School supplies - why not just allow parents to pay a fee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Your kid will use that many.

Just send in a new pack every 6 to 8 weeks.

I promise that the glue sticks will get used. Trust the experienced parents on this one.

They will not use 40. And if they do- the teacher needs to come up with better lessons. Gluing paper on paper is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the first day of school I give each student a gallon Ziplock bag labeled with their name. Each student puts their extras into that bag and the bags are stored in crates. When a student needs another item, we pull it from their Ziplock bag. At the end of the year, any leftovers get sent home.

As far as glue sticks, we ask for 4 on the supply list.

Also a teacher in FCPS and this is what I do except we do end up using most of the glue sticks too. And they use the crayons.

Yes. I know of quite a few who do this or something similar rather than pooling the supplies.

[Anonymous]

We bought enough school supplies over two years to last ten years -- and they have.

[Anonymous]

If the list calls for 48 pencils we donate about half that amount. Or two packs of dry erase markers - we donate one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dunno - I actually find the supplies needed for elementary very reasonable. We’re talking maybe $30 worth of stuff. I also feel like getting the supplies is a ritual and gets kids excited.

Boxes are a rip-off but I guess good option if you don’t feel like shopping.

+1. There’s more to life than Amazon 1-click. If the kid knows how to write, get them to write out the list, gather items they already have, cross off items once they find or purchase them. It’s an exercise to train them for… life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Ffs. This is why I have to buy 40. Because people like you don’t send any in.

But I see your point. What are they doing with them all? Maybe the teacher should be teaching them to care for their supplies and to put the lids back. My kids have 2 glue sticks that they opened around January. Still going strong here at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the list calls for 48 pencils we donate about half that amount. Or two packs of dry erase markers - we donate one.

My actual list does say 48 pencils. My dd really likes the ones she chooses (Ticonderoga pastels). It’s annoying how they’re going to pool them. I really only want to send 5 in and tell dd to let me know when she’s running low. Even the plain Ticonderoga aren’t cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the list calls for 48 pencils we donate about half that amount. Or two packs of dry erase markers - we donate one.

Let me guess, you live in a million dollar house and cannot donate some pencils.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the list calls for 48 pencils we donate about half that amount. Or two packs of dry erase markers - we donate one.

My actual list does say 48 pencils. My dd really likes the ones she chooses (Ticonderoga pastels). It’s annoying how they’re going to pool them. I really only want to send 5 in and tell dd to let me know when she’s running low. Even the plain Ticonderoga aren’t cheap.

Buy the cheap ones to donate, but the nice ones for at home and send some in her backpack with her name on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Your kid will use that many.

Just send in a new pack every 6 to 8 weeks.

I promise that the glue sticks will get used. Trust the experienced parents on this one.

They will not use 40. And if they do- the teacher needs to come up with better lessons. Gluing paper on paper is stupid.

They glue stuff in their notebooks instead of writing notes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dunno - I actually find the supplies needed for elementary very reasonable. We’re talking maybe $30 worth of stuff. I also feel like getting the supplies is a ritual and gets kids excited.

Boxes are a rip-off but I guess good option if you don’t feel like shopping.

+1. There’s more to life than Amazon 1-click. If the kid knows how to write, get them to write out the list, gather items they already have, cross off items once they find or purchase them. It’s an exercise to train them for… life

If you have more than one kid this is time consuming, frustrating, confusing (for the kids) and just inefficient (i have 3). Tried it this year and going back to the pta box next year. The kids wanted to pick it out and we still ended up buying from amazon when target didn’t have the right folders or highlighters or whatever. Never again! Not worth saving a few bucks over given the hassle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Your kid will use that many.

Just send in a new pack every 6 to 8 weeks.

I promise that the glue sticks will get used. Trust the experienced parents on this one.

They will not use 40. And if they do- the teacher needs to come up with better lessons. Gluing paper on paper is stupid.

They use them to make their own “text books” dumb busy work. Very stupid indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Your kid will use that many.

Just send in a new pack every 6 to 8 weeks.

I promise that the glue sticks will get used. Trust the experienced parents on this one.

They will not use 40. And if they do- the teacher needs to come up with better lessons. Gluing paper on paper is stupid.

They use them to make their own “text books” dumb busy work. Very stupid indeed.

Feel free to join the teaching industry and show us how you can do everything better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walmart has all the school lists on their website. If you type in the school and select the grade you can add everything in your cart and be done with this in les than 5 minutes.

And delivered! I got them delivered from Walmart or Target inexpensively for the last two years of elementary school. Ours also had the kit that could be purchased. We did it up to Covid and then stopped after. The supplies were expensive, junky and the teachers always requested more halfway through the year anyway.

They haven’t need much in middle school and beyond. I didn’t even buy anything this year and will make sure to send with a pencil on the first day. A couple of teachers may request specific supplies but they mostly use computers.

I started storing some of the extra supplies we got back when our DD was in elementary and in middle school. They need so little in high school that we just used the extra supplies for her last three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dunno - I actually find the supplies needed for elementary very reasonable. We’re talking maybe $30 worth of stuff. I also feel like getting the supplies is a ritual and gets kids excited.

Boxes are a rip-off but I guess good option if you don’t feel like shopping.

+1. There’s more to life than Amazon 1-click. If the kid knows how to write, get them to write out the list, gather items they already have, cross off items once they find or purchase them. It’s an exercise to train them for… life

If you have more than one kid this is time consuming, frustrating, confusing (for the kids) and just inefficient (i have 3). Tried it this year and going back to the pta box next year. The kids wanted to pick it out and we still ended up buying from amazon when target didn’t have the right folders or highlighters or whatever. Never again! Not worth saving a few bucks over given the hassle.

+1. It’s actually not easy to shop for the very specific supplies that they ask for (plastic folder in xyz colors, certain size pencil pouch with clear cover, composition book in 3 different specific colors, specific brand and size of dry erase markers).