$15 pack of pens?? For K??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind buying supplies but I really think every classroom should be supplied with basics like dry erase markers, pencils and a pencil sharpener, etc.

You can't expect the administrators to give up things like their expense accounts for their lunches, dinners and travel to pay for school supplies.

I agree with you. I'm fine buying them for my child's use, but the basics should be supplied including soap and tissues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I do ask for a lot of items to be a specific name brand because experience has taught me some generics are poor quality. Dollar store tape dispensers often don't work and many pencils break as soon as you sharpen them. Dry erase markers don't all erase well, etc. I do appreciate anything the families bring and understand they won't know why I am asking for brands. However, I do end up not using a lot of the dollar store items if they break or don't work well. On the other hand, for many items brand does not matter.

How many dry erase markers do teachers really need? It amazes me that they ask every family for a pack and its clearly not for each kid. Sorry, I don't buy us brand stuff if it is more money (a lot, not a few cents), so I'm not buying it for you either. Not everyone can afford or wants to spend $4-6 on a pack of dry erase markers when the dollar store one work fine.

Well, assuming a kid can easily blow through a dry erase marker in 2-3 weeks of class, and that there are 180 days in a year (36 weeks), that's 12 pens right there not account for losing them, lids left off, or really bad quality or hard drawing that some little kids do. I think a 12-pack sounds like a lot, but it's the bare minimum without the teacher having to ask for more or dip into his or her own pocketbook.

I am happy to buy what is more likely to last because it helps the kids and the teachers.

Don't worry, PP. I'll send in some extras for your kid, who I assume isn't one of the students who lives in poverty. I'll send some extras in for those kids, too.

[Anonymous]

How many dry erase markers are they asking for? I'm a teacher and I ask for a pack of 4 from each student. Trust me, every student goes through all four of them. I send in 2 packs for my kid alone.

[Anonymous]

Also would like to echo that whatever your family goes through of expo markers, scissors, etc. does not compare to the amount that gets used in the classroom, both due to the sheer volume of time, number of students, and inevitable mistreatment that comes from the fast transitions and inevitable chaos of an elementary school classroom. Anything you do not supply for your students, your students teacher will likely have to supply out of their own pocket, multiplied by 20-30 for each student who needs them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out teachers managed without whiteboards, and managed to both teach and supervise pencil sharpening. How come today's teachers are so much less capable?

Our K teachers didn't even attempt to teach reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers also kicked us all out of classrooms during lunch and recess and promptly at 3:30 so they could relax a bit or grade in peace. We played tag and dodgeball while a bored mom volunteer playground attendant smoked Virginia Slims. You only came inside if you were bleeding or had been knocked unconscious. No one got to read quietly under teacher supervision instead of going out. If you wanted to read, you took your book to the blacktop.

Agree about the "reading quietly"--I did not realize that is an option today.

As for the teachers kicking you out of the classroom during lunch and recess, I think your memory must be a little foggy. I taught back in the day, and teachers always did recess-at least in the systems where I taught. We did not have teachers' aides in those days (except for K and Special Ed.) Teachers also supervised lunch. I even had one principal who required that teachers sit at the table with the kids--in other words, none of the teachers had duty free lunch.
As for the "Virginia Slims", there were those who smoked in the teachers' lounge, but we were never allowed to smoke in front of the kids. (at least not where I taught--I was not a smoker, so I did not pay much attention to it). Also, I had a principal who would not allow us to have sodas or coffee in the classroom when the kids were present. Her philosophy: it was rude and inconsiderate to drink in front of the kids. You would not do that in your home, and you did not do it in her school.

When I was growing up, the teachers were always in the lunchroom with us.

+1

Our teachers supervised recess and ate lunch at their class's table.

[Anonymous]

Just buy the freaking supplies people. For most of us it makes no difference for our budgets; you’re just being cheap! I feel sorry for the teachers at your schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers also kicked us all out of classrooms during lunch and recess and promptly at 3:30 so they could relax a bit or grade in peace. We played tag and dodgeball while a bored mom volunteer playground attendant smoked Virginia Slims. You only came inside if you were bleeding or had been knocked unconscious. No one got to read quietly under teacher supervision instead of going out. If you wanted to read, you took your book to the blacktop.

Agree about the "reading quietly"--I did not realize that is an option today.

As for the teachers kicking you out of the classroom during lunch and recess, I think your memory must be a little foggy. I taught back in the day, and teachers always did recess-at least in the systems where I taught. We did not have teachers' aides in those days (except for K and Special Ed.) Teachers also supervised lunch. I even had one principal who required that teachers sit at the table with the kids--in other words, none of the teachers had duty free lunch.
As for the "Virginia Slims", there were those who smoked in the teachers' lounge, but we were never allowed to smoke in front of the kids. (at least not where I taught--I was not a smoker, so I did not pay much attention to it). Also, I had a principal who would not allow us to have sodas or coffee in the classroom when the kids were present. Her philosophy: it was rude and inconsiderate to drink in front of the kids. You would not do that in your home, and you did not do it in her school.

When I was growing up, the teachers were always in the lunchroom with us.

+1

Our teachers supervised recess and ate lunch at their class's table.

When I was growing up, we had recess three times a day (supervised by one teacher for 3 grades), and lunch was supervised by a 4th grade "lunch aide".

[Anonymous]

Why the hell is this year old thread being resurrected? It’s not even school supply shopping time