Cheapskate or "Normal" Mom Fed up with School Supply Lists?

I am a teacher in a public school. Those lists are recommended, not mandatory. Nothing is mandatory.

None of the brand names will make students any smarter or better either.

If these things really bother you, do not buy them. No teacher is going to sit in the lounge and complain that you did not buy the fancy pencils. They are going to sit in the lounge and feel badly for the kids who came with absolutely nothing.

Wow. The generosity and compassion I would hope to see from some parents is not apparent in this thread. Are you all really so unhappy about sharing with those who can't afford anything? Do you really think the teachers should be paying for all the extra supplies out of their own pockets, or do you think the disadvantaged students should just have to go without (no paper or pencils for you, Johnny, because you're poor). Yes, times are tough. But it's way tougher on some than on others. Do what you can.

Note. This doesn't apply to all the responders, but it does seem to apply to the majority of the responders...

Second Note: Wow. Dad's opinion of teachers (they are so wealthy and overpaid they have no concept of people being on a budget) is either ludicrous or extraordinarily demeaning. I can't decide which. Maybe it's both.

Psh, that's nothin', wait til they EACH need 3 thumb drives and a graphic and a scientific calculator!

:(

I don't think people know how much time & money of their own teachers have to spend on the classroom. I am by no means rich, but if I can help my DD's teacher/school out, then I am more than happy to. A one time a year supply purchase is not going cause my family to starve. If the 10 pack of the specific brand is cheaper, then by all means, go for it. I would do the same thing.

I think we all know that when you buy dollar store/generic pencils & markers, you are getting an inferior product. Teachers know what works & what doesn't, and it's more of a waste of money if people go cheap & the items of course, last half as long or break twice as fast. I don't think the teachers & schools are out to get anyone, or rip anyone off. I really don't think there's a school supply conspiracy in which the parents are being bamboozled.

I am trying to understand your & several others' rage over paper, pencils & markers & in the big scheme of things, I don't think it'll ever be something I let get me THAT worked up.

i am also disgusted by the lists. especially considering the fact that when i was young, my mom only had to spend $5 for the whole year for supplies. but now property taxes don't go where they should. our teachers shoulldn't have to foot the bill. so unfortunately, that leaves us. :(

i would like to add that i have absolutely no problem with these supplies going into a community pile for everyone to use. some kids don't have it, and that's understandable. every child has the right to things like my child does.

go with the 10 pack of markers & your dixon pencils.......they go in the community bin anyway, so who will know you were the *defiant* one!

Oh horrors, those crazy overpaid teachers making their ridiculous demands. They ask for specific brands because they work better and they don't need to be replaced over and over again throughout the year. Quite honestly, I'm for getting whatever they ask for. Last year my daughter's teacher had 30 first graders in her class. How she managed to teach that many kids and do it well is beyond me. Personally, I think she deserves a medal. She took my daughter from reading below grade level to reading above grade level in the course of year, on top of everything else she had to accomplish with 29 other students. Sorry, but I'm so sick of the teachers being bashed and always made out to be the bad guys. Thank you to all the teachers on this site for what you do!

I don't like it either...if you are going to lump my kids supplies with all the others? Then you are going to get what I give you and not throw a fit.

As it stands now, we supply:
Tissues
hand soap
Clorox Wipes
pens
markers
folders (either the paper or plastic ones) in all the colors
crayons
composition books
pencils
pencil boxes (they can't be labeled thank you very much)
scissors
I know I'm leaving stuff out..but they SAY it's so we can pay our teachers more...I'm not seeing that...they SAY it's so we buy more books (as I stated earlier our school is responsible for clearing plenty of acres of trees in the amazon)...

so really? go ahead and tell me what you WANT me to supply - but I will GIVE you what I want to supply and what's within my budget. period.

First, buy what's on sale. Who cares if it is a 10 pack vs. an 8 pack? Buy whatever pencils you want, just get the number requested. Kids go through a ton of pencils.
About the whole supply list issue. Wasteful? Too expensive? When I was teaching 2nd/3rd grade, I had students who would come in on the first day with a few pencils, a couple folders, and a box of crayons. I understood that some families just couldn't afford the supplies and was thankful that they bought what they could. Then I would have a kid come in with no supplies and the mother would introduce herself smelling like she just smoked an entire pack of cigarettes. I would wonder how on earth they could afford cigarettes but no supplies. THAT was frustrating. I always had at least one mom, sometimes more who would come up to me after a few days of school and ask if there were any kids who needed supplies. I felt bad asking them to pick up the slack especially for parents who were financially able to pay for the supplies but would leave out half the stuff in protest of our "long" list or the parents who would rather spend their money on cigarettes.

