A Teacher's Journal 35: Cutting Back on the "Extras"!

1. To my classroom: I think many people would be surprised at how much money teachers spend on general materials for their classrooms. While schools and systems do a great job providing basic materials to teachers and students, there is generally little money available to reimburse teachers for the "extras" that they purchase -- and those extras can add up quickly!

   Magazine subscriptions and books for classroom library shelves are common expenses for me, as are office supplies that help me to stay organized. This year, I've bought low tech items like a heavy duty three hole punch, bins to store student writing folders, fine liners for a classroom project, and dry erase markers in various colors. Mechanical pencils and Post-it notes are always on my shopping list, as are magnets, markers and grading pens.

   I've also purchased high-tech items like a wireless remote allowing me to move around the room while delivering PowerPoint presentations, speakers for my classroom laptop, and a jump drive to move files between my school and home computer. All totaled, I spent over $700 on these kinds of classroom supplies this year.

2. Directly to my students and my athletes: Like most teachers, I have always had a soft spot for the students of my classes and the athletes on my teams -- and I have always worked to recognize their achievements in special ways. As a result, I spend a significant amount of money on awards and celebrations. Certificate holders, picture developing, photo frames, special gifts are yearly expenses for me. Combine those purchases with the pizzas, cakes, chips and Cokes that I inevitably buy and the costs of recognizing my students exceeds $250.

3. To my own professional growth: Without exception, I spend more on my own professional growth each year than any other category of school related spending. The largest single expense that I had this year was the $1,150 that it cost me to apply to renew my certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. While this is a one-time fee that I have to pay every 10 years, it certainly isn't something I looked forward to! Add on another $225 of non-reimbursed expenses to attend the Board's annual conference in July, and certification alone cost me almost $1,400 this year.

   I also spend almost $500 annually on memberships to professional organizations that help me to stay current. As a member of groups like the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Council of Teachers of English and the North Carolina Association of Educators, my thinking is constantly challenged and my teaching improves.

   Finally, I've spent close to $200 on professional books that have improved my understanding of teaching and learning. I've purchased titles on topics ranging from integrating reading into the content areas, differentiating instruction for learners of all ability levels, and developing classroom assessments that accurately measure student ability. Ideas from each title have changed who I am as an educator and impacted my students in positive ways.

Is my spending unique?

To some degree. Because I haven't had children of my own yet, I have more disposable income to invest in my profession and my classroom. What's more, I truly want to be the best at what I do and like highly accomplished professionals in any field, I am willing to make the investments necessary to get there.

Is my spending necessary?

Not to provide a basic education to my students or to keep my skills at a minimal level. But going beyond the "bare necessities" does require some measure of additional investment on my part. I'm not sure what my room would look like without the books or supplies that I provide on a regular basis or how effective my teaching would be without the professional development that I pay for on my own.

I just have to start cutting back on those "extras!"