Grade school students often require a wide variety of supplies when they head back to the classroom, so it is often helpful to get their supply list as soon as possible. Back-to-school sales generally start in the middle of July and usually run until the end of August, so in order to avoid the rush, you may want to start shopping several weeks before school actually starts.

Before you head out to the store, take inventory of what's left of your child's supplies from the previous school year. There might be some items that have worn out faster than you thought they would, but you may also find a miraculous collection of crayons and pencils that you need only to sort and store in a brand new box.
Grade school students require pencil boxes full of supplies.
Grade school students require pencil boxes full of supplies.

The Basics

The basic school supplies never seem to change. Sure, every grade requires a few different items, but the list for grade one is, more or less, identical to the list for grade six; all grade-schoolers use crayons and markers, for example. When shopping for your grade school student, remember that he or she needs to fit everything into one desk, so consider purchasing just a 10-pack of markers and a box of 24 crayons. Glue bottles and glue sticks are also regular classroom supplies, but they are not interchangeable; as any art-savvy child will tell you, glue works well for some tasks while glue sticks will work better for others. Also, look for child-safe scissors; they have rounded tips for safety and have smaller handles for smaller hands.

Students in early grades use pencils for most of their work, so a box of No. 2 pencils will go a long way in a younger child's educational career. Pens are used by older students and should produce simple blue or black ink; other colors, such as green and purple, can be difficult for teachers to read. Mechanical pencils and clicking pens can be extremely distracting to other students and teachers when nervous students keep clicking them, so in order to prevent any disruptions, stick with basic pens and pencils.

Pocket folders and subject notebooks can help students stay organized. Try matching up folder and notebook colors so each subject has its own color. It's also helpful if notebooks are not wire-bound; wires can get caught on other items in a desk or book bag. Notebooks with smooth bindings generally have perforated pages, which tear-away for clean edges.


Cost Effective Ideas

Some students want folders, binders, pencil bags and backpacks with the latest cartoon characters and designs. These are nice treats, but they will cost a bit more than basic supplies. Another option is to simply buy stickers and encourage your child to decorate their school equipment on his or her own; in fact, this might be even more exciting for your child because he or she is required to use artistic skills and imagination. Also, if you find yourself buying the same school-bound items over and over again because your child is constantly losing them, label them with your child's name; this will help students and teachers identify what belongs to whom amidst a veritable sea of supplies.

Some schools ask parents to send students with certain supplies to share. Tissues and paper towels are very useful to most classrooms. You can also contribute to the classroom bandage collection. Surprise the teacher and students with a few boxes of character bandages; a colorful bandage can sometimes make injuries seem better.
Carson Dellosa Addition Facts Flash CardsCarson Dellosa Addition Facts Flash Cards

Helping At Home

A child's education extends outside of the classroom, so supplies for home will be useful for both you and your child. For reading and writing, students and parents will benefit from having a dictionary on hand. And since you probably aren't a math expert, a calculator and flashcards will help you to better explain problems to your child. Also, index cards can be a parent's best friends when you have to help your student memorize math facts and spelling words.

Throughout grade school, students will no doubt be assigned various projects that require a wide range of creativity. Unfortunately, your child sometimes springs these assignments on you at the last minute. If you keep some art supplies stowed away in the closet, however, your child can get the project done in no time. If you have a few blank poster boards, some extra crayons and markers, pipe cleaners, clay, construction paper and other craft supplies on hand, and you'll be prepared for just about anything with which your student can surprise you.