How specific is your child's back to school supply list?

Question

my son is starting grade one...his list is so precise that it is driving me crazy....the teacher wants a specific type of book,crayons,markers,binders..etc...and so much of it too and it just grade one...imagine in grade 6....

Answer 1

Wow! That's A LOT. The only thing middle school teachers care about is what color pen you get. Everything else doesn't matter as long as you have it.

I remember in my grade one, we had to get a certain type of highlighter, a certain number of crayons, and a certain type of hand sanitizer (I still remember the brand, Germ-X) that we were going to donate to the class. It was crazy.

Answer 2

Wow....That seems a little crazy. Middle school lists are actually a lot less descriptive. The teachers just want you to have some folders, a notebook, a a certain size binder, etc. So it actually gets easier.

Answer 3

most of the time the teachers are only giving guidelines. As long as some kids in the class have the 48 pack of crayons, a 12 pack is fine. same with glue and glue sticks and scissors and whatever else. I'm in highschool and typically i dont even use different binders for different classes. i may have one binder for two or three classes and have a divider in between them. you could try this in order to save space and weight in your child's backpack

Answer 4

there is a supply list that they give u at school and that list Do NOT follow it! half the stuff your son will probaly not evn use! so if u buy all that stuff it will be a waste of money for now just buy him a back pack paper pencials and simple stuff like colors and markers (: during the first week the teachers usally tell u what ur kids really need (:  

Answer 5

in high school, we dont even have a list. we just guess. oh yeah, and don't worry about sixth grade. where i'm from, the stuff on the list was easy-peasy to find.

Answer 6

....ahhh, such drama of the repsonsible parent

....ike 'Pita' said: "the list is important"

....get the things that are exact matches to the list first

.....then try to locate the most similar items that are like those described on the list

....then after that....when you see the teacher, or call the teacher and ask the teacher what she will accept as an alternative to the listed items

....the teacher will be very very happy to give you information

....the teacher will also appreciate the very fact that you have taken time to cooperate in her teaching efforts

(so many parents do not take any time for that)

.....so say 'it takes a village...to blah blah blah', but really, it takes a responsible parent above all things

...the important thing is that the class will all have the 'same types' of things, and their class work moves smoothly when everyone has the 'same types' of supplies (time is important in the classroom, for teaching, not sorting out supply issues)

...and just a simple phone call will do the trick

....All Teachers will reply

Edit#1: as for unique items such as dry erase markers....the kids really love dry erase markers, and oftern are tempted to use the teachers too, and leave them opne an hour and they dry up....so many teachers, happy to allow children time to write on the dry boards, must request children bring their own (the markers are bought out a teachers personal salary) general teaching supplies and teaching aids, are 'not' purchased by the school

Answer 7

For 2nd grade: Each student brings in these generic items for their personal use: one 1 inch white binder, pencil box of certain dimensions and glue sticks.

Other optional items to buy are for the whole class to share.

How annoying to have to buy a particular brand or type of school item.

Answer 8

Oh! Your kid must be in my son's class!

yeah, whatever happened to letting kids have cute folders and stuff? WHY must they all have the same 13x 14 maroon notebook without pockets....can't the teacher cope??

It only stops in high school. But then, you have to buy expensive calculators instead....and just wait til they have text books that weigh 42 lbs and a locker the size of a shoe box on the far side of the building! Schools should not be surprised that kids and families get tired!!! they are NOT user-friendly!!

Answer 9

this goes on throughout every school grade. the truth is, that a lot of these supplies are going towards a class supply bucket where kids who don't buy supplies can use other kids. what i always do is just buy the essentials, and don't go overboard. buy what you want because it is your money you are spending, you can't get in trouble for using the wrong type of supply, and your child is allowed to use any kind. trust me, it is not worth it to follow the horrible school list with ridiclous expectations.  

