Top Back-to-School Supplies
It’s time to find your child’s school supplies.
The first day of school is in sight. And if you’re anything like our family and many other families in the Midwest, it’s approaching quickly.
Our kids are enjoying summer, sleeping in, and just hanging out so they are not looking forward to school starting soon.
How do your kids feel about school starting soon?
Don’t Forget!
If You haven’t already done so complete the following list of Back-To-School Activities:
- register your child for school,
- find your child’s school supply list
- start shopping for your child’s school supply
- check their open house dates
- attend the open house dates so you can help them drop off all their supply and meet the teacher
- get your children to school on the first day of school
Likewise, with the start of school so quickly approaching, it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Whether you prefer to shop for school supply in person, online, or a combination of both I’m sharing some helpful tips, reviews, deals, as well as some recommendations below.
How can I help?
First, I will tell you about an amazing new feature that will make back-to-school shopping even easier at one of my all-time favorite stores. Next, I will describe some cool deals from Amazon. Lastly, I will recommend some of my favorite and essential back to school supply.
Can I get everyone’s attention?
Target has our back this year I recently found this out and I don’t know if you guys know this so I have to share. I was so amazed by it. I feel kind of silly now detailing how cool it is but I think it is really neat. Therefore, I’m so excited to share this with everyone. If I was in middle school I’d ask for a drum roll.
School List Assist on Target‘s website is where you can simply type in the zip code where your child goes to school, choose the school that your child attends from the list of schools that pop up, and then your child’s school list will pop up. Isn’t that neat? You just go to the Target website and click right at the top of their website. Above all, School List Assist is really simple.
In addition to being ecstatic over Target‘s School List Assist, I’m also really excited to share some deals and recommendations with you. While Amazon doesn’t offer the School List Assist like Target, they still make back-to-school shopping a breeze and they are stocked with some incredible back-to-school deals.
Without further ado, Let’s get started!
Technology
The use of Tablets and Chromebooks on the rise in school. Consequently, your child will probably need some headphones. Did you know there are four types of headphones?
Headphones
| Over-Ear | On-Ear | Earbuds | In-Ear |
| have larger headbands and ear cups that sit over each ear fully | sit over the year but have smaller cups | have earbud tips that rest at the edge of the ear canal | In-ear headphones have similar earbud tips but insert into the ear canal |
Amazon is stocked with headphones from brands like Sony, Beats, JBL, Apple, Amazon Basics, Soundcore, Bose, Skullcandy, Philips, and more.
If your child prefers Earbuds or in-ear headphones here are our top recommendations for earbuds under $30. To clarify, we prefer wired headphones for use at school because your child will not have to remember to charge them.
Amazon Basics In-Ear Wired Headphones– These headphones are low cost but, in our experience, they are not made cheaply and they have a microphone. Sony and Skullcandy offer similar sets. **Consider picking up a backup option.
In contrast, If earbuds and/or in-ear headphones are too big for your child’s ear or you just prefer over-ear options, our best recommendations under $50 include Sony, Skullcandy, and Phillips Wow! The Sony headphones are Noise Canceling and The Skullcandy headphones come in up to 6 different colors!!! Talk about customization!
Likewise, There are so many cool ways to customize your child’s school supplies on Amazon.
School Supply Bundles on Amazon
Amazon has done a lot of the work for you and offers Back To School Boxes with a variety of supplies already included in the kits.
The K-5 Supply Box contains 32 pieces: (1) plastic pencil box, (1) 10pk of Crayola Markers, (1) 24pk of Crayola Crayons, (1) 12pk of colored pencils, and (3) Elmer’s glue sticks. Additionally, the box contains (10) #2 pencils, (5) pencil top erasers, (1) rubber eraser, (1) pencil sharpener, (1) pair of blunt tip scissors, (2) pencil grips, (1) standard 12-inch ruler, (1) wide-ruled spiral notebook, (1) wide ruled composition book, and (2) 2-pocket folder with metal prongs.
Similarly, the High school and College Back to School Essentials Kit contains 92 pieces: (2) 1″ binders, (4) college ruled notebooks, (2) college ruled 3-subject notebooks, (5) 2 pocket folders with prongs, (2) plastic tab dividers, (2) college ruled composition books, (2) packs of college ruled loose leaf paper. (1) 48pk Papermate #2 mechanical pencils, (2) pink erasers, (1) binder pouch, (2) pks of index cards, (1) 3pk of highlighters, (2) universal dry erase markers, (12) black pens, (4) red pens, (4) blue pens, (8) #2 pencils, (3) 0.7mm lead refill packs, (1) 12pk Crayola colored pencils, (2) Sharpie permanent markers, (2) 100ct sticky notes, (5) pencil top erasers, and (2) Kleenex pocket packs.
Amazon even offers customization per grade range.
Grade Level School supply boxes
- Pre-K to 3rd grade pack.
- 3rd-5th grade pack.
- Essential School Supply Kit for Middle School Students.
- Mega Bulk Back to School Supply Bundle. It has over 70 items!!!
