Teaching Supplies – Top Ten

Getting teaching supplies ready for the first day of school can be stressful for some teachers.  There are so many activities to do and routines to establish the first week of school that usually you don’t need to have all of your teaching supplies  purchased by the first day.  Here is my list of the top ten teaching supplies I make sure that I have by the first day of class.  I wait and purchase some of my other classroom teaching supplies later.  It took me several years of extremely late nights right before school starts to make me realize that it all does not have to be done at once.

10.  Post cards or stationary – Each year I write a note to my incoming students welcoming them to my class.

9.  Name plates – I make sure that each student has a name plate for “Back to School” night.

8.  Personal calendar – I keep a lot of dates on my Google Calendar, but I always keep a small paper calendar on my desk.

7.  Incentives and motivators – Part of establishing a warm, welcoming environment includes creating community rules and norms.  I believe each class is different, so I like to pick out different motivators each year.

6.  Highlighters and sticky notes – I use these for many activities with the kids as well as to help me stay organized.

5.  New book for the 1st day – The first day of school is special for everyone.  When I am buying my teaching supplies, I like to purchase a new “back to school” book.

4.  File Folders – I use these to keep papers organized.

3.  Name tags – I try to remember the names of everyone in my class, but it takes awhile.

2.  Record keeping book-  Like my plan book, I like to start making notes about students.

1.  Lesson plan book -  This is one of the first items I buy every year to make sure I know what I am doing on that first day.

Like I mentioned above, I don’t need everything by the beginning of the school year.  I consider this list my essential items.

We would love to hear what you consider “Must Have’s” for the start of the year!