Just wondering... Fellow teachers?

Question

How much on average, do you spend in one school year?
I know there's a big difference between getting started your first year and the years after when you're a bit more settled and have most of your resources at hand.
Just looking for a ballpark average... I'd like to see the teacher expense deduction raised from the measley $250 we currently get.
How much have I spent? Let's just say that I got a low-interest credit card and use it ONLY for teaching expenses, lit guides, supplies not provided by the district, class rewards, etc.

Normally I wouldn't spend that much but I just returned to teaching and am in a self-contained gifted classroom (6th grade).
The math book that we're supposed to use is horrible. (It's a district adoption so I have to use it at least 80%.
We have no reading materials. There isn't a basal (which I don't like anyway) and the novel sets we have are too easy.
Basically, I've spent money but have created lots of materials as well. Having a young children, I don't have much spare time to make my own posters, units, etc.
We've actually done fund raisers and I just won a $1,000 grant. That will help loads for this upcoming school year!

Answer 1

You didn't give enough information to properly answer this question. Depends upon the grade level you're teaching,
How many years you've been teaching the subject or grade level. Does your school district give you adequate supplies
and teaching materials. How resourceful are you? Some teaching materials and /or ideas can be obtained on-line or from local vendors/businesses. That being said.
During a year an elementary teacher might buy: stickers, special paper, stamps, materials for class projects, etc. Every craft and teacher store in town will know the teacher by his/her first name by November as they give the ole' credit card a workout.
Anyway, to answer your question;it would not be unusual for an elementary teacher in my area to easily spend somewhere between $500. to $1,000. a year.
However, I know some teachers who are building their own
classroom library or learning centers and will typically spend well over $2K/year.
The lower the grade level you teach the more materials etc you will purchase. In the early grades teachers also spend money on rewards and holiday gifts.
$250/yr is obviously not realistic.

Answer 2

I can absolutely relate. You're right the first year is the worst. After that you should cut corners as much as possible. I know funding be it from the school (which is almost extinct) or yourself can provide for great visual aides, activites, and learning resources but I wouldn't break yourself and use a credit card. I bet you can teach just as good without some of the things you are buying. While in one sense they are your kids, in another they are not...So, spend your earnings on your own, and make a more feasible budget like 40 or 30 bucks a month and you'll be closer to your tax deduction too. I know this may had sounded a little mean as far as providing for the kids, but you have got to think about yourself too. Have a great year and summer.

Answer 3

My first 2 years of teaching I spent over $1000 getting necessary things for my classroom, most of which I still have. Since I haven't changed grade levels in my entire career, my expenses have gone down. So far this year I have spent $128 on supplies and other things, which isn't that bad. If I ever change grade levels, I know that will go up for at least a year or so as I get necessary things--like books for the classroom library.

Answer 4

I own a small private school and allow the teachers a spending limit of $500.00 each year. However they have to earn it. We do a Lot of fund-raising and marketing for the center. When I was in the public sector, I kept all receipts and itemized. Yes, what you spend is tax deductible. However don't be afraid to ask your parents to help. At the beginning of each school year I would make small hands out of colored paper with things that the class would need throughout the year.The parents then could choose a helping hand for the children. Parents will help the class because it is helping their child. You can also Find lots of things for free. Teach.com is a good resource. Try writing a letter to Wal-Mart and Sams Club. They will usually have a local store give away things that have been opened or just not selling that well to local schools and teachers who ask.

Answer 5

THE SCHOOL budget is Small in caparison with police budget .the home owner pay for all this expenses in the municipality's -sucking the moneys from property tax pa yer-we Payne,property taxes for all the bums work in the Town they live no money for the teachers, i fill sorry for the teachers.we do not neat the cops and the chiefs they are troubles mack er ,we only neat the county the. state will save a lot of dollars if they go

Answer 6

the the terrific option to Strike and, for that count, the life of the commerce Unions has continuously been a thorn in the factor of administration and Capital who want a subservient and docile working inhabitants. Society is fit and greater advantageous is laborers Rights are ideal addressed and the answer to this question is a convincing 'sure..!' straightforward pay, pension rights, first rate working circumstances and hours, those are under no circumstances given gladly by ability of administration, they continuously must be fought for and each so often very aggressively. instructors have a different venture on their palms, because of the fact they carry the destiny of their scholars of their palms, incredibly throughout the time of examination cases and one thank you to get around the 'abandonment syndrome' is to establish inner maximum education training, exterior the college framework to assist student makes the grades.

Answer 7

$30 per month on average, plus $150-200 per year for supplies.