I shopped at Walmart and bought everything on each list. I spent $75 total for 3 kids. That's $25 a piece. Divide that by 175 days of school and it comes out to a whopping 14 cents a day per child. I think that speaks for itself.

Added: For the moms who question if the teacher's shop for supplies. First, I don't know about your districts but most of our teachers have kids of their own. Hello???!!! They have to buy the supplies for THEIR kids! Second, before having kids, I was buying supplies on sale for my students who didn't have any. So YES teachers ARE buying supplies!!!!

.

I totally agree with you and with everyone else. Send what you WANT. The absurdity of the schools using and abusing millions and millions of dollars just to hire and fire Superintendents year after year and to pay out huge contracts when they are not getting the job done.... Sorry...that's a rant for another day. But they need to fire all the idiots, put new and fresh and young and excited teachers in their place and use the money they save to buy supplies!

This is my first year with a school aged kid and I was shocked! $80 later I walked out of the store. I didn't think it would be that expensive for a kindergartener!

First I would buy the 10 pack of Crayola markers and send in the Dixon pencils, sharpened. I would look carefully at the list. Is it hand sanitizer but says Purell? Just get the generic, it's all the same stuff. Kleenex instead of Puffs, whatever is cheapest.
Some items work better than others, Crayola crayons for instance, made in the USA and not with lead. Crayola markers are washable and last longer. Some tissues have aloe or lotion in it, watch out for that. Scissors, if they ask for Fiskars, they just work better.
When she gets to Algebra II they will ask you to have a scientific calculator, not just any, the TI84+ or the next TI machine, start saving now for it.

Wow yes, that is super annoying! I agree with the others about having the kids bring what you already have. ugh!

OMG. That is absurd!

I use the list as a guide but honestly our school wants a bunch of stuff for the "Classroom" and I don't give all the tissues or all the papertowels they ask. They run out by the middle of the year so I may then help. But as far as the school list for you child. I think it is whatever you want to buy. 24 crayons vs 8 crayons.... I would get the 24 if that is cheaper. It was nuts last year in 2nd grade where these girls were bringing 50 packs of pens to school for coloring..... my daughter then wanted to have that too. I thought, are you kidding..... just share with your friends if you need a certain color. It can get out of control.

Do what you can and use it as a guide..... no one is going to make you buy what they want you too......... I have found though that rose-art is pretty cheap and does not last...so I would stick with Crayola.

wow angry ladies. such generosity of spirit!

I get tired of the list, not because it's expensive brands or very particular items. But because it is so flippin long. Why do I need 2 big boxes of quart and gallon Ziploc Bags? And paper plates, and paper lunch bags? Why did my teen daughter get a fee 100 for bringing staples, copy paper and scotch tape to her teachers? I think the school budgets have been slashed and our supply lists are picking up the slack.

Yes, it's crazy. Last year, my nieces school supply list was a fortune! And, they still have to get random things throughout the year. They couldn't even keep their own supplies! I remember when I needed some paper, pencils, crayons, and markers. And got to KEEP them! No special brands needed, whatever the parents could afford. I agree, it's completely ridiculous.

P.S.
cross out Dixon and write Ticondaroga with a sharpie. Cross the 8 markers and write 10. Teehee.

You buy what you want. Get the $1 markers and regular #2 pencils. You DO NOT NEED TO BUY SPECIFIC BRANDS. I assure you they won't send the supplies back home with your child and say to get what was specified on the list. Use your common sense and buy what you can afford. As long as they have the items they need, they will be fine.

I feel your pain! I was 'rebellious' in purchasing supplies this year too!!!!

I buy EXACTLY what is on the list, then half the class sends NOTHING in.
Supplies are donated, but the child has to go to the office and ask which many won't. The teacher puts all the extra supplies in a big box and doles out my kids' Ticondaroga(5.99+tax per dozen) to the other kids. THAT GRIPES ME EVEN MORE. And I secured a donation of pencils(paid for by parents) for the entire school last year so the brats would quit stealing our kids' pencils out of their school boxes.

