The Importance of Preparation
My children always loved back to school shopping. The shopping carts (they each had their own) were filled with lots of colorful supplies that they anticipated needing for the schoolyear. While we might not choose to physically fill the carts this year, we can virtually prepare for the needed supplies and get our children excited about their new, colorful organization tools.
When we are not in a store where aisles are crowded with every supply imaginable, it might be difficult to consider what is needed for school success. Every student wants a new binder, knows they need paper, pencils, and pens, but then what? To help families create the virtual aisles of needed supplies, Essig Education Group has created a shopping list that will create your needed toolbox.
We can often divide supplies into categories that include generally needed supplies, organizational aids, planning aids, and study aids. The needed supplies include binders or spiral notebooks, dividers for binders, pens, pencils, paper and a backpack for in-person learning. While these are supplies that each family buys, there are several options that are chosen based on personal taste and need.
Binder, spiral notebook, or accordion folders might be the choice of a student but also might be required by a teacher. If a teacher asks for a specific binder that is not what a child prefers, they should ask the teacher if the binder is a graded requirement. When a binder is not graded, students can usually choose something that they prefer. There are as many types of paper as there are binders and spiral notebooks. How hard a student is on their binder should determine if they choose regular or reinforced paper. Cornell paper, another paper option, (focus notes paper on our list) allows students to produce a set of notes that separates categories from details and becomes a good start for a study guide. Graph paper is a great way to keep math problems organized. Composition books are perfect for warm-up exercises, science labs or regular journaling. Pens are much more than black or blue; colored pens are great for grouping work or highlighting different points. Students often have a preference between traditional and mechanical pencils. Ultimately, even the generally needed supplies come in a variety of forms and students should pick what will work best for them.
Organizational supplies include everything that allows information to be efficiently found and used. These supplies include folders that are used a number of ways, but we teach that they are most useful for holding completed units, so they are separated for cumulative tests. Poly envelopes are great organizational tools that are used to hold research and notes for research projects. Folders and envelopes are great examples of organizing work into units. Other organizational tools include pocketed binder dividers to hold homework and a hole-punch so that papers are organized in a binder.
Planning aids most often include a planner and calendar; we prefer a large month-at-a-glance calendar. Planning is a primary key to success so these tools are possibly the most important supplies that a student should buy. There are many planners that are available online. Before buying one, students should consider using the school planner if they are given or can purchase one offered by their school. School planners usually have all of the special schedules and holidays already listed. When purchasing on online, students should look at the space available for adding assignments and purchase one that has the space they want.
Study aids are any supplies that make studying active and help build memory. Post-it notes are great for highlighting importing text when reading in a book you do not own and taking quick notes. Index cards are used for flash cards and white boards are great ways to test, erase, and test more. Students can practice writing out short answers, combine notes, practice steps or anything else that might be done on a chalk board at school. Colored pencils, pens and markers are also great study tools. Highlighters allow for distinguishing the topics and details in notes while pens and pencils allow for color coding.
Students often have other supplies that they believe they need. Ask them to explain why they want something if you are questioning it being included. If they have a good explanation, consider adding it to the order. While this will not be the excited filling of the cart for most families, it can be a fun exercise in preparing our children’s toolbox for success. Our supply list is available on in two places on our website, in our program section or in our free online class, Organizing Your School Binder; both link to Amazon so that you are able to purchase exactly what we suggest.