Raise your hand if you are ready to go back to school!?!? Well, ready or not, here it comes…and the more organized and prepared you can be from the start, the better.
Making your list of classroom supplies, however, can feel like registering for a wedding. You want all the things! How do you narrow it down?
You’ll still need certain necessities like post-it notes and pencils, but here are 7 nontraditional classroom supplies you might want to consider adding to your list.
*The links provided are Amazon affiliate links. There is no extra cost to you, but purchasing through these links helps support my small business. 😉
Classroom Supplies #1: Magic eraser Sponges
I will NEVER go back to using traditional erasers after using magic eraser sponges. They are exactly as advertised…MAGIC! They make erasing on laminated materials, such as task cards, so much easier and are used every single day in my classroom.
To assure I never run out of these little gifts from heaven, I always put them on my wish list. I even cut them in half to make them last longer. This pack of 50 from Amazon might even last you the entire year!
Classroom Supplies #2: Clear Sheet Protectors
I seriously could not live without sheet protectors. I use them ALL THE TIME. They are a great alternative to laminating and are perfect for holding math work mats, student choice boards, and math games.
The Amazon sheet protectors and Office Depot sheet protectors are my favorite! The most common way I use sheet protectors is for work mats, which means I can reuse them year after year. Talk about a time-saver! I store work mats in binders and organize them by chapter.
Classroom Supplies #3: Ultra Fine Dry Erase Markers
During a whole group lesson, my students use traditional (chisel tip) dry-erase markers on their whiteboards. These are my preferred markers because the larger size allows me to see their work from a distance.
Unfortunately, traditional markers are too thick for task cards. So instead, I’ll have my students use markers with ultra-fine tips. Because they are so thin, it’s much easier for them to show their work on the task card.
I store these at my small group table and remind students they can only use them when they are with me. It’s a great way to distinguish their materials from mine. Plus, they are super easy to erase from laminated materials.
If you have a hard time finding ultra-fine tips, check out Office Depot or Amazon.
Classroom Supplies #4: Student Eraser Pads
I’ve tried many different methods when it comes to student erasers: old socks, small hand towels, and magnetic erasers to name a few. Nothing has worked better than these facial pads!
I grabbed this idea from another teacher’s blog years ago. They last forever and can even be washed. In fact, I’m reusing mine this year after a good run through the washing machine. Just look at all the fun colors!
You can find these at Dollar Tree and Amazon, which I’ve linked for you.
Classroom supplies #5: 9 x 12 Manilla Envelopes
You are not alone if you struggle to organize and store math centers. I used to struggle with this until I began using manila envelopes. They take up little room and can be labeled with product covers and answer keys.
I recommend laminating the envelopes to keep them in good shape for future use. I also organize them by chapter, making resources easy to find when I’m in a hurry!
Classroom Supplies #7: White out Tape
If you’re like me, you love using flair pens and skinny markers to grade papers. If you’re also like me, you make mistakes often.
Instead of scratching out my writing and making a mess, white-out tape allows me to neatly write over my mistakes. It’s much cleaner and easier than liquid white-out. I will never go back!
In addition, white-out tape is a great way to make accommodations to a test. For example, I often use it to eliminate an answer choice or a Part B to a question.
You can find white-out tape just about anywhere, including Amazon!
Classroom Supplies #7: Cardstock
If you plan on using an activity more than a few times, cardstock is a must. It can withstand the use and abuse of elementary students, especially when laminated.
Cardstock works well for task cards, games, math work mats, bulletin board letters, and name tags. My preferred brand is Neenah Bright Cardstock and of course, Astrobrights! I love using bright colors with my math centers.
Take a look at the video below to see how these colors really spruced up this Factors and Multiples Sort!
Whether you put these classroom supplies on your shopping list or on your wish list, I hope you find as much success with them as I have. I wish you a happy and healthy school year ahead!
Until next time,
Happy Teaching!
P.S. If you are interested in other work mats, see my previous blog post on teaching long division!