If you personally love school supply shopping and picking out each item individually but don’t want to have to go in-store, I’ve got you covered.
School Supply Recommendations
You can click on the link for each product below and add it to your Amazon cart and have it delivered right to your door. As a teacher, I have an insight on which school supply products last throughout the school year. Let’s not waste any more time. Here are all my recommendations for Back-to-School Musts.
Essential School Supplies
Your child’s teacher(s) have provided you with a list of preferred school supplies. Let’s dive into some of the best school supply items!
Pencils
Firstly, Ticonderoga Pencils– These pencils usually come pre-sharpened and are a teacher’s dream. The pencil is more durable and reliable than some other not-so-well crafted pencil brands. You can even buy Ticonderoga Pencils in Bulk You will be a teacher’s favorite parent if you send in extra Ticonderoga pencils.
Furthermore Fiskars Scissors are some of the best scissors that you could buy for your child. Is your middle school child in an awkward phase where products geared for kids are too small but their hands are still smaller than adults? Fiskars has scissors designed children ages 4+, 8+ or even 12+ that make cutting easier and more comfortable for hands of all sizes.
In addition to Fiskars Scissors, Crayola and Sharpie have some great products as well.
Crayola gets you an A+ on your School Supply list
Crayola Glue Sticks-4pk- These glue sticks are amazing. They usually last longer and don’t dry out as quickly as other brands. You can even buy Crayola Glue Sticks in bulk.
Crayola Markers (Broad Line)– When you ask a teacher their preferred school supply brand, most will say Crayola. They offer bold and reliable colors and don’t dry out as quickly as other brands. Some packs are even washable!!! Talk about a laundry-saving hero!!
Fine Tip Crayola Markers (Fine Tip)– These markers offer the same quality and reliability as the Broad line markers, but are more compact and take up less space in art boxes. Crayola offers a washable line in these types of markers as well.
Crayola Colored Pencils– These colored pencils erase easier than others. They sharpen quickly and are fun to use.
Sharpie Permanent marker–When I think of Sharpie I think of their permanent markers. This 5 ct pack has 2 black markers, and 1 blue, red, and green marker. Did you know Sharpie has highlighters and pens? If you love arts and crafts you have to try them. They are amazing!!
Similarly, to the high quality offered by Crayola and Sharpie, there is also great quality in a variety of tissue paper, paper towels, and toilet paper.
Tissues and Paper Towels may be overlooked school supplies.
Kleenex brand is one of the most trusted brands for facial Tissue. But have you tried the Presto brand? We recently switched to buying Presto paper towels and toilet paper and couldn’t have been more surprised at the brand’s high quality and comfort. If you want to save money without sacrificing comfort give Presto a try.
I have learned that, like toilet paper, everyone’s opinion on the best pen can vary greatly. Here are some of my top choices for use in the classroom.
Are Pens a must-have on your child’s school supplies list?
There are some great pens out there. As a result, I will be recommending a variety of brands.
Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip– Wow! These pen/marker hybrids are so vivid and fun to use. I love all the vibrant colors. Amazon offers a similar set of Amazon Basics Felt Tip Marker Pen and it is just as great as Paper Mate. I recommend trying both if you love the sophistication you feel when writing with felt tip marker pens.
Sharpie, like I mentioned before, has stepped up their supply game and have produced a great gel pen. Give them a try.
Pilot offers a gel pen that writes so smoothly and is so fun when working on your signature. I can’t help but feel fancy when suing a PILOT G2. Zebra offers an alternative to these Ballpoint pens. Amazon Basics Ballpoint Pens also offer some competition.
Bic offers the dependability and reliability that everyone has come to expect at a price that your wallet appreciates. If your student is still practicing keeping track of their belongings, BIC may be a great choice for you and as an extra convenience this pack includes black, blue, and red pens.
Mechanical Pencils are so much fun to use in middle and high school and can also act as a fidget for your hands when you’re not writing. Bic, Paper Mate, Pentel offers the same reliability in their mechanical pencil Amazon Basics is throwing their hat in the ring.
Likewise, Do you know what pairs well with pens or pencils?—- If you said Notebooks you’re correct!
Notebooks are on every school supplies list.
Notebooks are back-to-school essentials. Amazon has all the major brands covered! Amazon features: Mead, Oxford, Five Star, Yoobi,Amazon Basics, and more.
You can even order Mead Notebooks in bulk with options available for 3, 4 packs, 6 packs, 12 packs or even 24 packs. Ordering in bulk, especially when you have more than one child, can be a budget saver. Most of the time, you don’t have this option when buying back-to-school supplies at your local stores.
Loose Leaf Filler Paper is often on lists and Amazon has your back. Order filler paper from your favorite brands: Mead, Oxford, Five Star,and more.
Class Dismissed!
In conclusion, School supplies are a necessity.
Don’t forget to start shopping for your child’s school supplies, register your child for school, check their open house dates, and get them to school on the first day of school.
Let us know if we forgot anything or what your school supply preferences are.
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