Many parents are finishing up their back to school shopping in these final days before school starts, and one local teacher says now is the time to stock up on deals.

Colleen McNamara teaches 5th grade at Alexander Central Schools, and says you can often find the best prices on school items now. She recommends stocking up on things you know your kids will run out of during the year.

"This is the best time to get some extra ones, put them in a cupboard kept away, and take them out when the students go through them. There's no doubt that in the middle of the school year they're going to run out of pencils, a glue stick, and rather than the students being marked unprepared, you can have those supplies ready to go to keep them successful," she explained.

McNamara also said she understands it can be tough to find some of the items on your child's back to school shopping list, but that there's a reason things need to be certain colors, or that kids need to have specific items. She says it all has to do with giving kids good organization skills at a young age, and setting those up to last.

She also suggests taking that organizing a step further when it comes to homework and assignments once school starts.

"You may also want to list your items in order of due dates, so you can make sure you're working on the crucial items beforehand. Whatever way you want to get organized, you just want to make sure you're taking the time. Because when you set yourself up for organization, you are setting yourself up for those habits that are going to last," she said.

