Middle schools supplies/helpful things

[Anonymous]

When my DD was in middle school a binder was absolutely necessary because it was how she stored the notes each teacher would give her. Now that she is in HS and everything is electronic, she has switched her large binder for two folders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the A/B schedule, get your kid a separate backback in 2 different colors for A and B days.

It works better than 2 different colored binders.

So you’d have to transfer your pencil pouch and calculator and cell phone from one backpack to the other every day? This is the absolutel worst idea I’ve ever heard!!!

Math is only every other day. The calculator stays in the math day backpack.

It is not hard or expensive to have 2 sets of pencils.

The kid switches the laptop each night after doing homework.

You are delusional if you think your kid keeps their cell phone in their backpack all night, and doesn't walk out the door in the morning with the cellphone in their hand in front of their face. The cell phone is completely a non issue.

Switching backpacks was an idea given to me from some older high schoolers who were brilliant, organized, high achieving students. We skeptically tried it with our middle schooler who was struggling with the every other day schedule that all the FCPS middle schools switched to. The two backpack technique was truly life changing for my kid. The results were so much better than using 2 binders. I would recommend it to anyone whose middle schooler is going to a fcps school using that AB schedule.

K


We obviously parent very differently. Mine isn’t allowed to keep their phone overnight in their room. It goes into charging mode in our room and then is placed in the backpack the night before. My child does not use his phone in the morning ever as it would slow him down.

How does your child work on math on the days they don’t have math? For example, in study hall period? My child’s study hall period was not on the same day as his math class. He needed his math binder with them on the alternative days. In fact, he needed his materials from the other binder in study hall all the time.

I think 2 colored binders would work fine and no need to switch anything. Just pack both daily. Actually, I believe we only used one binder and all subjects fit in there! One binder with pocket dividers and one backpack! Easy peasy.

Yeah, mine wasn't allowed to keep their phone in their room either, nor did they have unlimited internet access either. Their phone was pretty locked down.

However, I am not buying for a minute that your kids phone was safely hidden away in their backpack all day. Guarantee that thing was in your kid's hand the second they walked out the door, and that his phone was the one item he would never, ever forget on his way to school or anywhere.

I didn’t say it was hidden all day. He gets it out when he’s on the bus. But he’s usually running to the bus stop so doesn’t have it out until he’s seated on the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoodies, Nike socks, some folders and 1 pencil and eraser. It’s all computer these days so don’t need much else.

$80 hoodies. 1 pencil. This is why teachers are constantly supplying kids out of their own pockets.

[Anonymous]

My kid got a lot of use out of reinforced binder paper (better than having to repair tears) and index cards.

[Anonymous]

My DS had an updated version of a trapper-keeper: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SRCX4T7?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

It is both a binder and an accordion file, but has rounded corners so it can fit into a backpack (unlike the large hard-cover binders). It was great for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree about the zipper binders. They are way too bulky to carry around in an already VERY heavy backpack with computer, charger, and (maybe) lunch. The folders are so much more streamlined and they can just get one small thing out when they need it. Most days they never get a folder/binder out at all and just use their computer. Why carry around that enormous zipper binder?

I worked at a school where students were not allowed to have backpacks in the classrooms, so the zippered binder with a strap freed up their hands for the Chromebook and any textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the A/B schedule, get your kid a separate backback in 2 different colors for A and B days.

It works better than 2 different colored binders.

So you’d have to transfer your pencil pouch and calculator and cell phone from one backpack to the other every day? This is the absolutel worst idea I’ve ever heard!!!

Math is only every other day. The calculator stays in the math day backpack.

It is not hard or expensive to have 2 sets of pencils.

The kid switches the laptop each night after doing homework.

You are delusional if you think your kid keeps their cell phone in their backpack all night, and doesn't walk out the door in the morning with the cellphone in their hand in front of their face. The cell phone is completely a non issue.

Switching backpacks was an idea given to me from some older high schoolers who were brilliant, organized, high achieving students. We skeptically tried it with our middle schooler who was struggling with the every other day schedule that all the FCPS middle schools switched to. The two backpack technique was truly life changing for my kid. The results were so much better than using 2 binders. I would recommend it to anyone whose middle schooler is going to a fcps school using that AB schedule.

K


We obviously parent very differently. Mine isn’t allowed to keep their phone overnight in their room. It goes into charging mode in our room and then is placed in the backpack the night before. My child does not use his phone in the morning ever as it would slow him down.

How does your child work on math on the days they don’t have math? For example, in study hall period? My child’s study hall period was not on the same day as his math class. He needed his math binder with them on the alternative days. In fact, he needed his materials from the other binder in study hall all the time.

I think 2 colored binders would work fine and no need to switch anything. Just pack both daily. Actually, I believe we only used one binder and all subjects fit in there! One binder with pocket dividers and one backpack! Easy peasy.

Yeah, mine wasn't allowed to keep their phone in their room either, nor did they have unlimited internet access either. Their phone was pretty locked down.

However, I am not buying for a minute that your kids phone was safely hidden away in their backpack all day. Guarantee that thing was in your kid's hand the second they walked out the door, and that his phone was the one item he would never, ever forget on his way to school or anywhere.

I didn’t say it was hidden all day. He gets it out when he’s on the bus. But he’s usually running to the bus stop so doesn’t have it out until he’s seated on the bus.

