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THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL AISLES – The school year is just around the corner, and how do we know that? Well, because where the fun, holiday seasonal items usually are, there are droves and droves of school supplies.
An interesting tidbit about me: I am a former teacher who had my heart skip a beat each time I saw the stacks of 8-cent notebooks and the 24-cent box of name-brand crayons. I would stock up on these like they were going out of style, because in a matter of days these items would at least quadruple in price. And if you know anything about a teacher's salary, you cannot be wasting any pennies.
What saved me as a teacher were parents who would bring me a bag of supplies to help pad my classroom cupboards for a while. That being said, not all school supplies are treated equally, and the teacher in this video outlines some items teachers love and love to dislike.
Some items to take note of:
- Tiny backpacks: Oh, the days of trying to fit take-home folders in a tiny backpack are days I would rather forget. I had a stash of grocery bags for such an occasion, and I would more often than not send the student home with their folder in a Walmart bag.
- Liquid glue: As I see it, all liquid glue is good for is … well, actually, I can't think of anything at the moment. Buy glue sticks. Please just buy glue sticks.
- Plastic-wrapped pencils: If you enjoy watching plastic unravel and a pencil not sharpen, buy these "cute, but not functional" pencils.
Just like the teacher in this video, I could go on and on and on. Even so, I think I speak for most teachers in saying that we appreciate the help, but please, please don't send your child to school with cheap crayons. I don't know anyone likes a picture that looks like it was colored with chunky wax.
What are your do's and don'ts of school supplies? Let us know in the comments.
