We bought those “Back to School Supply Kits” from the school, rather than hunting at walmart, Staples, Osco for the EXACT color folders that the teacher wanted. Geetle’s teacher wanted a red, a green, a yellow and a blue folder, a steno notebook, crayons, glue, markers, a pencil box, scissors, kleenex, paints, and a 3 ring binder….$27.17. I think I just got ripped off. Sure, it saved me the trouble of searching high and low for the right supplies (and having them returned on the secnd day of school because they were not exactly right, as happened to a friend of mine last year) but I think I paid WAAAAAY too much. I think I could have gotten that stuff at Walmart for about $10. But I guess I paid for convenience.
And while we are on the subject….is this all she will need for the entire year? No pencils? I would like them to teach her how to write. No art smock? I would like her returned somewhat clean each day. Pookie’s teacher wanted pencils, an art smock, kleenex, markers, crayons, a pencil box, glue, 4 folders, baby wipes and dry erase markers. So, I guess he will be learning to write and how to keep his Monster Truck T-shirt clean while painting. No, wait, he did not take any paints. A smock, but no paints. Paints but no smock. I guess I am to assume that some things are provided by the school. I hope they give Geetle a pencil.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I wonder why a kindergartener needs a 3 ring notebook???
Maybe she can take that huge green pencil to school.
In some schools the kids go to the art room for painting and the art teacher has a set she passes out….they are very grungy but the kids love them.
We used to request a plain blue folder for Social Studies ( most of the earth is covered with blue water), a plain green folder for science because green and living things go together) and then Math and reading used the other colors. We wanted everyone to learn to listen to directions and organize their papers and it is much easier to teach everyone at once instead of telling each child to get out his “Hannah Montana meets the Hulk multicolored folder” and then never finding that paper again.
I know it is boring for the kids but the plain not shiny slippery ones are much better for organizing and teachers spend a lot of time trying to help kids learn to organize. If the folders match then she can say” It is time for Science. Take out your green folder” or ” This is a Math paper. Everyone put it in your red math folder” Everyone can do that efficiently and she can scan the room to see if everyone has found the needed materials.
Why would a kindergartener need a 3 ring binder? Maybe it will be her portfolio or perhaps the teacher will collect them and use it to save papers that are punched such as creative writing or journaling.
There is usually a reason for everything that teachers request…maybe it is not so important for teacher pleasers but it sure is important for the ones who have never been organized, need to learn, and someday MAY get organized.
Any more questions….I might know the answer. Thanks for giving me a chance to remember what “Back to School” used to mean for me. Love MOM
I totally did not think of a portfolio! I am sure that is what it is for. The only 3 ring binder type thing I could think of were the ones that I have used in college, which were filled with looseleaf notebook paper and handouts. LOL
all the kids around here are to buy “community supplies”. the same brand of crayons and notebooks, and they all go into community bins that the teachers pass out. even folders are community property at the beginning of the year and the teacher doles them out randomly to students and puts their names on them. its because there is such a mix of low-income and rich kids here and they are trying to make things easier on the kids who cant afford as much. i havent decided yet if i like it or not.
The community supplies idea is good for several reasons. It keeps the rich and poor kids having the same supplies , it makes it easier for the teacher becausse they are all the same size, shape and don’t slide around when they ae stacked up. It was always important for the teacher to put the names on the folders because then they all get put in the same location on the folder so teachers don’t have to search for names, in the a solid dark marker color and llegible. I like the community idea.
My School Store sells School Supply Kits. Kindergarten kits are $28 and Grades 1-8 are $50. Late orders are charged $75…. It is totally a convienence luxury… I am not saying you should not do it, but a trip to Wally and may be Tar-gea and you would be done…
Colored folders are used to help the organizational tasks. Teachers would prefer white glue sticks but are they really worth 20 cents more? I don’t think so! Of course, Crayola markers are preferred (for good reason)…
By the way, I had 5 kids this year that ordered late - the parents did not flinch once on the $75 price tag for each child!!! A sign of the times and our society I would say….
I do like the idea of community supplies, I think it keeps the younger kids from arguing. “My crayons are better than yours” or “My Jonas Brothers folder is SO much cooler than your Hannah Montana one”