School Art Supplies
As a teacher, I was always asked, “What do the kids really need?” Sometimes it was, “Are they really necessary?” Of course, parents never asked me this but friends and family did. After all, it seems like you buy all these supplies every year and you wonder where they go. They don’t come home at the end of the year and you really don’t see that much come home.
Here I will try to explain why the school art supplies seem to magically disappear and show you ways to save on the purchase of art supplies. As a parent, you want your child to have school art supplies but you also want to save money where you can. Here you can learn from a teacher what you need and why.
Where Do School Art Supplies Go?
Construction Paper
One of the big “disappearing” supplies is the assorted construction paper. Each year you are asked to buy 9×12 and 20×24. However, you know your child does not use all of it. So what happens?
The deal is that construction paper is used for more than art projects. Teachers use the paper to create bulletin boards, flash cards, and all sorts of things. Additionally, some of the paper is used for teaching exercises that get thrown away after they are used. However, I have found most of the paper is used for drawing and kids do not always take these “free time” drawings home.
Liquid Glue
Since liquid glue is not very expensive, most people do not ask much about it. However, some do. Therefore, I will let you in on what I did with the glue.
Tempera paint is expensive to buy and a BIG mess to clean up. So it was rare that I let the kids use tempera paint alone. However, when you add a few drops of paint to a mixture of shaving cream and glue, the paint goes a long way. It forms a sort of puff paint that is very easy to clean up. You can literally take a baby wipe and clean it off clothes, tables, hands and anything else.
However, it takes quite a bit of glue. So I might add a large hand full of shaving cream and about half that in glue to get the paint. It was well worth it and the kids love it.
Pencils, Crayons, Markers
I always found it easier to take up all these supplies and dole them out when needed. This way every kid always had the needed supplies. Additionally, if a cap got left off a marker, then a parent doesn’t have to buy a whole new set just to get brown.
Many teachers use the community property idea with these supplies. It makes sharing easier (no “mine”) and everyone has what they need. Since these are easily broken and consumable, kids do not take them home.
This is also why some years you may not be asked for them. Instead of asking parents to buy crayons, which they have plenty of, they ask parents to buy a more unusual supply like zip lock bags.
How to Save Money on School Art Supplies
Construction Paper
Many times teachers run out of pink and red paper. You can save money if you ask the teacher if she would like you to purchase a specific color instead of the multicolor pack. She might even appreciate the offer.
Buying in bulk is also a good idea. If you see it on sale (normally at the end of the year), then buy a bunch of them and keep it for upcoming years. We actually bought a several cartons of paper on sale for 10 cents each ream. The carton had 20 reams, therefore a carton was $2. We had a place to store it and had paper for close to 10 years!
Elmers Glue
Teachers write this on the list because it is recognizable. What they really want is plain white liquid glue. Therefore, you can buy whatever brand of glue you want to save money.
As for buying in bulk, not always a good idea. It can dry out. However, buying a couple of bottles at the beginning of summer for the next year is perfect.
Pencils, Crayons, Markers
Pencils – As long as you buy pencils with Number 2 lead, you are fine. Get whatever kind you want. I go with cheap.
Crayons – Buy your standard 24 color set. Anymore is a waste of money. No need to buy a name brand like Crayola either. Again go cheap.
Markers – Buy standard coloring markers. DO NOT buy permanent markers, even for middle and high schoolers. They are banned from most schools and will be taken up. (Drug use: Stiffing)