Ridiculous school supplies thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- here's my take on the very specific supply request... it is quite likely that the school/PTA arranged for pre-ordering school suppply kits from Staples. When they pre-order, they want the teachers to be VERY specific about the item that Staples has to put into the kit otherwise, Staples can put the lowest quality product into it. So, the teachers probably don't care if your child gets a pencil sharpener from Staples... they just want him/her to have a small pencil sharpener.

As for crazy things I cannot find... plastic two-pocket folders NO Brads, but must have three-hole punch! (and orange, red, yellow, blue and green are needed). I understand the colors b/c they use different ones for different subjects. But, I am pretty certain these do not exist (at least not at Target or Walmart). I ended up finding plastic 2-pocket folders with no brads at Target and I used my paperpunch (at home) to punch three holes in each one. (not entirely easy b/c paper punches don't like plastic!).

Anyway -- there is no way most of the kids at an AAP center are going to have what was listed in the supply list.

Other ridiculous requests from previous years --- 18 (!!!) glue sticks (large). Seriously -- what in god's name are these kids doing by going through TWO large glue sticks PER MONTH??? That's like $20 in glue sticks ALONE for ONE kid! Plus, those glue sticks don't even work. Why can't they just learn to use Elmers glue like the rest of us did so that it actually STICKS. And maybe they should spend less time glue-ing and more time learning to write words/sentences?

Because the top gets left off or not put on all the way and they dry out. They also don't make the mess that Elmer's glue does and it dries faster. You can only say "dot dot not a lot" so many times.

Also, some kids need to practice a skill receptively before they can do it expressively. Different learning styles. Cutting/pasting is one way to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- here's my take on the very specific supply request... it is quite likely that the school/PTA arranged for pre-ordering school suppply kits from Staples. When they pre-order, they want the teachers to be VERY specific about the item that Staples has to put into the kit otherwise, Staples can put the lowest quality product into it. So, the teachers probably don't care if your child gets a pencil sharpener from Staples... they just want him/her to have a small pencil sharpener.

As for crazy things I cannot find... plastic two-pocket folders NO Brads, but must have three-hole punch! (and orange, red, yellow, blue and green are needed). I understand the colors b/c they use different ones for different subjects. But, I am pretty certain these do not exist (at least not at Target or Walmart). I ended up finding plastic 2-pocket folders with no brads at Target and I used my paperpunch (at home) to punch three holes in each one. (not entirely easy b/c paper punches don't like plastic!).

Anyway -- there is no way most of the kids at an AAP center are going to have what was listed in the supply list.

Other ridiculous requests from previous years --- 18 (!!!) glue sticks (large). Seriously -- what in god's name are these kids doing by going through TWO large glue sticks PER MONTH??? That's like $20 in glue sticks ALONE for ONE kid! Plus, those glue sticks don't even work. Why can't they just learn to use Elmers glue like the rest of us did so that it actually STICKS. And maybe they should spend less time glue-ing and more time learning to write words/sentences?

Glue sticks are $1.25 for 4, or $11.99 for 30. So 18 will cost you far less than $20. Elmer's glue is great for craft projects, but it's lousy for things like word sorts, where you want to work quickly and efficiently, and you only need it to last long enough for a teacher to check it anyway.

As for the students are sorting and glueing rather than just sitting and writing over and over again: one reason that we want students to learn math, and reading and science and social studies, and not just writing words and sentences. There are lots of great sorting/matching/glueing activities that target all those skills.

[Anonymous]

I taught high school in a room with the wall sharpener, I also had an electric sharpener, And in a little basket on the shelf, two hand held dome sharpeners. Guess which sharpener 15 year olds can use most successfully? You got it, the hand held. Then... Someone stole them, and all day long, panicked students were asking me where they went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP -- here's my take on the very specific supply request... it is quite likely that the school/PTA arranged for pre-ordering school suppply kits from Staples. When they pre-order, they want the teachers to be VERY specific about the item that Staples has to put into the kit otherwise, Staples can put the lowest quality product into it. So, the teachers probably don't care if your child gets a pencil sharpener from Staples... they just want him/her to have a small pencil sharpener.

As for crazy things I cannot find... plastic two-pocket folders NO Brads, but must have three-hole punch! (and orange, red, yellow, blue and green are needed). I understand the colors b/c they use different ones for different subjects. But, I am pretty certain these do not exist (at least not at Target or Walmart). I ended up finding plastic 2-pocket folders with no brads at Target and I used my paperpunch (at home) to punch three holes in each one. (not entirely easy b/c paper punches don't like plastic!).

Anyway -- there is no way most of the kids at an AAP center are going to have what was listed in the supply list.

