Going back to school can be an exciting time for high schoolers. They get to meet up with old friends and start participating in beloved activities. Though friends and memories might carry over from year to year, it’s important to supply your high schooler with new supplies. Your school might have a detailed supply list which you can reference when doing back-to-school shopping. If you’re still waiting for that list, here are some essential items you can start looking for right away.
A Good Backpack
Many schools are moving to digital textbooks, but your student will still need to carry around binders and probably a few books from time to time. Invest in a good backpack that provides support to keep from hurting your child’s body in any way. Check with the school if there are restrictions on the type of backpack.
Writing Utensils
Your high schooler needs plenty of items to write with. Make sure there are multiple highlighters, different colored pens, mechanical pencils, and No. 2 pencils (which are usually required for tests). Extra lead for mechanical pencils and a pencil sharpener are also useful.
Binders
Your student might be able to get by with one binder. Some teachers prefer an entire binder be dedicated to their class. Start off with one three-ring binder with some dividers, and go from there.
Notebooks
Invest in a few spiral-bound notebooks or composition notebooks, whichever your student prefers. You can check with your school to determine if wide-ruled or college-ruled pages are preferred.
Calculator
A graphing calculator should be enough to not only get your child through high school but college courses as well.
Ruler
Rulers are useful to have on hand. You might also want to invest in a straight edge or protractor.
Organization Supplies
Weekly planners are important to help keep your child organized and informed as to when tests and assignment due dates are approaching. Also consider getting pencil pouches that attach to three-ring binders and locker organization tools.
This list is a great start until your student knows for sure what the teachers expect in the form of supplies. So don’t delay on your school shopping; get started today.