What would you ask for from your parents (wish list) during open house or back to school night? Last year I asked for inside recess games and magnets. I am not sure what I should ask for this year that parents would feel comfortable buying. I am thinking about colored copy paper, and more inside recess games, white board markers. Cant think of anything else. What do you normally ask for?
Lysol Gift cards to book stores (for teacher resource books) or Scholastic donations ($$ or multiple-copies for novel sets)
Last year I asked for Post-It notes, Clorox wipes, Treasure Box prizes, tennis balls for desk/chair legs...
I am answering this as a parent even though you didn't ask for parental imput As a parent, I understand you are giving me a "wish list" and I would expect to see everything from kleenex to electric pencil sharper to dvd player. And as a parent, I understand I have the option of tossing the list in the trash, or buying something I could afford. So, make your wish list a true wish list
As a parent what type of things do you remember seeing on the teachers wish lists. I'm glad you chimed in. You would be great to have as a parent.
labels play-doh gift cards labels specific items from oriental trading google eyes fancy pens labels tissue paper in certain colors for upcoming projects labels velcro dots white paper lunch bags printer ink labels paper plates plastic cups plastic silverware did I mention labels?? (I can't remember what else)
Oh my gosh . . . it's been years since my kids were in elementary school I do know when my youngest daughter was in 3rd grade her teacher asked for a DVD player. Several parents chipped in together and bought one for the classroom. Some of the things I do remember *magazine subcriptions - highlights (I don't even know if this is still published) *PC Educational games - at the time there was some kind of game with a rabbit?? *Books of course *electric pencil sharpener - she even specified what model - no one blinked an eye *the balls that go on the legs of chairs - told us where to get them *games *balls for the playgroun *jumpropes *seems there was some science stuff And on Christmas, my oldest daughter's 3rd grade teacher sent us her wish list as a letter address to Santa - she wrote about how great her students were and how she wished she had these things for her students classroom. Easiest teacher christmas present I ever bought *
Wow! A dvd player. I can play dvds on my computer but a dvd player. Thats nice. With the x-mas list -thats a good idea. I would much rather have gift cards as a gift then a parent assume what I want. I got tons of index cards last year. I did not need them. I had over 500 already!! lol
I use labels in our journals. In our reading journals, I have premade labels for whatever we're doing. For example, if we are focusing on character feelings during interactive read aloud, I'd have a premade typed label that said: Character Web Wemberly Worried 7-16-2010 I know its great if students write their own tite and date, however I just don't have time when we're responding. They do write their own titles and dates in their science notebooks, though. I use the 2x4 labels for anecdotal record keeping. Sometimes I use sticky notes. Sometimes I type their math problem solvers on labels so they can quickly slap those in their journals. Sometimes I just type them on regular paper and they glue them inside.
I've never sent home a wish list before. But at Christmas our parent organization does a tree with wish "ornaments" on it. On each die cut ornament we write one wish list item for Christmas. They can take an ornament if they want to buy us something, buy something not on the tree, or not get anything.
How do you get the parents to come in during the christmas time? My parents would never come in to see the tree. Unless we held a holiday party. Even then I don't have that many parents come in. I would rather just have a list at open house and they can grab a sticky note with an item on it. That is a great idea though! really cute.
I believe we seperate our lists in to two categories for parents; wish list and need list. Need list is usually what their kid needs to have for school for themselves plus kleenex. The wish list is usually what the classroom as a whole could use. Though I have to say, Kleenex is a big one because when we run out, the kids are using the hard paper towels from the big roll. That doesn't last long before someone gets their parent to bring in a box or two. Copy paper is another big one that we have to ask parents for with all of the budget cuts, we don't recieve as much of that anymore. I don't know many districts in our state that are getting things like that this year.
My school's on a military base-we don't have any buses. All of the kids either walk, ride bikes, or get picked up by parents. So we have a lot more parents coming in. I think our parent organization sends home a note about it too.
