Free Joe Bruzzese by Parents' Guide to the Middle School Years Page A

the study space with a complete list of supplies before the school year begins.
    Step Three: List the following items under the “Supplies for Home” heading:
Two packs of loose-leaf paper (aka binder paper, usually found in packs of 100 or more)
One box of pencils (twenty-four pencils)
One box of pens (twelve to twenty-four pens)
Two packs of 2 × 1½ sticky notes
One stapler, desktop size (The mini-size version holds only about five staples.)
One box of staples
One box of large paper clips
One three-hole punch (Buy the heavy version—it will last for years to come.)
One file crate (The traditional egg crate variety will do the job.)
One box of hanging files (which fit neatly into the egg crate)
One desktop calendar (Check the range of months and get one that begins in the summer months and continues through the following year.)
One pack of index cards (3 × 5 or 4 × 6)
One pencil sharpener (handheld or electric)
    Suggest that your child post the supplies list next to her study space and check the stock of supplies on a monthly basis; this helps to minimize the need for emergency trips to the store the night before a project is due. As items begin to run low, your child should be the one to suggest a trip to the store for restocking. Middle schoolers are ready to begin taking responsibility for their own supplies. Take advantage of this opportunity to begin slowly transferring responsibility for ongoing management of school to your child.
    With both lists complete, you are ready to head to the store. At the store, shift the responsibility of locating all of the supplies to your child while you lounge in the comfort of an overpriced desk chair.
    A word of caution: Before proceeding to the checkout line, take a thorough accounting of the items in your shopping cart. Be prepared for the addition of accessory items that were not a part of the original list. You can approach this challenge in a variety of ways.
    Negotiation:
“Before we leave the house I tell my daughter that if she wants anything that is not on the list then she needs to pay for those items out of her own money.”
    â€”
Pam, middle school mom, Tucson, AZ
    Needs versus wants:
“My standard response is, ‘If you don’t need it, I’m not buying it.’ ”
    â€”
John, father of two teenage boys, New York, NY
    I’ll pay half:
“We negotiate the purchase of things she wants to have versus what she needs to have. I agree to pay for half of what she wants.”
    â€”
Lisa, eighth grade mom, Dallas, TX
    Each of these strategies comes with its own set of challenges. The “Negotiation” method leaves the door open for a shoppingcart full of accessories that might add more clutter—and therefore less organization—to a child’s year. The positive side of negotiating purchases is that your child may begin to appreciate the cost associated with school supplies. This increased awareness could translate into a higher level of care and personal responsibility for the items you have purchased. Using the “Needs versus Wants” strategy may be best if your child has already become accustomed to budget-based shopping. Before embarking on your shopping safari, consider creating a budget of expected expenses with your child’s help. This team-based approach to building a budget adds a layer of challenge and excitement to your trip. Will you be able to stay under the estimated budget? Or will the allure of scented markers put your final bill over the top? Working together may alleviate the desire to add unnecessary items to your bill. The only downside to eliminating additional items comes when trying to implement this strategy with a child who enjoys the extras. If your typical shopping experiences include the occasional discretionary item or two, then consider the third strategy—“I’ll pay half.” A mom of two shared this strategy with me years ago after I asked