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Home : 2002 : May : 10

supplies
By Julianne

First check to see if you can hold back some of your funds and spend them later in the year. Most schools let you do this. That way you don't have to make all your big decisions immediately. And if you run out of glue
in February you can buy more! The next thing to do is to go to the school and check with the other fifth grade teachers. Do they have surplus stuff they can give you to start the year? Our room came equipped with eight (count them, EIGHT) large bottles of rubber cement. We could supply the entire school with rubber cement. No need for the new teacher to order that. Also ask if the

teachers regularly ask students to supply some of their own materials. If so, what? If kids are supposed to bring their own pencils you won't need to buy as many. Finally, make a rough sketch of your core curriculum so you have an idea of what you'll be covering for the year. Here are some supplies that are must-haves:

copy paper (I start with about 24 reams and usually order more.)
lined writing paper - probably 3 or 4 reams to start
pencils with erasers - one gross
journal notebooks - a couple for each student
scissors - teacher and student. Buy a couple of extra pairs
glue and/or glue sticks - a couple for each student and expect to buy more
watercolors
poster paints
poster paper
masking tape and dispenser
scotch tape and dispenser
clear packing tape (to mend books, adhere names to things, etc.)
duct tape (I can't teach without duct tape...
watercolor markers for students and/or crayons
permanent markers for you
marking pens for grading
a box of 100 envelopes for sending home sensitive notes
a box of 100 9 X 12 manila envelopes
file folders - box of 100
wire or plastic baskets (for student turn-in and to organize your own mess)
pencil sharpener!!! Be sure your room has one.
stapler and staples - 2 staplers are nice to have
box of computer disks for student use
chalkboard or whiteboard supplies
push pins
large and small paper clips - I also like paper clamps
a couple of boxes of brads
white-out (for you...)
overhead film that will work in your school's copier
paper plates and cups for unexpected treats and art projects

Add to this list the specific items you might need for your science curriculum, health or social studies and other project based teaching and that should get you started. Let's hope you don't have to use that $800 to buy textbooks. Other nice items to start the year include a couple of age appropriate games, jigsaw puzzles and a nice classroom library. If you don't want to spend much money on these things you can visit yard sales or flea markets. And you can check out books from your school library to stock your classroom until you are able to build up a set of books of your own. Check out Scholastic or Troll book clubs where students can order inexpensive and very nice books while you earn free books for the classroom.

Good luck!