Spending Spree 2011 – A GIVEAWAY

Hey y’all! Maybe you’re already back and maybe you’ve got a few more precious days to sip cocktails and watch Golden Girls re-runs, but either way, it is time to get our shop on. Despite all the teacher bashing and lack of adequate salary, I’m sure all of you out there will continue to purchase much needed supplies for your little friends. Because you are amazing.

Each year, I would return to my classroom, all amped and ready to go, only to be greeted by a big pile of shit and a whole lotta mouse poo. Furniture would be haphazardly stacked in the center of the room, old pencils would litter the floor and my closets would be a disgusting mess. Welcome back to school, eh?

So what did I do? Did I bitch and moan? Yes. But what else did I do? I rolled up my sleeves, changed into my crappy clothes (because sadly, this was exactly what I expected) and got my hard work on. Because I am amazing and so are you.

At some point during the day, a box of “supplies” would be delivered to my room. Allegedly, these “supplies” were deemed to be all I needed to work my magic (read: teach a room full of children how to read, write, add, subtract, know basic geography and be good people who are inquisitive citizens of the world…or bubble in stuff?). I would poke through the pile of rubber bands, googly eyes, crappy glue sticks that dry up in three seconds and have caps that mysteriously disappear, the cheapest construction paper this side of the Mississippi and some clay.

I know what you’re thinking – only the finest for NYC’s brightest, right?

Uh, no.

When the day was done, I would head off to my beloved Staples, with whom I have had a long standing love/hate relationship, and get my shop on. Now that I had seen the most recent score, there was fadeless paper to buy, borders to pick out, construction paper for fun projects, a door to decorate, name tags to buy and money to be spent. And spent. And spent. Because someone had to spruce the place up and make it a joyful place for children.

Wait. What? Get to the freaking giveaway already? You’ve had a long day of moving furniture and setting up your class room and don’t have time for my ramblings? You’re covered in mouse poo and just want me to get to the point?

For you? Anything. First, Avery is sponsoring a Back To School Promotion! Click here to check it out, but in a nutshell – all you need to do is vote for your favorite school. The top five vote getting schools will receive $10,000 worth of Avery School Supplies, 10,000 Bonus Box Top coupons and $1,000 worth of gift cards. The top 25 runner-up schools will win 5,000 Bonus Box Top coupons. Can you say “cha-ching” and “show me the good construction paper?” So, go get your click on and pimp out your school. Shamelessly. Do it for the good glue sticks.

And here’s THE GIVEAWAY! Because INAFaS readers are the bomb diggity, Avery is generously offering a Back To School gift bag for one loyal reader. This gift bag will come stocked with Avery Glue Stics, Hi-liters, NoteTabs and dry erase markers. Whoo hoo! That will help to erase the memories of all that mouse poo, eh?

Okay. How to enter? Simply leave a comment on this post sharing a few of your Must Have back to school supplies. You can enter as many times as you like. As. Many. Times. The contest starts now and will go through Sunday, September 4th. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, September 5th. Because fair is fair, I’ll use a rando number generator to choose the winner.

Good luck, y’all!!

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65 Comments
  • I do love me some school supplies! My favs are Sharpies, matching folders, folder labels, and pretty pens!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • School supplies make my heart sing…and one of my twins is named Avery. I suppose that doesn't warrant an automatic win though.

    My numero uno supply item is a brand new spanking pack of Sharpies.

    ❤Jodi from…
    ★★The Clutter-Free Classroom★★
    Helping Teachers Get Organized

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Oh Mrs. Mimi…keeping this list small is hard!!

    Firstly, sticky notes. Then, Sharpies (of all sizes, shapes, and colors!). Then we get into notebooks–I prefer to have the kids use composition notebooks and I usually end up buying a class set plus a bunch just in case. Next, there's colored duct tape (We color code notebooks and folders and such for each class to help kids keep things straight and teach organization. Sometimes, slapping duct tape on the binding of a notebook or folder is perfect. And then pencils–I'm specific: Ticonderoga #2. 😛

    Bottles of glue, glue sticks, markers, colored pencils, and a shit-ton (pardon my french) of labels (all sizes), construction paper, and colored cardstock.

    Now the cleaning supplies: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They clean boards, desks, tables, you name it.

    Those are my must haves.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Dry erase markers you say? My first 'must have' item is some sort of sticky putty. I have no bulletin boards, only white boards. Makes decorating the room super fun!! Last year I sucked it up with what masking tape I had, but this year I wised up and went through 10 pounds of putty (well, it seemed like 10 pounds!).

