My family reuses the previous year’s supplies whenever we can, but new supply lists always imply that materials should be brand new. Why?

1. Be mindful about your start of course supply list. The lists imply that materials should be purchased new (i.e. a box of pencils). But if we have 12 used pencils lying about, why not sharpen them, buy a new eraser and avoid making unnecessary purchases? My boys and I tear out used paper from composition notebooks and reuse them as they never seem to get used fully.

2. Less practice on paper, rely more on white boards. At a home improvement store you can ask for melamine shower board and ask to have them cut to size. I like having small slates for individual work and larger boards (like 3’X3’) for group work.

3. Be wise with your copies: strive for 2-sided or shrink work down to copy 2 per page to be cut in half.

4. Keep a basket of scrap paper for students to use…..the step we take BEFORE it eventually gets recycled.

5. Have you heard of glue sponges? This is a great job for a helpful volunteer and if you visit the link and scroll through the comments, there are lots of tips to make this a strategic alternative to plastic glue sticks.