School Supplies Tips

Read these 9 School Supplies Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Office Supply tips and hundreds of other topics.

School Supplies Tips has been rated 3.1 out of 5 based on 196 ratings and 1 user reviews.
What Should be on Your Back to School Supply List?

What Should be on Your Back to School Supply List

Back-to-school time doesn't have to be panic period for parents. We offer some lists that are suitable for various grades and students to help make your back to school shopping easier.

For Kindergarden to Sixth Grade, you may want to consider the following:

  1. Folders with pockets
  2. Assignment pad
  3. Crayons
  4. Number 2 pencils and erasers
  5. Pencil box
  6. Glue sticks or glue
  7. Ruler
  8. Safety scissors Packs of facial tissue
  9. Anti-bacterial waterless soap
  10. Book bag
For Middle School:

  1. Three-ring binders
  2. Folders with pockets
  3. Assignment pad
  4. Spiral notebooks
  5. Notebook paper
  6. Graph paper
  7. Number 2 pencils and erasers
  8. Glue sticks or glue
  9. Washable markers
  10. Ruler
  11. Packs of facial tissue
  12. Ink pens
  13. Compass
  14. Calculator
  15. Book bag
For High School Students:

  1. Three-ring binders
  2. Folders with pockets
  3. Assignment pad
  4. Spiral notebooks
  5. Perforated composition book
  6. Notebook paper
  7. Graph paper
  8. Number 2 pencils and erasers
  9. Colored pencils
  10. Glue sticks or glue
  11. Washable markers
  12. Ruler
  13. Packs of facial tissue
  14. Ink pens
  15. Compass and protractor
  16. Calculator
  17. Book bag

   
What school supplies would be considered cool or trendy?

School Supplies Made to Impress Classmates

Inventors are now coming up with creative ideas to help students appear cool to their friends and peers. Here are just a few of the zannie ideas available today:

  • A UK-based gadget store came up with a Siren Alarm Clock that has a blue flashing light and a setting called "sure to wake you up", which is sure to wake up the entire dorm.
  • The USB Tanning Center plugs into your computer and attaches to each side of your monitor. This device is for real and allows students to catch a tan while studying.
More realistic cool school supplies include:

  • Sharpie Mini
  • Crayola Erasable Markers
  • Mini One-Touch Staplers
  • iTunes ShuffleKeep with the times, keep with new gadgets and keep cool while you're in school.

  •    
    What popular characters are on school supplies?

    Popular Characters for Kids School Supplies

    Why send your child to school with boring school supplies, when they can go branded with their favorite characters? Below is a list of today's most popular characters for kids. Find lunchboxes, binders, folders, pencils and other items with these popular characters:

    1. Batman
    2. Bob the Builder
    3. G.I. Joe
    4. Harry Potter
    5. Spawn
    6. SpongeBob Squarepants
    7. Star Wars
    8. Thomas the Tank Engine
    9. Transformers
    10. Superman

       
    How can a parent improve a child's study environment?

    Ideas to Help Improve the Study Environment

    Setting aside time for studying and homework is not only essential for school, but it helps a child develop a routine and responsibility. Here are some tips to helping improve the study environment for your student:

    • Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
    • Soft lamps with incandescent light bulbs are easier on the eyes.
    • Set aside ample time for homework, but be sure to encourage breaks to help information absorb. See below.
    • Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
    • Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child's homework for them.
    • To help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and overall exhaustion while studying, it's recommended that youngsters close the books for 10 minutes every hour and go do something else.
    • If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren't able to help, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child's teacher first.

       
    How do I know my child's backpack is safe?

    Doublecheck Your Child's Backpack Before Sending Them Off

    Here are a few backpack safety tips to help your child safely carry all the necessary school supplies needed on a daily basis:

    • Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
    • Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.
    • Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may also increase curvature of the spine.
    • Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.
    Safety is key when it comes to wearing a new backpack. Take a few moments and perform the safety check above before your child heads to school.

       
    What school supplies should be purchased for home schooling?