Other ridiculous requests from previous years --- 18 (!!!) glue sticks (large). Seriously -- what in god's name are these kids doing by going through TWO large glue sticks PER MONTH??? That's like $20 in glue sticks ALONE for ONE kid! Plus, those glue sticks don't even work. Why can't they just learn to use Elmers glue like the rest of us did so that it actually STICKS. And maybe they should spend less time glue-ing and more time learning to write words/sentences?

Glue sticks are $1.25 for 4, or $11.99 for 30. So 18 will cost you far less than $20. Elmer's glue is great for craft projects, but it's lousy for things like word sorts, where you want to work quickly and efficiently, and you only need it to last long enough for a teacher to check it anyway.

As for the students are sorting and glueing rather than just sitting and writing over and over again: one reason that we want students to learn math, and reading and science and social studies, and not just writing words and sentences. There are lots of great sorting/matching/glueing activities that target all those skills.

No...the little ones are that price. The large glue sticks are $1 each. Look it up. Why is my 5th grader still needing SEVEN large glue sticks? And the glue sticks seem to be used for word study notebooks...which means the little cut out words are falling out of the comp book all year because glue sticks don't actually stick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP -- here's my take on the very specific supply request... it is quite likely that the school/PTA arranged for pre-ordering school suppply kits from Staples. When they pre-order, they want the teachers to be VERY specific about the item that Staples has to put into the kit otherwise, Staples can put the lowest quality product into it. So, the teachers probably don't care if your child gets a pencil sharpener from Staples... they just want him/her to have a small pencil sharpener.

As for crazy things I cannot find... plastic two-pocket folders NO Brads, but must have three-hole punch! (and orange, red, yellow, blue and green are needed). I understand the colors b/c they use different ones for different subjects. But, I am pretty certain these do not exist (at least not at Target or Walmart). I ended up finding plastic 2-pocket folders with no brads at Target and I used my paperpunch (at home) to punch three holes in each one. (not entirely easy b/c paper punches don't like plastic!).

Anyway -- there is no way most of the kids at an AAP center are going to have what was listed in the supply list.

Other ridiculous requests from previous years --- 18 (!!!) glue sticks (large). Seriously -- what in god's name are these kids doing by going through TWO large glue sticks PER MONTH??? That's like $20 in glue sticks ALONE for ONE kid! Plus, those glue sticks don't even work. Why can't they just learn to use Elmers glue like the rest of us did so that it actually STICKS. And maybe they should spend less time glue-ing and more time learning to write words/sentences?

Glue sticks are $1.25 for 4, or $11.99 for 30. So 18 will cost you far less than $20. Elmer's glue is great for craft projects, but it's lousy for things like word sorts, where you want to work quickly and efficiently, and you only need it to last long enough for a teacher to check it anyway.

As for the students are sorting and glueing rather than just sitting and writing over and over again: one reason that we want students to learn math, and reading and science and social studies, and not just writing words and sentences. There are lots of great sorting/matching/glueing activities that target all those skills.

No...the little ones are that price. The large glue sticks are $1 each. Look it up. Why is my 5th grader still needing SEVEN large glue sticks? And the glue sticks seem to be used for word study notebooks...which means the little cut out words are falling out of the comp book all year because glue sticks don't actually stick.

Then the issue is with your child's gluing skills, because glue sticks DO stick. If they didn't work, why would the teachers ask for them? Or are you one of THOSE people who just thinks everyone's out to make your life harder?

[Anonymous]

No... I'm one of "those parents" who has actually used glue sticks and real glue. The glue stick items peel off with the slightest touch.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't think it's that big a deal of if you only buy say 10 glue sticks vs 18 if you think that serves your principles.

[Anonymous]

My kids pre-k list is all cleaning supplies: no markers, no crayons, no pencils. Why can the school provide those things, but not cleaning supplies? (Or, worse, they won't be using those things?)

[Anonymous]

There was nothing ridiculous on our list, but I was surprised by the exclusion of pencils. You'd think kids would go through a lot of pencils and they'd want us to supply them! Also, our list asked for boxes of 16 crayons, which were $1.99 at Target, vs. boxes of 24 crayons, which were $0.50. So I bought the boxes of 24 instead.

Thanks for the reminder that I still have to buy the Kleenex on our list. Couldn't find it at Target that day.

[Anonymous]

Honest question here - FTM of a 2-year-old so I really am this clueless: why are parents buying all these basic classroom supplies instead of the schools? How did this come about? I've been reading all these threads thinking, WTF? As a kid we used those ancient, crummy, but heavy-duty old craft scissors with green rubber handles, huge pots of paste, oaktag paper, etc. - all provided by the school. How is it possible that every parent needs to buy scissors all the freaking time? This just seems weird to me, and I wonder when this shift happened. Granted I went to public school in a middle- to upper-m.c. New England suburb, so maybe that's the entire answer. Is this every public school in every DC/MD/Va district? I can see providing craft supplies for your own kid, but bulk offerings for the whole school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to those great crank pencil sharpeners attached to the wall in the classroom? I used to love those. No need for a personal sharpener either.

