Hey fellow teachers!
As you start to prepare for Back to School, I wanted to take a moment to share some of my ultimate favorite things from Amazon I’ve purchased for my classroom. These are all items that I currently own and use almost EVERY SINGLE DAY in the classroom. I know how much we all spend on our classrooms (WAY too much), BUT these items I would prioritize purchasing again and again because they have become an essential tool within my classroom structures, routines, and activities. As a reminder, there are several ways teachers can earn free items for their classrooms, too (check it out here!), but if you have gifts cards or a Back-to-School budget, I highly recommend these items! Take a look below to check them out and find out how I use them in my classroom!
1. Scotch Thermal Laminator: Every school I’ve worked at has had a large laminator in the workroom; HOWEVER, there are several benefits of having a personal one. First, the large laminators are simply sometimes…just not good. The laminating sheets are thin, create lots of bubbles, and are often broken down. The laminating pouches used for a personal laminator are much thicker and hold up much better. Also, you can use your personal laminator anywhere and at any time! Sometimes I keep my laminator at school, but I often like to have it at home when I’m prepping things in front of the TV.
2. Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches: These pouches go with the personal laminator above! They come in a variety of different thicknesses, which is great for different types of projects.
3. Magnetic Curtain Rods: Magnetic curtain rods are perfect for hanging anchor charts around the room! I use them primarily on my whiteboards to be able to flip through anchor charts we’ve created together throughout the year, but you can also use them to hang anchor charts on your ceilings! The metal railings (which provide the structure for the overhead florescent lighting) is usually metal, so it’s a great way to save some wall space, if needed!
4. Portable Document Camera: Okay, I really hope your school is able to provide one of these for you, but if not, this portable document camera is pretty affordable. I got one of these during the pandemic when I was teaching online, and I was pleasantly surprised at its quality! It’s also lightweight so you can move it around the classroom really easily.
5. Transparent Photo Cases and Craft Boxes: I had three of these when I taught primary grades because of all the picture sorts, word sorts, literacy games, and flashcards we used on a regular basis, but I still use them in my upper-grade classroom to organize some of the same types of materials. You can also use them to organize small craft items like googly eyes!
6. Rolling Utility Cart: The rolling cart is a LIFESAVER. I put materials and resources that I use and need in order to teach in a variety of settings around the classroom. The wheels allow me to pull it whenever I need it – the small group table, the front whiteboard, or even individual student desks.
7. Computer Monitor: Here’s another item that I hope your school might already have for you, but with the amount of technology we use in our classrooms on a regular basis, I highly recommend you have an extra computer monitor. An extra computer monitor allows you to separate what you see and what your students see, so you can open several different programs and tabs at the same time.
8. Magnetic Staple Remover Stick: Before I became a teacher, I had NO idea this magic thing existed. This flat staple remover is perfect for bulletin boards. It’s also magnetic so the staples stick onto it, allowing you to throw them away more easily.
9. Dry Erase Spinning Prize Wheel with Desktop Stand: This one may but more of a wishlist item, but my students LOVE my spinning wheel. I use it primarily for random prizes in the classroom, but because it is dry-erase, you can use it for anything that requires random chance – writing prompts, games, etc.
10. All-Purpose Document Sorter: Can I tell you how much I LOVE this numbered document sorter?! Instead of having a turn-in bin, I have students turn in their work with this number organizer. Every student is assigned a number at the beginning of the year (alphabetical by last name!), and they turn in all their assignments by placing their work behind that number. The Document Sorter is a TIME-SAVER! Keeping everything alphabetized makes it super easy to check for missing assignments, grade assignments, and pass assignments back to students.
11. Literature Organizer – 24 Compartment: I have two of these in my classroom – one for student mailboxes and one to sort and organize different types of paper. I’ve previously used ones made of cardboard, but they fell apart quickly. The one linked here should be good for years to come!
12. Wireless Presentation Clicker PowerPoint Clicker: I love walking around the classroom while teaching, and this presentation clicker allows me to do just that! It also has a laser pointer so I can things in the presentation or around the room during my lessons. Being allowed to teach from anywhere really helps with classroom management! I should also add that students get weirdly excited to use the clicker when they are presenting something, too. It’s extra motivation for them to participate!
13. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo: This is another item that allows me to teach from around the room. It also helps with the organization because I hate having cords everywhere!
14. 60-Minute Countdown Visual Timer: I’ve used multiple different timers in my classroom, but this visual timer is my favorite. It’s really simple to use, a great visual, and an awesome tool for students who have a hard time staying focused, getting work completed on time, and/or need frequent breaks.
15. Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook: I’ve been using these reusable notebooks for several years now, and they are awesome because you can scan and save individual pages digitally, then erase the pages to use again and again! It’s great for those of us who like to write things down with paper and pencil, but also like the convenience of being able to find notes digitally.
16. PILOT Erasable Pens: These pens can be used with the Rocketbook (mentioned above!), but I also use them for my everyday teaching when taking notes in any notebook. It allows me to color-code, but also erase when I make a mistake! My students also love them, and they often like to purchase their own set to note-take as well.
17. Paper Cutter: Last, but not least, I think it’s a good idea to purchase your own paper cutter. For some reason, the ones in the workrooms don’t seem to work that well, and having one in your own classroom and/or home makes it much more convenient.
These 17 classroom favorites have transformed my teaching experience, making my classroom more organized, engaging, and efficient. Give them a try, and you’ll see the magic they bring to your own little educational world. Happy teaching!
Love,
Heather | A Trailblazing Teacher