    School Supplies for Home Schooling

    If your child will be in home schooling this year, consider using some of the following school supplies in addition to what the public and private school teachers are restricted to using:

    1. Hooked on Phonics or any Phonics program
    2. Adam Robinson's What Smart Students Know book
    3. CashFlow for Kids board game
    4. Zome System for free-form activities
    5. Learning Wrap-Ups for help with math
    6. Accelerated Learning Network's FUNdamentals
    Why not give your child educational tools that help build character, stimulate intellect and promote creativity? Basic school supplies are still required for optimal learning, such as pens, pencils, paper, and notebooks. Go the extra mile and teach your child more than just how to memorize answers for tests. Take the accelerated learning route and explore your child's potential!

       
    When is the best time to shop for discount school supplies?

    When to Find Discount School Supplies

    Typically, bargain hunters search for deals post-season, with the exception of discount school supply hunters. Most schools are in session for nine months out of the year, so the need for supplies is on a continuum. Therefore, the best deals on discount school supplies can be found during the big back to school rush. Check the Sunday ads to find the best overall cost savings and get to the store early.

    It's a good idea to visit the store first, and map out where to find all the supplies at two or three different stores. You can get discount school supplies during the mad rush, you just have to come prepared for battle.

       
    What cool gadgets can I get my kids aside from just school supplies?

    Cool Gadgets to Get Your Kids as Back to School Gifts

    Buying school supplies often implies that the only thing important to your child is learning and studying. Let them know that you are aware that they have a fun creative side and include a few goodies in the school supply shopping bag.

    These four items made the Forbes Top 10 Coolest Gadgets for Kids List:

    1. The Digital Blue QX5 Computer Microscope plugs into the USB port of any PC and captures images at 640-by-480 resolution at three levels of magnification (10X, 60X and 200X). It also shoots microscopic video at up to 15 frames per second, as well as time-lapse movies that'll let kids watch paramecia shake their cilia in real time. The included software also lets users digitally edit the microscopic images and video, even adding special effects.
    2. The hip-e system is a surprisingly well-thought-out digital environment for teen-age computer users. It is available in a number of configurations, but the complete system includes a desktop computer "node" with a 1.6-gigahertz Pentium M processor and a 120-gigabyte hard drive. It also includes a set of wireless speakers, a 17-inch widescreen LCD flat-panel monitor, a Sprint PCS slider-keypad cell phone, a 512-megabyte MP3 player and a remote control to manage the entire thing. The specs on the hip-e are impressive, and the integration of the system perfectly fits teen-age lifestyle. So the hip-e system can slide right into dorm-room double-duty as both a computer and an entertainment center.
    3. The Pixter, a PDA-style portable activity-center for kids, has a color touchscreen and stylus. It caters to the creative impulses of children, letting them draw, color and play with an interface that bears a surprising resemblance to a primitive Adobe Illustrator. Plus, Pixter can be accessorized with extra software to teach math, geography, astronomy and language skills. A snap-on digital camera ($29.94) allows aspiring photographers to take, manipulate and edit photos with ease.
    4. The Sidekick II launched late last year and has already been embraced by celebrities such as socialite Paris Hilton and rapper Snoop Dogg. It is slimmer and more capable than its predecessor and features a longer battery life. It has a full QWERTY keypad and an ingenious flip-out screen for answering e-mail, instant messaging and Web surfing. It also has an integrated camera (with flash) that comes with an online photo gallery.

       
    What are some shopping tips for back to school supplies?

    What to Look for at the School Supply Store

    Here is a short checklist of back to school items and tips for your visit to the school supply store:

    1. Buy smaller glue and crayons. Space is limited and teachers stress children sometimes lose these items easily.
    2. Remember school dress rules when buying clothing. Some schools have rules about the verbiage appearing on t-shirts.
    3. Consider the new Velcro straps for books as some schools require backpacks be stored upon arrival at school.
    4. Make sure to buy lots of extras before school starts. Take advantage of the lower prices - it's a good possibilty your child will need more of something as the school year goes on.
    5. When possible let kids choose their own items or at least the color or design. Keeping kids involved in the back-to-school shopping will help get them excited for the beginning of school.
    6. Make sure you buy a lunch box or backpack that your small child can open easily.
    When shopping for back to school supplies, think simplicity, necessity, and creativity. That way you get items that aren't overwhelming, items that are real needs, and school supplies that are fun and unique.

       
    Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Office Supply Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


    Guru Spotlight
    Barbara Gibson