School Supplies for the Elementary Student

As a teacher I would inevitably send a request home with children for their parents to provide supplies but of course this only came after I asked the school to provide the students with supplies and the school refused. It is always a tough spot to be in a as a teacher working with poor inner city at risk kids. The parents can barely afford to keep food on the table let alone buy their children supplies and the schools always seem rather insensitive to this fact.

There should probably be a study on just why is it that educators are so tight with their nickels when it come sot educating children. A sound investment in education means a prosperous nation so why so frugal when it comes to providing the most disadvantaged students with needed school supplies. Inevitably, I ended up spending my paycheck to provide the supplies. And I am glad I did. In a class room of children who were considered mentally handicapped or in laymen’s terms retarded ½ left not retarded. I lost just about everything that year but those children and I see them today and they have good jobs and good lives and this makes me happy.

But it would have been nice if there were an alternative to the impoverished teacher having to pay for the supplies. A charity should be set up for these types of occasions so things get donated and the teacher doesn’t have to spend their pay. But I did because it was may job to and I am my students were successful and I am very proud of all my students.

The purpose of this article is to provide some insight into what might be need for elementary school children returning to school. It differs from school to school and teacher to teacher so this is just a general list for when you do go shopping.

1- A note book for each subject with folders in the sides to keep homework.

2- Pencils, pencil sharpener and extra erasers

3- Pens

4- Protractor

5- Ruler

6- Protractor

7- Calculator

8- Washable markers, coloring pencils, crayons

9- Rounded scissors

10-Highlighters

11-Tissues

12-Hand Sanitizer (I buy for my child. You do what you wish.)

13-Back pack

14-Lunch Box

But again I would buy prelimarily and then check with the teacher upon orientation. And this of course is not all inclusive but only a good start since inevitably your child will have a project and need supplies or lose a notebook or break pencils. You will buy supplies throughout the year but hopefully this list will get your child off to a good start.