Recently, my Aunt sent me an e-mail announcing which office supply store was having a mega sale on Crayola Crayons. After seeing me collect crayons from restaurants, she knows how seriously I care about classroom budgets and providing supplies for all of my students.
It can be overwhelming to gather the tools required to teach. Many teachers go into debt every year trying to provide simple things for their students.
So this post is dedicated to my favorite places to get school/teaching supplies!
1. Recycle old crayons into new rainbow crayons by melting them in muffin tins!
We all have bits and pieces of well-used colors hidden in the bottom of crayola boxes. Put them to use by making jumbo rainbow crayons – you can even let your students help collect the used bits and teach them about unity in diversity!
2. Recycle Brown Paper Grocery Bags Into Creative Crafts
Many of us use eco bags when grocery shopping. If you haven’t made the switch and find yourself being asked “Paper or plastic?” opt for the paper and recycle the bags into fun crafts or scrap paper for painting and drawing.
3. Browse Used Book Stores and Thrift Stores
No link here, but this can contribute to the biggest savings. I fully admit being fascinated by brand new books, but when it comes to classroom reading materials, I scour used bookstores and aways find treasures. For a fraction of the price, you can find classics like Rainbow Fish, or huge books filled with lesson planning ideas. It can be tough to provide students with reading materials, but this solution will benefit your budget and the environment.
4. Freecyle!
Freecyle enables you to network in your community for free items. Attentive browsers will quickly identify people ‘decluttering’ their houses/classrooms and offering paper, pencils, even toys to the first responder.
5. Collaborate With Parents
Encourage parents to start collecting household items like cans and water bottle caps for your class. These can make priceless organizers for holding pencils and paint brushes. Glue water bottle caps onto a margarine lid and you have a handy palette for painting. Shoeboxes, toilet paper rolls, magazines – these can be indispensable items in a classroom.
Music time can enrich a classroom and develop creativity and self esteem in students. However, budgets can’t always allow teachers their own supply of instruments. So get crafty with the children and make instruments like tambourines. Not only will you enjoy making music, but the students will feel ownership over their creations.
7. Share Your Ideas!
Collaborate with other teachers and parents and learn new ways to save in the classroom. Share your ideas in the comments section here!
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