One additional thought, especially for those of you who are carping and moaning about little old pencil costs: Get over it soon, because when you get to higher grades, you'll moan about the increasing stuff you have to buy. But it's needed. With older kids, please bear in mind that bigger, required items such as 3-ring binders in specific sizes, or composition notebooks of a certain number of pages, or folders of certain dimensions, often become the students' textbooks, in effect. In my daughter's third and fourth grade classes, these kinds of items were used daily for specific subjects, and the students handled and used and wrote in and pasted in these binders and folders and notebooks DAILY. They got tons of use and were bulging by the year's end. When teachers ask for those kinds of things, they really do need and use them.

As for the posters who say "the kids never used the stuff we bought" -- I don't know what was on your lists, but I can't imagine that. There were as many posters saying "the classroom runs out halfway through the year and we have to send in more."

Maybe we should all be grateful we can have this discussion at all? Grateful we can comparison shop for Ticonderoga versus Dixon pencils, as opposed to knowing we have to send a child to school with no pencils at all -- and little else?

Geez, is the teachers' union getting kickbacks from the Ticondaroga company?! What a joke! Dixons work just fine. I'd go with the ones you own, as well as the 10 pk of markers. It's different from getting the cheapo crayons that break easily and don't color smoothly.

I feel for the teachers...In Florida they are having to make do with much less and without raises for years on end. At the school that my son will be attending this year, 78% of the children qualify for free or reduced lunches. That tells me that the school district really isn't that well off. I am so blessed that I have a job that pays much more than the average at this school as does my husband. I will likely bring in extra supplies to help the other kids. A lot of the supplies are much cheaper around now and I can afford to help. Yes, I am sure that there are some parents that are sorry and don't care enough to send their children prepared. However, I just don't know everyone's financial situation. Perhaps, they have had a job loss or illness or anything else that would cause money to be tight. If I can help a child that might not otherwise have the supplies they need, then I am happy to help. I would hope that the teachers would just ask for things that they need and will use, but this will be my first year with a school age child.

Can't agree more. Unless Ticondaroga or whatever other company is contributing $$$$$ to the school I don't see the point of demanding certain brands on school lists. And when I brought everything on the very lengthy list including expensive paints that I managed to get with a coupon @ Michaels for $15 the supplies weren't even used. Of course my kid can use the paints but the demand for expensive supplies that aren't even used after all just seemed like a waste of my time and $.

Very few of the school teachers are budget shoppers. Since you are buying the supplies and not them they don't care how much they cost.

Buy the cheapest on-sale items you can buy and let it go at that. I had 8 kids and only ONE teacher pitched a fit and wanted exactly what she had on the list. I told her I had 8 kids and had a budget for each one. I told her how much I had spent on the supplies and that if she wanted the more expensive stuff she could buy it and I would reinmurse her what I paid for the cheaper supplies. She grumbled a little but didn't go out for the more expensive supplies. The following year my kids had her again and her "supplies" list said, "At least 8 color box of crayons" instead of the more expensive 8 color box. When she asked for a box of Kleenex, I brought in the no name brand and she didn't say a thing except "thank you".

BTW, I used to go to business meetings where they would have pencil and paper for every attendee. I'd collect the pencils and give them to my kids for school. They wrote just as well and cost only the time to pick them up before they were placed in the trash and on their way to the landfill. They fill the landfill then I have to pay more taxes to make more landfills. What a waste!

Most begining teachers don't make much. But I looked into teaching, and after 10 years and a masters degree in their field, they can make $70k and that ain't bad.

Good luck to you and yours.

As an artist on a tight budget, I did a lot of experimenting with lesser brands of pencils, crayons, markers, and other supplies. There is a huge range of quality and useable life among different brands. You pretty much get what you pay for, and the difference to a child learning to write or enjoying making art is important.

If schools are specific about brands, it's not to make your life harder or drain your budget, it's about maximizing the child's educational experience and helping her learn the value of a job well-done, even if that job was spending 10 minutes drawing a picture. The results she'll get between using drying markers or wimpy crayons, or markers with a nice flow and crayons with rich color, are significant. Don't shortchange your child's creativity.

