your kids name. My son has come home with folders that have another kids name lined out. I don't know WHY because I sent him in with all the folders last year. So putting your kids name on something doesn't guarantee it will be used by them.

Does it bother anyone else that the pencils they ask for (48 #2 for my 2nd grader requested), must be SHARPENED??? They have electric pencil sharpeners in the class room for that. So we are supposed to open the .01 packs of pencils we have picked up and sharpen them so the kids don't have to?? I don't HAVE an electric sharpener and don't plan on buying one. My kids use mechancial pencils as home (but can't use them at school). So, I must be horrible because I don't send in everything they want and I don't sharpen the pencils. Sorry for the rant...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

My son does not have his school supply list yet. But I know that when he does get it, I don't have to purchase too much.

His binder from last year is still good, as are his headphones, backpack, and lunchbox.

We still have a bunch of pencils, notebook paper, colored folders, and spiral notebooks. I believe we still have highlighters and crayons (although I will be buying him the 100ct. Crayola crayons, as he loves to draw). I think he needs a new pencil box too.

His list is never too long.

I am one of those parents who is constantly asking if the teacher needs more kleenex. My son goes through it like crazy as he has allergies. I always bring in an extra box at the beginning of the year too.

I am guessing the list will be posted in mid-August. So we shall see.

He has the same teacher this year as he did last year, and she was very reasonable last year with the supply list.

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

We are blessed to live in a school district that provides a decent amount of money to each teacher for supplies, so our teachers are not allowed to ask for paper towels, hand sanitizer, kleenex, etc. That all has to be bought with the teachers allowance.

My boys are required to have the following:
2nd Grade
6 packs of yellow pencils (no. 2) 10 count
1 plastic school box (cigar box size)
4 boxes of 16 washable crayons
2 boxes of washable markers (8 count)
12 glue sticks
2 (8 oz) bottles of washable glue
1 pair scissors (5 in pointed tip)
2 packs wide ruled notebook paper
2 wide ruled composition notebooks

5th Grade
2 pks pencils (No 2)
crayons/markers
scissors
1 pack each - blue, black, red pens
ruler
1 (1") 3 ring binder
2 spiral graph paper notebooks
4 spiral notebooks
2 pocket folders with metal prongs
1 plastic pouch to store pencils and crayons
2 packs of tabbed pocket dividers
1 yellow highlighter

Pretty easy list and I have most of it already. I work in the school where my boys attend and do know that the teachers label our kids supplies. If they have left overs at the end of the year the teacher sends them back home with the kids.

A little off subject....but I save the receipts where I purchase their school supplies each year for their scrapbooks. I think it will be neat for them to look back when they are 50 years old and see what mom paid for their school supplies in kindergarten and so on.

I can only speak to our schools....we do not have chalkboards anymore. The teacher does everything on a huge white board. The kids write on the white board. I believe that are teachers pool the dry erase markers w/ music, PE and library.

Only things that I found odd on our lists were: 1 large box of saltine crackers???

But you know what? Our schools are excellent, we're blessed w/ some fantastic teachers (of 7 teachers w/ 2 kids, we've only had one that I didn't like--and she wasn't a bad teacher, I didn't like her personality...), and I'm more than happy to supply what they ask.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

My kids started school July 21st.

re: dry erase markers

My son's classroom uses them. They have personal sized dry erase boards that they use. What they use them for, I have no idea. But they do use them, as students. Plus the teacher has a huge one instead of a chalk board.

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

One way to use the dry erase boards is for math. Each student does the problem on the board and holds it up for the teacher to check. The problem is the stuff comes off on the desk and the students hands so all has to be washed.

What ticks me off is that I send in 4 pairs of Fiskar scissors each year, one for ech of my kids, and only two come home at the end of the year. They ask for Fiskars- this year, I'm sending cheapo scissors(they work fine, I had my kids try them out)

Protractor,
Compass
5 by 7 index cards
11 , yes, 11 binders of various sizes
plus, all the ther basics, and each grade level is diferent.

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Jackie

Music is what feelings sound like._ ~Author Unknown

Our teachers really use the dry erase markers a lot and most ask for the low odor(and I can't blame them for that, those things are strong!!). Anyway, they don't last long. I don't know that they go through 15 or 20, 4 count packages in a school year but then again not everyone sends a pack in. I've found in my girls' school that about half of the class brings in the items requested. The other half brings in their backpack, pencils and sometimes paper. I just try to not make it hard on my children or the teachers. I'd rather they spend their time learning and teaching rather than looking for the needed supplies. Although I don't necessarily agree with some things that are asked for. Our teachers get $100 per year from the PTA to spend on whatever they need for their rooms.

