if you have spent a ton of money on school supplies prior to getting your stipend, then use the money for whatever you think you need as long as you have receipts adding up to the amount you got from the district. my district gives each teacher 100 bucks but we have to turn in receipts by april 1st of that school year adding up to 100 bucks. a lot of teachers end up “misplacing” their receipts and they have to pay back the money.

i have a fridge and a microwave in my classroom and they are very helpful. the only time i have allowed my kids to use them were the last week of school last year it was 97 degrees inside my classroom, so i told them that if they wanted to bring in two bottles of water they could put one in my fridge to use in the afternoon.

if school hasn’t started yet, you may want to wait until it does and then use it on things you may have forgotten. that always happens to me. lol.

I’m in the same situation as you are. At my school, I have a $150 “allowance” for school supplies too…but I have to provide receipts to be reimbursed. (Unfortunately, I didn’t know that before I tossed my receipts.) A mini-fridge isn’t for student use–so chances are, if I bought one and turned in a receipt for that–the principal would be looking at me cross-eyed, regardless of the fact that I have bought supplies with my own money (not the way I’d want to start my career :o). There usually is a frig somewhere in the school for teacher use anyway.

I’m just going to accept the fact I made an error spending over $100 of my own money before knowing what the procedures were to be reimbursed. I’ll probably end up buying more stuff during the year (for specific projects, etc…) and now I’ll know how to get that money back.

Next year (after I actually earn some money), I’ll spend my own money on a comfortable chair like someone else here suggested!! That’s a very good idea!

Good luck to you!

I have a microwave in my room and a mini fridge–both were given to me, though. I do not suggest you spend district money on this, either. That money is intended to buy things for the classroom that the students can use or that you can use to teach. Depending on the grade you are teaching there are many things you can buy. Look at what you have, and then make a wish list of things you would like to have. Look through your curriculum/lessons and see if there are any unusual materials that you may need and get those. Purchase personal size marker boards and markers for the students to use (this is GREAT in math!!!). Find a computer program that the students can use to review skills. Buy a printer if your classroom doesn’t have one. If you work in a low-income community you may want to consider buying supplies for all of your students. Find a yard sale and buy lots of books for a class library(ask for a receipt!) Do you have every color of construction paper? You will need it! If you teach elementary you could buy those bags for the back of chairs to store the supplies (or if you know someone crafty buy the material and ask them to help you make them). You have lots of options with all of that money. Take advantage of it.

Depending on the school you are working, it is sometimes best to purchase supplies that students might not have for the start of school. For example, pens, paper, notebooks or folders. Another thing you can do with the money is purchase small rewards for your students. The amount of money the district gave you is nothing compared to what you will be spending throughout the year for projects you want to do with students. There are teachers that land up spending $500 or more a year on things that come up in the school year for projects that you want to do. Even simple arts and crafts activities add up quickly.

You also want to check with your principal or another teacher what the policy on refrigerators and microwaves in the classroom. There are some schools that do not allow these items in the classroom.

My class has a microwave so my students can heat up their lunches (grades 5/6). We don’t have a refrigerator. Do you have good dictionaries in your classroom, or other resource books? Those are very important. You could spend some of the cash on books for your reading centre. What about manipulatives for math (my school’s sets are always missing pieces)? Can you hang on to the gift card and use it when you need to replace some supplies? What about craft supplies that the school might not have?

Good luck!

I don’t think you should have those kind of appliances in your classroom. I’ve never heard of anyone having things like that in their classrooms. You always hear of people breaking into schools, those appliances will b the first 2 go. Spend some money on like little toys to put in a box for rewards, bean bags for reading or story time depending on what age your teaching, and also buy interactive things for the kids like a calander and a weather station so you can have helpers every week to make that their “Jobs”.

I keep two indispensable larger items in my class.

A mini-fridge. school food can be awful, I can bring my lunches, keep snakcs and water cold. it really saves money I should not be spending on simple items. If I can bring it from home or buy it in bulk, Id rather do that than pay the vending machine company.

A comfortable chair. Newer teachers often think this is unnecessary, as they won’t be sitting for most of the day. You will certainly be sitting as you plan and grade your papers. Those student chairs really mess with you. get a nice office chair that is adjustable.

other things to spend your money on:

whenever I have “extra” money, i simply spend it on consumables. You will be surprised on how much tape, construction paper, whitboard markers and pencils you will go through.

added to my answer a few hours later: I agree the two big items here should not be purchased with district moneys. (just clearin things up)but that gift card looks as if its earmarked for what you need. ask a veteran what is ok.

good luck!

My school has a planning room for each grade level with a microwave and mini fridge in it already. Plus there are ones in the staff lounge. Like other people have suggested, I wouldn’t buy these things with district money.

You also need to check with what supplies the school supplies you with. Mine supplies us with all of the basic office supply types things and typical classroom supplies (chalk, erasers, poster paper, etc.)

But there are tons of things I have to buy on my own. You didn’t say what grade/subject you teach, so I can’t offer specific suggestions. But I go through self adhesive magnetic tape and 3M mounting squares very quickly. I use them to stick things to the walls, chalk boards, dry erase boards, everything! They are very useful, and expensive. I also buy lots of student math manipulatives and overhead math manipulatives that my school doesn’t have or doesn’t have enough of. My money also goes towards books with reproducibles and teaching activities.

Many people have them in their room, but I think it would still be inappropriate to buy a mini fridge with the district’s money, even if you did spend your own money on school supplies. I think you should get motivational posters and decorate your room with them. And a tip: Make sure you have tons of glue sticks; kids go through them FAST!

Are the coffee maker, fridge, and microwave for the students to use? It’s not clear to me who you are spending for–yourself or your class. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve taught for 20 years and I know that you need those items because you will be spending long hours in your room. I have those things, but because they are for me, I paid for them on my own. Money given to me by the district has always been used on things that directly benefit my students. Here are a few things I buy that are helpful/useful: Markers (lots are $1.00 now), Fiskars scissors (school’s are old and dull), magnetic tape (good for hanging posters if your chalk/white boards are magnetic), clear contac paper, post it notes, folders, lamps, books, flashcards, overhead supplies (base ten, dice, money).