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Must have school supply…paper mate flair pens.
    I would buy those bad boys in bulk if I could!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Have to have back to school supply? SHARPIES! And packing tape. Other than that, Sharpies.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Love me some Sharpie chart markers and I've never met a post-it I didn't have to have. Crayons, colored pencils and markers for the kids too!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • New Sharpies, a fresh desk calendar and a new teacher notebook. There's always the usual stuff that I need or must have for the classroom, but I can get by with practically nothing if if have these few items to perk myself up! Happy new school year (I'm already in week 4)!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Who can live with out post-its and Sharpies? My two favorite school supplies.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • I always need the spiral notebooks for journals. I cut in in half with a pair of wire-cutters and the big paper cutter. Saves the bottom half, as few kids every write that much (and the ones that do get another notebook and another and another. Love those writers).

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • I totally heart back to school office supply shopping!!! Post its, glue sticks, pens, pencils, erasers…the standard…but then there is the mini dry-erase boards, BOLD dry erasee markers, little do-dads to offer as prizes throughout the year…maybe some fun paperclips 🙂 OH…almost forgot…need more laminating supplies!! 🙂

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • I teach high school so construction paper isn't in quite as much demand for me! My MUST HAVE is pencils. Approximately a million of them. Even though I require 'collateral' in order for students to borrow pencils, they still end up missing, broken, without erasers, or occaisionally, stuck in the ceiling. My other must have is a fabulous planner for myself! I enjoy getting the super cute ones that I actually enjoy writing it. And let's not forget all the little lab supplies that end up coming out of my pocket- alcohol, alka seltzer, hydrogen peroxide, modeling clay, etc.

    I hope everyone is having a great back to school time and staying clear of the teacher bashers!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • another must have: command strips

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • I always need the spiral notebooks for journals. Schools just don't provide them.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Must have school supplies: magnets & velcro

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Sharpies, in every color of the rainbow. Flair pens in every color not in the rainbow! White out, crayons (love the new crayon smell) and Ticonderoga pencils. Those are my favs!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Must haves: Flair pens, gels pens, fresh planner, 2-pocket folders with grommets, TONS of looseleaf, and fancy-pants hard bound writer's notebooks….to name a few!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • My must-have this year (my first year!) has been organizational supplies. Crates, boxes, bins, jars. Anything that will hold something and make my room more organized. It cost a lot, but it is worth it to keep me sane!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • EXPO MARKERS….in many beautiful colors. 🙂

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • My favorite BTS gotta haves are Sharpies (wink, wink), note cards, name tags for their desk, and Welcome to School pencils for each friend.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Highlighters! Post-its! Sharpies!

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Whoohooo!!! My favorite back to school supplies are mechanical pencils and teacher pens!! 🙂

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • Sharpies are my must have! Not to mention post-it notes, post-it notes oh and more post-it notes!!

    :0) Darcy

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • BTS must haves….
    dry erase markers
    mr clean erasers
    clorox wipes
    baby wipes
    roach baits(ick)
    brand new pencils
    that's the short list 😛

    August 30, 2011 at 2:00 am
  • I also discovered my love of dry erase markers. DIfferent colors, different sizes, I bought tons of them. And while I was shopping I also found…dry erase CRAYONS! Never knew those existed, but I couldn't resist buying them!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • My favorites are post it notes and sharpies. But the must haves include binders, dividers, notebooks, folders (with the binder thingies in the middle), clorox wipes (times a million) and purell hand sanitizer (or handitizer as my kids call it)

    I would love to find a sanitizer mister somewhere. Think those things at the zoo that mist you with water that they put out on a hot day. But instead hanging over my door during flu season to mist the cherubs as they enter 🙂

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • I flove Sharpies! All kinds – highlighters, fine point, ultra fine point, flip chart, and poster. I buy some of each every year! I about had a heart attack when Office Depot was out of fine points…but it's okay…you can relax…they are back in stock!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • I must have:

    the thin sharpies
    the fat sharpies
    popsicle sticks
    construction paper
    paper to photocopy with (thanks for not giving that to us, school)
    colored pens (not red)
    the shmutz to hang things on the wall
    … wait for it…
    we are in a new building, and I have to buy myself:
    A TEACHER DESK
    BOOKSHELVES

    … thanks.

