My Kindergartener’s Supply List (with my comments too)

UPDATES PER THE COMMENTS – AND IF I FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT IN RED, THAT I WILL DO TOO…WORDPRESS IS REALLY KICKING MY ARSE. I’VE BEEN USING WINDOWS LIVE TO POST WITH.

Some of this is utterly ridiculous. You can read my comments and of course, feel free to add your own comments too.

1 Pack of Page Protectors (now come on, what does a Kindergartener do that needs a page protector? mean, research papers are probably not going to be the hot homework assignment, or is it?) THIS ONE I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND! AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE EITHER.

1 24 pack of American Classic plain pencils (no decorative) (ok, so is my child going to use all 24 of these pencils immediately or are we simply dumping them all in a box and as the kid needs a pencil he/she goes and gets one….and what about the child who sharpens his pencils down to nubs daily (which will probably be mine) versus the one who doesn’t? And, what about those crazy homework sheets they think Kindergarteners need to bring home? Where are his pencils that he sent to school. Why don’t we have any at home to use? Oh, we sent them all to school. *shakes head* I DON’T MIND SENDING PENCILS, MAKES SENSE THAT THE KID NEEDS PENCILS. BUT, HERES THE THING, DOES HE NEED 24 AT ONE TIME. I HAPPEN TO KNOW THESE GO INTO A COMMUNITY BIN ALTHOUGH WE ARE TOLD TO LABEL THE BOX.

8 Crayola Crayons (8 count pack) (DUH) THIS ONE IS FUNNY TO ME BECAUSE HOW LONG TO YOU THINK ONE 8 COUNT PACK OF CRAYONS WILL LAST A KID – TRUST ME, I BUY CRAYONS BY THE BUTTLOAD AT THE DAYCARE SO I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE, NOT VERY LONG.

1 Zippered crayon bag (no boxes) they ask that a bank bag be used if at all possible (uh?)

2 1 Subject notebooks (wide-ruled) (why am I sending this notebook at the beginning of the year, doesn’t he need to learn to write on some of that crazy lined paper first?) And 2 of them? Really? Why is that? And what happens when he needs one at home? And they are both at school? *shakes head* AFTER TALKING TO HOLLY AND RESEARCHING HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS, I AM SO INCLINED TO DISAGREE WITH THIS WHOLE NOTEBOOK THING. BUT I CANNOT HOMESCHOOL THIS KID. I MIGHT COULD THE OTHER ONE WHEN HE GETS SCHOOL AGE, BUT NOT DITTO BOY, NO WAY.

1 Pack of white copy paper (because the school system can’t afford it) I ALSO HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW THEY DO THIS, THEY HIDE THEIR STASH FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER TEACHER TAKING IT. THEN THEY TAKE ONLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO THE COPY MACHINE AND MAKE THE COPIES THEY NEED. I HAVE MORE ON THIS TO SAY IN ANOTHER POST.

1 Pack of colored copy paper (because again, the school system can’t afford it) SAME AS THE LAST ONE

1 Pack of construction paper (no tablets) - Why NOT? OK, I’M ALRIGHT WITH THIS ONE, BUT. EH, SEEMS TO BE A TABLET WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO KEEP UP WITH BUT I KNOW IT DOESN’T TEAR GOOD, SO TEACHER PREFERENCE, WHATEVER, NO MATTER TO ME ON THIS ONE EITHER.

1 Pack of EXPO markers Broad tip (for students’ use) I mean come on really, do they think I am so naive as to think they are going to hand my child his EXPO marker, you know the very ones we sent for him to use and then let him go willy nilly on the white board? (come on puhleeze – I’m gonna do a lot of volunteering because I simply have to see some of this stuff in action) I WILL BE SURE TO TELL YOU ALL THE DAY I TURN MY 5 YEAR OLDS AT DAYCARE LOOSE WITH A SET OF EXPO MARKERS AND I’VE SEEN THESE ROOMS, THE KIDS CAN’T REACH THE DOGGONE WHITE BOARDS…REALLY.

