Teachers Use Technology to Keep Classroom Supplies Stocked

Back in December, Pine View Elementary won a from Bounty, a Procter & Gamble Company.

Pine View won the makeover after seven of its teachers submitted wish lists on TeacherWishList.com, a school-family website that aims to help alleviate teachers’ out-of-pocket spending on school supplies. Any school with more than five teachers registered on the site was eligible to win the grand-prize makeover.

Now that the school year has reached beyond the mid-point, some teachers may find their classroom supplies dwindling. Patch checked in to see what teachers need this time of year, and how TeacherWishList.com is working out for the educators at Pine View.

The site is helping teachers stay connected with parents, who are usually happy to send in supplies, but not always aware of what teachers need, Pine View third-grade teacher Jennifer Ford said.

Here's what Ford had to say about the supplies and the website:

Q: What types of supplies are needed most at this time of year?

"The supplies that teachers, such as myself, need most at this time of year are those supplies that are consumable. Pencils, notebooks and dry erasers typically run out around this time of year. We also need those supplies that we use to clean up messes, such as baby wipes and paper towels. Folders that students typically carry home and back to school each day are damaged and torn at this point in the year as well, and need to be replaced in order to make it through the end of the school year."

Q: About how much do you spend on supplies?

"I typically spend anywhere from $300 to $400 a year on supplies for my class. TeacherWishList.com is a great tool to use to keep parents informed about what is needed in the classroom. From my experience, parents are usually very willing to help where they can, but don't always know what teachers need. This website can be used as a wonderful way to keep parents updated on what your "wishes" are and how they can help in the classroom. Many parents can't volunteer at school due to work schedules, however, donating items to their child's class helps them to feel like they are still contributing."

Q: Have parents been receptive to the site?

"As of right now, I am still working on ways to keep parents updated on my needs. TeacherWishList.com is making it easier with its new share function. It takes less work on the teacher's part to get the word out, which in turn encourages more participation."

Q: What do you like best about the website?

"The thing that I like best about TeacherWishList.com is that it was so easy to create the wish list. All of the items you typically think of a teacher needing throughout the year are already available to check off and add to your list. However, there were also many items on the wish list suggestions page that I hadn't thought of, but would really like! Another great thing about this site is that it truly is in a digital format. As our culture moves more towards being centered around technology, this is a great way for parents to have access to the list wherever they are. Paper copies of documents are quickly disappearing because having a document whenever you need it, electronically, is so much more convenient. I think accessibility is one of the major advantages of an online teacher wish list, such as the one provided by TeacherWishList.com."