School supplies- Rant
mcra...@comcast.net
got the list of what Samantha needs. CRAZY!! I am glad, at the moment,
that I only got one child in elementary school. We got the best deals,
and still spent over 40 dollars. I couldn't find the dry erasers, so,
since a lot of the stuff goes into a large bucket for all the kids to
share, I bought extra's of several things. I figure she can use someone
else's eraser. I also was not goin to go by what they wanted in
particular. If my daughter wants a hello Kitty Pee-chee, she is getting
it. Why would it matter? Same goes for spiral notebook and color
crayons. It specifically asks for Fiskar sissors, CRAYOLA crayons,
CRayola water colors,etc. There are a lot of kids who can't afford
that, and when RoseArt is 11 cents, I am sure it beats the 25 cents for
parents with a lot of kids. I had to buy 2 boxes of kleenex, hand
sanitizer( bought 3 tiny ones for Samantha.. don't want her sharing
that with other kids), baby wipes...etc. I spent another 20.00 on other
kids. But, she will NOT share hand sanitizer.. that is gross! In case
you don't know, they sell miniature hand sanitizers with a clip on
them. They have 3 in a pkg, one clip. She can clip that to her
backpack.
Oh, and Target has the cutest kids clothes of any store in America.
LOL., IMO:)
Jolinda
Cindi - HappyMamatoThree
With the hand sanitizer thing though, typically the teacher carries the big
bottle. She has the kids lined up and squirts a portion in each child's
hands as they are headed into lunch, or off the playground or whatever. She
will probably end up sharing with other's anyway.
In Mississippi Rachel's school did the same way of putting everything
together and kid's using from communal supplies. I never ever invested in
special notebooks or folders because there was no guarantee Rachel would use
the special ones, and if everyone's were exactly alike there was never any
doubt or finger pointing or picking on each other about one child having
better than the other. The specific Fiskar's scissors are about the same
requirement in every district we have been in so far. They are quite safe
though, and there are no pointy tips so that's a good thing.
I bought supplies for my two and I think it was $140 this year at Targay and
60 and the dollar store. Rachel had to have a specific TI calculator though,
and a USB plug in drive so those big ticket items were a big OUCH.
I feel for you chickadee. I feel for you. Though after getting to know some
of the teachers I do understand why they are so tough about some of the
specific items and brands. I wish it was like it was when we were little
which was pretty much we bought our own notebooks (binders) and notebook
paper, some composition books and pencils and everything else was provided
for us pretty much. The only thing I get miffy about buying, and this is
just me so please don't flame me off the board for saying it, but is having
to by red pens and pencils for grading papers, and wite board markers for
the teacher to use. It's just a shame our school districts can't afford even
these kinds of pretty much basic supplies for our teachers.
Okay, I am going to shut up, I seem to be long winded today.
Cindi
<mcra...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1156638285.1...@74g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
whodunit
premade packs at the school for $36, but we got everything for a
cheaper price than that.
KINDERGARTEN
1 Crayola Thick Classic Markers (washable)
1 Crayola Thin Classic Markers (washable)
3 Crayola Crayons (24 count)
6 Pencils (#2)
3 Elmer’s School Glue (4 oz.)
6 Elmer’s Glue Sticks (.77 oz)
1 Fiskar scissors (blunt) - 5 inch
1 Prang watercolor set (8 count)
1 Kleenex tissue (160-175 count)
12 Ziploc quart bags
12 Ziploc gallon bags
1 Baby wipes (80 count)
1 12X18 Manila Paper (50 count)
1 Pocket & brad folder in each of the following colors:
red, blue, yellow, green, (4 total)
We also had to pay $3 for a specific kind of construction paper,
higher quality than the store brands.
A&A's Mama
What the Hell are our taxes paying for these days???
Megan
Tina
types of folders and such for a reason. In my classroom, we have
writing folders that are yellow, math folders that are blue, center
folders that are green, etc. They all need to be uniform in style.
Also, it keeps things from getting stolen or fighting over whose folder
is whose. As for the spiral notebooks, we use blue spiral notebooks for
writing journals and purple ones for daily open response journals. Its
easier to say, "Get out your blue journal" instead of having kids find
which one is which because they can NEVER keep that straight. If a kid
brings in a folder with a character on it or a notebook with a character
or something, I tell them to take it home and use it there because we
won't need it at school.
I also have to say that it has been my experience that with regard to
crayons, glue, markers, etc Crayola lasts MUCH longer than Roseart and
in the long run is cheaper. The Roseart glue does not stick very well
at all and the crayons break with the slightest pressure. However, even
though I put Crayola on the list, I'm not going to penalize a child for
bringing in another brand. It all goes into community property anyway.
I'm not sure why they asked for a specific brand of scissors though.
The Kleenex thing goes into community property too and I don't allow my
kids to keep them in their desks (I make exceptions if they have a cold
or something and they are running to the box 3 times a minute). There
is NOTHING in their desks but books, journals, planner, and 1 pencil.
If I see something else in there, I take it away. Too much temptation
to play with stuff and it gets in the way and makes it hard to get what
they need out. I have to ask, what's wrong with sharing a hand
sanitizer??? It comes in a pump bottle, so its not like a bar of soap
that everyone touches and once you get the sanitizer on your hand, its
sanitized. My kids do not have access to their backpack during the
school day. They have to get what they need from it in the morning and
the rest of the time, they are in the lockers. If they forgot something
like homework or library book and have to go back, they lose a buck from
our classroom system. I also would not allow them to have the
individual hand sanitizers in the room. They will play with it or
someone would steal it.
I do understand why parents get upset over the school lists and make
assumptions that the teacher is just being picky, but there ARE reasons
for why we ask for specific things. If you're upset about it and
wonder, then you should just ask the teacher why she asks for a specific
item.
