We spend so much time thinking about what to put on the students’ supply list that we sometimes forget what we need to acquire to do our jobs effectively as teachers. Some items are obvious, like pens and file folders. Here are some other ideas that you might not have thought of.
1. Lots of assorted duct tape
Duct tape comes in so many different designs and colors these days. It has so many classroom uses, from decoration (it’s the best non-destructive way to hang posters and student work), student creativity, or fixing worn out textbooks.
2. Spray bottles
It’s good to have multiple spray bottles around. They can hold disinfectant or another cleaner for desks, dry erase board cleaner, or even paint for fun art projects.
3. Measuring tape
Teachers often don’t think to bring the measuring tape to school because no home improvement will be going on, but have you ever tried to measure an evenly-spaced bulletin board with a bar ruler or, even worse, a protractor? It’s not efficient.
4. Book tape
Face: students trash books, especially the incredibly expensive textbooks. For those that go down, some book tape can help resuscitate them.
5. Substitute teacher folder
Instead of leaving a long note dictating how you want your class to be run during an absence, simply leave this sub folder with the applicable materials. You’ll also want to leave it where it’s easily found and full in case of an unexpected absence.
6. Duplicate notes
For most notes sent home, you’ll want a copy for the student’s file. These notes have a duplicate layer just for that purpose. Try sending some positives home as well. They can make a big difference.
7. A really good pencil sharpener
The cheap metal sharpeners mounted on the classroom wall break down all the time. Save yourself a lot of trouble (and weeks waiting for maintenance) by investing in a really good one that can stand up to thousands of uses.
8. Heavy duty stapler
Ever try to staple a 20-page packet with the little stapler from the supply closet? Go ahead and put a serious stapler in your room. You’ll want to keep it out of reach of the kids, though.
9. Desk lamp
Fluorescent lights are bad for us on many levels. Sometimes at the end of a long day, you want to shut them off and just work at your desk. A good lamp can really help relax you.
10. More waste baskets
Want a cleaner room? Get as many waste baskets as you can and put them strategically around the room. Most paper ends up on the floor because students are too busy to get up and throw it away.
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