Do you know what your child’s most annoying phrase is? It’s probably “summer is over.” This is the time when back-to-school sales start even before classes begin. If you know what you need ahead of time, you can save a lot of money by taking advantage of these sales.
To succeed in school, students must have all of the required supplies. Their parents need to provide these materials, to some extent, for their children’s success.
It can be difficult to make sure you have all the right supplies for school because different teachers request different things. However, there are some basics that you can buy that will be used in all classes. Here is a list of school supplies needed for every grade to help make sure your child is ready for school.
There are some items, like pencils and paper, that every student needs, regardless of age. These items are no-brainers, but there are also certain items unique to specific stages of student life. Some of these items are listed below. Kindergarten: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors,Construction Paper First Grade: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors,Construction Paper, Pencils, Notebooks Second Grade: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors, Construction Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Ruler Third Grade: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors, Construction Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Ruler, Calculator Fourth Grade: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors, Construction Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Ruler, Calculator, Protractor Fifth Grade: Crayons, Markers, Glue, Scissors, Construction Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Ruler, Calculator, Protractor, Compass
Essential Preschool Supplies List
- #2 Pencils
- Zippered pencil case
- Erasers
- Sharpeners
- Glue Sticks
- Markers
- Crayons
- Watercolor paints (8 ct.)
- Regular size backpack
- Zip lock bags
- Paper Plates & Cups
- Change of clothes
- Wet wipes container
- Tissues
School Supplies List for Kindergarten
- #2 Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Pencil sharpeners
- Erasers
- Pencil case
- Glue sticks
- Crayons
- Washable markers
- Watercolor paints (8 ct.)
- Pair of scissors (blunt-tip)
- Pocket folders
- Lunchbox
- Backpack
- Construction paper
- Wide-ruled notebook
- Hand sanitizer
- Box of tissues
Elementary Basic Supplies List (Grades 1-2)
- #2 Pencils
- Erasers
- Sharpeners
- Zippered pencil bag
- Spiral notebooks (wide-lined)
- Dry erase markers
- Washable markers
- Crayons
- Highlighters
- Pocket folders
- Ruler-12”
- Colored pencil
- Indexed cards (ruled)
- Glue sticks
- Construction paper (assorted)
- Blunt-tipped scissors
- Ballpoint pens
- Backpack and Lunchbox
- Hand sanitizer
- Box of tissues
Elementary Supply Shopping Checklist (Grades 3-5)
- #2 Pencils
- Zippered pencil bag
- Erasers
- Sharpeners
- 1-inch 3-ring binder
- 3-hole punch
- Pocket folders without fastener
- Washable markers
- Dry erase markers
- Crayons
- Highlighters
- Subject dividers
- Scissors (blunt tip)
- Protractor
- Ruler-12”
- Colored pencil
- Blue or black ballpoint pens
- Glue sticks
- Spiral notebooks
- Wide ruled loose leaf paper
- Index cards
- Backpack
- Lunchbox
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
Middle School Supplies List 2022
- No. 2 Pencils
- Ballpoint pens
- Pencil pouch
- Erasers
- Sharpeners
- Ruler
- Protractor
- Scissors
- Personal calendar
- Pocket folders
- 3-ring binder
- 3-hole punch
- Index cards
- Subject dividers
- White-out
- Highlighters
- Markers
- Glue Sticks
- Graphing calculator
- Wide ruled loose-leaf paper
- Graph paper
- Drawing paper
- Watercolor paints
- Spiral notebooks
- Stapler
- Locker accessories
- Lunchbox
- Backpack
General Supplies List for High School: Year 2022
- #2 Pencils
- Colored Pencils
- Pencil Sharpener
- Pens: Red, Blue, Black
- 12 inch Ruler
- TI Calculator
- Pocket Folders
- 3-Ring Binder
- 3-hole punch
- College Ruled Loose Leaf 3 Hole Paper
- Spiral Notebooks
- Sticky Notes
- Highlighters
- Markers
- Tabbed Dividers
- Book Covers
- Foreign language dictionary
- Wire Bound Weekly Planner
- USB Flash Drive
- Backpack
- Lunchbox
- Hand sanitizer
- Locker organizers
- Glue stick
- Pencil case
- Stapler
- Scissors
High school students should bring the following supplies with them on the first day of school, as well as writing utensils and notebooks. Teachers will usually provide students with a list of required items by the end of the first week of school.