Answer 10

Yes, I saw a list for a Kindergartener at neighbor school (I picked up the wrong list for mine ate first) demanding at least 15 items an dincluding things like 4 Expo Erasers, 6 boxes of various packages of Crayola Crayons, Box of issues with a minimum 160 tissues, brand name scissors, 12 large Elmer gluesticks, Box of snacks with at least 19 individually wrapped treats, etc.

I swear it wasn't like this 20 years ago!

Answer 11

Try 10th grade (honors):

Free Enterprise/Civics (h) - one regular notebook, 1 folder to put graded papers in

Biology (h)- one notebook (with plastic/foam cover in case it gets wet) $5.00 fee, markers

English 2 (h)- one regular notebook, one notebook without wires, $4.00 fee

Spanish- one notebook, one prong folder, looseleaf

Health Ed/Physical Ed- one notebook (70-100 pages)

Geometry (h)- one notebook

Band- $140 fee

Plus, the uniform fee ($16) and the registration fee ($18/20; something like that)

*all pens used have to be black or blue ink

Oh, and where I live, we have to wear a special uniform (purple polo shirt, with school logo, khaki pants/shorts/skirts (no shorter than the middle of the thigh), and an i.d. badge on the left collar)

Yes.. I know.

Answer 12

It may have to do with the fact that in some schools all the kids school supplies go into a community chest type thing. Where everyone uses everyone else's things. So your kids school supplies will be put into a container for all the other kids to use or break.  

Answer 13

yes they are (i am grandma) they are pretty specific. they tell you colors and all of what folders they want we have kinder garden 2, 3, 4 grades so far and when my two youngest were in school it was then the same thing up to graduating. yes its unreal what they want but then again it is no more after that.

Answer 14

when i was in grade k-3 we got all the stuff we neeeded at the start of

the year from out teacher

Im 11 im going into grade 6 lol. This is my school list.

24HC pencils or 2 mechanical pencil and refills

6 Blue or black ball point pens 1 30cm ruler

2 large glue sticks

4 erasers

1 pkg fine felt tipped markers

1pkg thick felt tipped markers

1 pkg of 24sharpened pencil crayons

4 1" binders (red, blue, green, black)

2 pkgs three holed loose leaf paper, lined

2 pkgs three holed loose leaf paper, unlined

2 pkgs dividers

1 parge of large sciccors with pointed ends

6 duotangs

1 roll scotch tape

1 pencil bag

3-4 highlighters (different colors)

2 Hilroy graph peper exercise books (80 page-quad 4 to 1 inch)

1 Sharp D.A.L EL 531W or EL-5201 calculator

1 geometry set

1 oxford or websters dictionary of current english

1 oxford or regets thesaraus of current english

1 bag for PE equitment (I dont need it though because i ride horses instead)

1 large box of kleenex

I go to a private school.

Answer 15

once you get into high school then you dont even get a list you have to just get all of the basics, paper ,binders, folders, calculator, pens

Answer 16

my sister's 5 kids range from grade 1 to 10 and the teachers in their district are very specific about everything; brands, style, quantity. The lists are extensive, it has cost her almost $600 to fufill them. this doesn't include other "non-essential" items such as clothes and back-packs, etc.. However, after checking with the teachers, most say that for most items, the specifics are given so that it is clear to the parent what is needed, any equivilent product is usually fine. The exception being when "only" is written next to the item.

I was particularly surpprized to see items such as 500ct award stickers and 5 dry-erase markers (for the teacher); these are items that should be coming out of the schools budget, right?

Answer 17

it is probably so all kids have the same and there is no competition about whos is the best. They can't make you buy that brand. At our school the cost is in the fee's and they give you the box of supplies to take home, cover and name

Answer 18

with the brands, you usually can get a different kind if they don't have them,or if they cost more

i am going into highschool and ik what its like,i go back 2 school shoping with my mom every year  

Answer 19

It could either be an extremely type A neurotic teacher or being organized to ensure each child is equally supplied.  

If teachers listed markers or crayons, without specifying, then each child would come with something different, making them want to compare, compete, or one feel less adequate than others, etc.  It is similar to the reasons why some public schools are going to uniforms!  Equality produces fairer more balanced classrooms!

