let’s help teachers clear their lists!

With Back-to-School season nearly in full swing, every teacher I know has school on the mind.

Teachers are already thinking about curriculum, lessons, students, school supplies, and classrooms for school this new year.

Classroom organization and set-up can be incredibly stressful for teachers.

If they already know what they will be teaching, educators are thinking about where they will be teaching. They’re thinking about the classroom supplies they’ll need for the new school year, and they’re thinking about what kinds of students they will be serving.

First year teachers, especially, will be feeling incredibly anxious, wondering how on earth they will be able to gather all of the supplies they will need to establish a warm and welcoming classroom for their students.

Setting up a classroom is no easy task; it’s even more difficult to do so from scratch.

Enter: The Teacher Wish List

Hello, Teacher Wish List.

You are welcome here. In fact, we are incredibly glad that you’ve made your way into our culture.

You’re like the Wedding Registry or Baby Registry–but better. You are a dream because you are the list that gives and gives and gives. You’re not full of weird kitchen appliances or ugly China patterns or tiny baby Air Jordans. You are made of books, pens, pencils, journals, math manipulatives, bulletin board letters, lab goggles, staplers, and hole punchers.

You are helping to educate the youth of the world and are taking a tiny bit of stress off of the shoulders of our educators. And we all know that our educators–especially in the last few years–have been stretched to the absolute max. They are tired, worn down, and stepped on. They’re pushed and pulled every which way and are expected to do the job of 27 different people.

What an amazing thing you are, you little Classroom Wish List! Just a simple Amazon Wish List, you let us all feel like we are helping in a teeny way, and we thank you.

We hope you never, ever leave and that you’re here to stay.

Sincerely,

Everyone

What does “Clear the List” mean?

“Clear the List” means that we, as a community, do what we can to support education by purchasing some of the items on teacher wishlists. That’s it.

We work together to “clear the list” of items so that the teacher is ready to rock and roll for the school year with all of the classroom supplies and student school supplies he or she needs for a successful year.

It doesn’t matter if the teacher is a 1st year teacher, 2nd year teacher, or veteran.

It doesn’t matter if the teacher is in a new classroom or old.

It doesn’t matter if the list is for a first grade teacher, a specialist, a middle school librarian, an AP social studies teacher, a kindergarten teacher, or a special education teacher.

Any teacher can create a list, and any list can be cleared!

Who started the “Clear the List” movement?

Courtney Jones, an elementary school teacher in Texas, started the #ClearTheList movement in 2019, and since then, tons of celebrities and brands have jumped on board.

Courtney says: I started the movement to boost teacher morale through a pay-it-forward campaign to get supplies for classrooms, make connections, and build community amongst teachers, all while joining in unity to raise awareness about the funding issues in education across the country.(from adoptaclassroom.org)

If that doesn’t say “We rise by lifting others”, I don’t know what does. Courtney, you freaking rock.

What celebrities have supported #ClearTheList ?

SO MANY CELEBS are supporting this movement, it makes me want to dance.

These are a few celebs who are helping teachers to prepare for the school year: Chrissy Teigen, Casey Donahew, Lance Bass, Luke Combs, Angela Kinsey, Khloé Kardashian, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, Jessica Alba, Ashley Hesseltine, and Ellen to name a few.

How to sponsor or help a teacher “Clear the List

Here are 3 ways to find lists to clear:

Clear one of the ‘take 5’ Teacher Wish Lists

We have thousands of educators who receive our weekly Take 5 News, and they’ve shared their lists.

Click on an Amazon Wish list link and help where you are able! bit.ly/HELPclearthelist

Ask your personal networks

I’m sure that you have friends, family, or neighbors who are teachers. Ask around if anyone has a Teacher Wish List that they would like to share.

A simple query on Facebook will–I’m sure–garner a ton of responses, especially if you have any first year teacher pals.

Search #ClearTheList to find other Teacher Lists

Follow on Twitter: #ClearTheList

Take a look at Instagram: search #ClearTheList

Check out Facebook: #ClearTheList

Quick & easy steps for teachers to create a Classroom Wish List

Here’s how:

1. Go to Amazon.com. Create a List. (This is your Amazon Wishlist.)
2. Name the List.
3. Click MORE -> MANAGE LIST. Change privacy to PUBLIC. Add your NAME, EMAIL, & BIRTHDAY. Add a DESCRIPTION. Choose SHIPPING ADDRESS. SAVE CHANGES.
4. SEARCH for items you need. Add ITEMS to the list you created.
5. Click SEND LIST TO OTHERS. Click INVITE SOMEONE to VIEW ONLY. COPY LINK. SHARE that link with everyone!

Teachers: what to do after you create your list

YAYYY! Now that you created your Classroom Wish List, what’s next?

TIME TO SHARE YOUR LIST!

Add your list here, and please encourage any and all teachers you know to do the same:

If you need the link, this is it: bit.ly/tmmclearthelist

Help share this post to get more lists cleared!

Grab an image.

Use this tweet.

let's help teachers #ClearTheList — and #teachers please SHARE your list here! https://t.co/Y60i2t2eIe #clearthelist2022 #BTS2022 pic.twitter.com/cmgAhqhO5e

— amy mascott (@teachmama) July 21, 2022

The more people who share, the more teachers’ lists will be cleared!

Why #CleartheList rocks

Clear the List rocks because it is making a difference.

Teachers of every grade–from California to Iowa, Texas to Maryland, and South Carolina to Connecticut–are jumping on this nationwide movement because for years and years and years educators have been paying out of pocket for both classroom decorations and supplies for their kids.

Sometimes parent groups can offset costs by providing a small amount of money to reimburse teachers, but often that’s not the case.

Educators in low-income or especially needy communities tend to spend even more than their counterparts in more affluent areas since PTA / PTSA groups rarely have extra funds. Maybe only those in their first year teaching are supported.

Thank you & stay in touch

THANK YOU, thank you, thank you to every person who shares their list and who supports teachers by helping to Clear the List!

If I missed something here, please tell me.

Subscribe to teach mama’s Take 5

Subscribe to teach mama’s Deals & Steals

Here’s to a successful new school year!