Anonymous wrote:We were told to wait until the first 2 weeks of school as the teacher’s do team building for 2 weeks and through the course of that, they announce what specific items are needed for each subject. It’s different by teacher.

OP here - yes, absolutely aware of this, but I also know there are some basics that kids will need (organizational system, pencil pouch, etc.) and that's what I'm asking about!

We were told to wait until the first 2 weeks of school as the teacher’s do team building for 2 weeks and through the course of that, they announce what specific items are needed for each subject. It’s different by teacher.

OP here, thanks everyone, and especially the teachers! It's getting ready for a whole new way of organizing her day that is what I'm concerned about (although this is my perfectionist child, so I don't doubt that she will find a system that works for her, I'd just like to be able to pick up some things that are helpful on day 1). They used a binder in 6th grade and she didn't like it, so maybe an accordion folder will work. I'll pick one of those up just in case. And it sounds like she'll definitely need colored pencils and maybe graph paper, so I'll grab those before school starts, too. Thank you so much!

Middle school is the age your child needs to learn an organizational system that works for them. Provide them with options—binder or folders? Paper planner or schoology calendar or Google doc? And then check in with them each day for the first couple weeks to see how it’s going.

Everything else is just preference. You may get one or two finicky teachers who require blue ink for xyz assignment and red and yellow colored pencils for abc assignments, but generally it’s just writing utensils and a paper management system. Your child will get electronic assignments or paper handouts to complete.

—MS teacher

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

For middle school I would wait until after the first week of school to see what supplies they might need. My kids never had enough room in their backpacks for binders or anything like that. They just used one 2-pocket folder per class and had some pens and pencils. The teachers will usually tell them if there are specific things they want them to have at any point in the year like index cards, highlighters, etc.

School supplies is one of those areas that is SO much better in MS than in ES.

Anonymous wrote:When can we expect the school supplies list for middle school?

There is no such thing. Teachers will tell the students what they need for the class on the first day they meet.

Make sure she has a makeup bag that she keeps stocked with tampons and liners for those fun surprise periods.

When can we expect the school supplies list for middle school?

Anonymous wrote:sheet protectors and graph paper are two things that are handy to have at the ready. It always pops up on some teacher's list randomly and if the shelf is cleared at Target it's a real PITA to track down. Also, so many colored pencils.

My child has never needed sheet protectors and is a rising sophomore. Middle schoolers may need graph paper, but very rarely.

sheet protectors and graph paper are two things that are handy to have at the ready. It always pops up on some teacher's list randomly and if the shelf is cleared at Target it's a real PITA to track down. Also, so many colored pencils.

Anonymous wrote:My kids love this with a bunch of pocket dividers https://www.target.com/p/five-star-2-34-sewn-zipper-binder-with-expansion-panel-black-gray/-/A-87868426

I don’t recommend the A day B day separate binder system. My often want to work on A things in school on B day and vice versa. My kids have giant piles of paper so they definitely did a lot of paperwork this year.

Beyond that it’s the usual pencils, highlighters, colored pencils, erasers, loose leaf paper, and a huge backpack.

Your child can bring both binders to and from school then. It’s not that hard.

My kids love this with a bunch of pocket dividers https://www.target.com/p/five-star-2-34-sewn-zipper-binder-with-expansion-panel-black-gray/-/A-87868426

I don’t recommend the A day B day separate binder system. My often want to work on A things in school on B day and vice versa. My kids have giant piles of paper so they definitely did a lot of paperwork this year.

Beyond that it’s the usual pencils, highlighters, colored pencils, erasers, loose leaf paper, and a huge backpack.

There’s very little most need now that so much is electronic.

Get a bunch of good pencils, and some sort of organization system. Some of my students like 2 binders (one for A day/B day), others like giant accordian folders, others like a regular 2 pocket folder for each class.

Otherwise it will be class specific. One class will want glue sticks, one colored pencils, one a composition notebook. You won’t know until they get meet the teachers.

I wish there were a way to share supplies earlier, but schedules aren’t even finalized until a few days before school starts.

What basics (including things like a pencil pouch, binder, etc.) should we go ahead and buy for our 7th grader (girl, if it matters) before school starts?
Any specific recommendations that your kids really liked and found useful?