Do you have any questions about school supplies? We suggest that you visit your school’s website or email your child’s class teacher. They will be able to advise you better.
Sharing of Supplies (SOS)
The back-to-school season is a test for parents, who have to buy the supplies. They often have to make their budget stretch far enough to meet the needs of multiple children in multiple classes, and they must remain sane in the process.
If you are struggling to afford school supplies for your family, there is help available from the school and from many charitable causes. Contact the main office of your child’s school to find out if the school has a program to help families in need, such as SOS (sharing of supplies), where all families are encouraged to donate extra supplies to be given to the less fortunate.
Even if you have the money to buy your own supplies, you’ll want to save as much as you can. Before you go shopping, take inventory of the supplies you already have. Can your backpack last another semester? Do you have enough leftover pencils from last year to make a new pack? To learn more about how you can save money during back-to-school sales, read on.
No more pencils. No more books. No more teacher’s looks.
Isn’t that how the song goes?
The summer is coming to an end and this is probably not what students want to hear, but it is the truth.
However, not all parents are able or willing to buy supplies. It’s time to start using pencils and books again. What will the teacher think if I’m not prepared with all the necessary supplies? One way to not make the teacher mad on the first day of school is to have everything you need. Obviously, little kids can’t go out and get the supplies by themselves. The parents need to help. But, some parents can’t or don’t want to buy supplies.
Parents may find school supply shopping to be just as much of a pesky chore as children may find going back to school. There may be confusion about how much to buy because the school might publish a general list, but the child’s teacher might require more specific items. If the children are with the parent while shopping, they may be picky about what they want. For example, they might want a pencil that erases better, or a notebook that doesn’t rip easily. Also, younger children often want a folder with their favorite characters on it, which usually costs more.
This guide provides advice to parents on how to make school supply shopping a stress-free endeavor.
Supplies are very important, but there are other more important expenses that come along when going to school, such as clothes, lunch, tuition, and transportation. You can actually save money on school supplies by not breaking the bank on them.
Look Around Before You Buy
Before buying any new school supplies, check to see if there are any at home that can be reused. This goes for both common and less common supplies. Brand new supplies are not necessary, and there is no expiration date on pencils or paper. If your child has used up all of their supplies from last year, then you can purchase more. Otherwise, make use of what you already have.
If you wish to have an abundance of supplies for next year, it is best to take advantage of sales throughout the year, rather than just during the back to school season. By doing this, you will ensure that you are not overpaying for your items. Be sure to keep an eye out for common items such as pencils and notebooks, as these will be needed regardless of the grade your child is in.
Shop Around
Watching for sales can help you save money. One store might have a sale on paper, while another store might have a sale on calculators. No store will have a sale on all of the supplies you need. If you choose to buy everything from one store, you will pay more for some items.
Purchasing school supplies from multiple stores in order to save money may initially seem like a hassle, but it is important to consider that if you also need to buy new shoes, clothes, and electronics for school, you will need to visit more than one store anyway. You will likely come across more than one office supply store while running errands for back-to-school shopping, so plan your route accordingly to save money.
It’s worth considering other stores besides office supply stores when looking for school supplies, as you might be able to get better deals.
Use Competitor Deals
Watching for sales can have many benefits! If a sale is very good, other people may have also seen it. Sometimes items sell out quickly, especially at stores that sell items for less than a dollar. Many stores, like Walmart and Target, will accept coupons from competitors. If one store is sold out of an item, try looking for other stores that will accept competitor coupons. Remember to save the sales papers and bring them with you when you go shopping.