I can see Jay D.'s point, too. A great deal of time in the classroom must be devoted to maintaining and replacing supplies. I don't know how good Dixons are, but I've tried many brands of pencils that are hard to sharpen or that break as soon as you start writing, or that leave a pale line and require the user to bear down heavily as they write. (Hand cramps!) I think as a teacher (I have assisted in classrooms), I would get fed up with 'cheap' moms pretty quickly! ;-)

I never go by the list anymore and I buy whatever is on sale, name brand or not! Ok-ok-maybe some namebrand but c'mon, when it comes to pencils especially a #2 pencil whats the difference!? I say buy what you can and if anyone from the school says anything to you then you firmly tell them that thats what you found on sale...I have done it several of times! I have yet to find a store that has school supplies decently priced or on sale! I agree, it IS ridiculous!

I asked the school a question about the supplies list one time because they did specify certain brands. The office told me they specify Crayola simply because the colors are better but other items are mainly to let the parent know what kind of things to send in. The crayon pack size was specified so that parents were not sending in the giant 64 pack. I send Target brand disinfecting wipes and baby wipes, I buy the 10 pack markers--and my kids use all of them. Dixon and Ticondaroga are the same so as long as they are better at sharpening, I stick with what is cheaper. The one thing they did not want to budge on last year was the dicitonary. Really, is Webster that much different from the other "American something"?

Just so you know, I'm a teacher and I just paid $100 on classroom supplies for "my" kids yesterday - I haven't even met my kids yet! I bought composition journals and folders because I'm switching grades and hadn't developed the supply list myself. It doesn't have the things on it that I need my kids to have in order to have a successful year in my room. So, I'm buying it myself. I also bought birthday certificates, award paper for our classroom book club and I will give each child a book for Christmas and at the end of the year just like I always do. I don't request frivolous "extras" and I'm sure other teachers don't either. Some years, do I have 10 glue sticks left over? Sure. Some years I run out before Christmas. When we don't pool supplies and some kids don't have ANYTHING it slows down learning. We're left scrambling to borrow from other teachers and talk about a time-waster. You want your kids learning, not chatting with their neighbor while I'm on the phone trying to scrounge up supplies from other teachers.

While I realize your gripe is not about buying supplies, but specifying brands and item counts, please use your own judgment. We don't assume you're stupid and trust you to make good supply choices. If you feel it's good enough for your child - great! I agree and will accept it gratefully. We will also NEVER ask your children to give up their Batman folders or sparkly pencils with their names on them. We're not the type to crush spirits and do have some common sense and judgement of our own. Please try to think of all the "extra" things that your child comes home with or tells you about. I guarantee the school didn't supply it - the teacher bought it because teachers don't exist to take all your money. We love your kids.

Honestly, I would send the 10 pack of markers. If they don't like the extra 2 colors then the teacher can take them out. As for the pencils. #2 is #2 send the ones you already own. In today's world money is tight for most families.

I bet you are expected to send in cleaning supplies too!

I am a teacher and I wanted to say that my team of co-workers does develop the lists and we only request what we use in class. As for specific name brands, we request Crayola versus Rose Art because they are of better quality. Pencils, no requested brand, but we do ask they be sharpened. I teach kindergarten and I just do not have the time to be able to sharpen enough pencils for my 50 kids. Buy what you can afford and the teachers will make adjustments as needed. Sorry it was so upsetting for you!

I'd send in what you can...if it's more then send more. If it's another brand, so be it. They'll all get the same stuff in the end. Where my kids go, most things go into a big pile and they all share - I don't love that idea, but it is what it is!

I bought the brands I could afford, in the sizes I could afford.

My neices are teachers and I always complain to them about the outrageous school supply lists. Both have assured me that they don't make lists like this - but when they see lists that are so specific it's more intended to be the "ideal" not the "required".

They tell me how some kids have almost no supplies - either their parents have big money problems, don't care at all or have other issues - and the teachers will spend their own money getting these kids notebooks, protractors and markers, etc.

If the list asks for crayola 8 pack but the 10 pack is on sale by all means get the 10 packs or vice-versa. If you already ahve the dixon pencils do not go out and buy the ticonderoga pencils!!! Also many school have supplies available at cost - our middle school has a "store" for the few days before and the first week of school. The elementary school sold kits for each grade based on what the teachers of each grade collectively decided was needed for that grade - it was much cheaper to buy the kit than get all the separate peices at Staples. If your school doesn't do that maybe suggest it to the PTA or any of the PTA moms you know.

