Teachers, what do you typically buy out of pocket each year?

[Anonymous]

Please tell us your grade, typical items you purchase, and approximately how much you spend without being reimbursed each year.

[Anonymous]

I taught 9th grade. I bought curriculum materials, subject matter books, videos, and materials for classroom display and organization. I spent more than the $200 per year teachers were allowed put down on our taxes.

[Anonymous]

I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

[Anonymous]

Around $400, though probably more if I really break it down.

A lot of that is for pencils and expo markers (so many expo markers…). I also need to get spirals and paper as my students don’t bring any materials. And tissues.

I do spend some on curriculum materials- a fun escape room does wonders for class morale.

Finally, some is spent on extra things such as stickers to decorate their chromebooks, holiday cheer, etc…

For me in upper elementary, it’s not huge purchases, but the constant need for smaller things. It all adds up. When I was in a richer school, I needed to spend less and could ask parents to donate. Now it is all about me donating to the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

Why didn't you ask for Classroom book donations? Our school does this and the response is overwhelming.
We always send our kid with pencil cases, etc based on the supply list. Even the incentives are on the list.

Use your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Around $400, though probably more if I really break it down.

A lot of that is for pencils and expo markers (so many expo markers…). I also need to get spirals and paper as my students don’t bring any materials. And tissues.

I do spend some on curriculum materials- a fun escape room does wonders for class morale.

Finally, some is spent on extra things such as stickers to decorate their chromebooks, holiday cheer, etc…

For me in upper elementary, it’s not huge purchases, but the constant need for smaller things. It all adds up. When I was in a richer school, I needed to spend less and could ask parents to donate. Now it is all about me donating to the class.

Most of these things can be on supply lists. Or our school has a wish list board with note cards on the wall. On back to school night or plays or events or any other thing.. parents can pick a card if they want and donate the item. I have purchased rugs (really not expensive at all), markers, glue sticks, tissues, hand sanitizer, boxes of crayons and pencils - tons of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Around $400, though probably more if I really break it down.

A lot of that is for pencils and expo markers (so many expo markers…). I also need to get spirals and paper as my students don’t bring any materials. And tissues.

I do spend some on curriculum materials- a fun escape room does wonders for class morale.

Finally, some is spent on extra things such as stickers to decorate their chromebooks, holiday cheer, etc…

For me in upper elementary, it’s not huge purchases, but the constant need for smaller things. It all adds up. When I was in a richer school, I needed to spend less and could ask parents to donate. Now it is all about me donating to the class.

Most of these things can be on supply lists. Or our school has a wish list board with note cards on the wall. On back to school night or plays or events or any other thing.. parents can pick a card if they want and donate the item. I have purchased rugs (really not expensive at all), markers, glue sticks, tissues, hand sanitizer, boxes of crayons and pencils - tons of things.

They can be on supply lists at some schools. At the school I currently work at, parents have no money even for their basic needs, and do not send their kids to school with anything. Our students do not even bring backpacks- there is no need as there would be nothing inside.. It was a big change from the school I used to work at.

[Anonymous]

I spent 3k my first year teaching early elementary and then about 1k subsequent years.

I bought:

-An entire extensive classroom library (compiled over years from the cheapest sources I could find)
-Seat sacks
-Flexible seating
-Rugs
-At one school I taught I had to buy printer paper regularly, pencils, erasers, scissors, other basic supplies
-Math manipulatives
-Pocket charts
-Pocket chart stands
-Fidgets/materials for a calm-down corner
-So many bins and storage units
-Some small furniture (bookshelves, small tables, bench etc)
-Specialized materials for instruction (ie handwriting paper with raised lines for kids who needed it)
-Various extras to make learning more fun - ie stamping markers, endless props for dramatic play, scientist lab coats and goggles, paint, skin-colored crayons etc
-Snacks at times for my kids

I could go on, but you get the gist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

Why didn't you ask for Classroom book donations? Our school does this and the response is overwhelming.
We always send our kid with pencil cases, etc based on the supply list. Even the incentives are on the list.

Use your head.

Why do you have to be so rude? This poster may work in a school that limits what they can put on a supply list or ask parents for. Instead of assuming stupidity, consider that there may be factors that you don’t know about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

Why didn't you ask for Classroom book donations? Our school does this and the response is overwhelming.
We always send our kid with pencil cases, etc based on the supply list. Even the incentives are on the list.

Use your head.

Why do you have to be so rude? This poster may work in a school that limits what they can put on a supply list or ask parents for. Instead of assuming stupidity, consider that there may be factors that you don’t know about.

Or a lower income area where people rarely buy books and then are unlikely to want to give them away.

[Anonymous]

I think some of you are forgetting how very different schools are. At some schools you can ask for (and receive) almost anything. However, at far more schools, teachers must provide everything.

I have worked at two very different schools. My first school out of college was at a Title 1 school. The kids didn’t bring any supplies. We were given some, but they quickly ran out. It was up to the teacher to fill in the gaps.

After a few years I switched to my current school. It is insane! The PRA gives us money to buy supplies and parents actually reach out offering to purchase anything I want. Then, at holidays, the kids bring gifts.

Although both schools are in MCPS, they couldn’t be further apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

Why didn't you ask for Classroom book donations? Our school does this and the response is overwhelming.
We always send our kid with pencil cases, etc based on the supply list. Even the incentives are on the list.

Use your head.

What a great idea! I can't believe this never occurred to me. My school has a 95% poverty rate. In a good year, half of my students bring in supplies on the supply list. That means that there is a shortage of supplies from the very beginning of the year. My students don't have books in their homes. When we get a donation of books to send home, the students look like they've won the lottery.

I asked for book donations on FB and Nextdoor and got a few boxes of them. I bought the rest of them at yardsales, garages sales, FB Marketplace, etc.

Perhaps YOU should use your head and think before replaying. Step outside of your bubble. Not everyone has the money that exists at your school.

[Anonymous]

I teach kindergarten in a lower income area. I typically spend around $2000-2500 a year. I don't buy things like pencils because the kids do bring those or my district will pay for things like that. But I buy a lot of art supplies, some furniture, office supplies for me, books, scoop chairs, games, electric pencil sharpener, science supplies, pet for the classroom, etc, etc.

Now that my own kids are getting closer to college, I'm forcing myself not to just go and pick up something for my classroom. I'm limiting myself to $50 a month as much as I can. Donors Choose is a good resource. I also just got a donation of a particular toy I wanted for the room off of my own neighborhood mom's facebook page. And there are other ways I've gotten things for free. Instead of paying with money, I pay with my time.

I love my students and I'm really glad I can do this for them. My husband and I consider my classroom as our charitable giving for the year. I know other jobs have to buy things too and I hope they also feel the joy of giving that way.

[Anonymous]

At my school which is in a low income area, we are not allowed to ask parents for anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach kindergarten and I'd say I spent at least $1K my first year and maybe $500 for the next few years. Now it's less than $250 each year. I had to buy everything except classroom furniture and basic school supplies that the students brought it. Classroom library books, bulletin board stuff for 4+ board, classroom posters, mailboxes, pencil cases, classroom rug, storage containers, classroom incentives, manipulatives, clipboards, ink for my color printer, my printer, etc. We don't have a PTA so it's all on us.

Why didn't you ask for Classroom book donations? Our school does this and the response is overwhelming.
We always send our kid with pencil cases, etc based on the supply list. Even the incentives are on the list.

Use your head.

Pp, try a piece of reality.