Many (most? all?) teachers outfit their classrooms by paying out of their own pockets — and teachers traditionally aren’t paid well in the U.S., so those pockets may not be all that full. Unfortunately, MNPS teachers aren’t allowed to make their classroom wish lists public. Of course, that doesn’t mean that their classrooms aren't in need.
If you want to contribute to your kids’ classrooms, many teachers love to have extra age-appropriate books. Green Hills’ Nashville Toys and Books and East Nashville’s Fairytales are good places to look. Consider picking up some name-brand supplies, not because teachers care about the brand name, but because quality goods tend to last longer.
MNPS is providing supply boxes for all kindergarteners and first graders this year, but you know teachers have extras in case of emergency. Think: Crayons, Kleenex, and Ticonderoga pencils. Gift Horse in East Nashville has a wall of fancy pens and highlighters that will make any teacher happy. Lakeshore Learning isn't locally owned, but Nashville teachers love the White Bridge Road location because it is stocked with educational goodies (Hint: It is a great place to buy a gift card for a teacher).
Got more cash to spend? Consider buying extra sets of headphones that work with school-district-issued laptops. On a budget? Many of you know how I love Smart Art + Craft Supplies in Music Valley. It’s a shop jam-packed with second-hand art and craft goodies. Erasers, pens, paint, fabric, buttons, glue, poster board — you name it, they probably have it. Everything is organized by category, so it’s pretty easy to see if they have what you want. If not, head back soon; the inventory changes regularly. All of the profits from the store support work to aid folks with intellectual disabilities in the Nashville area. And if all else fails, donate some money to PENCIL.