I always had a variety - paper towels, tissues, colored copy paper, pens, pencils, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, markers, etc. At my first school, I would get tons of supplies - one parent bought one ream of every pastel copy paper they had in Staples At my current school - last year I received one pack of construction paper. The economy hit has been a hard one.
If you have to fish for ideas, is the wish list necessary? It seems as though the wish list exists merely because it's possible, not because there's a real need. If there were things you really needed, you wouldn't have to ask for suggestions. As a parent, I'm more than happy to help with the things my kids' teachers need to help educate them. But that's not what this sounds like at all.
Just remember that everything contributed by parents for the classroom belongs to the school, not to you. If you move schools, all the items must stay there.
I have never even heard of a wish list before. Personally, at my school, I would feel very selfish asking parents for more. We send home a small supply list of the basics (not exceeding $20), and we have trouble even getting that. I know that they have difficulty finding the money for those supplies... I would hate to make them feel guilty for not contributing more!
UVA - the wish list is typically supplies that the teacher would have to purchase out of pocket. At my school, we are not allowed to require students to bring in supplies that would be considered communal - such as tissues, paper towels, copy paper, etc. The school also does not provide these items to us, so the wish list is simply for parents who can afford to and would like to contribute. If nothing comes in, I pay for it and no hard feelings - times are tough.
I put stuff on my wish list that I often find myself running to the store to pick up - and if I didn't actually get it from parents, I would still do that, because I need it, but I don't need EACH child to bring it. And, yes, it's communal. Safety pins sticky backed magnetic tape dry erase markers Sharpies (of all colors and sizes) rolls of paper towels playdough wall hooks (those 3M removable kind) blue poster putty clorox wipes baby wipes label sheets that can go through the printer I would get some parents who just grabbed paper towels from their pantry because they wanted to contribute, but didn't have much money. That was great! Then, I'd have some that bought multiple packages of labels from Staples for me, probably spending $20. That was great, too.
Thanks everyone for the ideas. My team always does a wish list but last year when I started it was hard to think of stuff I might need. I like the copy paper idea. We did not have enough of that last year. Alice-its a wish list...if parents do not want to buy they do not have too! I was only asking for ideas. sorry!
I think it is sometimes hard to think of ALL the things you will be using throughout the year. A wish list is definitely necessary at my school and for the types of activities we do... I tend to add to it as I remember more things. I guess it just depends on your personal feelings and where you teach. I teach in a very supportive community where the parents are always asking what I need. I have parents who tell me they're going to the store and ask what I need. I have found a wish list allows them to easily see what is needed. I keep it on my website. Not every single parents contributes to the list and that is fine. I definitely would not be willing to afford all of the items I've suggested, but it seems that my parents understand these items will be used by their children to enhance their learning.
It is hard to think of things. Especially being so new to teaching. Last year my parents always asked me what I needed and at the time I could not think of anything. Then as the year went on I had to purchase with my own money because I never sent out a wish list with a bulk of things that I might need. It does depend where you teach and the surrounding neighborhoods. My school community is very supportive. Anything I did ask for I got. I never was upset at the parents who could not or simply did not want to provide. Thanks for all the ideas guys.
Last year was the first time we were allowed to put up a wish list at my school. I asked for... Kleenex Lysol/Clorox wipes plastic silverware -> a parent brought me this huge box that I'll still be using next year :woot: various sizes of Ziploc bags hand sanitizer paper towels I can't remember what else I tried to think of stuff for science experiments that I knew I funded out of my own pocket and stuff like the tissues that the school 'provides' however they only give them to us once a 9wks. Like one small box of tissues is going to last through the cold and flu season.
I usually have my wish list posted on my website and it includes things that we frequently run out of but never stop needing. Tissues Clorox wipes Hand sanitizer Hand soap paper
About how many items do you wish for? I do not want to go overboard? Also if you request outdoor recess games what would you suggest besides balls and jump ropes?