Just my perspective from a 4th grade teacher,
Tina
mcra...@comcast.net wrote in news:1156638285.174830.166030@
74g2000cwt.googlegroups.com:
Tina
> miffy about buying, and this is just me so please don't flame me off
> the board for saying it, but is having to by red pens and pencils for
> grading papers, and wite board markers for the teacher to use. It's
> just a shame our school districts can't afford even these kinds of
> pretty much basic supplies for our teachers.
>
> Okay, I am going to shut up, I seem to be long winded today.
>
> Cindi
Now, those types of items, I usually purchase for myself. I've spent close
to $700 of my own money for my classroom so far. I've bought loose leaf
paper, composition books, folders, glue, crayons, markers, colored pencils,
dry erase markers, marker board cleaner, overhead markers, Sharpies, games
for indoor recess, and other things for the room like posters and bulletin
board stuff. I could have used my classroom money for some of that, but I
prefer to save that for really good stuff that helps me teach content. At
my school, we get $250 each year. Some schools only give teachers $100 a
year, so I'm lucky. Last year, I got $350 because I was a new teacher. So
far, I'm buying a poster of the compass rose for map reading skills, a
magnetic poster to help keep track of progress on writing pieces and a
poster for cell structure. Heck, I even had to buy a printer for my
classroom with my own money! If I didn't have it, I'd have to walk all the
way downstairs on the other side of the building (quite a trek) to get
something I printed to the lab printer! I'm sure I'll be buying lots of
other stuff out of pocket over the year too. All in all, I spend about
$1500-$2000 a year of my own money on school stuff that I really need.
That's pretty much average around here too. We can only write off $250 a
year on our taxes too.
Tina
Tina
>
>
> What the Hell are our taxes paying for these days???
>
> Megan
>
That's a good question. Around here, the high schools have to pay textbook
rental fees of almost $100. In my school last year, we had to share
textbooks because there was only 1 class set of second grade social studies
books. Our school is fixing that problem now though with the new principal
finding money for various things (we're actually getting enough computers
in the lab now so that the kids don't have to share a computer!!!) He's
finding money in the budget for things like that.
Tina
whodunit
inside of a classroom, or "the trenches" as I like to call it! >:-(
Mary McK
Write off the rest as a charitable deduction to your local school
district. If you were not teaching and just donated those things to the
school, they would be deductible.
Mary McK
KC
year. Caitlin's classes ask for donation. but there is no requirement.
With us homeschooling though, it most likely costs us more than $40 a
year, but I have never added it up. The charter school does supply all
necessary books, and the classes cover all the science supplies which
can really add up as I found out when Caitlin didn't take the classes
at the end of last year, and we had to teach our own science.
As for the fiskars, Caitlin has 3 different pairs of scissors, and
always insists on using the fiskars, so there must be something quality
related to that request. It's kind of funny because dh and I were just
talking about her preference of the fiskars today. He said they are
the only ones we have that are actually made by a company that
specializes in scissors, so they probably are better.
KC
Tina
news:12f26af...@corp.supernews.com:
> Tina,
>
> Write off the rest as a charitable deduction to your local school
> district. If you were not teaching and just donated those things to
> the school, they would be deductible.
>
> Mary McK
>
Never thought of that.....thanks for the tip! :)
Tina
mcra...@comcast.net
I hate google! I will write more later. I see your point, but also
don't see the big deal in a lot of it.
Jolinda
mcra...@comcast.net
would much rather have gave the school a check for 36.00 than to run
around wasting gas trying to find all the stuff. I am burnt out on
this. If my child can't use her Hello Kitty spiral notebook, I am
goingto be livid. For one, there is barely anything left here. We have
over 24 elementary schools alone. I am going to vote on a check being
made out to the school next year. The teachers can buy what they want
and then there will be nothing to be picky about. I will gladly pay for
2 other children to avoid this fiasco.
How is Maya liking school?
mcra...@comcast.net
Have you sold your house yet? How about finding a new one?
Jolinda
whodunit
have to tell you!! I remember growing up how good I felt to have MY own
new stuff--even today, when I purchase school/office items, those
feelings and memories rush back.
Plus as a teacher for so many years, I remember constantly telling kids
to label all their stuff with their names so if someone found it, they
would know who it belonged to...well, we got Maya's supplies in the
middle of July, when we were given the list (I ran by the school AGAIN
to ask about placement testing, and they had it ready) and as soon as
we got everything, we sat down and labeled all HER stuff...then, 2 weeks
later we get an intro note from the teacher in the mail saying DO NOT
LABEL ANYTHING!!! Oh, well, too late for that!! Plus I figured, if I
have to homeschool Maya, I WANT HER STUFF BACK!! I do NOT consider
spending all that money a donation, thank you. We pay a bunch of $$$$$
in taxes here and a goodly portion of those are school taxes.
We went to Target and the Dollar Tree (both near each other) for the
stuff and didn't have to run all over town, both stores had great sales!
mcra...@comcast.net wrote:
> Your list is pretty much like ours. We spent more than 36.00, though! I
> would much rather have gave the school a check for 36.00 than to run
> around wasting gas trying to find all the stuff. I am burnt out on
> this. If my child can't use her Hello Kitty spiral notebook, I am
> goingto be livid. For one, there is barely anything left here. We have
> over 24 elementary schools alone. I am going to vote on a check being
> made out to the school next year. The teachers can buy what they want
> and then there will be nothing to be picky about. I will gladly pay for
> 2 other children to avoid this fiasco.
>
> How is Maya liking school?
Maya loves kindergarten, except for the academics being 'babyish' :-(
BUT the other night the K teachers had sort of a group parent
conference, where many other parents were complaining of the same thing.
The teacher said the first few weeks they are assessing the kids, and
once that's done they'll split them into ability groups and the ones who
have mastered the basic skills will get more challenging work--we'll
see! I've volunteered to help out at the school on Wed. afternoons, and
the teachers seem to be good, but I'm truly hoping that the
'challenging' work will really be that--challenging and not just busy work.
