Posts tagged "Academic term"

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!

Classroom Supplies – Take Inventory Now

What classroom supplies will you need for next year?  It is never too early to start making that list.  Chances are if you teach a traditional calendar school year, you are wrapping things up

Fun, decorative name plates

for the year.  Now is the perfect time to take inventory of the classroom supplies that you will need to replenish for the next school year.  Or, if you are going to teach a new grade level or plan on introducing a new curriculum, you may want to add some new supplies to you collection.

Where do you start?  Well, after several years of making last minute purchases for back to school night, I created a spreadsheet that details the classroom supplies that I need to have ahead of time for the first two weeks of school.  For instance, I purchase name plates for the desks and name tags for the kids to wear.  I also write very detailed lessons describing the routines I want to establish, as well as the activities I want to complete for the first several days of school.  Next to all of these ideas, I make a list of the supplies that I need.  So, before school gets out for the summer, I review my spreadsheet and see what items I need to purchase.  I can then budget accordingly so I don’t have to buy everything right before school starts.

Welcome your students in style!

When you are putting things away this year, spend a little time thinking about the first couple weeks of school.  Are you going to start the year off with a new theme?  Do you need more bulletin board sets?  What about file folders?  Believe me, when those first several days of school roll around, you will be glad that you took some time to plan ahead.

Happy planning!  For a comprehensive list of classroom supplies, check out  www.k12schoolsupplies.net.