Teacher supply ideas $60 per person

[tripleshot]

DH’s school is getting unexpected money from a retail store and he wants to use it on items for his elementary teachers (they’re face to face 5 days a week). It will be a surprise but he wants the items to be purposeful and practical. One of the items they’ve continually asked for is a nice electric pencil sharpener. So he’s getting those. He’ll have about $60 leftover to spend per teacher.

Hand sanitizer, wipes, and dry erase markers are already provided. Those were my ideas.

What practical and unexpected items would you want or need in your classroom? Bonus if they’re fun (per me).

[suzubell]

Clorox wipes.

[bex1973]

My daughter could not stop raving about how cool it is that her teacher had put hooks on their desks for them to hang their masks on. In our district K-4 only have to wear thier mask when they're on the bus and outside of their classroom. Pretty sure they are something like command hooks.

[gummybear]

What about a photo printer?


www.amazon.com/dp/B077BPHQ5C/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_WRpwFbWBSA6KZ

[maudefindlay]

Amazon gc so each teacher can order what they need.

[bugmeetsworld]

If they don't already have one, a thermal laminator and pouches.

[lo]

Post it brand chart paper

[af1212]

Do the items have to come from the retail store? Or the money is coming from the retail store?

I would suggest a gift card either to the store or to target/amazon/Barnes and noble if possible.

[Jalapeñomel]

Electric hole punch

Laminator

[Jalapeñomel]

Sept 9, 2020 10:56:42 GMT -5 gummybear said:

What about a photo printer?


www.amazon.com/dp/B077BPHQ5C/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_WRpwFbWBSA6KZ

Ink is so expensive!

[6fsn]

Our teachers have asked for microphones and indoor recess goody bags.

[luckydog]

Stylus pens

[litskispeciality]

I've seen a lot of ink requests on teacher wishlists, but those are specific to the printer. If you can give gift cards those should make a big difference. If not pencils and pens or markers depending on the age range? Would it be appropriate to do a small amount toward a coffee chain? I can't imagine a teacher who would turn down some form of caffiene.

[jaycee]

This will be so teacher and grade level specific. I suggest he give them a gift card. It will convey trust and appreciation and not a penny of it will be wasted.

[tripleshot]

Thanks for the ideas! I think the store is giving him a gift card to the store (office supplies), but I’m not 100% sure. I’ll pass along your suggestions.

[arehopsveggies]

Sept 9, 2020 10:56:42 GMT -5 gummybear said:

What about a photo printer?


www.amazon.com/dp/B077BPHQ5C/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_WRpwFbWBSA6KZ

I wouldn’t do something like this where teachers end up on the hook for ink/ special paper etc.

Once my school had a teacher write a grant to get everyone a classroom printer. But then no thought to ink... so after a few months no one used them at all. I wasn’t going to spend my money on ink to save myself a walk to the school printer

[pizzaandtulips]

I know he wants it to be a surprise, but can he just make up “gift certificates” for $60 each as the surprise, and have the teachers tell him what they each want? Let them choose, as there likely isn’t something that every teacher specifically wants or needs. He could make a list of about 10 things in the $50-60 range and have each teacher pick one. Otherwise I feel like much of what he gives to them will go unused because it’s not something they all wanted.

ETA: I say this as a teacher who worked in a school where everyone was given a document camera and mine sat in the box all year. It just wasn’t something I needed for my particular class and way of teaching.

[lilac05]

Do they sell voice amplifiers? Teachers are at high risk for vocal damage in a typical year. Add masks and social distancing, and I think we’re going to have lots of teachers with vocal issues this year. An amplifier would help prevent that and make it easier for kids to hear. It would be equally beneficial across all age groups and disciplines, too.

[Doggy Mommy]

Does it have to be a surprise? It would be much more purposeful if teachers could choose what they want/need.

[stephm0188]

I’m flying through pencils as a special teacher. Once I give one out, I can’t ask for it back, and I have entire classes showing up empty handed. I’ve gone through more than 300 in my first three weeks.

[dochas]

Sept 9, 2020 16:10:54 GMT -5 6fsn said:

Our teachers have asked for microphones and indoor recess goody bags.

Do you know what this would include? They can't share things, right? I'm not sure they can have games like they used to so I would love to know something I could send it that might help. 

[6fsn]

Sept 11, 2020 11:06:41 GMT -5 dochas said:

Sept 9, 2020 16:10:54 GMT -5 6fsn said:

Our teachers have asked for microphones and indoor recess goody bags.

Do you know what this would include? They can't share things, right? I'm not sure they can have games like they used to so I would love to know something I could send it that might help. 

We were asked to focus on k-2 First. They are not allowed to share but things we have to rotate
Playdough
Lacing boards
Word search
Color by numbers
Blank papers
Puzzles
Little building sets
The single player wood and golf tee sets (like at Cracker Barrel)

[jackie011]

We have 4 Brother label makers and quickly go through label tape.

[tripleshot]

Sept 11, 2020 9:39:30 GMT -5 Doggy Mommy said:

Does it have to be a surprise? It would be much more purposeful if teachers could choose what they want/need.

It doesn’t have to be a surprise. He just wanted it to be since the PTO already gave them $150 gift cards.  I think gift cards are a good idea though.