Maya's also in her old preschool's afterschool program, which she
LOVESLOVESLOVES even better than K, because there are girls from older
grades (up to 5th, I think) and she just adores those big girls :-)
I have her there because I'm trying to get a job (beside the subbing one
which is really sloooooooooow) and afterschool care here is almost
impossible to find. I do like the fact that the afterschool teacher
actually teaches units, instead of it just being a free-for-all with all
the various levels of kids in there. At night I do some
mini-home-schooling activities with Maya on a first/second grade level,
so far she's acing everything. I've got to get some 3rd grade books,
etc. for her, I think! But overall, she loves school, always has. :-)
Jamie Clark
Serious question here...why is it gross to share hand sanitizer? It comes
out of the bottle in drops, so it's not like your germs could get back into
the bottle to get on someone else...is there something I'm missing? It's
not like chapstick or something...
--
Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03
Addison Grace, 9/30/04
Check out the family! -- www.MyFamily.com, User ID: Clarkguest1,
Password: Guest Become a member for free - go to Add Member to set up
your own User ID and Password
mcra...@comcast.net
think I will do that for Samantha's teacher. She can then get whatever
extras she needs. I just got back from the store, again. LOL. I spent
another 16.00. I found some baby wipes( refill pkg), and bought 2
things of Kleenex for the class. I also got a bunch of pencils and
spiral notebooks----yes, plain colors:)
Jolinda
mcra...@comcast.net
my purse. Last year Samantha had some in her backpack. Kids go number 2
and don't always wash their hands. If they go and use the hand
sanitizer, that is just gross to me. I know my kids know to wash their
hands well, but some kids( witnessed in my house), don't bother to wash
their hands after using the toilet. I will buy the school a few
sanitizers for the class, but Samantha will have her own. Yes, I am
picky about stuff like that----oh well... that is me.
Jolinda
SarahE
"whodunit" <pill...@sbcworldly.net> wrote in message
news:yO7Ig.11214$%j7....@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
>>
>> What the Hell are our taxes paying for these days???
>>
>> Megan
>>
> #*(&$(@*^#$(*@_ administrators!!! Who most of the time never see the
> inside of a classroom, or "the trenches" as I like to call it! >:-(
Also benefits, don't forget. Many of the teachers unions have negotiated
sweet deals and the teachers (at least in my area of Wisconsin) paid nothing
for their insurance - no co-pays or contributions - and had one of the best
plans around. A few years ago a local school district tried to get the
union to agree to $20/pay for FAMILY coverage. No way. You would have
thought the sky was falling.
So many school districts are in the same spot as the auto makers - a spot
that they put themselves in when times were sweet and tax dollars
plentiful - and now they can't get out of it.
Sarah
Tina
appreciated. We have a Parent Teacher Store here that does gift
certificates too. Keep in mind that I work at a school where the Free and
Reduced Lunch percent is close to 90%, so the reason I buy so much is that
there are many kids in my class who don't bring ANY school supplies at all.
I had 12 or 13 out of 23 who actually brought something to school and most
of those only brought part of what they needed (paper, but no pencils or
crayons, etc). Gifts that I get from my school parents have been:
figurines from the dollar store, a partially used bottle of lotion,
homemade cupcakes and cookies, etc. When I worked at the other school that
had parents with more money, the other teachers talked about getting $50
gift certificates to local restaurants, jewelry (teachery bracelets, etc),
teacher sweaters, etc. I have to say though that I appreciate the gifts
that I get now more than the more expensive ones because of the thought
behind them. I know that the parents who give me gifts now are giving from
the heart and sometimes, even from the dollar store, it is a sacrifice to
give me anything.
Tina
mcra...@comcast.net wrote in news:1156659975.362214.301410
@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com:
Tina
coverage that teachers can get for free, but you have to pay $20 copays,
$500 deductible, 30% coinsurance, etc. I am on the premier parent plus
plan and I pay $170 per month premiums. I have a $10 copay, $250
deductible, 20% coinsurance and prescriptions are $5, $10, $15. If I were
to have gotten a family plan and included Erik, my premium cost would be
$500 a month.
Our money here goes to pad the pockets of the Central Office staff and in
building and improving the "good" schools in the district. My school is
treated like the stereotypical step-child of the school district. (No
offense meant by this comment).
Tina
karlisa
Tina wrote:
> No, I've never gotten one from a parent, but I have to say, it would be
> appreciated. We have a Parent Teacher Store here that does gift
> certificates too. Keep in mind that I work at a school where the Free and
> Reduced Lunch percent is close to 90%, so the reason I buy so much is that
> there are many kids in my class who don't bring ANY school supplies at all.
> I had 12 or 13 out of 23 who actually brought something to school and most
> of those only brought part of what they needed (paper, but no pencils or
> crayons, etc). Gifts that I get from my school parents have been:
> figurines from the dollar store, a partially used bottle of lotion,
> homemade cupcakes and cookies, etc. When I worked at the other school that
> had parents with more money, the other teachers talked about getting $50
> gift certificates to local restaurants, jewelry (teachery bracelets, etc),
> teacher sweaters, etc. I have to say though that I appreciate the gifts
> that I get now more than the more expensive ones because of the thought
> behind them. I know that the parents who give me gifts now are giving from
> the heart and sometimes, even from the dollar store, it is a sacrifice to
> give me anything.
>
> Tina
One of the local TV stations spotlighted several teachers showing how
much money the teachers have to spend from their own pocket to get
their classrooms ready for the year. One teacher was fresh out of
college and had college loan repayments looming, etc. so this was
difficult for her to come up with the money she needed for supplies.
They concluded the interview with a directive to websites for different
school districts and how the viewers could click on individual teacher
websites to find each teacher's "wish list." They revisted the
teacher at the end of the week, and she had gotten tons of donations
for her classroom, as had many of the other teachers on the websites.
