Leftover school supplies?

What do you guys do with your leftover school supplies?

The notebook that was 1/2 used, the wipe board that gets shappy, the scores of pencils that are halfway used, the post it notes that are opened, the markers that are almost used up but not quite there?

I usually buy fresh supplies every year for my kids. So far it's resulted in a stack of "leftovers" which we really don't use.

Is there somewhere that takes donations of 1/2 used school supplies or is that completely rude? I'd hate to throw them out.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

Wipe boards - I've given to neighbors or family with pre-schoolers for them to keep in car for their kids.

Scissors/glue/crayons/colored pencils/markers - I usually keep them for my girl scout troop to use. We've also donated them to a neighbor who is a teacher and to the art teacher at our school. I've melted down used crayons to make these ABC crayons for pre-schooler birthday/holiday gifts.

Old pencils - As long as the erasers are decent we give to a family member who teaches in a not so great area. If the eraser is gone we toss.

Post its - My mom takes them into work.

Old notebooks - we rip out the pages and put them with our scrap paper. My dd likes to draw and write little stories, so it gets used eventually.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

White boards are easily fixed and cleaned with a cleaner that you can buy. The notebook I give to them to draw in or use for their creative 'projects'. The pencils and such are for the same purpose.

If you have extra things like post its and markers that are just OK and you don't want them lying around then give them to the teacher to use for a less fortunate student or donate them to your church if they have a Sunday school. I know ours is always asking for left over supplies.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

So far, we use everything.

Crayons are melted down for projects.

Paper used for scrap.

Pencils- I put another one of those big erasers on the top of the pencil and we use it around the house.

Markers get turned upside down in a can and we get as much out of them as we can.

Post Its... as a teacher, they are gold to me... I never thought to toss a half used pad... that's all I have at my own school... about 27 partially used pads because my school gives me $0.00 for my own classroom supplies.

Everything gets reused/recycled for something.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

We reuse as much as possible at home. New stuff for school - old stuff for home.

If your district does Teachers College, keep the post its! they will go through a lot of them making notes while they read.


Helping Hands might take some of the items.

Message edited 8/16/2012 10:33:39 PM.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

I reuse lightly used supplies for the next year. My kids supply list are crazy so a lot of stuff gets barely used. If is worn too much then we use at home.

Re: Leftover school supplies?

The crayons, hi-liters and the like get put in the art supply bucket and they use them. The composition notebooks are kept and they use them for paper to write stories, poems, punishments and gratitudes.