My kids are in 8th and 10th grade this Fall and I've ranted and raved about this ridiculous supply lists for years and I've learned that while much of it is needed much of it it not. I'd ask the teacher what they really need.

Also BTW - when they ask for boxes of tissues and handsoap it's becuase they don't get it from the school and they have a class full of kids dripping with germs. The teachers really shouldn't have to buy a year's supply - so if every kid brings some in it might last through 2/3 of the year. My neices always like the moms who ask if there's anything extra the teacher can use. Particularly the younger teachers who are still getting low pay - they do spend quite a lot of their own money supplying the class with stuff...

But I'm with ya on the ticonderoga pencils...

I often wonder if these teachers, or whoever makes these lists, actually goes shopping. I do understand the need for some of the name brand items, not all #2 pencils are the same, but Dixon is a quality brand and that's would I would send. I would also send the 10 pack of markers, or better yet, compare the colors in the 8 and 10 packs and take out the two extras.

Of course the thing I hate the most is when you receive a supply list the first week of school after all the sales are over with. Or I found out I need red folders, when we already bought blue ones. Or I'm expected to drop everything and go shopping. - Not happening - I've stood up to the teachers on a few ocassions and have outright refused to buy the specific item they want.

I realize that teachers do spend a lot of their own money on supplies. I'm also willing to donate items, but when I make a donation, it should an item of my choice not something that I'm told I need to buy (of course, I do not mind suggestions).

Jeez, I only read a few of your responses, but I wonder if anyone considers the teacher's point of view? As a teacher, I spend an enormous amount of money OUT OF MY OWN POCKET on classroom materials. Where I live, and in many places around the country, we are facing major budget issues. Our school can't even supply paper and pencils! Why the Ticondaroga pencils? Because they sharpen easily and don't break easily, thus, saving us pencils and time. As far as pooling supplies, depending on the grade level, that's just what makes sense. Kindergarteners and 1st graders at my school don't have desks to keep their individual supplies. If you're concerned about pooling things like folders that your K. have specifically picked, pick out plain ones instead. I don't think your kid's teacher is going to have a problem if you buy 10 markers instead of 8, but they are probably trying to save you another shopping trip by buying a brand that will last the school year.
Remember, a public school can only ask for these as donations. If you can't afford to buy them, the school should supply them. I always have a few extra supplies on hand for those that can't bring them, but if I was to buys all of the supplies for every child, I wouldn't be able to buy ANY of the extra materials I use to support and enhance our curriculum.
Please know that teachers do DO this to parents. There are good reasons behind these lists!

I must be in the minority because we never get a list!

I know what you mean. I used to buy exactly what was on the list and generously buy many items from the "classroom wish list" but after so many years I've grown weary of this. I see a lot of elementary supplies that come home at the end of each year barely used. They ask for more and more each year. And there is so much waste. I've also got mixed feelings on the community supply approach. You go out and buy everything on the list, and the first week of school, you end up scrambling for additional things they ask for on less than 24 hours notice, plus sending in money for this, that, and everything. I'd rather donate my time, or fill a specific need that I see once the year is underway vs. just go on an all-out buying spree before school starts. I'm watching my donation money extremely carefully.

I cannot beleive some of these reponses. Use common sense for God's sake. If I see 10 packs of crayola makers for $1 but the list says 8 packs I ignore the list and buy the 10 packs. Then I grab 2-3 EXTRA to toss in because it's a great deal and some people can't afford a single package to contribute. As many teachers on this post have pointed out, the list is suggested brands and amounts that they like and know are high quality, use your own judgement and buy as much as you can afford.
No school or teacher will ever make the kid turn in a special binder, pencil box or puppy folder that they picked out just for themselves.
Of course there are flakes in this world but I assure you the vast majority of kids who show up without supplies to contribute have families who cannot afford it. If people don't like the lists then they should be more concerned with why we are expected to supply all this stuff at the government level not the school or teacher level. Things will continue in this negative direction unless we decide as a country to put education as a top priority, the lists are the least of our worries.