Perhaps there is a way for your local tv affiliate to highlight your
and other teachers' situations? Until I watched that broadcast, I
honestly did not have any idea that the teachers in our district spent
so much of their own money for the classroom. We were happy to buy
extra stuff when Mick returned to school.
lisa
micksmom
>
karlisa
Wow. That's amazing. We don't have unions down here for the teachers
(or anyone else, it seems, for that matter) so I don't know what in the
hell they're spending the money on. I do know that on Mick's second
day of preschool, they sent him home with one of those obnoxious fund
raiser catalogues. It's still sitting on the kitchen floor under his
bookbag where I deposited it. I have no interest what-so-ever in
selling crap for the school district to make-up their financial short
fall. We never had to sell this stuff when I was growing up and I'm
always aggravated when my cow-orkers bring in these fund raising
catalogues in the office.
We also just had a really good film showed on ETV called "Corridor of
Shame" about the plight of the poverty-ridden school districts in SC.
It was so sad that the kids are expected to attend schools that were
literally falling apart and have subquality teachers and still receive
a decent education. Obviously, the tax money is not being distributed
fairly.
lisa
Tina
http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/
I think the media really needs to get involved in this because the
general public has absolutely NO idea of the number of hours and number
of dollars teachers spend to get their classrooms ready and to keep it
running all year. I work 10 hour days EVERY day and still don't get
everything done.
Tina
"karlisa" <mick...@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1156684951....@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
twinzmommie
> What the Hell are our taxes paying for these days???
LOL! My friend who has 2 boys in the school district neighboring ours,
was asked to supply a 6 pack of toilet paper for each child.
I have no complaints about our lists, I do however take issue with the
toilet paper though. That to me is over the top. I jokingly told my
friend to make sure the girls were required to bring in 8 packs as they
use more TP then boys do. LOL!
Michelle
Who will be sending her kids into school with exactly what is on the
list. Don't want my kids to automatically be singled out for not
following the rules.
Jamie Clark
> It just seems gross to me, that is all. We have some in our cars and
> in my purse. Last year Samantha had some in her backpack. Kids go
> number 2 and don't always wash their hands. If they go and use the
> hand sanitizer, that is just gross to me. I know my kids know to wash
> their hands well, but some kids( witnessed in my house), don't bother
> to wash their hands after using the toilet. I will buy the school a
> few sanitizers for the class, but Samantha will have her own. Yes, I
> am picky about stuff like that----oh well... that is me.
Okay, I get why you are picky on this type of thing. I don't use hand
sanitizer for bathroom issues, unless we were in a place that didn't have a
sink or soap or running water or something. I'd rather really wash than use
sanitizer. For us, we use hand sanitizer for things like eating fast food
and degreasing, or after Gymboree or other types of playgroups. That type
of thing, so it wouldn't bother me, in those situations, if kids shared the
same bottle. But I can see what you are saying about after bathroom use.
LAA
"A&A's Mama" <mommy2t...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1156643642.9...@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
> What the Hell are our taxes paying for these days???
Indeed!
I can tell you that in Wisconsin, the tax burden has been shifted somewhat
away from businesses onto private homeowners . . . so they, more than ever,
are footing the bill for schools. and now those schools have to shift the
burden of stocking classrooms onto the private taxpayer, too?
Beth
LAA
<mcra...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1156638285.1...@74g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> kids. But, she will NOT share hand sanitizer.. that is gross!
What's the deal with sanitizing hands? That's what sinks and soap are for.
Is this the latest educational fad?
Beth
Tina
leader squirts everyone and then we go. The way the schedule is, we aren't
allowed to use the time to take the class to the restroom before lunch.
They are expected to wash their hands after the restroom though.
Tina
"LAA" <fakea...@wegrokit.com> wrote in
news:JrqdnbzKvtPyg2_Z...@bright.net:
KC
students have to get the sanitizer stuff on their hands every time they
come in from a break outside.
KC
whodunit
> I thought it was weird too. In our charter school classes, the
> students have to get the sanitizer stuff on their hands every time they
> come in from a break outside.
>
> KC
Interesting study:
http://tinyurl.com/l97zk
Afsi
thought, wow! I better go by these products (I've never used them before,
but have seen them). Then I noticed the sponsors. GOJO Industries. Which of
course means nothing to me, but then a quick Google on GOJO industries, and
the main item shown on their webpage is Purell Hand Sanitizer. It could be
valid study but I'd want to see some not sponsored by the industry to
believe it. I just went back and checked on the link and looked related
articles. The next one had similar conclusions (Woodward Industries or
something). Again, another corporation selling these products.
Afsi
> Interesting study:
> http://tinyurl.com/l97zk
Text:
Effect of hand sanitizer use on elementary school absenteeism.
Hammond B, Ali Y, Fendler E, Dolan M, Donovan S.
GOJO Industries, Inc, Akron, OH 44309, USA.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated a connection between handwashing
and illness-related absenteeism in school settings. The difficulty of
ensuring consistent and effective handwashing among student populations has
also been noted. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness
of the use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer in the classroom to help
decrease the illness-related absentee rate for elementary school students.
METHODS: This study involved 5 individual school districts, 16 individual
schools, and more than 6000 students in Delaware, Ohio, Tennessee, and
California. Individual schools in each district were paired into product and
control groups. In the product group schools, an alcohol gel hand sanitizer
was used by the students and staff when entering and leaving the classroom.
Absenteeism due to infection was recorded, and the data were statistically
analyzed. RESULTS: The overall reduction in absenteeism due to infection in
the schools included in this study was 19.8% for schools that used an
alcohol gel hand sanitizer compared with the control schools (P <.05). Data
from the school system with the largest teacher population (n = 246) showed
that teacher absenteeism decreased 10.1% (trend) in the schools where
sanitizer was used. CONCLUSION: Elementary school absenteeism due to
infection is significantly reduced when an alcohol gel hand sanitizer is
used in the classroom as part of a hand hygiene program.
