10 Steps to Elementary School Success-Lesson 1-Provide Adequate Supplies

It is the beginning of the school year so how can you make sure your child has a successful year in elementary school? This is a BIG question with many answers. My answer to this question comes from six years of working in an elementary school and seeing some of the pitfalls that students and their parents often fall into.

One of the most basic ways to help your child in school is to provide them with adequate supplies. The key word here is adequate. Don't just buy the cheapest thing out there; it is not always best. I will explain this later as I discuss the most basic of supplies-writting tools. Begin by making sure you know what the teacher wants your child to have. Make a list, if she hasn't provided one, and be sure to buy all that is required for class.

As you know, pencils come in all types of colors and styles made to appeal to students and parents as well. If you decide to try out these "fancy" pencils or even the non-fancy pencils make sure you try them out before sending them to school. I know this sounds crazy, but some pencils are just not made well. Some write too lightly causing the student to have to bear down hard while trying to write. This can cause their little hands to become sore and aching in no time. Some pencils do not erase very well. They leave big black smudges that just will not come off. My suggestion when you buy pencils is to try them out at home. Have your child use them and see if they fit the bill. You might even be able to teach your child a lesson about quality when buying products. I am not saying buy the most expensive pencils, but I am saying do not fall in the trap of buying them just because they look good. My favorite pencil is a plain wood brown number two pencil. Over time you will probably find a pencil type or brand that you both like and can agree upon. Avoid the mechanical pencils. Most students bear down too hard for these, lead is expensive and it breaks very easily. Plus custodians hate them because the lead that often falls out of them marks up the floors and gives them more work to do. Whatever you buy test them out. You want your child to be comfortable and efficient in school so they can be successful.

Now on to erasers. The erasers that come on pencils do not last long enough, sometimes break and often do not erase sufficiently. Just like pencils, quality and cuteness is an issue when choosing an eraser. So take those two things into account just as you would with pencils. I personally do not like the cap erasers. They usually erase great without leaving smudges behind, but the tops break off in no time. Cap erasers will sometimes not make it through one day. On rare occasions I have seen a child make one last all week. Students in elementary school erase a lot because they are just learning how to write and how to do it quickly. They need a quality eraser that lasts, doesn't leave black smudges behind and is easy to hold and use. I like the big hand-held erasers. Often times they are pink and for the quality they are usually cheap. They last and work great plus you can write your child's name on them with a permanent marker and not have to worry about it getting lost or stolen at school.

Don't bother with the small hand-held pencil sharpeners. Most of them are cheap and do not work. They break easily and if dropped make a big mess that either has to be dealt with right away or gets left for custodial staff. Except for using them for colored pencils they are a big waste of money. Now days most teachers have electric sharpeners in their room and don't allow colored pencils in them. The colored lead does something to the electric sharpeners that can damage them. Ask your child what the teachers pencil classroom rule is. Most teachers require students to sharpen at least two pencils at the beginning of the day. If you teach your child to do this everyday they will have enough pencils to last. I suggest have a good electric sharpener at home. It would be easily accessible for homework and your child could sharpen pencils for school at home. I would have my child carry several sharpened pencils in their book bag everyday so they are always prepared.

This covers the basic writing tool-the pencil. Take into consideration quality when you buy any classroom supplies. Try them out first. Crayons, book bags, paper, notebooks and folders can all last a long time if you buy quality and teach your child to treat them with respect. As far as pencil grips-YES, YES, YES-they are great and they help prevent the finger blisters young students often get. Try out scissors to make sure they don't hurt your childs hand because the handles are too small. If your child is left handed there are scissors made especially for them. Just use your search engine and you will find many resources for left handed students.

Connie Albright is the developer of Parenting The Tyke.com where she offers tips, articles, blogs, resources and product reviews for parents of children ages birth to fifth grade.
Visit her site today at www.parentingthetyke.com.