With the school year starting anew, the topic of school supplies once again becomes relevant. Even well-prepared students have likely experienced a mishap at some point: a situation in which they’ve been several notebooks short or had a new pile of pencils sitting in their bag, only to lose them all a few weeks in and have to resort to scouring classroom floors. But why do supplies matter when there’s inevitably always something in the classroom to use?
School supplies play a key role in facilitating learning. Beyond just allowing students to write down their answers, supplies give students more choices in how they engage in the classroom. By using materials to color-code, highlight and organize, students can feel more comfortable in their environment. For some, even the choice of using a pen or a pencil can make an assignment feel less daunting. “I think there’s something to be said for how you show up to anything,” says Sara Deede, a Living in the U.S. teacher at Grant High School. “Whether it’s your piano tutoring, or your sports team event or even your grandparents’ house … If a student is routinely not coming with supplies, or (bringing) supplies that they don’t like, I think that is just like micro anxiety that would eventually add up over time.”
That being said, there are several things students should consider when it comes to their school supplies. Deede says that organization is important to keep in mind; what’s purchased doesn’t matter if the student has no plan of how to use it. “I think the most common mistake I see as a ninth-grade teacher is students coming in without an organizational system, and then never developing one as they go along,” she says. “I don’t really care how kids take their homework home and bring it back, or if they have a binder for all classes or if they have folders for every class … I think people need to figure out what works for them. What I see is some students who never figure out what works for them.”
Deede encourages students who have yet to decide on a strategy to use a binder or folders to keep track of schoolwork as they develop a long-term system. When dealing with supplies, reusing old materials is a common practice. Many students decide to repurpose their items from previous years, or even commandeer an older sibling’s materials. This is an easy way to save money and prevent waste.
Additionally, some students find that they prefer buying supplies that are more person- alized and fun. Calliope Walte, a junior at Grant, says, “In middle school, I used to buy a lot more, and I would buy cute stuff, and I feel like that made it more fun. I don’t really do that anymore … It definitely makes it more fun and more enjoyable.”
Walte notes a lack of energy and the fact that each of her high school classes required specific materials as the reasons for why she didn’t buy more supplies last year. However, even though certain classes have guidelines, there are still plenty of ways to customize classroom supplies. For example, students can decorate exteriors of binders with spare paper, or embellish the interior with fun quotes or doodles.
Feeling comfortable, confident and enthusiastic when entering the classroom is a key step of being ready to learn. Putting in a little extra effort in their choice of classroom supplies has positively impacted the experiences of many students.
Since the school year has just begun, now is the best time for students to buy what they need to ensure success for the rest of the year. No matter what school supplies a student chooses, the core principle of having those supplies is to feel prepared and comfortable.
