Walk into any store in July and you’ll start to see “Back to School” supplies not only for students but also for teachers. When it comes time to start restocking your classroom for the next school year, it can be easy to buy all the things you think you need while forgetting some of the most important teaching supplies you actually need. What do teachers really need for their classroom? Let me fill you in!
Organizing Options
Teaching supplies are only as good as their organizer! When you buy supplies or you have students make things, you want to make sure you have a place to put all the pieces to assemble it as well as the finished product! Here are some great organizing options to add to your back to school list.
Storage Bins
Between school supplies and keeping center activities organized, storage bins are a must! You can even use storage bins for each individual student to put their gloves and hats in during the winter. Because storage bins vary in size, they are a great teacher supply for a large variety of your organizing needs.
Plastic Drawers
Teachers all tend to get a whole bunch of little things that need to be stored once they are opened. Having plastic drawers of all shapes and sizes is great for organizing teacher supplies, art supplies, and separating various types of paper as well. You can also use plastic drawers to store center activities or use them for student supplies. If you use them for student supplies, using a visual label can be incredibly helpful for students when they are looking for materials.
Teacher Supplies Includes Student Supplies
Sometimes it might feel like you are buying supplies for more than just you. The fact is you are. Many students will forget or break a pencil, be missing an eraser, or something else of the sort. So, you’ll be their go to person for their classroom needs. Now, I’m not saying you need to buy the whole supply list, but having these teacher supplies available will be great for you and your students.
Extra Pencil
The main supplies that students tend to forget is something you use everyday: pencils. Having extra pencils is necessary for everything! I always like having extra pencils in stations where students will need them for center time. I also like to just have them in a specific place in my room so students can pick one up as needed.
Little Erasers
Big and little mistakes happen all the time. When students need to erase, they can get frustrated when their pencil eraser is all used up. Having little erasers available to your students can help with frustration for you and them. In addition, having these teacher supplies available will be great to keep students focused. We all know if a student gets off task, it’s easy for others to follow.
Teacher Supplies for Helping
Whenever I am buying teacher supplies for the next school year, I always try to get things that are going to make my life a whole lot easier. Here are the teacher supplies I always make sure I have on hand for the school year.
Electric Sharpener
Nothing is worse than an unsharpened pencil. What’s even more frustrating is when you have to go and find the pencil sharpener. I always set my pencil sharpener up next to the class pencils that are available to students. Having the pencil sharpener right there makes it easy for students to sharpen their pencils and get right back to work. I also try to make sure everything is already sharp.
Reading Pointers
Whether you are reading a poster, sight words, or a book, having reading pointers is a must! When you try to point at things with your fingers, it can be unclear or hard for everyone to see. Having reading pointers that are colorful and maybe a bit sparkly can be eye catching for students.
Poster Markers
You never know when an idea is going to strike. That’s why I love having poser markers around to write big bold letters on posters we might hang up in the classroom. Having this teacher supply around is beneficial for keeping students focused because you won’t ever have to take time to rummage around for a marker when you need one last minute.
Clothespins
Finally, clothespins are a must have teacher supply. From hanging up posters that you are going to change up to hanging up important pieces of paper near your desk, clothespins are so versatile! Plus, if you buy the wooden ones, you can always add a little paint and make them something special. Beyond being a super helpful teacher supply, clothespins can be great for making and hanging up crafts.
There are so many teacher supplies out there that everyone thinks you need to have. However, you have to think about the things you’re going to use the most! When I think of all the different jobs I have in my classroom, making sure everything is organized and my students are taken care of is my top priority. While having all those Amazon wants is great, having the teacher supplies you actually need around will make your life that much simpler.
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