If the packages with 8 were more expensive than the 10 markers -- they got the 10 pack. Ticonderogas are available at Walmart for $1.97. I bought what I could afford, and that was not necessarily exactly what was on the list. I got as close as I could get. I am not breaking the bank for school supplies.
I did my daughter's shopping yesterday -- $9 for all her school supplies. She might need 3 3-ring binders, but those are 97 cents each... regular price. I also shop after the back to school season is over. I buy whatever I think they might need for the rest of the year and for the following year.
YMMV
LBC

Yep - it's insane.
And not only that, but a lot of the things you buy for your childs supplies are put into a classroom pot that every kid in the class takes from.
So you are not only supplying your child but all the others who didn't bring anything in.
(Don't forget to buy extras of everything because they start running out by December)

For 7th grade I've got to get the following:
#2 Pencils (1 dozen)
Black/blue/red ink pens (1 dozen)
Colored pencils
Crayons or markers
Loose-leaf paper (wide-ruled)
Glue sticks (6)
Ruler (English & metric measurements)
Highlighters
Index Cards (3x5) 2 packages of 100
Scissors (blunt edge)
Three-ring binder
Dividers with tabs (1 set)
Non-Perforated spiral notebooks -at least 5 (8th grade, college ruled)
Zippered pencil bag with notebook holes
Report folders with fastener and pocket (at least 5)
Box of tissues
Marble black composition notebook
Protractor (for home)
Compass (for home)

This is the generic list - it doesn't take into account the additional items the teachers will request on Back to School night (right before Labor Day weekend).

i get a 10 pack. i send in a 10 pack. i get the required pencils because they seem better.

We don't have lists-our school gives the kids their supplies. Crazy but I kind of wish we did...I used to love that as a kid.

I didn't buy ticonderoga pencils either. LOL. I had some at home and gave each kid some for their pencil box only, and I told them to tell me if they need more. IF I would've bought all the pencils they wanted and the brand they wanted I would've spent $16 on JUST PENCILS. I spent $120 on 2 kids and paid $80 in school fees, $100 in bus fees, and $50 on school pictures. I am wondering what I am going to do when my 3rd starts school. SERIOUSLY...I am going to have to save up appearently.

I didn't buy all of the stuff they requested, I mean really who needs 5 dry erase markers on the first day of school?? I will happily replenish supplies throughout the year.

My friend who has 7 children went through this with our school district. Each teacher made up their own list of wants and that is what went out to the stores. One year EVERY teacher put nearly the same things on their list. One of them was red folders with the brads on the inside...we only have Walmart and 2 office supply stores. People were driving to other towns to try and buy school stuff. My friend got everything on their lists and it was well over $600. Only 5 of the kids were old enough to go to school too. She said she had had enough and even when they brought the stuff the teacher confiscated it and put it all in one closet. Her kids wanted the notebooks they had picked out, they had put their names on their things too. She made no impact whatsoever either. They have a monopoly. They can pretty much do what they want now days.

The only thing I've been asked to bring for the general classroom is a box of tissues, no brand specified. The school supplies all other equipment for all the kindergarteners. Mind you, I pay a lot of money to the school, so I think they can afford it. I've actually offered to donate other stuff for class projects but the teachers said it wasn't necessary.

I could vent on this subject as well, but not in the same vein exactly. I actually LOVE the Ticonderoga pencils (that is ALL I buy, for exactly the reasons that Jay D. mentions... all the rest are junk and write so faintly you can't see it anyway!).

But, my gripe is/was that the lists come out from the school as a compiled list from the teachers (i.e., there is a lead teacher who sends a list to the office, which gives to the parents. Presumably anyway. I'm also assuming that the list is generated after discussion amongst the teachers about what they will need) for the entire grade (not teacher specific) or for several grades (Elementary 1-5 has ONE LIST). I have spent years buying every item on the list, sending it to school and it isn't used or needed. How do I know, you ask? I asked my kids. Then later, I didn't send it all in right away (open house) but I would exchange info with the teacher at open house and ask her up front, "will you use all these items"? and most of the times the answer is NO. I was willing to bring in EXTRAS for kids who couldn't/didn't but the teacher said No. We won't need all that. WHAT?!! So why the heck does the school say we need to buy it and send it in?? And why can't they send the lists out before the items go on sale (which is always in JULY!) so we know what to buy.
Same with my middle schooler. They come home with a list of required binders/folders/portfolio's/colored pencils, etc... I find a way to organize it to fit into the required binder for each class... and after the first 2 weeks son stops taking the binder to school. I'm like "you forgot your binder." He's all "We don't need that. She told us we don't need to bring those." Urgh!