10 Elmers Glue Sticks (mind you that it doesn’t say here that the glue sticks can’t be generic but rumor has it that some parents have been asked to take the generic ones back and exchange them for brand name – I dare them, I simply dare them) OK, THEY SAY LABEL THEM BUT BY SENDING THAT MANY AT ONE TIME I SUSPECT THEY OPEN THEM AND PUT THEM IN A COMMUNITY POOL. AND I USE THE GENERIC ONES AT DAYCARE AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY ARE NOT ANY DIFFERENT AND YOU CAN GUARANTEE I WILL BE SENDING GENERIC ONES.

1 Bottle of Elmer’s liquid glue (see glue sticks and I dare them) THIS ONE PROBABLY CAN’T BE COMMUNITY PROPERTY IF I PUT HIS NAME ON IT, AND I DO KNOW THAT ELMER’S IS BETTER IN THE LIQUID. I’M GIVING MARY POPPINS HER PROPS ON THESE CERTAIN ITEMS. I HAPPEN TO KNOW SHE HAS A CERTAIN BRAND OF WIPES SHE LIKES, HEHEHE

3 Rolls of Paper Towels (erm…..for…….what craft are they gonna do or is it so bad that the school system can’t afford paper towels…trust me I know, it is the latter but 3 rolls, do you hear me 3 rolls) THIS ONE IRKS ME, REALLY REALLY IRKS ME BUT THIS IS ANOTHER ONE I WILL EXPLAIN IN THE NEXT POST I DO NO THIS TOPIC

3 boxes of Kleenex (my kids have never been sick much, and he will probably be the sickest kid in kindergarten but if his past holds true, he will use approximately half of one of those boxes, who is using the rest and if they need that many kleenex, what in the hell are they doing at school anyway?) THIS ONE BOTHERS ME FOR THE SAME REASON, MORE IN THE NEXT POST ON THIS TOPIC

3 Baby Wipes – This one sends me over the edge. My child is potty trained. Why am I sending baby wipes. It has been proven that baby wipes are not a suitable substitute for washing hands prior to eating meals. So, what are these here baby wipes for. And, I own a daycare and we only ask for one box at a time. WTH? I HAPPEN TO ABHORE THIS ONE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL COULD BUY DISINFECTANT IN A CONCENTRATE AND THEN MIX IT UP FOR THE ROOMS SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN THIS BABYWIPE THING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

2 Germ X hand sanitizers – See above, they are not suitable for cleaning hands prior to meals. So, why do they need it. I don’t buy the stuff. It is a gimmick. It helps absolutely nothing. And, some how I don’t think they want me to buy one of those tiny little purse size bottles either. WHATEVER, THIS STUFF CLEANS NOTHING!

1 Box of small Bathroom cups (5oz.) – they don’t brush their teeth, why do they need these cups? Someone? AGAIN, I STILL HAVE NO CLUE!

1 Box of latex-free band aids – But my kid isn’t allergic to latex. So, let my kid use his bandaids and let the allergic kid use his more costly bandaids…why am I providing for kids that I didn’t give birth to? *shaking head and allowing words to flow from my mouth, not nice words either* I KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS, BUT STILL……HUMMMM

1 Bottle of Clorox-Clean Up Spray (ok, again, all I can say is WHY? I do not want my child cleaning anything with this stuff and ruining his clothes. And, if the teacher needs it for something, then hey, tell the school system and get yourself some cleanings supplies. Oh and rumor has it that you can’t buy generic in this one either, has to be Clorox brand – *chomping on my arm now out of pure confusion* I’M CALLING MARY ON THIS ONE, THE GENERIC IS JUST AS GOOD AND IT GOES BACK TO THE BABY WIPES AND THE CLEANING CONCENTRATE…..

