Back to School Supplies: Notebooks, Pencils, Locker Chandeliers?

The days of school supplies consisting simply of pencil and paper are long gone, but several items from the glitzy to the cutting edge are becoming must-have items for students.

Parents are already stocking up on the basics of highlighters, crayons, glue and folders, but the demand for more expensive items like graphing calculators and e-readers is growing.

Are you getting your child an e-reader or iPad as part of back to school shopping? Tell us why or why not in comments.

The Sacramento Bee recently reported that a survey shows 42 percent of parents plan to include electronics–laptops, tablets and even cell phones–as part of their back-to-school purchases. Forty nine percent of the parents surveyed said their child's school require electronics for educational purposes.

A Staples representative shared a number of items that kids are demanding this year, including locker accessories like shag carpet and a flashing chandelier, reports WATE.com.

Students are even buying disco ball lights for their lockers, according to the Sioux City Journal.

But a Target representative told the Journal that, while many of these items may seem frivolous, students are learning to "express their individuality."

For parents seeking a lead on the bare minimum of school supplies here in Howard County, requested by Grace Community Church for donation last year. Good luck shopping!

• Backpack (no wheeled backpacks)
• Marble composition notebooks
• 3-ring hole pocket folders w/ fasteners (solid colors best)
• 3-ring hole pocket folders w/o fasteners (solid colors)
• 3-ring holed subject dividers
• Wide-ruled notebook paper
• School box or zippered pencil pouch
• No. 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
• Pencil top erasers
• Large pink erasers
• Crayons - 8, 16, 24 count
• 8-pack thick markers

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