What supplies do teachers (K-12) need in the classroom that they pay for out of pocket?

Question

What supplies do teachers (K-12) need in the classroom that they pay for out of pocket?

Answer 1

In our state we are facing some major budget cuts.  Which is funny, because we just adjusted to the cuts from last year.  But now they have to trim farther.  Supplying the needs in the classroom definitely depends upon the school and the kind of administrators.  In my kids' school, we had very caring teachers (who might have been just a LITTLE bit competitive with each other) who lavished their own money on classroom decorations (like curtains at the windows, beanbag chairs, racks and cubbies), books, free-time quiet activities and toys.  Thank goodness for the dollar stores, where you can get cheap little rewards (motivators!), pens, crayons, chalk and pretty paper.  And Walmart was selling packets of lined notebook paper for 29c in the fall.  One teacher sent home a list of supplies the students needed to bring, and then she kept everything in a cupboard and doled it out--this also covered the kids who could not afford to bring supplies.  I'm not saying this made the parents happy who had dutifully sent the supplies with their child, but it was less embarrassing for the child who had no stash of pencils and notebooks.

As a gift for a teacher, better than a little apple figurine or vase or bottle of perfume would be a gift certificate to Office Depot or a school supply store!

Answer 2

it depends on your district and what is available.  when i first started subbing and doing some long term sub jobs, i was in an affluent school district and i think i spent a few dollars on some colorful paper and some crayons.  

now i teach in the inner city and i spend about 1200 dollars a year (more or less).  anything from pencils and children's school supplies because they don't have them, to class sets of novels because one large anthology of a textbook isn't the ideal way to turn students into avid readers.  

i do spend more than some teachers in my building, but i do it for my own sanity.  too many of them complain about what they don't have and they are miserable.  instead, i budget a little money each month to use for school and i get the stuff i need and i can accomplish what needs to be done.  i'm not saying it's fair that the district doesn't provide things (like facial tissue), but i am saying that a little on my end makes my life easier.

Answer 3

If it was in my school, the answer would be 'only what you're going to take away with you when you leave'.  But you need to talk to your head teacher/ principal and stick to the guidelines that they set down.

Answer 4

This really depends on how much money your school has in its budget. Also, you may want to make sure that you attend any and all workshops/meetings  that your school holds prior to the school year begins because sometimes they offer up furniture, books, supplies, etc, that other teachers decided they would not be needing that year and you want to make sure you can get them!

The school principal usually gives you a certain amount of money so that you can buy your necessary items for the year. My sister, who is a teacher, was given $200.00 to use on school supplies while another teacher friend that I know, was only given $75.00. It really depends on the school and district, and sadly sometimes it depends on how friendly you are with the administrators. Good luck!

Answer 5

It kinda depends on the grade level you are teaching.  My sister teaches young kids and winds up having to buy tissues, crayons, sometimes scissors or other things they need to do their assignments.  

In the older grades it is pretty much pens, pencils and cheap calculators or Science project needs.

You do get like $250 at the begining of the year put you have to spend that money before the school year begins.

Answer 6

It really depends on your school, the supplies they already have, and what they are willing to reimburse you for.  I teach 2nd grade.  When I first started I had to buy an extra stock of scissors, glue, markers, those big pink erasers, borders for bulletin boards, classroom posters and decorations, and organization items (baskets, filing items, desk organizers, etc).  I used the supplies for working in areas of the classroom away from desks and when the students didn't have their own supplies readily available.  I usually only have to replace those every few years, except the scissors (they have lasted).  The bulletin board stuff and decorations last a long time.  I usually buy one or two new things like that each year.  

Every year I buy new name tags for desks, pencils, awards/incentives (usually little things from Oriental Trading), overhead markers, permanent markers.  I also buy books for the classroom library every year through Scholastic, but often get many for free or with bonus points.  

My school supplies things like tape, staples, paper and die cuts for letter and picture cut outs, and construction paper.  All students bring in their own supplies to keep in their desk and to share with the class.  The shared items include tissues, hand soap, and zip lock bags.  

HOWEVER: There are always things that come up that you will need to buy.  I'm sure there is tons of stuff I have forgotten.  Plus there are things you buy as treats for your class (gifts for students, food for class parties, supplies for mother's day crafts, etc.)

Answer 7

We need and use rewards (stickers, small toys, and else cheap that will motivate students), pencils, glue,scissors, crayons, markers, crafting materials, construction paper, more pencils, erasers, bulletin board sets, border, punch out letters, bulletin board paper, labels, staples, paper clips, materials needed for special projects (that the school won't or can't pay for), and more stuff that I can't think of right now.