16 glue sticks and 72 pencils is excessive. I realize this is probably done as community property, but that's still a bit much.

This is the first year my dd's had a school list (in years' past the parents have been forced to pay a $40 "extortion fee" for supplies and not been allowed to compare prices and shop on our own) and nothing on there is terribly shocking.

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You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

We not only need 12 glue sticks, but 4 bottles of glue, expo markers and a ream of colored and white paper just name part of the list.

Last year for Kindergarten they wanted me to send in 24 (!!!) ELMER'S glue sticks! There were other unreasonable things too, but that's the one that really bothered me. I ended up finding a good sale on them (I think it was 11 cents a piece at Walmart) so I did buy enough, but I only sent in 10 at the beginning of the year. I told the teacher that if they ran out, to please let me know, but I never heard, so now I still have 14 ELMER'S glue sticks in stock for this year's supply list. :-)

Our school also offers the $40 supply box, but I'm SURE that I can spend much less than that with the good sales in the next few weeks.

I agree. I had no idea that is what we were doing. This is our first student. I don't like being responsible for irresponsible parents. If I had been told ahead of time, I would have only purchased what I had to for my student. I think we should have been given the option if we had the means or desire to help other students and not have it forced upon us. JMO

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Laugh till you tinkle.

I find their lists to be reasonable. As far as the community supply thing, I know I am probably in the minority, but that wouldn't bother me at all.

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Formerly Kimberly75!

I know some of the numbers seem excessive (even to me!), but perhaps the teachers are trying to avoid having to ask for more supplies midyear. Often, if I sent out a supply request midyear, only a few parents would respond. Then I would end up buying supplies for the classroom using my personal money, this included buying copy paper for worksheets, bulletins, etc. Or it would fall on the shoulders of a few generous parents that felt bad and brought extra. I had much better luck getting more at the beginning of the year and storing it away for the after Christmas dry spell.

As for only sending the supplies you think your child will use, they may not be able to keep them in their desk or backpack. I routinely did desk checks for neatness and supplies (and food, yuck) and did not allow students to go to their backpack during class to get supplies (unless they had something special like a new box of crayons they had forgotten to get out). Students kept their own crayons, scissors and rulers in their desk and were allowed two sharpened pencils, which they could swap out with another from the basket if they broke. I was always out of pencils by Easter. Glue sticks were kept with the craft supplies and kids (at least first graders) always amazed me how quickly they used them up. I actually preferred white glue for economic and motor skills reasons.

I know it's not ideal, but school supplies are a tricky subject.

I was a 5th grade LA/SS teacher until 2 years ago. I've worked in schools where the teachers were given a budget for all of the supplies & in others where the families had to provide everything. In both situations, I always ended up putting out about $100 of my money a year on neccessities for the classroom and to cover the students who didn't have the financial means.

Our list was pretty basic:
post its
high lighter
pens & pencils
3 marble notebooks (to be replaced as they get filled up)
3 folders
tape (to be replaced as you run out)

Things like colored pencils, glue, crayons, markers, etc were all community property and were provided by school/me. We were also provided with scratchy tissues from the nurse, but I requested a box per student & put them out as we needed them. Didn't need to worry about hand sanitizer since we had a sink in the room.

I think some teachers get carried away.

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Mom to David 11/17/07 & Emily 5/14/09

the thing is that we only have one kindergarten class of under 11. so to me it just seems like an awful lot when my son only took 2 glue sticks to kindergarten and only needs 1 for 3rd grade.. they don't do comunity sharing either we have to have all the supplies labeled with our childs name and class room #.

it would be one thing if some were going to the art room but they aren't.

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

I agree with you. Imagine if you were the parent who couldn't afford to buy your child the necessary supplies for school. I would be grateful to the parents who are helping my child out.

Also, if my contribution to communal supplies helps my child's day at school go smoother because they have everything they need, I am okay with that.

I realize that some parents don't supply their kids with what they need because they figure someone else will, so I am not referring to them. I'm just saying- its for the kid who has no control over their parents' lack of money or selfishness.

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Danielle

my amazing little man~4
my lovely little lady~1
my 4 Angel Babies 11/98*09/06*02/07*01/09
Wife to my best friend!

I completely agree. I got screwed at the end of the year this year. They had a Ice Cream/Water Ice Party and I asked for $2.00 per kid. I had almost 11 parents not send in money and these are the kids that came back for second's and thirds. I DO NOT like the community bit for class supplies, because I personally think alot of parents feel that others will pick up the slack.

Kelsey is going into first grade and it cost me almost $50 in supplies. Here's her list. A bit shocking for me just the entire list.
1 box of crayola crayons (24 pack)
1 8 pack of washable markers
15 glue sticks
1 bottle of liquid glue
50 small paper cups
24 no. 2 sharpened pencils (plain yellow, no designs please)
3 marble composition book
9 plastic folders (with pockets on each side) 3 yellow, 2 green, 2 red, 1 blue, 1 orange, 1 Purple
1 pair of blunt scissors
1 pack of construction paper (not in tablet form)
1 ream of white computer paper
1 pack of 3x5 index cards
2 plastic container of Lysol wipes
1 box of small ziplock bags with zipper
1 box of large ziplock bags with zipper
1 large box of tissues
1 bottle of anti bacterial waterless hand sanitizer
1 pack of card stock (white or light colors)
1 pack of dry erase markers
1 Dry erase Eraser
1 Dry Erase Cleaner
40 Pencil Eraser Tops
1 pack of baby wipes
1 Assignment book - Available at School School

On top of all this she needs to gym uniform. However after much discussion, she's just getting the navy shorts and sweatpants and plain white t instead of logo. It gets crazy and then you have some parents that just don't care.

I love her school so I guess it's very much worth it. However I did help the teacher at the end of the year clean out her room and leftover supplies when into a supply closet for the entire early learning center to use if they ran out instead of asking for me.

It's going to kill me when I have 2 in school. Start budgeting now!!!