Our school provided the list on a flyer in our school
registration materials. It contained lists of different items for each grade. I've heard that teachers get to provide input on what should be included on the list for each grade. It was understood that the supplies we provided are managed by the teacher
to distribute to the students as needed.
This makes sense especially with younger students.
The supplies from the list that I purchased for my daughter’s
Kindergarten year filled two large shopping totes. They included expected items such as crayons,
pencil and scissors. But it also included
any items I wasn't expecting such as paper towels, paper plates, and plastic
zipper bags. I recall that it cost me quite
a bit to purchase everything. I recall
that it was nearly $80. Some items specified a certain brand of item while
others didn't. I was unsure if it was
okay to substitute a store brand. I
couldn't find some items in the size or quantity indicated, such as a 3 boxes
of 16 color crayons. I could only find boxes
with 24 colors. Would that be okay?
We were on vacation during the back to school orientation
night where you could stop by to meet the teacher and drop off school
supplies. We instead took ours on the first
day of school. The shopping totes I used
to carry the items in were sent home in my daughter’s book bag. So I never heard if the substitutions were
okay.
This year’s list for first grade was much shorter and not as
expensive. I got my supplies in July as
soon as they hit the shelves. The week
prior to school, we got a note from the classroom Mom who had spoken to the
teacher. We were advised to label
certain items because our first graders would be responsible for some of their
own supplies this year. They would be
expected to keep them in a pencil box in their desks. Since I had already purchased our supplies,
everything I had purchased was basic. No
cute character on the folder or pencil box.
My daughter seemed very happy with the simple clear pencil box that
would now be hers, but I wondered if some of the other kids would have some supplies
that reflected their personalities or interests.
So, since we have all just been through the experience of
purchasing school supplies from the school’s list, what do you think?
- Do you sometimes substitute a similar item because you can’t find the specific item requested?
- Do you buy some store brand items? Even when a certain brand is specified?
- How does this process change as kids get order and take on more responsibilities for their own things?
- Do you think the school is asking for too much or that the amount of supplies requested, and the cost to us, is excessive?
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