Publication Types:
a.. Clinical Trial
b.. Controlled Clinical Trial
PMID: 11029132 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
whodunit
stuff all the time (I even have a bottle in the car we use a lot) and
we have maybe one or two colds *a year*...when I was teaching, before
this stuff was available, I used to catch stuff all the time before I
finally built up enough immunities!
Carolyne in TX
April
all the time. I've heard different stories about how effective it is, but I
figure that it can't hurt.
April
Mommy to Abby (10-02)
"whodunit" <pill...@sbcworldly.net> wrote in message
news:NDCIg.3549$tU....@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
Snittens
notebooks, pencils, etc but it takes away from individuality and the fun of
picking out your own schools supplies for the kid. I remember going with my
mom to Kmart and enjoying picking out my things. Yes we all had to have a
notebook, but you could at least pick out the color or have a character on
it. What's next, everyone has to have the same lunchbox? I also don't get
having to buy the box of tissue or hand sanitizer.
--
-Kelly
see my babies: http://snittens.shutterfly.com
<mcra...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1156638285.1...@74g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
Kris-Anne
daughter's kindergarten year, I spent $50. Yes, you heard me: $50.
The schools here do not allow individual bottles of hand sanitizer
because many kids start making a mess with it (of course, not mine LOL
- I am SO kidding!). The teachers typically have a huge bottle of
purell that they pass out.
mcra...@comcast.net wrote:
> Okay, I understand the public schools are on a budget, but sheesh. I
> got the list of what Samantha needs. CRAZY!! I am glad, at the moment,
> that I only got one child in elementary school. We got the best deals,
> and still spent over 40 dollars. I couldn't find the dry erasers, so,
> since a lot of the stuff goes into a large bucket for all the kids to
> share, I bought extra's of several things. I figure she can use someone
> else's eraser. I also was not goin to go by what they wanted in
> particular. If my daughter wants a hello Kitty Pee-chee, she is getting
> it. Why would it matter? Same goes for spiral notebook and color
> crayons. It specifically asks for Fiskar sissors, CRAYOLA crayons,
> CRayola water colors,etc. There are a lot of kids who can't afford
> that, and when RoseArt is 11 cents, I am sure it beats the 25 cents for
> parents with a lot of kids. I had to buy 2 boxes of kleenex, hand
> sanitizer( bought 3 tiny ones for Samantha.. don't want her sharing
> that with other kids), baby wipes...etc. I spent another 20.00 on other
> kids. But, she will NOT share hand sanitizer.. that is gross! In case
> you don't know, they sell miniature hand sanitizers with a clip on
> them. They have 3 in a pkg, one clip. She can clip that to her
> backpack.
>
SarahE
"Snittens" <snit...@blahblahblah.com> wrote in message
news:K56dnZnws8Nfm27Z...@adelphia.com...
>I understand that it is easier on the teacher if everyone has the same
>notebooks, pencils, etc but it takes away from individuality and the fun of
>picking out your own schools supplies for the kid. I remember going with
>my mom to Kmart and enjoying picking out my things. Yes we all had to have
>a notebook, but you could at least pick out the color or have a character
>on it. What's next, everyone has to have the same lunchbox?
LOL! I tend to agree with you. I think many teachers have turned into such
nags that all the fun of being a kid is sucked right out of school. I do
find it fascinating that "back in the day" teachers managed to find a way to
teach us what we needed to know in a shorter school year, with recess every
day and - gasp - with all of us having a different notebook. However did we
grow up to function in the world?
I also don't get
> having to buy the box of tissue or hand sanitizer.
I don't mind this at all. I just figure they are all communal products and
every kid contributes. Henry was thrilled to pick out a box of Kleenex with
Cars on it. I still don't get what the big deal is about shared hand
sanitizer as it is......well......sanitary by its very nature. But I'm
pretty laid back about most things.
Let kids be kids, I say. And let teachers teach and not get so caught up in
the right shade of blue for the notebook.
SarahE
Snittens
"SarahE" <sarah.e...@insightbb.com> wrote
>
> I also don't get
>> having to buy the box of tissue or hand sanitizer.
>
> I don't mind this at all. I just figure they are all communal products
> and every kid contributes. Henry was thrilled to pick out a box of
> Kleenex with Cars on it. I still don't get what the big deal is about
> shared hand sanitizer as it is......well......sanitary by its very nature.
> But I'm pretty laid back about most things.
>
I meant like I thought tissue and sanitizer would be something the school
provides, but looking at the posts, I guess not. I saw the one about toilet
paper, sheesh! I used to keep a box of tissue in my desk because I had such
bad allergies, that probably wouldn't be allowed these days.
mcra...@comcast.net
I know many think it's odd that I don't like to share sanitizer, but I
just dont:) I don't share mine that I carry in my purse. If family
wants to use it, I take it out and squirt it in their hands. If a
stranger asked me to use it, I would turn them down, or give them money
to buy their own. Well, maybe let them use it, and then tell them to
just keep it:)
Jolinda
Jamie Clark
> Sarah,
> I know many think it's odd that I don't like to share sanitizer, but I
> just dont:) I don't share mine that I carry in my purse. If family
> wants to use it, I take it out and squirt it in their hands. If a
> stranger asked me to use it, I would turn them down, or give them
> money to buy their own. Well, maybe let them use it, and then tell
> them to just keep it:)
Okay, that is really odd. : )
Tina
antibacterial. For starters, antibacterial just kills bacteria, not
viruses like colds and the flue. Also, overuse of that will produce
anitbacterial resistance in some bacteria and could result in MRSA
infections.
Tina
"April" <abbys...@NOSPAMcolumbus.rr.com> wrote in
news:JYCIg.74574$vl5....@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com:
Tina
sanitizer, then the teacher has to buy it out of his or her own pocket.
