Essential Classroom Supplies for Teachers
As a teacher, you know that kids need certain supplies to have a successful school year. Make sure you have these essential classroom supplies readily available for your students.
Dry Erase Markers
These run out—or run away—quickly, and they’re so useful. Fill a drawer or plastic bin with them and keep them where only you can grab them until it’s time to call someone to the board to use one.
Stickers
It’s amazing how stickers have held their place as valued rewards for a job well done, courtesy, and helpfulness. Replenish your supply with the latest princesses and superheroes and your kids will be eager to earn their prize.
Colorful dot stickers are also useful to identify reading levels, differentiate materials by subject or grade, or to mark files.
Zippered Storage Bags
The universal storage tool for crayons, manipulatives, flashcards, and small craft supplies, large zipper bags will help you keep your desk, bins, and bulletin board items sorted and stored. Don’t forget binder clips to hold those card sets together.
Stapler
Speaking of bulletin boards, a good office style stapler that opens flat is a must for redoing your bulletin boards. Among essential classroom supplies for teachers, staplers rank high for fastening seasonal decorations, visual aids for language arts, maps and number lines, and posters or announcements to bulletin boards in a removable way, as they allow you to switch out the contents easily when the season changes. Keep a staple remover handy as the essential complement to your trusty stapler.
Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Wipes
Save on tissues by having hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes at the ready. Encourage students to bring in their own as well.
Tissues
Even with anti-germ measures in place, there really is no end to runny noses. It’s better if they were wiped on a soft tissue instead of a sleeve or hand. Emotional upsets, “Mommy-itis,” disappointments, and disputes with classmates can result in tears, too, so tissues can be a comfort.
Sticky notes
These help keep things organized, identify who sits where, and are useful for games and bookmarks. They come in many colors for color-coding activities and materials, and they’re easy to change.
Organizers
Sets of plastic drawers, book holders that lock together, baskets and cubbies for construction paper, locking bins that stack, and tubs for larger items are all necessary to keep things organized.
Timer
A large, wall-mounted timer that all your students can see will keep them on track and help them plan and manage their timed tasks.
Wall Calendar
A calendar that invites participation in identifying the day of the week, the date, and the weather will help your students get focused and ready for the day.
Hanging File Folder Holder
Each student can have their own pocket in a hanging folder organizer to retrieve assignments, quizzes, and to deposit homework. You may need several depending on the size of your classes. Have a spare in case one gets tugged on and worn.
These are just a few suggestions for some classroom essentials every teacher should have. Don’t forget to keep some items in your desk that are just for you, such as hand lotion or protein bars. A locked drawer is the place for these, so you’ll be the only one getting at them.
