(WXYZ) — Teachers have taken to social media to ask for help buying the supplies they need for the upcoming school year using the hashtag "Clear the List” or "Clear the Lists"
Teachers across the country and many right here in Michigan are sharing the supply list they usually pay for out of their own pockets.
"School funding needs help and teachers need help," says Lisa Koziara, a kindergarten teacher in Warren. "I usually spend about $2,000 a year on supplies for my classroom."
That includes buying basic items like classroom scissors and crayons to items she thinks will improvement the environment or making learning more effective.
"When I can find activities for them that are hands on and make learning fun they get more involved," says Koziara.
School supplies really add up and many districts can’t afford to help teachers buy what they need for the classroom, that’s how the “ClearTheLists” movement began.
It started with teachers in Texas creating Amazon wish lists of school supplies, then sharing those lists on social media. In a few short weeks, the movement spread to every state.'
"Across the country over 200,000 teachers are doing this, so we are trying to get the word out."
By searching Twitter for the hashtag #ClearTheListMi you’ll find many local teachers posting links to their Amazon wish lists. Many include explanations as to why they need certain supplies.
If you would like to help out a teacher, search Twitter for the hashtag #clearthelistmi or #clearthelists
You can also check out & Action News reporter Jennifer Ann Wilson @jennawils on Twitter. She has been tweeting out and posting on Instagram (@jennawilstv) links to shopping lists of other Michigan teachers.
