I think brand/edition calculators are important for high school math, esp. They want the kids to all have the same one...makes sense to me. With graphing calculators, having one that is 'kinda the same' just won't cut it. I wouldn't want my child at a disadvantage. At our high school, the 9th grade calculator is over $100. Our PTO does offer assistance for those who can't afford it and the teachers also have some in their classrooms that can be signed out for the semester by particular students.

Other than that, our lists are reasonable. Nothing shocking here.

I don't mind the community supply thing. With many things just SO cheap (like crayons, glue sticks, pencils) I often just bought so much, that we not only contributed heavily to the community supplies, but my kids kept their own supplies in their desk. My younger son esp, really wanted to have just his OWN crayons. He has crayon issues. LOL

I feel bad for kids that their parents can't or won't contribute supplies. My kids too, are always very conscious of the kids that don't have the same things as the others. They often come home and want to make up a bag of supplies for child ____, so they have the same stuff. They have good hearts.

if you're alright with a used one, i'd check college bookstores.

Well I just got back from our orientation and I have to say for the 3 of my kids the list were pretty general. Some things on it were for their own personal use and had to be labeled with their names etc, but a few things would be "community" use..which I don't mind...I was buying things whenever they were very very cheap so I have enough to "donate" without breaking the bank.

I just wanted to comment on the brand thing. Personally, if the teacher asks for a certain brand, I assume they've been doing this long enough to know that the brand-name is worth the (usually nominal) extra price. I agree with whoever said Crayola IS worth it. I won't buy any other brand even for markers and crayons around the house.

However, there may be other reasons why they ask for other brands.....

Our school has a couple of kids with latex allergies - one VERY serious. I noticed a couple of years ago that the school supply list started specifying brand names (Crayola for crayons and markers, Ticonderoga for pencils, and a certain brand of erasers that I can't remember the name of). The reason is that these brands are latex-free; the one child can have a reaction in the 1st grade wing of the building if a 6th grader (as far away as you can get inside the building) uses a latex eraser!

I was impressed because a lot of businesses in town donated school supplies to the Kindergarten class this year (woohoo!). All I had to bring was colored pencils, Kleenex and erasers. Although, I did notice that the 1st grade class had to bring 6 glue sticks.

An idea for anyone who is interested I try to get the school supply list for the next grade my kids will be going into next year then I go to the local chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target and buy what I can to stock up for next year..not everything but the general things. I also stock up on things that might get messed up throughout the year like folders and stuff and since all the kids are back to school they are 75% off right now.

I created a school supply drawer in my house and the kids know those are the spares and then I set aside what is needed for next year. Sometimes the lists change but the basics pretty much stay the same. Then I can get everything really cheap.

It's such a relief when school supply shopping is over, but if you give it a go one more time it can save you a lot next year.

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[QUOTE= 4 tennis balls (for bottoms of chairs to prevent scratching). That one bothered me

Go on Freecycle and ask for "dead" tennis balls---you can probably get enough for the whole classroom.
You all make me SO GLAD we homeschooled! (Of course, I don't think glue sticks were even invented until my youngest was 9 or 10, and we just went with white glue anyway....) Gail