Mayb if he has two backpacks, then he would have an easier, more organized morning and wouldn't be running to the bus each morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree about the zipper binders. They are way too bulky to carry around in an already VERY heavy backpack with computer, charger, and (maybe) lunch. The folders are so much more streamlined and they can just get one small thing out when they need it. Most days they never get a folder/binder out at all and just use their computer. Why carry around that enormous zipper binder?

At our FCPS middle school, they aren’t allowed to carry backpacks during the day, and also have very minimal time to get through the crowds to their lockers. The zipper binder has been the best solution for my kid bc they can keep all their supplies and class materials contained in one place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the A/B schedule, get your kid a separate backback in 2 different colors for A and B days.

It works better than 2 different colored binders.

So you’d have to transfer your pencil pouch and calculator and cell phone from one backpack to the other every day? This is the absolutel worst idea I’ve ever heard!!!

Math is only every other day. The calculator stays in the math day backpack.

It is not hard or expensive to have 2 sets of pencils.

The kid switches the laptop each night after doing homework.

You are delusional if you think your kid keeps their cell phone in their backpack all night, and doesn't walk out the door in the morning with the cellphone in their hand in front of their face. The cell phone is completely a non issue.

Switching backpacks was an idea given to me from some older high schoolers who were brilliant, organized, high achieving students. We skeptically tried it with our middle schooler who was struggling with the every other day schedule that all the FCPS middle schools switched to. The two backpack technique was truly life changing for my kid. The results were so much better than using 2 binders. I would recommend it to anyone whose middle schooler is going to a fcps school using that AB schedule.

K


We obviously parent very differently. Mine isn’t allowed to keep their phone overnight in their room. It goes into charging mode in our room and then is placed in the backpack the night before. My child does not use his phone in the morning ever as it would slow him down.

How does your child work on math on the days they don’t have math? For example, in study hall period? My child’s study hall period was not on the same day as his math class. He needed his math binder with them on the alternative days. In fact, he needed his materials from the other binder in study hall all the time.

I think 2 colored binders would work fine and no need to switch anything. Just pack both daily. Actually, I believe we only used one binder and all subjects fit in there! One binder with pocket dividers and one backpack! Easy peasy.

Yeah, mine wasn't allowed to keep their phone in their room either, nor did they have unlimited internet access either. Their phone was pretty locked down.

However, I am not buying for a minute that your kids phone was safely hidden away in their backpack all day. Guarantee that thing was in your kid's hand the second they walked out the door, and that his phone was the one item he would never, ever forget on his way to school or anywhere.

I didn’t say it was hidden all day. He gets it out when he’s on the bus. But he’s usually running to the bus stop so doesn’t have it out until he’s seated on the bus.

Mayb if he has two backpacks, then he would have an easier, more organized morning and wouldn't be running to the bus each morning.

Backpack is packed the night before and by the door so there is nothing to actually organize in the morning. He’s just slow in the am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoodies, Nike socks, some folders and 1 pencil and eraser. It’s all computer these days so don’t need much else.

$80 hoodies. 1 pencil. This is why teachers are constantly supplying kids out of their own pockets.

What hoodies are $80? Yikes! For rest, ours didn’t use pen or pencil 1 time in MS as everything was on digital and on school computer. Absolutely zero handwritten, including all in class work, homework, quizzes, tests and all FCPS surveys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoodies, Nike socks, some folders and 1 pencil and eraser. It’s all computer these days so don’t need much else.

$80 hoodies. 1 pencil. This is why teachers are constantly supplying kids out of their own pockets.

What hoodies are $80? Yikes! For rest, ours didn’t use pen or pencil 1 time in MS as everything was on digital and on school computer. Absolutely zero handwritten, including all in class work, homework, quizzes, tests and all FCPS surveys.

The likes of Dandy and White Fox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoodies, Nike socks, some folders and 1 pencil and eraser. It’s all computer these days so don’t need much else.

$80 hoodies. 1 pencil. This is why teachers are constantly supplying kids out of their own pockets.

What hoodies are $80? Yikes! For rest, ours didn’t use pen or pencil 1 time in MS as everything was on digital and on school computer. Absolutely zero handwritten, including all in class work, homework, quizzes, tests and all FCPS surveys.

That’s crazy. I teach HS in FCPS (9th grade) and they never have pencils so maybe that is why. We are constantly giving them out only to have the same students ask for another pencil the next time we see them. I have collected a lot of pencils from my buy nothing group which helps.

[Anonymous]

Last year, my 7th grade child had to have a folder for every class except English and Spanish, each of which required a binder with at least three or four sections.

Almost all of my kids' tests and quizzes in both middle school and high school have been on paper, so pens and pencils are definitely necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree about the zipper binders. They are way too bulky to carry around in an already VERY heavy backpack with computer, charger, and (maybe) lunch. The folders are so much more streamlined and they can just get one small thing out when they need it. Most days they never get a folder/binder out at all and just use their computer. Why carry around that enormous zipper binder?

At our FCPS middle school, they aren’t allowed to carry backpacks during the day, and also have very minimal time to get through the crowds to their lockers. The zipper binder has been the best solution for my kid bc they can keep all their supplies and class materials contained in one place.

Interesting! Our FCPS middle school is the opposite, the kids don't get lockers at all and carry their backpacks all day. That is why we have such different opinions on this.

[Anonymous]

What brand of backpacks are popular for Middle School Girls?