This year, we are doing cyber academy, and my daughter already started her first math lesson b/c the books arrived yesterday. (School doesn't start until the 15th. She is a little excited. lol)
I am excited not to need to buy a bunch of stuff that will not be used and end up in the bottom of my child's locker and then thrown out. They even send bags of sand, safety goggles, measuring tubes, charcoal, etc. for my daughter's science experiment stuff. And a white board for her to write stuff on and show it to the webcam with the teacher! (They'll send you a computer too, if you don't have one).

you know what i do? i buy the cheaper stuff! they dont really care that much if its not exactly what they asked for! they are glad to get donations.
i go to the 99c only store near me and buy all the supplies and then its only about 15 to 20 bucks

oh and i know what you mean about pooled supplies! i did not know that would happen so i didnt warn my oldest when he started kindergarten and he got MAD!! omg

I haven't read all the responses, but I just want to let you know one teacher's point of view. This past year our district went to a no-name supply list and I am not looking forward to it.

Yes, the cheaper brands are not as good! I have had students go to use their no-name brand blue crayon and it colors purple. It looks blue, but it colors purple. I have had a ton of the cheap pencils and some of them never sharpen because the graphite is in the pencil wrong, so instead of using one pencil we spend 5 minutes sharpening it...throw it away, and have to get another one.

I do not ask parents to get supplies for other children, but I do ask that they get all the supplies at the beginning of the year. I do this because the majority of supplies are on sale, and it saves them money in the long run. I have also had difficulties getting supplies replaced later in the year. The kids have a box they keep their supplies in, and we use them throughout the year.

I'm sorry things are expensive...I had to buy five dollars worth of tape for my daughter this year!!! But don't blame the teachers. The majority of teachers are trying to do what is best for the learning environment your child will spend the majority of their day in.

And remember...teachers spend a lot of their own money buying supplies for their classroom. I think the "average" teacher spends around $300.00 a year out of their own pocket to get what they need for the classroom.

I know it is expensive, I had to spend a lot of money this year too...but if you have a quality teacher it is money well spent.

I am a kindergarten teacher in FL and have just finished my 4th day of school. There is always a good reason for the supplies we request. Personally, I thin presharpened pencils are GENIOUS and might take that idea for next year. Instead, I burned up my Sharpener in a matter if 1 afternoon. We could spend our time sorting supplies
and making sure your kid gets her Hannah Montana notebook. OR you could just respect our time and cooperate. A plain folder will do. We do the best we can and have spent many years finding the most efficient methods for classroom management. If that means shared supplies, smile and cooperate. I haven't seen my 2 yr old befor 5 pm once this week. Teachers: very busy people, doing our best.

As the parent of an only child who is starting Kindergarten this Fall I found his list to be the same as this. Do I have to buy Crayola brand? I can't even find 8-count Crayola twist-able crayons!! My parents were here last weekend and wanted to buy my son his school supplies after 2 stores we just bought whatever brand we could find. So he has a 24 pack of twistable crayons, Elmer glue sticks and a cool Clone Wars pencil box. I have no idea what a 100 book challenge bag is and am hoping the mom in the store is right in that they provide that at the school. I think a list without the brands listed would be so much better. I'm not going nuts trying to find stuff.

I feel like if these are just the recommended brands it should say that on the list, especially for Kindergarten. I feel your frustration!