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Must haves plain manilla folders; address labels, good pencils;

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Must haves for me in KY
    post it notes; dry erase; cheap timers; paper plates; note cards; plain manilla folders; address labels

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • My short list is..
    tyconderoga pencils
    Mr. Sketch markers
    dry erase markers
    crayola crayons
    clorox or lysol wipes!!!
    sharpies fine pints
    post its
    starbucks card for my early mornings!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Brand new tyconderoga pencils
    clorox wipes or lysol; will do the trick!
    Crayola crayons
    Mr. Sketch markers!
    post it notes
    sharpies: fine point!
    Starbucks gift cards for my early mornings!
    That's my short list too!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • First of all, I literally LOL'd when you said watching re-runs of Golden Girls because I have been doing just that!
    My absolute must haves are:
    Sharpies, Clorox Wipes, CRAYOLA crayons, and my scented teacher-only markers!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • First of all, I literally LOL'd when you said watching re-runs of Golden Girls because I have been doing just that!
    My absolute must haves are:
    Sharpies, Clorox Wipes, CRAYOLA crayons, and my scented teacher-only markers!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Can't live without Avery labels of every shape and size. I like to label everything!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Must haves:
    two pocket folders
    composition books
    new pens
    stickers
    Name tags for desks & cubbies
    packing tape
    colored pencils

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • My favorite SUPER SPLURGE is the chart paper that is actually giant sticky notes!! I can make a chart and it stays up all year without having to worry about tape, tacks (actually neither is allowed) or sticky tack!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Post-it Notes are a must! I use them for all sorts of communications. And they're a great way for kids to leave comments for their peers. I also must have great pens, and the new Sharpie pens totally rock!

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • I'm pretty sure I have a sick, sad addiction to school supplies. You don't suppose there is rehab for it, do you?

    The must haves I can think of right now are:
    Sheet Protectors-instant lamination and helps me reuse worksheets to reduce my copy count.
    Papermate Profile clicky pens in the bright colors- The way they write makes me smile almost as big as the smiley faces I use them to make.
    Mr.Sketch scented water color markers- A. I always wanted these when I was in school B. Great for using on chart paper during lessons C. A smelly smiley face is the highest reward anyone could ever receive. The Nobel prize is nothing compared to these, just ask my kindergartners.
    Sharpies- I'm a teacher, enough said.
    Mister Clean Magic Eraser- I'm a teacher who sometimes makes mistakes with her Sharpies.
    Packing tape- Duck tape's gentler cousin, used to fix books, big books,shoes, and a plethora of other things
    Command Strips and hooks- I can modify/decorate my classroom without getting in trouble for ruining the paint.

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • File Folders, Dry Erase Markers, Post it notes, Sharpie Pens

    And some organization stuff. But I love it all.

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Lots and lots of post-it notes in every size and color, dry erase markers, sharpies, crayola markers, 24-count crayons, spiral notebooks, baby wipes.

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • 1) Several million cheap ballpoint pens. Cheap because a) see above re: quantity and b) because my kiddos hate them, complain vociferously about them, and eventually learn that if they want the good stuff, they should bring it from home (or borrow it in advance of my class!)

    2) Boxes and boxes of crayons (and no cheaping out here, it is Crayola or bust.) Now, you're thinking, hmm, these friends are old enough for pens…what gives? In fact, I teach high school English. And the first time I break out the crayons each year, my darling kiddos look at me like I am a crazy person. But by a few months in, I can reliably get them to at least pretend to be as excited as I am that it is a crayon day (and it is the kind of pretending where my not-so-little friends are secretly really pumped but have to "pretend" to be excited because really being excited is so not cool.)

    3) Sticky chart paper. Except that this year I have a small stash of it from a miraculous gift our admins handed out last March or so. That was such a game-changer, I'm never going back. (Shh, don't tell–I like that stuff even better than my fancy IWB.)

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • Some of my "must-have" school supplies are spiral notebooks and 2-pocket folders for each student, loads and loads of post-its, and an electric pencil sharpener that works.

    August 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  • My must haves include:
    dry erase markers
    this new (to me) pen from papermate that has an awesome METAL clip that hangs beautifully from my lanyard
    Sharpie FINE for my gradebook (yeah I use a paper version as well as an online one)
    Paper Gradebook
    Sticky Notes
    Colored pens for grading (love me some pink or purple pens)
    This awesome multi colored crayon pencil, no clue where to buy it as I took it from my daughter.
    3×5 cards and the rings that hold them

    I teach middle schoolers so not much is supplied by me, thankfully. The stuff I buy are things for experiments.

    August 30, 2011 at 2:28 pm
  • *More post-it notes!! Last year, I bought some that looked like lion paw prints, because my school was the Wildcats.

    *Clorox Green Works (spray cleaner) for cleaning the white board.