Over the course of a school year, that would take up a HUGE chunk of their
salaries and when you only make around $30K a year, you just can't afford
it.
As I teach more and more, I'm beginning to become a little jaded on the
subject of individuality. Honestly, they can be individuals at home. At
school, we all have a job to do and we don't have time for distractions.
Teachers are running around like chickens with their heads cut off all day
long to fit everything in and the 10 minutes here and there that we spent
refereeing fights over school supplies and investigating the theft of
someone's Hello Kitty folder is just too much. Save the fancy folders and
supplies for home when they need stuff for homework. Its hard to look at
it and not think that "its just a folder what's the problem", but from this
side of the desk, its HUGE! School is definately not what it was when we
were in school.
Tina
"Snittens" <snit...@blahblahblah.com> wrote in
news:K56dnZnws8Nfm27Z...@adelphia.com:
Tina
learning about algebraic expressions in 1st grade? Did you have to do open
response questions in Kindergarten? Did your teachers have to teach you
about the Internet and how to save files to a server and research
information through a search engine in 2nd grade? What about doing
statistics and probability in 2nd grade? Teachers back in the day could
teach everything because the expectations were lower and the content was
easier. Hell, we even had naps and milk break in Kindergarten! Go online
and look at the curriculum for your school district and the things that we
are expected to do with these kids and you'll see the difference. That is
only a limited view of what is expected. That is the MINIMUM. Each school
has its own mandates and things of what is taught and testing and things
that are done in addition to what's on the core content.
Honestly, I know you didn't mean it to be, but I found calling teachers
nags and the sarcastic tone of your post offensive to me. You have NO IDEA
what its like to be a teacher.
Tina
Tina
a little stressed out at work right now and I took it more personally than
I should. My argument remains the same, but I could have been more
tactful.
Sorry,
Tina
April
how much work teachers do. Excuse us for trying to make the school day go
as smoothly as possible.
April
Mommy to Abby (10-02)
"Tina" <ti...@nospam.eeman.org> wrote in message
news:Xns982E436248EBDt...@208.49.80.252...
Snittens
changed kind of thing. I do understand that you the teacher would have to
buy tissue etc if the parents didn't. What I meant was, I would think the
school should supply things for the room but apparently they don't. My SIL
is an elementary school art teacher in a wealthy area, and she had to bring
her own vacuum for the room. She also has to follow lessons and I'm always
amazed at how involved some of these things have to be. I remember doing
things like making macaroni necklaces.
--
-Kelly
see my babies: http://snittens.shutterfly.com
"Tina" <ti...@nospam.eeman.org> wrote in message
news:Xns982E414645B8At...@208.49.80.252...
Snittens
changed my mind in college. I didn't want all the other stuff that goes
along with it. You can't just teach. I think maybe things have swung too
far in the other direction, expecting way too much in what our schools are
supposed to teach. How much of this is No Child Left Behind? Setting the
bar high and not providing the money to do it.
--
-Kelly
see my babies: http://snittens.shutterfly.com
"Tina" <ti...@nospam.eeman.org> wrote in message
news:Xns982E436248EBDt...@208.49.80.252...
mcra...@comcast.net
I understand your point, but wouldn't *any* lost folder be
investigated. I know I mentioned buying the Hello Kitty spiral
notebook, but regardless of the color or theme on the notebook, a lost
notebook is a lost notebook. I guess I just don't understand why it
would matter as long as the it had everything else the teacher needed.
I remember going and picking out my school supplies and had fun, as did
my older children. I can see if we buy a ruler and the teacher didn't
ask for that, but the parent thought it would be "neat" for their child
to have it. There is a lot of pressure on the children nowadays as well
as the teachers. For one, in kindergarten we had lots of play time, we
had a nap, we didn't have to know how to write or read, etc. I would
think that if the child had his or her name written boldly across the
front of the notebook, it shouldn't matter. However, that is my opinion
and you DO have the right to teach how you see fit and if it makes it
easier for you, as a teacher, I respect that.
But really, back to what our tax dollars are going for. We every now
and then get something in the mail and it has a pie chart... it shows
the majority going to schools. I think there is something rotten going
on. Not your fault, of course, but as someone who pays quite a bit in
taxes, it does bother me to have to buy things other than non-related
school supplies. Not because I don't care, but because it does make one
wonder where the tax dollars are really being spent.
I think it takes a very special person to be a teacher, and I have
respect for every teacher --esp those close to my heart----those here
on this ng:)
Jolinda
Meg
our school supplies shopping this year "The Mommy Scavenger Hunt" I found
most things at Wal-Mart, but they didn't have the "Magic Rub" erasers my 1st
grader needed....so I had to go somewhere else, they also didn't have the
oil pastels he needed for art...I even suggested at the first PTA meeting
that for next year, we should offer the pre-packaged sets of supplies and
add $10 to the actual cost, I would gladly pay it as it would save me time
and hassle, and let the teacher keep the extra money for her class, or put
back in the PTA till for a rainy day.
I have no idea what I spent, with two kids, and several trips..plus Jack's
kindergarten teacher just asked for $15 for certain supplies so she could
get the right scissors, chubby pencils, etc. which was fine with me! I was
pleased to see that one of the supplies on Robert's first grade list was a
library card in his own name (the school is near the public library and they
can walk there) he was thrilled when we went to get him one....
Meg
"whodunit" <pill...@sbcworldly.net> wrote in message
news:oN6Ig.2722$tU....@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> Here's Maya's school supply list for kindergarten. They were selling
> premade packs at the school for $36, but we got everything for a
> cheaper price than that.
>
> KINDERGARTEN
> 1 Crayola Thick Classic Markers (washable)
> 1 Crayola Thin Classic Markers (washable)
> 3 Crayola Crayons (24 count)
> 6 Pencils (#2)
> 3 Elmer’s School Glue (4 oz.)
