I've been outside with my dog for most of this summer, but yesterday, she snuffed out the first red leaves of autumn. It's no surprise: September is a little over a week away.
But after a wonderful summer, I'm thinking often of the moment in the "You've Got Mail" movie, when Tom Hanks writes about bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils. I have always loved new school supplies: clean, flat sheets of paper and fresh pens with their matching caps. They all say, I have my tools prepared. I will fill these pages with information and thoughts and responses to new challenges. I am ready.
There are some things to do, however, to be ready. And for my math class, this is what I would recommend:
• Plenty of pencils. A bouquet of pencils. Extra lead or a mini pencil sharpener.
• Erasers. The cap erasers are good for pencils, but a large eraser is better for a larger mistake.
• Binder with lined paper and graph paper. I suggest dividing it into four sections: homework, notes, classwork, and assessments.
• Folders to hold old worksheets and printed documents.
• Scientific calculator(s). Our favorite at school is the TI-30x.
• Assignment notebook.
The following supplies aren’t essential, but would be convenient:
• Markers or colored pencils.
• Dry erase markers/eraser.
• Ruler.
• Compass.
On the first day of school, students lay out their new tools very proudly. Their aspirations are obvious. This is going to be a better year. They are ready.
And so am I.
