Canadian teachers are asking for help stocking their classrooms with supplies
Teachers across Canada are asking for support in stocking their classrooms, through a social media hashtag called “#clearthelist.”
As September approaches, and teachers look for stationery, books and toys to fill their classrooms, a Canadian blog has created a list of teachers who’ve posted their classroom supply needs online, with the hopes that parents, community members or even strangers will buy the supplies.
“A lot of people just don't realize that as teachers we buy everything ourselves (for the classroom),” said Deena Liguori, a teacher in the Coquitlam, B.C. school district.
Liguori, who’s posted her list online, has been teaching Grades 2 and 3 for the past several years, but come September she’ll be teaching Grades 4 and 5, so she will need new books and materials geared towards older kids.
The lists, often created on Amazon and then linked to in posts on various social media platforms, allow people to send items directly to the teachers’ houses.
Liguori says she’s noticed that many of the lists are from newer teachers who haven’t had very long to accumulate teaching supplies.
“We spend a lot of our own money,” she said.
Classroom supply needs have changed in the pandemic, too, Liguori said. That’s because students haven’t been allowed to share materials unless they’re sanitized before each new kid uses them. As a result, Liguori said she and other teachers have to buy multiples of items.
“I had to go to a dollar store and make individual baggies of little things they can use to help them (with math),” she said.
Liguori’s wishlist includes a swath of books, with titles such as Germs vs. Soap, Kindness is My Superpower and Big Feelings. It also includes items such as wall decals, fidget toys, and magnetic building blocks. Another Canadian teacher’s whishlist, shared on the blog, includes things like Crayola markers in multiple skin tones, lamination sheets, and a book titled Pink is for Boys, among others.
“One big special book that someone sent me is a story about the residential schools … that’s super important,” she said.
The #clearthelist hashtag has, in previous years, been more centred on American teachers, Liguori said, but this year she’s seen more Canadian teachers sharing their classroom need lists online.
“You’d be surprised, if you walked into my classroom – I’m going to go tomorrow and set it up – it’s blank, because everything that I buy, it’s my stuff for the classroom,” she said.
But, that doesn’t mean the walls will be blank for long. Liguori said she’s been thrilled to have so many people help out.
“When I've got a package at my door from the #clearthelist, like, I'm beaming with delight because it just shows that people support us teachers, they know that we had a tough year ... it shows the value people hold in teachers,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
No evidence linking Modi to criminal activity in Canada: national security adviser
A senior official says the Canadian government is not aware of any evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to alleged criminal activity perpetrated by Indian agents on Canadian soil.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
Second Australian teen dies in tainted alcohol case in Laos that has killed 6 tourists
A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
More than 70K Murphy beds recalled across Canada, U.S. over tipping concerns
A popular series of Murphy beds that had been sold online is under a recall in Canada and the U.S. after several reported instances of the furniture detaching from walls.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Meta fights CRTC, refuses to publicly release info on news blocking measures
Meta is refusing to publicly disclose information that could determine whether it is subject to the Online News Act despite blocking news from its platforms.
opinion Trump's cabinet picks: Useful pawns meant to be sacrificed to achieve his endgame
In his column for CTVNews.ca, Washington political analyst Eric Ham argues U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's controversial cabinet nominees are useful pawns meant to be sacrificed for a more bountiful reward down the line.