> 6 Elmer’s Glue Sticks (.77 oz)
> 1 Fiskar scissors (blunt) - 5 inch
> 1 Prang watercolor set (8 count)
> 1 Kleenex tissue (160-175 count)
> 12 Ziploc quart bags
> 12 Ziploc gallon bags
> 1 Baby wipes (80 count)
> 1 12X18 Manila Paper (50 count)
> 1 Pocket & brad folder in each of the following colors:
> red, blue, yellow, green, (4 total)
>
> We also had to pay $3 for a specific kind of construction paper,
> higher quality than the store brands.
twinzmommie
Meg wrote:
> I would LOVE it if the school offered the supplies pre-packaged! I called
> our school supplies shopping this year "The Mommy Scavenger Hunt" I found
> most things at Wal-Mart, but they didn't have the "Magic Rub" erasers my 1st
> grader needed....so I had to go somewhere else, they also didn't have the
> oil pastels he needed for art...I even suggested at the first PTA meeting
> that for next year, we should offer the pre-packaged sets of supplies
That is exactly what is done around here. Unfortunately if you do not
have older children aready in the schools you aren't notified about it.
I guess they send an order form home with the kids in June for the
following year. You can pick up your ordered supplies durring the last
2 weeks of August.
Sometimes the teacher has specific things they want that are not on the
list and you do have to purchase those itmes on your own. I ahve to
run out tonight for those things as we get to bring in our gear
tomorrow when we meet the teachers. So exciting!
Michelle
Meg
me money, time and aggravation, plus it levels the playing field at school
because everyone looks the same...it's also nice when you are chaperoning a
field trip, and trying to count little constantly moving heads and bodies!
It was soooo nice buying shoes this year and just telling the boys what
choices they had (simple mostly white tennis shoes, no lights, characters,
etc.)
I am disorganized by nature and I like the fact the the stuff I send back to
school goes in the green folder, and the stuff that we keep at home comes
home in the blue. I like the rules and order because it helps me too. Our
school even dictates what backpacks can be used (no rollers and no larger
than a certain dimension to avoid back injury), they don't even allow junk
in lunchboxes, no soda or candy, etc. We don't put names on supplies
because they all go into one communal supply...
I don't think that it's hurt my kids to follow rules/order, they love their
school, and are both doing exceptionally well...
Good luck this year!
Meg
"Tina" <ti...@nospam.eeman.org> wrote in message
news:Xns982E414645B8At...@208.49.80.252...
SarahE
> Honestly, I know you didn't mean it to be, but I found calling teachers
> nags and the sarcastic tone of your post offensive to me. You have NO
> IDEA
> what its like to be a teacher.
You are absolutly right. I don't know. And I know that my temperment would
not make me a very good one. I have the utmost respect for good teachers.
My comment about being nags has more to do with how teachers are forced to
be by the districts, state and federal regs, etc. IMO - and again, it is
only my opinion - teachers should teach. Period. All this focus on
notebook colors and brand names of crayons just seems to me to be a complete
sidetrack of what is important.
I do know that times have changed but I am not at all convinced that they
have changed for the better - or even in a developmentally appropriate way.
That's my point. I don't mean to offend, but the rebel in me would be
seriously thrilled if Henry insisted on a green notebook instead of blue.
Reminds me of the art "teacher" at his preschool (who was fired after 3
weeks) last year. She berated Henry for coloring his apple purple and for
not staying in the lines.
My response was that the world should be thankful that she did not teach
Picasso. She was furious. The madder she got the harder I pushed.
I am very thankful that we are moving into a school district that has
"celebrate individuality" on their registration info!
Sarah
Jamie Clark
> "Tina" <ti...@nospam.eeman.org> wrote in message
> news:Xns982E4270C9D2Ct...@208.49.80.252...
SNIP
> Reminds me of the art "teacher" at his preschool (who was fired after
> 3 weeks) last year. She berated Henry for coloring his apple purple
> and for not staying in the lines.
>
> My response was that the world should be thankful that she did not
> teach Picasso. She was furious. The madder she got the harder I
> pushed.
I'm with you on the art thing. Doi. Who says that apples have to be green?
Why can't they be purple...
> I am very thankful that we are moving into a school district that has
> "celebrate individuality" on their registration info!
On a slightly different note, but similiar...a photo company came last year
to take photos of all of the kids in Taylor's preschool class. They had
costumes and set up backgrounds, and it was cute, although a little cheesy.
They had the costumes set up on a long table, generally divided by "boy" and
"girl." Taylor walked up and picked up a Tuxedo from the boy side, black
jacket, white shirt and purple bow tie and cumberbund. The photographer
immediately said, "Oh, you don't want that, that's for boys." Taylor
dropped it like a hot rock, and of course wasn't interested in the
tule/sunflower combo or the large floppy white hat. I wanted to say
something but at that point it was too late, and the damage was done. She
would have looked ADORABLE in a little tuxedo with purple bow tie and
cumberbund. Adorable. Instead she just wore her regular clothes, and the
photo was just okay. When they come back this year I'm going to go talk to
them first, and warn them not to do that again. They shouldn't be
discouraging kids from using whatever costumes strike their fancy. I can
easily see little girls posing cute in a leather motorcycle jacket with a
helmit under their arm, or a pretend flight jacket, etc. I'm not so sure
that boy would chose the girly stuff, but if they wanted it, at least let
them try it out.
April
> brand names of crayons just seems to me to be a complete sidetrack of what
> is important.
I'll admit that I never specified what color notebooks or folders should be,
but I've always had a small class in a private school. I can, however,
understand why a teacher with a large class would. You say that you think
teachers should teach, but the time they spend making sure each kid has the
right notebook out takes away from that. "Take out your purple spelling
notebook." is much easier and takes less time than saying "Take out your
spelling notebook." then walking around the room to make sure each kid has
their spelling notebook not their math notebook or their journal. I know it
seems like a nit-picky thing, but there is a reason for it. It saves time,
thus giving the teacher more time to teach.
