Resources for a new primary teacher

fluffynit

Def place "wanted" requests on freecycle and sparkebox website..also tesco do packs of pencils and other stationery quite cheaply in the end aisle promotion boxes.

I teach too and although my school provides well, i buy little stationery things for table prizes.

Use kitchen cutlery drainers to keep table/group pencils in.

Use string and pegs to create a "washing line" across the classroom...good for displaying work, signs, posters.

Go to the library, as they often have books withdrawn.

Chell

http://www.festivalshop.co.uk/ - 70% off here this weekend.

y5d

Well done on your post:beer:. Please don't take out a loan to buy stuff for school.

I wouldn't go out and get loads of stuff at this point. Think carefully about the first units of work you will be covering and source stuff that is relevant, and not things that 'may come in later'. Most likely they won't.

Also, once in school, appoint monitors so that the things that you do have last as long as possible. The disposable society we live in means that many children come into school without any understanding that things cost money and cannot always be replaced.

Even if resources seem in short supply it can be useful not to put it all out at once, as when there isn't much out to be used the tendency is to take more care of the little there is.

I seem to have gone on a bit, but I do hope there is some help there, and the best of luck with what can be a fantastic career.

pandora205

In my area there is a scrap store, which recycles materials of all sorts donated to them by companies and individuals. These are available free for preschool groups and maybe for schools too. It may be worth checking in your area.

http://www.wastebook.org/scrapsto.htm

froddington

I agree with using freecycle - this year I got an easel with a huge tin of magnetic letters, numbers and shapes which the children enjoy Puzzles and games get offered a lot but you could post a wanted ad (check the rules of your local group first though).

Sparklebox is great for banners and posters, etc. The TES website has lots of printable resources too.

Ask family and friends to save the pens and pencils that come in charity 'junk' mail - my dad gave me about 20 just from his house! Also, over the summer there are often fetes and things where stalls have free pencils they give away as advertising for their cause.

We have a scrap store here too - great for card, material, pots, etc. for free and reduced prices on art and craft supplies. There is an annual fee but our school pays that.

Please, please, please DON'T take out a loan for this - there are ways to get by!

Once you've settled into the school, you may be able to organise a fund-raising event with your class or the year group. I find the Marathon Challenge is always popular - PM me if you want details.

Enjoy your first year teaching - it'll be hard at times but lots of fun too!

ChocolateButterfly

Agree with a lot of the others that Sparklebox is a godsend! And yes...laminate EVERYTHING! Also take a look on the TES, it's not strictly for resources but the community is often helpful, and there are plenty of lesson plans, posters, games etc that people have posted and can be downloaded to help save you some time.

I have found quite a lot of odds and ends in Poundland, they often have laminating sheets, coloured card/paper and lots of crafty bits and bobs, also places like Home Bargains where I have previously bought shaping scissors that cut in zig zags/waves etc, and also Poundstretcher. They are the kind of places you need to pop in and out of just to see what's there at the time.

Don't go out and buy lots and lots of things, I tend to find it better to see what you need as and when so that you don't go overboard and spend above your means, keep hold of things like take away plastic containers, bubble wrap, yoghurt pots, toilet rolls etc all of which can be used in one way or another, for glue pots, junk modelling and so on.

Good luck in your new job...I'm starting at a new school in September too and can't wait to get in there and make the classroom my own

thevicster

try here; http://www.studentfreestuff.com/free_stuff_for_teachers.php my best friend who is a teacher has had some nice bits and bobs from here. hth!

Confuzzled

Morty_007 wrote: »

Often pick hardly used puzzles up for 20-50p, even if the boxes are a bit tatty. If you can get some shoe boxes or plastic take away tubs, the kids can decorate new boxes for the puzzles.

on the subject of puzzles. i used to teach at a private nursery school (attached to a private school) and the kids there were forever mixing up puzzle pieces. so to curtail this i made sorting the pieces much easier by labeling all of the pieces from one puzzle with a big A on the back then the next puzzle each piece would have B on the back and so on.

this made sorting the pieces back into the right boxes MUCH faster and kept the wee darlings from becoming terribly frustrated for obvious reasons!

avery is good for giving away free samples and are fairly generous. you can get plain stickers and use a printer and some of their free software to make templates for stickers with free gif images off the net.

i would recommend contacting plenty of companies explaining your sitauation and asking if they have any offcuts, samples etc they would be willing to donate. of course be sure to use the school address when emailing as they will be suspect of your request but if they can ascertain that the school exists they will be more likely to assist you.

you could start a blog and offer to acknowledge any companies that donate items on your blog!

pound stores are a good source for odd wee things and if you're going to have a party that comes out of pocket i recommend approvedfood.com

best of luck!

Confuzzled

nearly forgot the famous scrapstores!

http://www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk/Uk%20Directory%20of%20Scrapstore1.htm#_Scotland

this is a list of scrapstores in the uk, not sure if it's all of them but it's a fair few

upsadaisy

I disagree, that this is the norm in schools. I've never had to buy these types of things with my own money. No matter where I've been!

Is your school in debt? There must be budgets for each subject and for consumables.