Silly school supply question

My oldest child is going in to Kindergarten, so it's my first time buying all the supplies on the very long list sent home from her school. My question is, say for example it asks for 12 glue sticks, but you bought a pack of 18. Do you just send the whole package in, or save the extras for following school years? It might sound petty, but I feel like they asked for a ton of stuff, and many very specific name brand things like Crayola Twistable crayons and colored pencils, name brand scissors and approximately 1 million things of glue and glue sticks(slight exaggeration) and many of the things on the list I bought in packages that come with more than what asked for, so I feel like saving the extras for next year or to use at home, but I don't want to send in the open packages with some taken out if that's tacky.

Silly school supply question

My DD is going into K too. Depends on the items - if it is easily split up, I would send quantity requested. I would send 12 glue sticks and keep the extras for DD to use at home. I wouldn't even send them in the package.

Silly school supply question

I send it all it. It all gets used at some point.

Silly school supply question

Forgot to mention that almost all of the supplies on the list will go into a "community stock pile" to be shared among the whole class. So it's not like it will all stay in dd's desk and then come home with her at the end of the school year.

Re: Silly school supply question

I would send the 12 requested glue sticks in a zip-loc bag.

Silly school supply question

I would send what was requested and kept the rest in a bin home for homework, etc., for replenishing..although her teacher never asked for more

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Silly school supply question

I'd justvsend the whole pack in...but our district has many families below the poverty line who may not be able to afford supplies, so I'm sure the teachers appreciate a few extras.

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I would send in the amount requested because one, it is shared, and two, you may get asked for more glue sticks part way through the school year. I was asked for more for k-2 for both kids. So I was happy to send in more during the year.

Silly school supply question

I always send it exactly what they ask for. Sometimes they ask for additional supplies throughout the year and I'll send in the extra then.

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Silly school supply question

As a teacher, we appreciate any extra supplies that are sent in. Not every child brings them in and I often spend a lot of money out of my pocket to make sure my students have what they need. Also, we are specific because some brands do not hold up well and we wind up going through more supplies. Example: I love and request Ticonderoga pencils. They sharpen well. Dollar store pencils have crummy erasers that break or leave marks on the page and basically the sharpener eats the pencil and you get 1-2 uses out of it. I would say most teachers keep the list conservative, I know I choose the things I need the most to
Go on it.

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And in terms of the name brands- nope!
I send in Target brand crayons and she hasn't failed out of K or 1st yet.
I send in Target glue sticks.
Target has the EXACT same safety scissors as the Fiskars and it's cheaper so those are what I get.
They are the same thing.
It's glue for christ's sake, not a life saving drug.


I don't buy name brands for my home- I am certainly not buying them for school.

Re: Silly school supply question

If you have more than what is requested for quantities of supplies, I'd send in the requested amount and hold the extras at home.

In my experience, the teachers will often ask you to replenish supplies mid-year or later. Often, they send home the kids' supply box, asking you to clean them out (lots of broken crayons, pencils, dried out glue, etc.) and restock as needed.

So you can always hold your extras to be sent in as needed, as the year progresses. Plus, as others mentioned, it's good to have supplies on hand for homework and school projects done at home.

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I send in what is asked. Hand on to the rest for homework.

My mom worked in Kindergarten for years, she's not a name brand shopper, but insisted I send in the name brands asked for because they really are superior products. So definitely Fiskars scissors, Elmer's glue sticks, crayola crayons. She said that the kids with the store brands were constantly needing more stuff sent in because everything would break. Oh, and definitely Ticonderoga pencils! The store brands are cheaper for a reason.

I actually sent in Target brand glue sticks once, and my daughter requested new ones because she said hers didn't work, her projects kept falling apart

Re: Silly school supply question

Posted by LiveForMoments

I send in what is asked. Hand on to the rest for homework.

My mom worked in Kindergarten for years, she's not a name brand shopper, but insisted I send in the name brands asked for because they really are superior products. So definitely Fiskars scissors, Elmer's glue sticks, crayola crayons. She said that the kids with the store brands were constantly needing more stuff sent in because everything would break. Oh, and definitely Ticonderoga pencils! The store brands are cheaper for a reason.

I actually sent in Target brand glue sticks once, and my daughter requested new ones because she said hers didn't work, her projects kept falling apart

Silly school supply question

I would keep the extra supplies for home =)

As for name brands our school doesnt ask for a ton of supplies or specify, but some name brands are definitely better than their generic counterparts. I.e. the dollar store pencils are horrible as are the playskool or dollar store crayons. They often have crayola on sale even at the dollar store or staples etc for under $1-- I stock up when i find those!

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Re: Silly school supply question

Posted by NervousNell

yes! I avoid the dollar store- it's all shit. There is a reason it's $1
But I have found Target store brand is excellent- even the crayons and pencils. They are practically the same as the name brands.
But I find ALL Target brand stuff is awesome- they have a very high quality generic brand. My whole house is full of Target brand stuff!

Message edited 8/9/2017 7:33:08 AM.

Re: Silly school supply question

I save the extras for homework and restocking.

Re: Silly school supply question

You will go through a lot of glue at home for homework.

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If I'm asked for 12 glue sticks and buy a package of 18, I send in the whole thing. The more I send now, the less they need in January lol. But you can send in open packages and keep the extras. They all get opened and dumped into a community pile anyway.