The Best School Supplies
We looked at the top 9 School Supplies and dug through the reviews from 20 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best School Supplies.
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Our Picks For The Top School Supplies
- The Best School Supply
- 1. Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 30-Count
- 2. Pentel ZEH10BCBP2 Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, 2-Pack
- 3. Fat Zebra Designs Dry Erase Lapboards & Markers, 30-Piece
- 4. Crayola K-8 Back to School Essentials Supply Kit
- 5. UIYA Auto-Stop Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 6. iBayam Fine Point Colored Pens
- 7. AmazonBasics Pre-Sharpened Wood Cased #2 HB Pencils, 150-Pack
- 8. TOPS Oxford 1-Subject Notebooks, 6-Pack
- 9. Hommie Colored Sticky Notes Set
Bonds to Several MaterialsThis glue stick works on paper, cardboard, foam board, display board and more.
Help Erase Breast CancerFive cents from the purchase of this eraser goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Eco-Friendly OptionStop wasting paper with these double-sided boards made for endless learning.
Includes Everything Your Child NeedsDon’t worry about school supply shopping when you can get it all at once.
Why we recommend these school supplies?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 9 School Supplies and also dug through the reviews from 20 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best School Supplies.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 30-Count
Our Take
This is the perfect glue to use at school because it works on several different types of materials. It also goes on smooth without any clumps. Plus, it dries quickly so you can avoid any mess.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Crayola K-8 Back to School Essentials Supply Kit
Our Take
Perfect for busy families, this kit comes with all of the essentials for the classroom. This kit includes pencils, erasers, glue and scissors. It also comes with washable markers and colored pencils.
What other experts liked
Overall Product Rankings
7. AmazonBasics Pre-Sharpened Wood Cased #2 HB Pencils, 150-Pack
Our School Supply Findings
Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 30-Count
What We Liked: This is the perfect glue to use at school because it works on several different types of materials. It also goes on smooth without any clumps. Plus, it dries quickly so you can avoid any mess.
Crayola K-8 Back to School Essentials Supply Kit
What We Liked: Perfect for busy families, this kit comes with all of the essentials for the classroom. This kit includes pencils, erasers, glue and scissors. It also comes with washable markers and colored pencils.
UIYA Auto-Stop Electric Pencil Sharpener
What We Liked: You can keep little fingers safe with the safety features of this electric pencil sharpener. It’s easy to operate for kids of all ages. Plus, you can simply clean it out by opening the shavings tray and throwing away the scraps.
TOPS Oxford 1-Subject Notebooks, 6-Pack
What We Liked: These classic notebooks are perfect for keeping each subject separated and color-coded. These sheets are college ruled with a red margin line. The paper has micro perforations so they are easy to tear out if needed.
Hommie Colored Sticky Notes Set
What We Liked: You can take these sticky notes to the library, school or work. They come in bright colors and a range of sizes. This set also comes with an index bookmarks tab for better organization.
Pentel ZEH10BCBP2 Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, 2-Pack
What We Liked: You can erase pencil markings and help fund breast cancer research in one move. This eraser removes pencil markings cleanly and easily. Plus, it doesn’t crack or harden after use.
Fat Zebra Designs Dry Erase Lapboards & Markers, 30-Piece
What We Liked: These dry erase boards are the ideal choice for environmentally friendly families and schools. Each board has a special coating to prevent bleeding and smearing. The eraser ensures that no marks are left behind.
Our School Supply Buying Guide
Toward the end of summer, every parent gets ready to do some back-to-school shopping. School-supply shopping is a fun activity you can do with your children, getting them excited to get back in the classroom with their teachers and friends. As your kids get older, they may even want to try school supply shopping on their own.
It can be overwhelming to know what to get for your child. When you’re getting ready to buy school supplies, be sure to take a look at your supplies from the year before. Do you have anything leftover that can still be used this year? While some markers and highlighters may dry out from year to year, it’s likely that many items can still be used again. This way, you don’t have to buy duplicates of school supplies.
Consider what your child needs for school. You can start by making a list of the essentials for their class or subjects. Some schools also provide a list of recommended school supplies to have. This is a good starting point to use when making your back-to-school shopping list for your kids. Then, you can tailor the recommended list to your child’s needs and interests. For example, if you know they love bright colors, grab an extra pack of markers. If they’re obsessed with crafts, put a few glue sticks into your shopping cart.
In some schools, it’s a big help when parents provide a few extra supplies for the classroom for the children to share. While many schools supply the basics, it’s nice to be able to provide a few extra things for the whole class. Sometimes teachers have recommendations for these items as well, which often include glitter, glue, paint, construction paper and pencils.
DWYM Fun Fact
The humble eraser is one of the most basic school supplies that kids use in the classroom. Did you know that at one point, bread was used as an eraser? While pencils have been around for hundreds of years, pencil erasers are relatively new, only first discovered in the late 1700s. Before then, bread was the pencil eraser of choice. It was the perfect material and consistency to erase graphite pencil markings. However, bread was not a durable choice because it eventually gets stale. Only moist and fresh bread works as an eraser. Engineer Edward Narine discovered that rubber was a better eraser than bread when he accidentally used it instead of the delicious carb.
The School Supply Tips and Advice
- When you’re purchasing school supplies for your children before they head off to school, be sure to check that the items are age-appropriate. This is especially important for young children who are entering their first few years of school. For example, instead of regular scissors, you’ll need to get safety scissors that don’t have a sharp point at the end. Be sure to check that your kids can open, close and use all of the school supplies by themselves. It’s great to practice a few times before they head off to school.
- When there are several children in a classroom together, they are bound to show up with some of the exact same school supplies. If those get mixed together, they could forget which ones belong to them. Friends may even take items that don’t belong to them by mistake. That’s why it’s best to label the large items with your child’s name to reduce any misunderstandings.
- If you’re not sure which items to get for your child and you don’t have many supplies leftover from last year, consider getting a school supplies kit. This is a set that includes the essentials your child will need, all packaged together so you don’t have to purchase them individually. It’s a great time-saver for busy parents.
- In addition to the school supplies, make sure your child has a way to store and organize their supplies — both at home and at school. This way, they won’t lose or forget their school supplies anywhere.
About The Author
Anam Ahmed is a copywriter and essayist based in Toronto. She has been writing on technology, travel, parenting, and business for over 10 years, and works with a number of high-profile organizations. She values finding the best products to make people's lives easier. Anam earned an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A.H. from Queen's University. Learn more at www.anamahmed.ca.
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