1 Box Ziploc One Zip (Gallon Size) - Now, my child won’t fit in this size bag. Why? Just tell me the purpose. That’s all I ask. An explanation. That’s it, I want to know why. Secondly, rumor has it on this one that it too has to be brand name, not generic. *more flesh slowly disappearing* I’M STILL NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE EITHER AND MY KID WON’T BE CARRYING ZIPLOC BRAND EITHER.

1 Pair of Velcro P.E. Shoes (ok, being a p.e. teacher, I understand this one, however, they left out one particular, it doesn’t do much good for the p.e. shoes to be velcro if the kid wears shoes to school that has laces and they don’t know how to tie them – so why not add to this every growing list the fact that the kid has to always have on shoes that he or she can put on and off themselves because for heaven’s sake, we don’t want them to have to teach them something, geeeeez) GUESS WHERE I LEARNED TO TIE MY SHOES, MY PARENTS, MY COUSINS, AND MY TEACHERS……..I BLAME SOCIETY ON THIS ONE. SORRY

1 Clear Backpack – have you seen these things? They come in large and larger and the empty bag is too heavy for my son to carry. So, what makes these dimwits think he is going to be able to carry the freakin’ bag when it has “stuff” in it. I mean, surely he will be bringing his bottle of clorox clean up, his bandaids, baby wipes and that kind of stuff home with each night along with some pencils and paper and crayons and such…that bag will weigh more than he does. What in the world is going on here? INSTEAD OF BUYING 5 CLEAR ONES THROUGH OUT THE YEAR, I’M BUYING ONE MESH ONE.

1 Set of headphones (for use in computer lab) Ok, I draw the line on this one. My child has no clue what to do with a set of headphones other than pull them in 2 directions and see how far they stretch before they break. And, thus, I’m sure this is why each child is expected to provide his/her own pair. All I can say is they better have some might large storage space for all this crap my kids sending. I mean, when I’m spending this kind of money, I AM NOT SHARING. THIS ONE MEANS THAT SOME KID HAS BEEN DESTROYING THE HEADSETS, RIGHT? WHICH MEANS THAT A TEACHER SOMEWHERE WASN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO HER CLASS, RIGHT?

1 Change of clothes in Ziploc bag with name on outside. I wonder if I can open the box that I’m sending and take one out of it? I mean really, if my kid does something to mess up his clothes, I will be retrieving him from school and that change of clothes will probably not be necessary. And, fact be known, little Johnny will probably not send any and he will mess up his clothes and my son’s clothes will then indeed go home with him and never return. And I do not want Johnny’s clothes as a replacement. No. *arm is slowing turning into a nub* THIS I KNOW IS UNDERSTANDABLE. I JUST NEEDED TO GRUMBLE WHEN I WROTE THIS APPARENTLY.

** Envelopes (for parents to send lunch and snack $) what if my child likes to carry a wallet instead? *grinning, got you on that one didn’t I?* THESE ARE APPARENTLY TO BE KEPT AT HOME. I LIKE HOLLY’S IDEA BETTER AND I HAPPEN TO HAVE A BOX OF THESE AT DAYCARE THAT I COULD FIND NO USE FOR AT ALL.

** $10.00 fee for Weekly Reader/classroom donation for daily folders and science activities to be paid during first week of school. (And, let’s just see how many times they ask me for money for field trips and wait, why am I sending money for daily folders and science activities…these folks have completely lost it)

Please write your child’s name on everything! (Because I better not find out that one of my latex free bandaids has been used on a kid whose name is not on the box that has my child’s name on it. Not one ziploc bag goes home with someone whose name is not Ditto Boy. I’m getting serious about this people. This is insane.

What does your kids list look like?

I HAVE AN UPDATE COMING IN ANOTHER POST ABOUT SOME OF THIS AS WELL. JUST SOMETHING I HAPPEN TO KNOW FROM BEING A TEACHER IN THE SYSTEM AND KNOWING HOW IT ALL WORKS.