Tag: teacher prep

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Classroom Supplies– What You Really Need

Now that the Fourth of July has come and gone, nearly every store has started to fill its shelves with school supplies. There’s still plenty of summer left to be had, but with school starting next month in many places, it’s a good time to start thinking about what you will need for your classroom this coming school year. 

A lot of schools will pay for and provide basic classroom needs, like pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors, and teachers are typically given a limited budget that they can use to purchase other needs throughout the year. However, many teachers still end up using their own money to purchase supplies and other things for their students. With supplies now being readily available and even on sale, it’s a great time for teachers to start purchasing what they will need, especially first time teachers. 

If you’ve never had to stock up a classroom, it can be hard to know what is essential, what’s nice to have, and what you can probably do without. Before buying anything, check with the principal or financial secretary at your school to see what will be provided for you and what kind of budget you have to work with. It’s also a smart idea to take inventory of your classroom– see what you have, what you’re running low on, and what you don’t have. A lot of schools have overstock rooms, too, where you might find some larger items like shelves, chairs, etc. that are up for the taking. Basically, do your research so you don’t end up spending money you don’t need to! Below are some ideas of supplies you might need to have a successful school year. 

*Not every teacher will need all of these items. Needs will vary from grade to grade and between content areas.*

  • Basic supplies: pencils, pens, glue sticks/bottles, crayons, markers, pencil sharpeners, construction paper, lined filler paper, erasers, pencil boxes, rulers, ziploc storage bags, and tape
  • Folders for each student to send homework and notes in to and from school and home
  • Spiral or composition notebooks for each student for note taking or journal writing
  • Dry erase markers and erasers– for the teacher and a set for students if you have miniature boards for your students to use
  • Colored marking pens or markers for grading papers
  • Sticky notes
  • Paper clips and binder clips
  • Staplers and staples
  • Push pins
  • Magnets– these are great to use for hanging papers on white boards! Magnetic hooks can also be helpful.
  • File folders and manila folders for paper storage
  • Some kind of lanyard or key ring for your school keys and ID card
  • Sticker labels
  • Sorting baskets for student work
  • Grade level books– a classroom library is essential, and can be useful in any grade or content
  • Timers– visual timers are great for younger grades. You can also find great timers on YouTube that can be displayed on your projector!
  • Cleaning wipes– nothing says “back to school” like a cold. Keep your room as germ free as possible by giving it routine wipe downs.
  • Student rewards– stickers, small toys, small candies, sticky hands, fidget toys, etc.
  • Clicker to connect your projector to your computer so you can easily wander the room while teaching.
  • Hall passes
  • Posters and other decor related to your grade level and content– make your room a fun, inviting place to be, and make it your own!
  • Air freshener or odor neutralizer– I especially found this helpful when teaching junior high! 
  • Paper lesson planner– it might seem silly in today’s digital world, but sometimes it just helps to have your plans written down somewhere!
  • “Emergency Kit” for your desk– keep your essentials close by: chapstick, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, antacids, hair ties, gum or mints, cough drops, bandages, extra feminine hygiene supplies, lotion, and quick snacks.
  • Desk organizer to keep your pens and pencils contained.
  • Other nice to have, but not necessary things might include a personal laminator, standing desk, or paper cutter.

Phew! What a list! As mentioned before, not every teacher will need all of these items. Always check your classroom to see what you need before you spend money. Setting up a classroom can be so much fun. Enjoy making your space your own, and be sure to make your room a safe, inviting place for your students to come to!

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Paid Prep Time for Teachers

At this point, you’re likely into second and final week of your Winter Break. You’re probably at a point where you are still enjoying your time off and don’t really want to think about going back quiet yet. But yet, somewhere in the back of your mind, you’ve got a quiet voice reminding you that you only have so many more days until you’re back in the swing of things in your classroom. I lovingly refer to that feeling as the “end of break yuckies” and know all too well how they feel. So believe me, I get it! 

We drove past a school yesterday while heading out to the grocery store, and there were several cars in the parking lot. My daughter immediately asked if they had school today. When I told her that they still didn’t have school for another week, she then wondered why there were teachers at the school. I mean, it was a valid question. A question that made me start to think about my time in the classroom and how much of my break time had been used to prep for future lessons at home or actually going into the building to get my classroom in order for my students to return. While I tried to avoid going into my classroom or prepping lessons over breaks, I usually had to in order to avoid chaos on the first day back. 

As was evidenced by the cars in the parking lot yesterday, I know I’m not the only one who has had to use break time as work time, and that begs the question: why are we not giving teachers more paid prep time around big breaks? 

What if, instead of teachers and students returning all on the same day, we gave teachers a paid prep day before students return? That way, teachers would be able to more fully enjoy their break without having to sacrifice a day of their time off to get things ready for their students to return. A professional development day of sorts, but no meetings, no trainings, no “team building” exercises. Just a day for teachers to come to the building— in their comfy clothes if they want— to get stuff done: make copies, make worksheets, plan lessons, sanitize their desks, reorganize supply bins, change their bulletin boards, and so on. If budget allows, the school could provide lunch for the teachers, and teachers could simply get stuff done without having to take breaks for meetings. 

I know there are teachers out there who would greatly appreciate a day like this, and would have such a relaxing yet productive day. So, I want to know— does your district offer a day like this every now and then? If not, would you utilize it if it were offered? Let me know in the comments!