Teachers do their jobs for the personal rewards, not the financial rewards. But subtract the increasing costs of school supplies from already low teacher salaries and add shrinking classroom supply budgets, and you're left with, well, not much.
How can teachers avoid spending a lot of their own money on classroom supplies? Study this advice from veteran teachers and you'll get an A in shopping savvy.
Shop Smart
The major retailers have sales and specials on school supplies throughout the year. Sign up for email alerts from the stores in your area, compare costs and look for price-match guarantees. Shop with your colleagues for additional savings. “We order in bulk by grade or department level,” says Susan Wise, a middle school teacher at Chapin Middle School in Chapin, SC. Many online vendors have free delivery that makes stocking up even easier.
Learn to Say “I'm a Teacher”
Most major school supply retailers give an additional discount to schools and educators, providing additional savings. “Keep your school ID handy,” recommends Erin Burleigh, a 4th grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Lake Stevens, WA. “It could save you a lot.”
Prepare a Thorough Supply List
Most schools provide a list of recommended/required school supplies in time for the tax-free holidays. Work with your school to make sure the things you need are on it so your students bring ample supplies throughout the year. Keep in mind that local churches and service organizations work with families who are unable to afford school supplies. Reach out to these groups to assist students you know are in need.
Engage Parents
Parents are often willing to make donations to the class. “Instead of receiving small gifts, make a request that they contribute to a larger single item, like a set of books,” says Burleigh. “Almost all of the parents of my students seemed happy to be able to contribute to something that was useful in the classroom.”
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
At the end of each school year, Suzanne Foreman, an American literature teacher at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, MO, collects abandoned notebooks, papers, folders, binders and writing instruments left behind by departing students. “Make sure your librarian lets you know when she sets the discarded books aside,” she adds. “They can help you build your classroom library.”
Share
Many students will share supplies like paper and pencils with each other, reducing the drain on teacher-bought supplies. Likewise, teachers moving to a different grade or subject are often more than willing to share their teaching materials, classroom books and other resources as are retiring teachers. “Take the advice you give your students: ‘Don't be afraid to ask,’” says Burleigh. “Because you never know until you do.”
Carolyn Evans
Quill.com Contributing Writer
Carolyn Evans is a freelance writer with a focus on the product and retail industries. She is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Carolyn resides in Chapin, SC. Find Carolyn on Google+.