Business
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are the Different Types of Supplies for School?

Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden

There are many different supplies for school that are used both by teachers and by students. These range from very basic supplies, such as paper and pencils, to complex technological devices, such as computers and graphing calculators. These supplies for school facilitate the efficient teaching of students at all levels, though the quality of supplies used often depends on the budget of the school and of the student attending school.

Some basic supplies for school are used by almost all teachers and students because they are effective and inexpensive. They use notebooks, pens, and pencils for doing homework and for taking notes. Many teachers require that work in mathematics be done in pencil and that writing be done in pen. Erasers, correctional fluid, and cases for pens and pencils are also used by some students and teachers, and loose-leaf paper is sometimes used in place of notebooks for neatness or organizational purposes. Folders and binders are also fairly basic school supplies that are used to keep materials organized.

Scissors.
Scissors.

Though they are seldom used by older students, many students in younger grades find some art and craft supplies on their lists of supplies for school. These art and craft supplies can include scissors, markers, colored pencils, crayons, and colored papers. They are used for different projects done in and out of class, many of which involve group work. Sometimes, these lists of supplies for school can get excessive and expensive, leaving the parents who need to pay for them unhappy.

Teachers makes use of projectors.
Teachers makes use of projectors.

Some supplies for school, especially at the higher levels, can get quite technological and expensive. College students often need to have laptops for completing the large amount of writing that is done in college, and many high school students find them useful as well. Usually, the schools themselves have computers open for the students to use if they can not provide their own. Advanced mathematics courses often demand powerful graphing calculators to aid in teaching advanced principles in algebra and calculus to students. Many teachers make use of projectors to teach from their computer screens, projecting slideshows to the entire class.

Most students purchase notebooks when shopping for school supplies.
Most students purchase notebooks when shopping for school supplies.

School supplies are meant to facilitate the teaching process and make it more effective and efficient. However, many school supplies are thought to be excessive and unnecessary. Some people believe that they actually distract from educational processes that can be done quite will with nothing more than pens and paper. Math teachers, for example, have discovered that games on advanced calculators can be very distracting to students. Without the calculators, though, the students could have a very difficult time learning about integral calculus.

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Scissors.
      By: terex
      Scissors.
    • Teachers makes use of projectors.
      By: M S
      Teachers makes use of projectors.
    • Most students purchase notebooks when shopping for school supplies.
      By: goodapp
      Most students purchase notebooks when shopping for school supplies.
    • Laptops have become increasingly necessary for older students.
      By: godfer
      Laptops have become increasingly necessary for older students.
    • School supplies may include pencils and rulers.
      By: goodween123
      School supplies may include pencils and rulers.
    • Supplies for school may include a graphing calculator.
      By: Hoenstine
      Supplies for school may include a graphing calculator.
    • A bottle of glue is a common school supply for elementary school children.
      By: Neiromobile
      A bottle of glue is a common school supply for elementary school children.
    • Items like scissors, colored papers and rulers can be used for crafts or as school supplies.
      By: Sergey Mostovoy
      Items like scissors, colored papers and rulers can be used for crafts or as school supplies.