I totally agree with you about the art teacher. I am an open-ended project
person. I provide the supplies, give some broad guidance, and let them
create what they will.
Tina
state. I'm taking 2 grad school classes this term and yesterday after
getting up at 5:30, working at school for 9 1/2 hours, I sat in a 3 1/2
hour long class that taught me how to use discussion groups (yes, you
read that correctly...YAWN), got home at 10pm, up at 5:30 again and
worked another 9/12 hours today followed by another 3 1/2 hour class on
research in literacy instruction and getting home around 9 I'm more than
a little tired at this point. If what I reply is short and sweet and to
the point, it is not from being snippy or offended or anything. I'm
just tired and want to go to bed....
Anyhoo,
The way it is now in my classroom, if one of the kids lost their
journal, I would not spend a whole lot of time trying to find it. I
would whip out another notebook that just looks exactly like it and give
it to them to use. No one would want to steal it because they have one
just like it. When kids steal things it is because they want it and
don't have it. I'm not saying that parents shouldn't buy that neat
stuff, but they'll need to understand that the kids should keep it at
home if it's not on the list. Just put it in their homework area in
case they need it or want to use it.
As for the tax dollars, ITA!!! The schools need more money and it is
not the parent's job or the teacher's job to buy Kleenex, Hand
Sanitizer, or Dry Erase Markers!!! We shouldn't have to do that. I'm
still in shock about the post where children were asked to bring toilet
paper!! It's time that governments realize that education is priority
and without it, nothing else can exist.
Tina
mcra...@comcast.net wrote in
news:1156868525.4...@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
Tina
teachers had to wear uniforms! Even something like khakis and a polo shirt
with the school logo on it. Save me time and energy in the morning trying
to figure out what to wear! LOL
We don't allow backpacks on rollers either, but that is purely a space
issue. Our lockers are small and those rollers don't fit. We just don't
have the room for them.
Tina
"Meg" <mmor...@carolina.rr.com> wrote in
news:Sp_Ig.1114$lk6...@tornado.southeast.rr.com:
Tina
organizational issue. In order for me to function in my classroom, I
have to have things a certain way. Heck, I can't even stand for someone
else to write something in my gradebook. I've had subs come in and mark
attendance in my book for me and it bothers me so bad, I have to white
it out and redo it. The change in handwriting bothers me! LOL (OK OK,
so now you all know I'm a total nutcase!) My kids are so distractable
that ANYthing outside the usual sets them off, so if everyone had the
novelty items, we just wouldn't get much done.
I agree with you that the changes are not always developmentally
appropriate either, but that's a WHOLE new thread! LOL
Shame on that preschool person! That's just ridiculous.
Anyway, sorry again for taking it personally. Exhaustion has a way of
making you read things that aren't there. :)
Tina
"SarahE" <sarah.e...@insightbb.com> wrote in
news:O6idnZYxO6VjV2nZ...@insightbb.com:
mcra...@comcast.net
providers. I can honestly say... I could never be either. I admire you
all so much. I did go out and buy some blue, red, green, and yellow
notebooks that night:) lol. I will send the Hello kitty one along, and
if she can't use it at school, yes, she can certainly use it at home. I
might seem difficult, but IRL, I am very accommodating and fair. I like
things my way, but then that is something I am sure most of you can get
by my posts:)
Get some rest and big hugs to you---and all the teachers out there who
are trying to make a difference.
Jolinda
LAA
> Tina and April, I understand. I had always wanted to be a teacher but
> changed my mind in college. I didn't want all the other stuff that goes
> along with it. You can't just teach. I think maybe things have swung too
> far in the other direction, expecting way too much in what our schools are
> supposed to teach. How much of this is No Child Left Behind? Setting the
> bar high and not providing the money to do it.
That was a classy reply from Tina. I must admit, thought, that her original
rant shocked me. Algebraic equations in the first grade? I have the same
question as you: is NCLB responsible for this? I want my kid doing things
with paste in the first grade. :-)
Beth
KC
the 1st grade text that we have been using with Caitlin since the
middle of last year. It shocked me too, and it even shocked Caitlin's
advisor who is a third grade teacher. I thought the algabreic stuff
was way over the top for 1st graders. There is also some stuff about
probablity, but that seemed easy enough for a young one to understand
the way they laid it out.
But, even though the algabreic expressions are in the text, they are
like brain teasers. The children do not have to know it to exit 1st
grade in our state. It's just introducing them to it.
I looked up the California high school exit exam, and to exit high
school in California. Here is what they said students had to know to
graduate, "The CAHSEE has two parts: English-language arts (ELA) and
mathematics. The ELA part addresses state content standards through
grade ten. In reading, this includes vocabulary, decoding,
comprehension, and analysis of information and literary texts. In
writing, this covers writing strategies, applications, and the
conventions of English (e.g. grammar, spelling, and punctuation). The
mathematics part of the CAHSEE addresses state standards in grades six
and seven and Algebra I. The exam includes statistics, data analysis
and probability, number sense, measurement and geometry, mathematical
reasoning, and algebra. Students are also asked to demonstrate a strong
foundation in computation and arithmetic, including working with
decimals, fractions, and percents."
They are indeed tougher standards. I remember in high school
(graduated in 1983), that only basic math was required to graduate. I
cannot recall if the essay writing class I took in high school was
required or not. I am leaning toward not based on the low math
requirements. I personally took alot more than required, but back then
the teachers only had to teach the willing students the advanced
classes, not all the students.
However, I think it is better to teach the basics first, and do not
really see the point of the IMO too early introduction to advanced math
topics.
Oh, also at the charter school that we are homeschooling through they
are asking us to teach the children writing strategies now in the first
grade even though they will not be expected to write more than 3 or 4
sentences at this point. But, they said that the children are capable
of learning the writing strategies and using them to dictate
information rather than to write it down.
KC