Wait just a minute here!

Did I read that right-the kids use SHAVING CREAM to practice spelling on their desks? Are you serious?

That has got to me the most asinine idea I've heard in quite a long time. The mess factor aside, shaving cream canisters aren't exactly precision writing insturments.

What is so wrong with writing the words on paper or on a dry erase board?

Just when you think you've heard and seen it all........

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I think with the shaving cream they actually spread it on the desk THEN write with their fingers. I think it's just a way to make learning more enjoyable for the kids.

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My dd's 2nd grade teacher let the kids use play doh to practice spelling words but not shaving cream. My dd's 4th grade teacher ask for shaving cream on the last day of school to clean the desks with! I didn't send any in. Only 1 boy brought some in and then it wasn't used. I see no point in asking for extras like that, but that's JMO.

We don't have to send anything in. My oldest (4th grade) will need a binder, but that's it. My 1st grader can bring in extra crayons if she wants to, but otherwise it's all covered.

Maureen

What is a poly folder? My sons list says poly folders for binder.

His list is pretty reasonable this year, not too long. It also says to put his name on everything. He brought home his unused stuff at the end of last year.

As far as tissues, I work as an aide in 1st grade and at the end of the year we were all out of tissues.

I used to work in preschool and we used shaving cream to practice letters, the kids loved it.

I guess I am really surprised that there is so much discussion about school supplies. As a teacher, I would never suggestion shorting your child's classroom when it comes to Kleenex! My middle school classroom ran out in about March. After that they had to use paper towels from the bathrooms!

I think the folders that go inside the binder, not the papery ones but the tougher plastic ones

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Actually the shaving cream "thing" is quite fun and very enjoyable for the kids--it serves multiple purposes: it's a learning experience/activity for the kids, it cleans the table/desk top, and it cleans the kids hands extremely well.

When I worked in daycare, we would do shaving cream 'art' on the table before lunch time. Then when it came time to get ready for lunch--the kids hands would be washed, the table would be clean and the kids would have had a calming activity to transition them to lunch, then to nap time. Of course, we are talking about 2 year olds. Also, using the shaving cream utilized other senses of the children and helped the voice/vocalize things.

While I understand that school is about learning--if you make learning fun sometimes, the kids will be more apt to look forward to learning.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I absolutely have no problem sending in tissues. I know with colds/allergies/etc. the tissues go quickly. My problem was my child was taking a box in every week(sometimes more than that)and the taecher allowed kids to put the tissues INSIDE of their desk where no one could share. One child was taking home the tissues I sent in. I will send tissues in for my child, with her name on them, since some teachers allow things like that to happen. I know you can't "police" every activity that goes on in a classroom but when the teacher is telling the kids, at least once a week, "we're out of tissues ask your parents to send some in", shouldn't she realize something's not right? My kids have also had teachers that would send the kids to the bathroom for tissues when they have boxes sitting right in their classroom and yet I'd notice the teacher always using the tissues the parents had provided. Now, I have no problem with the teacher using those tissues but why not the kids too?
I guess there's 2 sides to all issues and I'm on the parent side, sending items in and feeling they're used inappropriately.

My son starts K this year and I was shocked to learn that all of his supplies are covered by our school district. Other than a backpack I don't need to provide anything (paper, pencils etc.). Tell ya what - made me feel alot better about the high taxes I pay!

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Mommy to Jake, Alexis, Abigail and Joshua, Wife to Matt

The reason shaving cream is used in group lessons is because many students aren'tt primarily auditory or visual learners. Some are primarily "tactile" learners, and others are "kinesthetic" learners. If the teacher uses different modalities to teach lessons, his/her chances of reaching everyone are greatest. And incorporating activities such as shaving cream writing reinforce the lessons for everyone, since it does turn out to be a fun way to learn, and most of us learn in a combination of ways.

BTW, regarding the people who have the means to purchase the school supplies but choose not to, and say that nobody ever confronts them or notices, you aren't entirely right. It IS noticed. The teachers generally go out of their way, though, to not single any student/family out. But it IS often the reason that the whole class has to pool the resources sent in by the kids whose parents DO send in the required supplies. This is my particular gripe.

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Up until a few years ago the schools in our district could not ask for anything. Now they send a short list, but we will not get it until school starts. For my 6th and 7th grade children the list will be something like,
pencils
2 or 3 inch binder
book covers
lined paper
dividers

That will be about it. They can bring markers, mini staplers etc... if they want to. If a child does not bring in what is on the list then the teachers always have plenty to give out. I always send in Kleenex when school starts and send in more whenever my children have a cold.