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Teacher Wish Lists: Bringing Community to the Classroom

by Abree Knight, MPY Board Member

Preparing for a new school year can be an incredibly busy time for public school educators. There’s events to plan, schedules to coordinate, and  new students and parents to get to know, and, of course, a classroom to set up.

However, this last effort can be surprisingly expensive. 

Teachers and school support staff spend anywhere from $500 to more than $2,000 of their own money on classroom supplies each year. These out-of-pocket purchases fill the gap between what school district budgets provide and what materials students actually use  to learn throughout the year. Budgets are often inadequate to cover critical classroom supplies at the level students go through them, including pencils, paper, erasers, glue, cleaning supplies, and even basic hygiene items like tissues and hand soap. They rarely include specialty items that can make all the difference in inspiring students to engage in their learning, such as STEM lab equipment and creative art tools.

One simple solution educators are using to alleviate this problem are classroom wish lists. Much like a traditional holiday wish list or gift registry, teachers curate lists of essential and supplementary items they would like for their classroom and make them available to the wider community. Popular platforms include Amazon, Target, DonorsChoose, and Classful.

This approach offers a number of benefits for teachers, parents, and students. Educators are empowered to request specific items that meet their students’ needs, creating more opportunities for diverse learners to succeed. This also encourages creative and innovative teaching approaches with resources that might not be available through district funding.

On a broader scale, classroom wish lists build a stronger connection between schools and supporters. Families and local businesses are able to make a direct impact and the transactions are totally transparent, so donors know exactly where their money is going. You can even get  kids involved in choosing items from a wish list, which can be a great way to introduce them to a new teacher and get them excited about a new school year.

So how can you help? Reach out to the teachers in your life to see if they have classroom wish lists. Keep an eye on social media as well – many educators share their lists on their personal profiles. You may also be able to coordinate a group gifting effort through your school’s PTA or a local business. No matter how big or small the contribution, checking a few items off of a classroom wish list helps teachers start the year feeling prepared and supported by their community.