Thread: Who has the best prices for teaching supplies

Without specifics (like what you're looking for), I'm not sure how much help anyone can be. Like any shopping, some places will have good deals on some items and charge too much for others.

But if you are in the US, Velcro I can help with! For manufacturers, Velcro makes the PSA stuff in 25 yard rolls, and the sew-on stuff in 50 yard rolls (widths vary). You can also buy the dots in various sizes, also in 25 yard rolls. Note that the "hook" and the "loop" pieces are sold separately, so you'll have to buy both kinds. At one point I needed a bunch of the stuff for the group home I ran; we had a local manufacturer locate a distributor, and got the stuff wholesale. Contact [email="marketing@velcro.com"]marketing@velcro.com[/email] and ask for information on a distributor in your area, or from whom you can order.

Thanks for the information Just Jim.
Well, in addition to velcro, I am looking for hands on toys for math and science, a source for leveled readers, tactile toys, and sensory toys.
Thanks in advance for the information.

You might take a look at [url="http://www.readinga-z.com/"]http://www.readinga-z.com/[/url] I've used some materials from there, but it really depends on what you need.

The best way I know of to locate toys for science and math, tactile toys, and sensory toys, is to make your own or work closely with someone who can make them. After a while you can put together a team that can make almost anything.

Quick example: Last fall one of my classmates needed a set of unit blocks (wooden building blocks made in several standard sizes and shapes to allow teaching geometry and math as well as for general playing purposes) for her first SpEd classroom, but the money to buy them (about $200) just wasn't there. It only took a few hours to build a set; cost was about $20 in materials. This is a project that could be easily done in most hobby shops, and might make a great project for a school shop class (if there are any still around!).

Admittedly, a person can get carried away with this, but often this is the only way to get what you actually need. Right now I'm building some adapters for markers used on white boards; last summer I made some nearly-indestructible easily-modified flashcards. Three years ago we made a "study booth" that limited the directions visual and auditory stimulation could come from (my brothers referred to that one as "psycho redneck sculpture run amok").

I really think that if all of us here wrote down our ideas and tips this way, we could put together a book. If you know roughly what you need, ask and someone will probably come up with some ideas.