The grocery store can be a great place to pick up last minute and discounted classroom supplies. Letâs face itâwe canât think of the last time we went to the grocery store and didnât buy something for our classrooms. Here are some of the best classroom supply deals you can pick up at most grocery store chains.
1. Hand sanitizer
We love how much kids enjoy squirting âgerm juiceâ onto their palms, and how this stuff saves us (fingers crossed!) from getting sick during the year. However, we donât love the constant restocking of this magic substance.
2. Resealable bags
Lost teeth, book order money, loose crayons, classroom crafts, precious playground nature finds ⊠the uses for zip lock baggies are endless.
3. Individually packaged snacks
Parents forget to send snacks, and sometimes a Friday film needs a little crunch to make the day a little sweeter. The convenience of pre-packaged snack items canât be beat.
4. Water bottles
Hydrating students is the easy part. Getting them to not flip the bottle after is the real struggle.
5. Goldfish crackers
What is it about these cartoony crackers that brings all students, even high schoolers, immediate comfort?
6. Tissues
Because students never take just one, and the breaking of the student sleeve-wipe habit is a teacher goal on par with proper apostrophe placement.
7. Pretzels
The perfect ratio of salt and carb makes this in-classroom snack both a student fav and a late afternoon blood sugar drop savior for teachers.
8. Paper towels
The students may come bearing armloads of these treasures at the beginning of the year, but by December you find yourself grabbing rolls for the classroom at every grocery stop.
9. Band-Aids
Elementary teachers suspect that students enjoy receiving Band-Aids more than stickers or novelty pencils.
10. Chewy granola bars
These wrapped faves serve triple duty as snacks, treats or rewards in the classroom.
11. Paper plates
Whether itâs craft, science or class party time, youâre always reaching for these round workhorses during the school day.
12. Class pet food
If you had told us that one ounce gerbils would eat that much, we might have rethought the class adoption of Buzz and Woody.
13. Baby wipes
They clean sticky surfaces, paint-splattered hands and remove most clothing stains with a quick rub, and in their convenience and genius we almost forgive them their price. Almost.
14. Apples
Whether as decoration in a bowl during parent teacher conferences or a wholesome snack stockpile, teachers pick up this cliché grocery item with frequency.
15. Treats for celebrations
No matter how health-minded the teacher, some days and classroom milestones simply call for the sticky reward of a Fruit By the Foot. Hey, theyâre nut- and gluten-free!
16. Chocolates
With apologies to Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a teacher in want of oral participation must be in want of a bag of Hershey Kisses.
17. Glue sticks
Why are we always out of these in the school supply closet? And why is the best price on these usually found at the grocery store? We have stopped wondering and resigned ourselves with putting them in the cart.
18. Juice boxes
They contain exactly two enthusiastic slurps and too much packaging, but students love these box and straw combos.
19. Stickers
You meant to walk right past that emoji sticker pack hanging in the aisle but they just go so perfectly with your upcoming social emotional learning lesson next weekâŠ.
20. Party decorations
Sometimes all it takes is a little crepe paper or a latex balloon to make a regular day in the classroom feel exactly as it should every day: like the best place in the world.
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All of these grocery runs can get exhausting ⊠and that is not even counting the shopping we do for our own homes and families. One time-saving (and money-saving) trick is to use Walmart Online Grocery Pickup. Simply shop online at Walmart.com/grocery and select the Walmart store nearest you that offers the online grocery pickup feature (itâs available in over 100 stores nationwide). From your computer or mobile device, fill your virtual cart with all of the fresh produce, meat, dairy and other grocery items you always buy. Then select a time in your busy day to pull into the reserved pickup parking spot and while Walmart staff load your car.
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