Those were amazing. I used to love those too. Much simpler times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Post 07/30/2014 14:09 Subject: Ridiculous school supplies thread!

OP -- here's my take on the very specific supply request... it is quite likely that the school/PTA arranged for pre-ordering school suppply kits from Staples. When they pre-order, they want the teachers to be VERY specific about the item that Staples has to put into the kit otherwise, Staples can put the lowest quality product into it. So, the teachers probably don't care if your child gets a pencil sharpener from Staples... they just want him/her to have a small pencil sharpener.

As for crazy things I cannot find... plastic two-pocket folders NO Brads, but must have three-hole punch! (and orange, red, yellow, blue and green are needed). I understand the colors b/c they use different ones for different subjects. But, I am pretty certain these do not exist (at least not at Target or Walmart). I ended up finding plastic 2-pocket folders with no brads at Target and I used my paperpunch (at home) to punch three holes in each one. (not entirely easy b/c paper punches don't like plastic!).

Anyway -- there is no way most of the kids at an AAP center are going to have what was listed in the supply list.

Other ridiculous requests from previous years --- 18 (!!!) glue sticks (large). Seriously -- what in god's name are these kids doing by going through TWO large glue sticks PER MONTH??? That's like $20 in glue sticks ALONE for ONE kid! Plus, those glue sticks don't even work. Why can't they just learn to use Elmers glue like the rest of us did so that it actually STICKS. And maybe they should spend less time glue-ing and more time learning to write words/sentences?

PP--did you bother to read your PP's post before writing this? If not, please read it again--SLOWLY.
Teachers know what works and what doesn't in their classrooms. Please buy what they ask for. If you can't find it before school starts, have your child ask the teacher where they found it.

I will buy what is reasonable but I'm with the mom on specifying brand/sizes when I can get a different brand that works fine for us with a larger number of crayons for cheaper. I am not going to spend $3 on crayons when I can spend .50 and buy two boxes for a $1. Teachers need to be reasonable - if they want a specific folder understand some people are on a budget, pick reasonable and list where to buy it so it is not a guessing game. 18 glue sticks is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids pre-k list is all cleaning supplies: no markers, no crayons, no pencils. Why can the school provide those things, but not cleaning supplies? (Or, worse, they won't be using those things?)

Probably because Pre-K school supplies are all communal. Starting in K, each child has their own school box of supplies they use. Cleaning supplies (Lysol wipes, real paper towels etc.) are not allowed to be purchased with the school's educational supplies budget. There are a lot of spills and other messes that get taken care of directly by the teacher without having to call in a building services worker. The teacher has probably used all of his/her educational supply budget money to have enough markers, crayons, pencils and paper to last throughout the year, and would like families to help provide other necessary classroom supplies without having to purchase them all on his/her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question here - FTM of a 2-year-old so I really am this clueless: why are parents buying all these basic classroom supplies instead of the schools? How did this come about? I've been reading all these threads thinking, WTF? As a kid we used those ancient, crummy, but heavy-duty old craft scissors with green rubber handles, huge pots of paste, oaktag paper, etc. - all provided by the school. How is it possible that every parent needs to buy scissors all the freaking time? This just seems weird to me, and I wonder when this shift happened. Granted I went to public school in a middle- to upper-m.c. New England suburb, so maybe that's the entire answer. Is this every public school in every DC/MD/Va district? I can see providing craft supplies for your own kid, but bulk offerings for the whole school?

You are not asked to provide bulk offerings for the whole school. The teacher may have a class set of scissors, for example, but materials get lost/broken/taken home all the time. I agree that some of the lists seem a little bit lengthy, but there are usually reasons teachers are asking for specific things that you may not understand until you see the organizational system of the classroom. These are not contracts, people. If you do not want to purchase something then don't purchase it.

I am the teacher PP who explained about buying the $35 pencil sharpener when I have $200 to buy educational supplies for the entire year. There are no hand-cranked pencil sharpeners in my building, so we do put a 69 cent individual pencil sharpener on our supply lists. If I am buying class sets of scissors, pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks etc. for the entire class to last the entire school year, that will leave absolutely no money for anything beyond extremely basic supplies.

I am a teacher and a parent, and I just don't understand all of the drama surrounding the school supply list. As a teacher, I can usually figure out why a teacher is asking for something specific. But I also use common sense. If the 24 pack of crayons is on sale for 49 cents and the 16 pack of crayons costs $2.00, then I'm buying the 24 pack.

[Anonymous]

oddest item was "one sock" I later found out it was for wiping their individual dry erase boards (which were provided)

My child says her class has two cans and they can take a sharpened pencil and leave a dull or broken one during the day. One of the coveted classroom jobs is sharpening the pencils in the dull can

And I recently visited my third grade classroom. The wall mounted sharpener was still there!