Here we go again; August/September is just around the corner. That means school will be in session. Every grade and educational level will start fresh. So, if you just barely passed your classes the year before, a new year brings a new opportunity to challenge yourself to improve.

As a substitute teacher, I often have a difficult time covering a class where the children lack the supplies they need to get through the day. The items needed for the most part are pencils, ink pens (black or blue), glue sticks for the lower grade level classes, scissors, crayons, and lined paper. The one thing that is frustrating to me is that I often find myself going on a scavenger hunt through the class, just to look for supplies that should be clearly in eye’s view. I could waste at least 5 to 10 minutes of instruction time looking around the class for more glue sticks!

Studies show that students who are prepared have better academic achievement. As a substitute, I’ve witnessed this in every grade level. Students who carry a pencil case or box, filled with pencils, pens, crayons, glue sticks, and scissors; sit at attention, are alert, are not disrupting the class, have their homework completed, and are eagerly willing to turn it in, are finished their class assignments first, will walk around to help others, and are generally quieter. On the other hand, students who are not prepared are disrupting the class for most of the day. They consistently call out, walk around the classroom, or unnecessarily walk out of the class, start fights with the other students, and refuse to finish the assignment because; and I quote, “No one will give me a pencil”!

Since I’ve been working for the educational system for over 13 years, I feel I have it on good authority to know what students may need to be prepared for the school year. It also helps that I’m a parent of three teens. Which means I’ve gone down the school supply road for several years. I compiled a general list that you may view for free. Please keep in mind that each school district is different in what is required for student preparedness. I’ve added a college list for incoming freshmen to have a general idea (Starter List) of what they may need. My hope is that every student is fully equipped with supplies and ready to learn in this 2018/2019 school year. I wish everyone the best of luck and great success!

2018-2019 School Year

 

That’s Cathy’s Perspective