Ticondera and Dixon both sharpen well.. I asked the teacher last year why the specifics and she said that the other pencils dont sharpen well- if they sharpen at all.
The list is a request BUT you don't want your child to be without any supplies. Do you have a Walmart ?? they usually run their Crayola crayons and markers really cheap.. although they did go up in prices this year. Last year, a crayon box of 24 was 25cents.. glue sticks 20cents and markers $1. Now they are 40cents, 50cents and 1.50... BUT thats wayy cheaper than the normal price. I usually spend 40bucks in the beginning of august or end of july and the supplies last me well through the summer after school.
Wipes- i use generic target wipes.. Sanitizer from the dollar store.. I do send stickers and computer paper- from the dollar store..
I have a 7 and 6yr old and with them constantly needing new shoes or clothes or anything, I always am on the look out for sales.
For future reference: buy the Sunday paper- it pays for itself ! Dont be afraid to use coupons- target usually has $1 or 50 cent coupon that adds up AND puts their suppleis on clearance a couple weeks after school has started. !!
It is ridiculous but a lot of teachers pay for stuff out of pocket and lets face it- There are a LOT of parents who either cant afford it or are spending the money on themselves. buy what you can- send what you can. But Dixon pencils are good! if you have a sharpener that sharpens them well- then put that in your kid's pencil box and they can sharpen their own pencils!!

We just received our supplies list for my soon-to-be middle schooler and while the list is lengthy, there's no indication of brand names or number of items per package. It does state that during the school year that these listed items may need to be replaced as they run out so "please keep the list handy" but that's about it.

I think the problem I have with what you're talking about is that they're pushing for specific labels for items but I believe what they're trying to do is make it so that everyone is uniform and no one comes in saying, "Look, MY parents bought me Crayola!" "Oh yeah? Mine bought ROSE ART!" "You're stupid, mine are better because I have Lyra art crayons! They're from GERMANY!" "Well I have Derwent!" "Whatever, I have Caran D'Ache!" "Huh? I have Walmart brand and the tops keep break off!"

If 10 packs are cheeper, I get the 10 pack of markers. Same with the "off brand" that is just as good in my opinion. I mean, did Crayola pay to have their name listed on the supply list. Not once has a teacher sent the supply back because it was an "off brand" or too many. Only in kindergarten to they pool supplies in our area. the other grades, what you buy is what you get (and even that can be an issue--one little girl brought in the 100 ct crayons--guess what every other little girl was insisting on bringing the next day?) Are Ticondaroga pencils on the list because they are the fat beginner pencils? We had to have them in first grade not because they were pre-sharpened but because they were teaching them how to grip the right way and the fatness of them made it easier.

I think your taking it to literal, they wont kick your child out if they wont come with the *ticondaroga* brand. In fact children who cant even afford supplies doesn't have to bring anything or only what they can and my district uses donated to fill in, all types or brands.

I think the specific lists offer a more detailed list for those who ask what brand the TEACHERS recommend which from my experience at teacher meetings and open houses (as a parent) I hear a lot of so maybe look at it like that instead of getting upset over something thats not a rule but a recommendation?

Oh you're not being cheap nor rude nor selfish...no way. I feel completely the same way. It is SO freaking rediculous how the schools are actually the cheap ones...making parents be the ones to buy all this extra stuff to be used by all the students, not just your own using their 'own' supplies & not only the first time but EVERY year it has to be 'new' just b/c the school thinks that everyone has money to buy these things, these 'certain brands' when cheap generic would do, not to mention the leftovers that I know still exist...don't forget the wipes! That's definitly something that should be supplied by the school. Do they REALLY use ALL of the things on the lists?? I've heard moms say that the teachers really don't a lot of times...it's just there in case. I remember when all we had to have was round tip scissors, 1 box of crayons, at least 8 but could have more if your parents were rich enough to get it & it didn't HAVE to be crayola brand either. We had to have 2 #2 pencils & a pencil box, a ruler, small thing of glue (or paste...didn't matter what brand or size) & it was all kept in our own pencil box in our own desks for our personal use & I think that was it oh & the classrooms actually HAD pencil sharpeners so the pencils didn't hafta be 'presharpened'...what difference does THAT make?! They DO make pencil sharpeners...what's the kids gonna do when the lead breaks...bring out another pencil? We rarely used the scissors, ruler & glue. Eventually we had to add a protractor but I don't even remember using that to be honest....what is wrong w/schools these days. Who is the one who actually thinks we need to contribute to the common grab bag for use by all students...whatever happend to you bring your own, you use your own, not for anyone else's use. I'd say use the supplies you already have & if they argue...I'd ask them 'what's the difference'...can this brand of pencil REALLY write better than the reg yellow #2? Schools are getting way too cheap...next thing ya know, parents are gonna hafta start making their own copies of things. Rotten shame! Good luck!!