Posts tagged "teaching"

School Teaching Supplies for 2011

School teaching supplies are always changing.  New school teaching supplies are developed constantly and can make your classroom a great place for learning. One can argue that as a teacher all you need is basic supplies and you can teach just about anything.  We have to remember students have a variety of learning styles that require a variety of teaching styles.  Once we figure out how our students best learn, then it is up to us to find the best school teaching supplies to help them learn.  Classroom environment, manipulatives, and critical thinking activities all play an important part in your classroom.

If your classroom environment is not a warm, welcoming place, than chances are your students will have difficulty learning.  Classroom decorations such as posters, charts, and bulletin board sets can all help create a positive atmosphere where great learning experiences can take place.  Are you looking to make some changes in your room this year?  Think about getting a new motivational poster or some colorful incentive pads.  Once you pick a theme or two, go with it. You and your students will have fun with it.

Manipulatives are a great addition to any room and are beneficial when teaching anything.  Blocks for the creative play center, unifix cubes for math, figurines for the writing stations.  Manipulatives for your classroom are a great tool to inspire learning.

Critical thinking activities are a must have for your class.  No doubt you work with a variety of learners that have a wide variety of learning needs.  Pick several new games or brainteasers that can be used at learning centers or as extension activities.

Take a few minutes and reflect on what you can do to make 2011 your best year teaching.  Change up the decor in your room, buy some new manipulatives and critical thinking activities, and watch your room transform into a room where learning happens.

Check out www.k12schoolsupplies.com

Teacher School Supplies for the New Year

It’s a new semester, and it is time get teacher school supplies!  Many people are making resolutions to get organized and getting teacher school supplies for your classroom may be at the top of your list.  Now is a great time to start going through your supplies and organizing what you use, what you need to donate, and what you need to buy.  I tend to be the type of person that enjoys buying organizational books and storage containers and such to organize things in, but when it comes to actually completing the tasks, I struggle.  One of the reasons that I do this is because as a teacher, I feel that I can find a use for almost anything.  I like to save everything I come across because I can typically find a use for it.  This gets me in a lot of trouble because quickly my extra materials become stacks of clutter.

Do kids need to learn the value of recycling materials, and finding multiple uses for materials?  Of course.  However, students need an orderly learning environment where many meaningful learning experiences can take place.  It feels extremely good to clear the clutter from your life, your house, and your classroom.  Do you want to walk into a classroom everyday that is cluttered with teaching supplies and school materials?  I’m sure that you don’t.  Try following these simple steps to clear some of your clutter, decide what teachers supplies your regularly use, and what supplies for teachers you need to buy.

1.  Set up an area in your classroom where you can put items that you no longer use.  Take five minutes every day to go through a cabinet or a drawer.  Maybe start with your crafts and art cabinet.  While you are doing this group the items you use most often and make sure you have a functional place to store them.

2.  As you are going through your materials, mark down supplies that you would like to purchase.

3.  Give away materials that you no longer use.  This is such an important step.  Hopefully you are part of a supportive school community that values sharing and collaboration.  Find a new teacher in your school community.  Chances are that they will be very grateful for any extra teaching materials that you may have.