It isn't required since not every student will finish early. But, students are not permitted to just sit there and do nothing if they finish their classwork. Most teachers have a list of what they want students to do if they finish early. Sometimes it might be to work on any unfinished work but my high fliers have usually already finished that also. They are not permitted to "just read" according to my admins. That's a shame since that's all I ever wanted to do in school. I would read in my desk in school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seventy bucks for some stupid kit. Go to the Dollar Store, and through the junk in with the rest. It's elementary school. You'll get a raised eyebrown from a Mom of Bethesda or Arlington or wherever, but who cares.

Many areas like McLean have dollar stores for this reason

Right now the Target, Staples and Office Depot (and maybe walmart) are cheaper than the dollar store on many things.

They be charging like fifty cents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

You're complaining about whiteboards? They have replaced blackboards and chalk. Mind you, they also no longer have the punishment of cleaning brushes after school. That wouldn't be allowed anyway. The school division *should be* supplying funds for the dry erase markers. Did teachers have to buy their own chalk? I don't think so, I seem to remember my teachers going to the supply room for a box of chalk.

My kid went to school with regular pencils and his own pencil sharpener. No lineups anymore. I have no idea who decided that pencil sharpening wasn't okay. I know of one teacher who keeps containers of pencils on the counter. Sharpened, and dull. Kids who are done their work early sharpen pencils.

I don't think it's "less capable".. it's just changing. Our teachers were allowed to discipline, too and actually expect to be listened to. Those don't happen either.

If my admin walked by and saw any of my students who were early finishers sharpening pencils, I'd be in her office for a lecture. All students must be engaged in meaningful work all of the time. We have to provide our admins with examples of differentiated work for kids who finish early. I sharpen pencils at the end of the day myself using the pencil sharpener I bought myself. We have whiteboards now (no more chalkboards) but we are expected to supply our own dry erase markers. Expo brand are the best but it isn't like I won't use the cheaper brands if parents send them in. But little kids get frustrated with them when they won't write unless they are at a certain angle.

Off topic question: Are students able to opt in/out of the differentiated work, or is it required that a student who often finishes work in one subject quickly must do harder work?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seventy bucks for some stupid kit. Go to the Dollar Store, and through the junk in with the rest. It's elementary school. You'll get a raised eyebrown from a Mom of Bethesda or Arlington or wherever, but who cares.

Many areas like McLean have dollar stores for this reason

Right now the Target, Staples and Office Depot (and maybe walmart) are cheaper than the dollar store on many things.

Anonymous wrote:No comment on pens for K, but in a teacher. The nicer crayons and glue and watercolors are better quality and last longer and nicer result than the dollar store ones.

These sentences would get a big fat F for grammar.

Anonymous wrote:Seventy bucks for some stupid kit. Go to the Dollar Store, and through the junk in with the rest. It's elementary school. You'll get a raised eyebrown from a Mom of Bethesda or Arlington or wherever, but who cares.

Many areas like McLean have dollar stores for this reason

Anonymous wrote:

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?

You're complaining about whiteboards? They have replaced blackboards and chalk. Mind you, they also no longer have the punishment of cleaning brushes after school. That wouldn't be allowed anyway. The school division *should be* supplying funds for the dry erase markers. Did teachers have to buy their own chalk? I don't think so, I seem to remember my teachers going to the supply room for a box of chalk.

My kid went to school with regular pencils and his own pencil sharpener. No lineups anymore. I have no idea who decided that pencil sharpening wasn't okay. I know of one teacher who keeps containers of pencils on the counter. Sharpened, and dull. Kids who are done their work early sharpen pencils.

I don't think it's "less capable".. it's just changing. Our teachers were allowed to discipline, too and actually expect to be listened to. Those don't happen either.

