As the back-to-school season kicks off, social media lights up with jokes and complaints about school supply lists. On X, Threads, and Facebook, people share photos of long lists with captions like, “Why does my kid’s teacher need 20 glue sticks?” or “Are teachers selling dry erase markers on the side?”
I’ve seen the posts. I’ve read the comments. And I get it. School supply shopping can feel overwhelming and expensive.
But here’s what those posts don’t show: what it takes to actually run a classroom for an entire school year.
These Supplies Get Used Up
The items on that list are not going into a closet to gather dust. They are used every day by real children during real learning. In a primary classroom, glue sticks don’t last long. They get twisted too far, dry out, or are shared during interactive notebook lessons, science projects, and reading journals. Tissues are gone in weeks, especially during cold season. Dry erase markers are used constantly during phonics lessons, small group rotations, and center work. They get dropped, crushed, left uncapped, and quickly dry out.
And while many children take great care of their supplies, not all do. Some have not yet been taught the habit of responsibility. Others are simply still learning. The reality is that children go through a lot of materials over nine months of school. That is why the lists are long.
It All Adds Up for Teachers
And when those supplies run out? Teachers usually restock them.
According to a 2023 report from My eLearning World, the average U.S. teacher spent $820 out of pocket on classroom supplies during the 2022–2023 school year. That figure is up from $750 the year before and far exceeds the federal tax deduction cap of $300 for educator expenses.
The report also found that 25 percent of teachers spent more than $1,000 of their own money.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) supports this finding. Their data shows that 94 percent of public school teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies without reimbursement.
These are not luxury items. They are basic tools to help students learn: books, pencils, paper, markers, organization bins, classroom decorations, and yes, those same glue sticks and tissues you see on the list.
What My Students See
At the end of last school year, I began packing up my classroom. I took down the bulletin boards, posters, lights, and the library corner. The next morning, one of my students walked in, looked around, and quietly said, “It looks so sad in here now.”
He was right.
What he did not know was that everything that made our classroom feel warm and welcoming came from my own wallet. The bins, the lamps, the rugs, the flexible seating—all of it was purchased over time to create a space where children could feel safe and cared for.
Let’s Reframe the Conversation
So when you see that school supply list, please know this. It is not a wish list. It is not a side hustle. It is a practical, honest attempt to gather what students will actually use—and use up—over the course of a school year.
Instead of rolling our eyes at it, let’s consider what it represents. A teacher who is trying to prepare. A classroom that runs on materials. A child who deserves a year of learning with everything they need already in place.
Because when the glue runs out and the markers dry up, learning does not stop.
Teachers just find a way to keep going.
Sources:
My eLearning World. (2023). Average Teacher Out-of-Pocket Spending Survey
National Center for Education Statistics (2022). Public School Teacher Spending Without Reimbursement
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