    *Dry erase markers. Most of my other colleagues use only black. Not me! The more colors, the better!

    *Ink for my stamps. I stamp homework so I know it was turned in and graded. (This way, no one says "Oh, but I turned it in!" Does it have a stamp? "No…" Then it wasn't turned in.)

    *Stickers. It's funny watch the too-cool, so mature high school seniors waving their test papers around saying "I got a purple smiley face!"

    August 30, 2011 at 2:28 pm
  • Must-haves: labels, colorful binders, markers, colored sharpies, clorox wipes, command hooks! I heart school supplies!!

    🙂
    Jill B.

    August 30, 2011 at 3:27 pm
  • I have to buy new fine-point Sharpies every year and glue dots!

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Mechanical Pencils
    Pencils
    0.7mm lead
    Nice pens to write with (must have purple, too!)
    Avery or Post-it Flags – I prefer the thicker plastic like ones to mark where I'm at in my book or binder and they last the whole year.
    Expo dry-erase markers

    That's the list off the top of my head.
    –Lisa

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Sharpies!
    Post-its!
    My planner!!
    Clorox wipes!

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Sharpies!
    Post-its!
    planner!!
    Clorox wipes!

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Did I forget to mention the Clorox wipes…on sale and with a coupon…who could resist cleaning?!

    AND a vat of hand sanitizer for the sniffling sneezing prevention.

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Post-Its!
    Sticky chart paper.
    Fun pens for me.
    Nice chart paper markers (Sharpie Flip Chart or Mr. Sketch).
    3M Poster Tape.
    Target pocket charts, and lots of them.
    Boxes, bins, trays, and anything else to keep me organized!

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • My must have back to school.. besides my morning coffee…. is purple pens to grade papers, clorox wipes for all those kid germs, hand santizer when Icant get to a sink, cute chatcater notepads for all my "to do" lists, and a bottle of asprin for those headaches at the end of the day!

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Nice post. I couldn't conduct any kind of education without:
    –painters tape
    –gaffers tape
    On teh free side, my nonprofit (BizWorld) is offering free downloads of its project-based learning programs at: http://bit.ly/nkZGd7

    August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am
  • Did I mention I need something this year to remove the decaying bat carcass on my windowsill??? I must have forgotten that…ooppsss. 🙂

    August 31, 2011 at 1:13 am
  • Binders with the front view so I can add my own covers and spine inserts. I put everything in a binder – grades, lesson plans, units, everything!

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • Glue sticks for my hot glue gun! Hot glue is the only (ONLY!) thing that makes posters, the alphabet, etc. stay on the concrete-block wall for more than 2 minutes. It doesn't damage the paint, and the posters come off with no problem, so it is pretty much perfect!

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • I just discovered the most fab-u-lous supply….a glue stick that turns any paper into a sticky note. Found it at staples – made be Elmer's…it's called repositionable glue stick..for all those lovers of post-it charts – much cheaper! luv it!

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • Must have post-it's, notebook tabs, index cards and tic-tacs

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • Must haves for back to school:
    New packs of dry erase and Mr. Sketch markers
    Post-it-notes
    Labels (from a borrowed label maker)
    and Teacher Pencils (because I'll never have a pencil left on my desk if they're not "special")

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • Pencils (because, seriously, do I have time to question kids about where their pencils are? And, really, it's a pencil – give the poor kid a break!); Sharpies pour moi – those pens that don't run through (genius!); new Expos; alligator clips; post-its; an academic calendar…and so much more!

    August 31, 2011 at 2:55 am
  • This year I'm teaching computer lab, so my list included:

    -Shiny new binders to organize my 26 classes
    -Copious amounts of post-it notes
    -Sharpies to label EVERYTHING
    -Clothespins (spray painted red for awesomeness)
    -Electrical tape and zip ties (cord management!)
    -5,000 index cards so that my friends can write and lose and rewrite their login info every other week!
    -Labels so I can just print their info out in 1/100th of the time as it takes kids to write it

    August 31, 2011 at 1:27 pm
  • Super Sticky Post-it notes-Excellent for long term use.
    Also, crayons for my friends, glue sticks and fun & funky supplies for my desk (fancy paperclips, pushpins etc.)

    September 1, 2011 at 1:21 am
  • SHARPIES!!! And felt-tip pens. 🙂

    September 1, 2011 at 1:21 am
  • I was used to go back with school supplies which include lot of chocolates, custom folders printing which includes lots of paper stuff, notebooks, bundles of pencils and some boxes :)))

    September 6, 2012 at 8:10 pm

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