If my admin walked by and saw any of my students who were early finishers sharpening pencils, I'd be in her office for a lecture. All students must be engaged in meaningful work all of the time. We have to provide our admins with examples of differentiated work for kids who finish early. I sharpen pencils at the end of the day myself using the pencil sharpener I bought myself. We have whiteboards now (no more chalkboards) but we are expected to supply our own dry erase markers. Expo brand are the best but it isn't like I won't use the cheaper brands if parents send them in. But little kids get frustrated with them when they won't write unless they are at a certain angle.

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?

Well, I am a teacher and I request certain brands because most of the cheaper brands are awful. Those cutesy pencils end up breaking the pencil sharpener that I bought (no, my school doesn't give the teachers pencil sharpeners or much else for that matter). Cheap glue sticks don't glide across the paper. They stick to it. If parents send in other brands, I put them at the bottom of the box. They do get used but the kids have to use their own little sharpeners for the crappy pencils. I buy my own sharpener every other year or so because of those cheap pencils (and I don't even let the kids use my sharpener).

Anonymous wrote:You don't get the best for cheap. I bet you'll get that iPhone but complain about education , so typical

Not OP. Stuff doesn't have to be "the best", just sufficient for the specific task needed. I have a smartphone (not an iPhone) and I picked it based on features it had that I wanted, followed by what was the best price out of phones that made my feature-based short list. The $15 pens are not noticeably better than cheaper pens in my opinion so I would never spend that much on them.

Also, a simple google search of "Papermate Flair pen kindergarten" will reveal to you that some schools call them "art pens" and clearly they are used for special, more final pieces. They don't bleed and kids can outline or draw with them then color things in later - this doesn't work with many pens, so they're asking because they're tried and true. It's just like if you were baking and wanted such and such brand of butter but you were given off-brand Crisco - sure it could work, but it wouldn't be want you want.

Just buy the GD pens if you can afford them so the kids can make some nice, not frustrating, cry-free art!

For people who do not have a generous income, these are exorbitant costs--especially if you have two or three- or more kids.

I was a teacher--believe me, some of these supply lists are compiled by a group of teachers--one may want the stupid pens, so it goes on all the supply lists. My problem (and I taught K) is that these expensive pens can easily be abused by young children. Not deliberately, but just from inexperience and trial and error. Not only that, then you have to go around and check that every pen be capped and put away properly.

I cannot imagine asking for supplies that are this expensive. But, FWIW, the Fiskars scissors are worth it. The others don't work nearly as well.

They are far less on Amazon.
Big multipack for $10, pack of 12 for less than $8.

Target says they have them in multiple colors (4 pack) in stores for $4.19 or 8 colors for $11.39.

Either you are exaggerating, or you didn't shop around.

Also, a simple google search of "Papermate Flair pen kindergarten" will reveal to you that some schools call them "art pens" and clearly they are used for special, more final pieces. They don't bleed and kids can outline or draw with them then color things in later - this doesn't work with many pens, so they're asking because they're tried and true. It's just like if you were baking and wanted such and such brand of butter but you were given off-brand Crisco - sure it could work, but it wouldn't be want you want.

Just buy the GD pens if you can afford them so the kids can make some nice, not frustrating, cry-free art!

I also has flair pens on my K list. I didn't even know what they were and had to go to two stores to find them. They were expensive.

No comment on pens for K, but in a teacher. The nicer crayons and glue and watercolors are better quality and last longer and nicer result than the dollar store ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"
Anonymous wrote:
OP never came back with specifics.


That's because it was made up. Pens aren't on the K supply list."

Nope. Just had a dead phone and then was out for the day without it.

It is certainly true. Brand is Papermate - Flair. Cost at target was $15.

Lol yeah teacher wants those for grading. I would just by an equivalent cheaper felt tip pen.

Agree, those are for the teacher. How many does she need? Amazon has them for $12, or you can buy them other places as singles. I would not buy that.

Seventy bucks for some stupid kit. Go to the Dollar Store, and through the junk in with the rest. It's elementary school. You'll get a raised eyebrown from a Mom of Bethesda or Arlington or wherever, but who cares.