Helping teachers in Alberta ‘Clear The List’ of school supplies for their classrooms

You can be a part of helping teachers across Alberta provide necessary school resources to their students come fall of 2022.

“So this year in particular I’m helping start a new school,” shared Kate Borgeson, a Grade 1 teacher, “And I did this five years ago – I helped start a new school – and I think I spent over a 1000 dollars of my own money just trying to get the right resources and some things that are nice in my classroom.”

Borgeson says it’s common for teachers to pay out-of-pocket for school resources for their students – a load that can be lightened by a quick “Add to cart” and “Proceed to checkout” on Amazon.

“Clear the List” is a growing American initiative brought to Alberta by the Black Teachers Association – starting this month you can purchase school supplies to fulfill Amazon wish lists made by 140 teachers all over Alberta.

The co-founder of the Black Teachers Association of Alberta says that a large number of teachers who submitted their wish lists this year shocked her.

“And it just goes to show how many teachers really are craving support and craving their community to reach out,” said Sarah Adomako-Ansah, “And sometimes people don’t know how to help, so this is a very easy way for teachers and other people to do so.”

Items on teachers’ wish lists range from pencil sharpeners, markers, and board games, to novels that reflect the diversity of their students.

“So seeing kids of colour on these books for their students is so heartwarming, because for me as an elementary teacher that’s something that I strived for in my class, is to make sure all my students can see themselves surrounding themselves in their classrooms, and now more and more teachers are trying to do the same,” said Adomako-Ansah, smiling.”

On BTA’s Google doc of wish lists, teachers wrote in their reasons for needing the supplies. One said, “My school is a sports school but in a pretty low economic area. The majority of the students who are from the area require supplies from us and are usually bought by us…This is an amazing idea as out of pocket I pay a lot yearly and this would really, really help!”

Another wrote: “I teach in a low-income area of Edmonton where the majority of the population are newcomers to Canada, refugees and English Language Learners. Many of our families struggle to make ends meet and are unable to pay for supplies and field trips… I am aspiring to create a safe, positive and welcoming classroom environment where students can learn and feel they can be their 100 per cent authentic selves.”

And another teacher said, “We are grateful for literally anything we can get. These students deserve the world because they are the future!”

Grade 1 teacher Borgeson says those school supplies really enhance students’ learning.

“Kinetic sand instead of regular sand or brand new Mr. Sketch markers – kids love those,” said Borgeson, “It just makes them happy when they’re coming in, they get excited to be there.”

Borgeson summed it up like this: happy teacher, happy student. So if you want to contribute to classrooms across the province, go to the Black Teachers Association’s Instagram or click here to help Clear the List before school starts this fall.