Yes friends it is that time of year, if you haven't already done so, you will be school supply shopping in the next week or two. I love this time of year, because the prices for these must have items are fairly cheap. However, here's a tip or two from the Art teacher regarding your child's art supplies. 1st- Don't think that their markers, crayons, colored pencils, or any other drawing tool is still "good enough" to make it through this school year. If you really look at your child's set of these supplies you will probably find that they are short a few colors or sticks are broken. 2nd- This is a great time to buy not only 1 set of each of the above mentioned supplies, but possibly even a 2nd set. It may seem crazy but if your student is like my students at school it only takes about a week before someone is missing something, and then they will be out of luck for that color the rest of the year! Send 1 set to school with your child and hold the 2nd set at home til the start of 2nd semester and send it with them when they go back from winter break. A refresh of supplies 2nd semester will help them get through the remainder of the year. 3rd- Do go for the more name brand supplies like Crayola and Elmer's. I know its great that the RoseArt is cheaper than Crayola by only a few cents, but you are getting what you paid for a CHEAP supply. These markers always run out within a few weeks of school and the colored pencils always break in the sharpener. The glue isn't very sticky and the glue sticks are even worse. They are not high quality items and trust me you will be buying another set of these supplies after school has started to replace what you already sent and that price will not be the awesome back to school price. Spend a little extra if you can on the name brand supplies, they do last longer and with places like Wal-Mart putting these supplies at less than $1, its worth the extra cents. 4th- I know the kiddos love mechanical pencils, I don't know what it is with that clicky thing that makes them go gagga over them, but sure enough the always seem to wonder in my art room. I very much dislike them for this purpose: they always run out of lead when they need it the most and they are always taking the lead out, playing with it, and then putting it back in if they haven't lost the eraser to it first! If you must buy these pencils for your kids, please buy replacement lead for them so they always have pencil lead. It wouldn't hurt to send them to school with some great #2 pencils as well as a back up.
Last but not least, 5th- Don't go overboard on buying school supplies. I've watched kids every year during locker clean out at the end of 9 months throw away notebook after notebook, folder after folder, binder after binder, pencil after pencil.....you name it, I've seen it go into the trash can. It wouldn't hurt to ask your child if they have anything in their locker at school that isn't getting used and bring it back home or donate it to a teacher. There's no sense in buying tons of notebooks, folders, and all the extras if you're student is going to pitch them at the end of the year because they didn't get used. Great prices are Great, but adding to a landfill at the end of the year is just that. Only buy what you need, don't buy extra just because its cheap. You probably won't find it anyways when you need it.
None the less, this is my favorite time of year. I am pretty excited to head back to school in a week and half. I didn't get as much accomplished this summer as I had hoped. But my studio is ready to have art made in it when they weather cools off. I moved into a great new apartment with one of my best friends. I met some great people this summer in all my adventures, especially going back to work at the grocery store for a part time job. I am looking forward to going back to unpack all the art supplies that are waiting for me on my desk at school. I can't wait to see all my co-workers, us teachers go on quite the summer hiatus from each other. Most of all I can't wait to see my kiddos and I am definitely sure they can't wait to see me. :)
Happy Back to School Friends!!