Take Advantage of Tax Free Days
Some states in America offer a whole weekend of tax-free shopping during the back to school season. Here are the dates for participating states:
- Alabama: (July 15–17, 2022)
- Arkansas: (Aug. 6-7, 2022)
- Connecticut: (TBD)
- Florida: (July 25 – August 7, 2022)
- Iowa: (Aug. 5-6, 2022)
- Louisiana: (Sept. 4-6, 2022)
- Maryland: ( August 14–20, 2022)
- Mississippi: (July 29–30, 2022)
- Missouri: (August 5–7, 2022)
- New Mexico: (Aug. 5-7, 2022)
- Ohio: (Aug. 5-7, 2022)
- Oklahoma: (Aug. 5-7, 2022)
- South Carolina: (Aug. 5-7, 2022)
- Tennessee: (July 29 – 31, 2022)
- Virginia: (Aug. 5-8, 2022)
- Texas (Aug. 5-7, 2022)
- Wisconsin (TBD)
As you can see, only 17 of the 50 states offer this event. If you live in one of the other 33 states, it may be worth considering whether travelling to one of the 17 participating states to do your back-to-school shopping makes sense for your family. The savings may be worth the minor inconvenience, especially if you live within a short driving distance to one of the 17 participating states.
Shopping Rules for Uniforms
If your child wears uniforms for school, clothes shopping is different. Parents may like uniforms because they’re simple to buy, but you can still overspend. You can find the clothes in many stores, so don’t just go to uniform stores, which tend to be more expensive.
The purpose of this is twofold. Firstly, you don’t want to buy all of your clothes at the beginning of the year, as you’ll likely end up needing more later. Secondly, buying clothes later on will ensure that you get the best possible price.
Office Supply Stores Are Your Best Friend
As mentioned earlier, it is important to shop around. Discounts can be found at major retailers like Target, as well as at office supply stores.
Since these stores only sell office supplies, they are likely to have good deals on school supplies during their sales season. This is because they have a lot of pencils, pens, paper, etc. that they need to get rid of, and they stock up on these items during the back to school season. Big box stores, on the other hand, often order special items for the school year that they don’t usually sell.
While big box stores may have more sales on school supplies leading up to the school year, office supply stores have school supplies available year-round and can offer bigger discounts. Office supply store deals like colored pencils for a quarter or notebooks for fifty cents are more likely than at big box stores.
The only downside to finding amazing deals at an office supply store is that they tend to sell out of the cheapest items quickly since everyone wants them. However, you can usually find coupons for the same items at competitor stores.
Don’t Bring Your Children Shopping with You
As was mentioned before, children can be very choosy. They want items like the Frozen backpack and the BTS folder. They want name brand items like Crayola crayons and Ticonderoga pencils, even thoughgeneric brands are much cheaper.
One of the best ways to avoid unnecessary stress is to do your back to school shopping without your kids. This way, they can’t insist on their favorite brands. If you simply bring them what you bought, they are less likely to have an opinion about the brand of pencil you buy than if they were in the store with you.
Buy What You Need NOW
The answer to both questions is clearly no. Your first grader will not use 4 boxes of Kleenex in the first three months of the school year and your middle or high school child will not need those four extra binders that are listed as second semester supplies until the second semester.
School supply lists can be expensive, especially for younger grades. Sometimes, teachers ask parents to buy more supplies than any student could ever use to help stock the class with extra items, such as tissues and hand sanitizer for other students to use. At times, teachers ask all parents to buy more than what’s necessary so that there will be enough supplies on hand in the classroom to give to students who can’t afford to purchase them.
Although it is commendable to want to help out worthy causes by buying supplies in bulk at the beginning of the school year, it is not necessary. If you are worried about seeming stingy or not providing your child with the correct supplies, talk to the child’s teacher. Explain that you would be happy to bring in more supplies as needed, but that you would prefer to only buy what is necessary, when it becomes necessary. This is also a good way to teach responsibility and self-advocacy to older children. If they are old enough to know when supplies are running low, they will let you know.
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