It is a pain in the rump...best of luck!

Answer 20

From 8th grade and down, the teachers usually give really specific lists of things you need and how much of them you need. But once they hit high school the teachers just tell them what they need but i is usually just a folder, notebook, pens, and sometimes a binder. so it is completly normal for the teachers in 6th grade to give specific lists. My brother is a 6th grader and he has a specific list too. but it should not be so hard if you go to like target and you go for the good sales. The key thing to know for back to school supplies is go for the sales, because it gets exspensive and get a sturdy back pack so your child can use it over and over again. My back pack is 3 years old. And the reason they are so specific is because some supplies are really bad, like those rose markers are cheap so they are probably asking for crayola. So basically your list is perfectly normal. Well good luck with your school!

Answer 21

Well it depends on the teacher. When I was in first grade, it was the basic crayons, glue, markers, etc. Grade 6 specific for me, but not extremely specific. It really depends on the teacher. For example, my science teacher doesn't really mind if I use a binder or spiral notebook or composition notebook, but my English teacher demanded a 3 subject spiral.  

Answer 22

what that is crazy. In high school, they do not give you a list, they make you kind of guess what you need.

Answer 23

Well at my school they usually have easy stuff like different color binders and pens but they will also give you a supply pack that will have everything you need in it.

Answer 24

I think it's weird for teachers to want specific kinds of crayons and color pencils UNLESS they're specifying that the crayons be Twistables.  My colleagues have requested them for our grade level b/c they say they're WAY better.  You don't have to sharpen them or worry about them breaking, so they're more durable.  If they're specifying specific folder colors, it's to help the kids be more organized.  If all the kids have a yellow folder for science, the teacher can say, "Get your yellow folder out."  It's just easier and saves time.  You'd be surprised at how unorganized the most seemingly organized kids can get when they have to keep up with different folders.  

Do what some of the other posters have said.  They can't force you to get specific brands or anything, so get as close to what they want as you can and don't sweat it if you can't.  Most elementary school teachers have extra supplies anyway, so his teacher will figure something out if you can't.  

Answer 25

My daughter's in 4th grade, and hers is not specific. However, I talked to the teacher, and she said I don't need several of the items. I am glad I did not buy them yet. In our school district grades pre k- 2nd just pay a $35 fee. We get a list after that. It makes it a lot easier.  

Answer 26

crayons are crayons makrers are markers and binders are binders... get as close as you can in your budget and s***w them.  What are they going to do not let her take class?  

Answer 27

I know it really is dumb & for highschool they dont even accept our projects if its not on a 'correct' size paper or the right folder

Answer 28

aww sounds exhausting

is it really that specific? wow. mine just says vague things like:

colored pencils, erasers, 2 binders. the most specific thing is: red, blue, green, and black ball point pens.

you might want to try ordering online. if you don't mind the extra shipping and handling.

Answer 29

My suggestion-get rid of all those fairly useless school employees-the playground lady, the parking lady, etc and save the money to buy kids the supplies they need. I don't remember bringing in chalk,  paste,  paints, scissors, dictionaries, when I went to school but I'm supposed to bring in scissors, markers for the whiteboard, glue sticks, paints, etc for my kids.

Let teachers supervise the playground. That is what they used to do. Plus they weren't on parents case to volunteer all the time. Teachers used to do that stuff themselves.

It would almost be easier and cheaper to homeschool.

Answer 30

In elementary school the lists are very specific, but as the kids get older the lists are much more general. When I started middle school in 2002 we just had a list of recommendations, and it was general (didn't give amounts), just said paper, pens, pencil, notebooks, folders, etc. Now in high school (I'm a senior) we don't have lists because we know what we need.

Answer 31

what?!?!

holy c**p.

mine was never that long...

why on earth do 1st graders need binders?

this year, i'm starting 10th grade, and we don't have a school supply list.

those who do, they get aN

x number of binders.

x number of this

pencils

bookbag

markers..

etc...