10 School Supplies Teachers Request Most (Plus 5 Extra Credit Teacher Gifts!)
More than 94% of teachers will spend their own money to purchase classroom necessities this school year. Here are 10 great deals on school supplies to help your child's teacher stock their classrooms, plus five budget-friendly gift ideas for the first day of school.
With Back-to-School season rapidly approaching, parents aren’t the only ones who will have to dig into their pockets to pay for supplies. According to the National Education Association, more than 94% of teachers spend their own money to purchase classroom necessities for the school year. It’s not uncommon for teachers to send parents a supply request list to help keep their classroom supplies stocked.
Our editors have found the best deals on these commonly requested items so that you can make a helpful donation to your child’s classroom without breaking your own budget. For extra credit, we’ve also included a couple of teacher gifts that are sure to make a great impression on the first day of school!
Pencils
Teachers can quickly burn through their stash of pencils since they are often broken, lost, or forgotten by students. The best price we found was this 8-Pack of Medium Lead Pencils from Staples. Right now, it drops from $2.29 to $0.50. That’s $0.06 per pencil, which is the best price we could find by $0.02. For $5, you can help your teacher stock up on 80 pencils!
Glue Sticks
For elementary school teachers, glue sticks are a common request. We recommend buying this 30ct Of Elmer’s Washable Glue Sticks, which you can get for $8 on Amazon. This brand is typically preferred by teachers and is often a top item on kids’ school supply lists. These typically cost $0.75 each at most supply stores, but you’ll pay just $0.26 each with this deal.
Disinfectant Wipes
Teachers are frequently wiping down and cleaning the surfaces of their classrooms, so disinfectant wipes can go quickly. We recommend this 3-Pack of Clorox Wipes for $12 at Amazon. Each tub comes with 75 disinfecting wipes, for a total of 225 wipes. We couldn't find a lower price anywhere else on this quantity, and teachers are sure to appreciate the quality of this name brand.
Tissues
Some schools do supply these for the classroom, but the quality is often not very good. To help your child and other students avoid the red nose that comes from scratchy tissues, gift their classroom these soft Kleenex Lotion Facial Tissues with Aloe. The best price we found was $10.99 for a 6-Pack at Target. This is the lowest price per tissue we could find anywhere.
Hand Sanitizer
Teachers can go through a lot of hand sanitizer in the classroom, especially come flu season. Sam’s Club is the best bet for bulk-sized hand sanitizer. This Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer in the 33.8 ounce size will cost $5.48 for members. For non-Sam’s Club members, this 32 ounce Germ-X Original Hand Sanitizer with Pump Dispenser is a great pick for $5.97 at Walmart.
Natural Air Freshener Spray
With a gaggle of little ones in a classroom all day, things can get a little…smelly. An air freshener spray may not be provided by your child’s school, but it helps teachers keep their classroom smelling fresh. We love this Mrs. Meyer’s Room and Air Freshener Spray because it is infused with essential oils and has natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals. These typically sell for $6, but we frequently find them for $4-$5 on Amazon.
Notebooks
Teachers may frequently supply notebooks to children who didn’t bring their own. Stocking up on a few extra notebooks to donate to your child’s classroom will surely help their teacher through the school year. You can get these 1-subject notebooks for just $0.35 at Staples.
Sensory Toys
Sensory items like fidget toys are essential to keep kids occupied during quiet times. If they finish a test early, for example, a teacher may have them play one of these toys to keep them in their seat until everyone is done. These items aren’t typically supplied by schools, so your child’s teacher is sure to appreciate having these on hand. For a few ideas, check out this selection of sensory classroom toys which drops below $10 at Amazon.
Markers, Crayons, and Colored Pencils
Teachers often keep a bulk stash of art supplies when children need to borrow them. But this supply often runs out quickly. Your child’s teacher will most definitely appreciate a surplus of these popular art supplies. Check out this selection of art supplies at Staples. They are currently having a phenomenal back-to-school sale where you can get Crayola-branded supplies for over 75% off.
Loose-Leaf Paper
The packs of paper that kids bring with them in August tend to run out through the school year, and teachers often buy their own bulk paper to keep on hand for their classroom. When you’re doing your back-to-school shopping, it may be a good idea to add a few packs of paper to your cart to donate to your child’s classroom. This pack of 150 sheets of loose leaf paper is going for $0.99 at Office Depot right now, which is the best price we could find anywhere.
Extra Credit: 5 Fun Teacher Gift Ideas for the First Day of School
If you’re looking to really make the grade, you can also get your child’s teacher a more personalized gift to help them start the school year right!
Rocket Core Reusable Smart Notebook
This Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebook would make a great gift for middle school or high school teachers to help keep themselves organized. This notebook syncs with an app on your phone so the notes you write in the book can back up to your phone. It typically sells for $32, but you can get it on sale for $22-$26 at Amazon.
Fun Colored Pens
Teachers are constantly using colored pens to grade and make notes. These Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens are a teacher favorite, and you can get them for 50% off on Amazon right now! Usually $18.99, they’re just $9.49 for a 12-pack.
A Funky New Tumbler
Since they’re talking pretty much all day, it is essential for teachers to have a water bottle handy. This cute Simple Modern 40oz Tumbler with Handle and Straw Lid would make a great gift for your child’s teacher. They are available in a variety of colors and funky prints. They have the same quality as the popular Stanley tumblers, but they cost about $15 less on average. Get them on Amazon for around $30.
Personalized Stationery
Teachers are constantly leaving notes for children, parents, and other teachers. A set of their own personalized stationery will surely make them feel more professional when doing so! You can get these personalized sticky notes for just $4.99 right now at Shutterfly. They’re typically $6.98. Better yet, you can get free shipping when you apply the code SHIP4FREE during checkout through August 4th.
Grab a Great Deal on a New Printed Tote
We recently found discounts of up to 80% off and free shipping on Vera Bradley totes, lunchboxes, backpacks, and more at Shop Premium Outlets. Many items are priced way below $50 and would make great teacher gifts. One idea is this Cotton Vera Tote. Originally $135, you can pick it up for just $35. You could also grab a cute printed organizer case and fill it with their favorite school supplies or a lunch box filled with their favorite treats!