The Top 30 Classroom Essentials for Teachers
For around 180 days a year, students and teachers alike view the classroom as a second home. With so much time spent in the classroom, it is essential to be prepared with all the necessary supplies you may need throughout the school year.
From basics like pencils and paper to fun items like rugs and decorations, our 30 classroom must-haves will prepare you and your classroom for an amazing and productive year. Get started by reviewing our classroom essentials checklist below and see what supplies you should add to your classroom!
Hygiene Supplies
School can be a breeding ground for germs, and especially with younger students, you can expect to have some sort of illness join your classroom during cold and flu season. Be prepared to fight off any germs with the following must-have supplies.
- Disinfectant wipes: Wipe down any frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant wipes to keep you and your students healthy throughout the school year. These are also great for cleaning up any sticky messes left behind from art projects, snacks or other classroom activities.
- Tissues: Tissues are a year-round essential, so make sure you are stocked up. Have a box or two set up around the classroom and a personal box at your desk.
- Hand sanitizer: An easy way to help keep you and your students healthy is to have hand sanitizer readily available in your classroom. Make sure your students know where in the room they can find hand sanitizer so they can do their part to stop the spread of germs.
- Paper towels: Messes are bound to happen. Avoid sending students to the restroom to grab paper towels and have an emergency stash somewhere in your classroom to make clean-up time quicker.
Supplies for Students
While some students will come prepared with their own supplies, it’s best to prepare your classroom to provide enough supplies for every student to have a successful school year. It’s also a good idea to order a few extras to account for anything lost or broken throughout the year.
1. Pencils
You can truly never have enough pencils. You’ll be surprised how quickly students will go through pencils by breaking and misplacing them. Buy a few boxes of classic No. 2 pencils so you can always have a replacement for those missing pencils. To make your classroom extra fun, consider these holiday pencils to use as prizes or to spread a little holiday cheer.
2. Paper
You’re going to need a variety of paper in your classroom, so when shopping for paper, remember to grab computer paper, lined paper, construction paper and cardstock. Purchase your art paper, like cardstock and construction paper, in packs that come in various colors.
While your school may be able to provide some paper, it’s better to be prepared and know you and your students always have the paper they need. Even with many schools performing more work through tablets and computers, having paper handy is great for everything from creative drawings during free time to completing math calculations.
3. Rulers
Rulers are going to pop up in various assignments, from measuring in math and science lessons to drawing straight lines for an art project. You can find rulers in a variety of materials, such as wood, plastic and aluminum. Consider the age of your students and choose the ruler that will best work for your classroom — for example, wood or plastic might be better choices if you teach elementary or middle school students.
4. Glue
Whether you prefer to have glue sticks, liquid glue or both, you will want to make sure you have glue in your classroom and that you have enough for each student to have their own. A project or craft that requires gluing can take twice as long if students need to share.
5. Scissors
Scissors are another essential item, and you’ll also want to make sure you have enough of these to go around. Projects that involve cutting can take time, and if students have to share, it can take time away from other lessons you have planned. Make sure you are providing safety scissors, especially if you teach younger students. And don’t forget to grab a pair of teacher scissors for yourself to make any cutting you need to do easier.
6. Personal Whiteboards
Engage students in lessons by having students use personal whiteboards. These are great tools for having students do practice problems or review games without wasting paper. Remember to grab whiteboard markers and erasers too! To make whiteboard shopping even easier, The Classroom Store has student whiteboard kits that include everything you need to use whiteboards in the classroom.
7. Markers and Crayons
Markers and crayons will be needed for classroom activities or during free time for students who want to draw or color. If you teach younger students, it’s a good idea to purchase washable markers to make any marker clean-ups easier.
Just like pencils, markers and crayons also have a habit of going missing, so make sure to stock up on a few extra packs to ensure your supply lasts the whole school year.
8. Erasers
Some mistakes are bigger than others, and a pencil eraser might not cut it. At the beginning of the school year, give each student a block eraser to keep in their pencil case or desk. Also, consider purchasing a few novelty erasers to be used as incentives or prizes.
9. Highlighters
Highlighters are great resources for students to have. Highlighters can be used to help students with reading comprehension by having them highlight important details in the text. Choose between classic yellow highlighters, a colorful set of highlighters or even erasable highlighters!
Supplies for the Classroom
An organized and well-stocked classroom will help keep your days moving smoothly and allow you to enjoy the room you spend a large part of your day in. Your classroom should be a safe, comfortable space for your students and an enjoyable environment for you.
1. Storage Bins
Veteran teachers know that over the years you will collect various supplies, items and decorations, and the school-provided storage most likely won’t be enough to hold everything. Storage bins will also help keep all of your supplies and decorations organized, so you don’t have to dig through countless drawers just to find one item.
With a variety of totes, filing cabinets and baskets available, chose whichever storage products will make the most sense in your classroom layout. Have some fun and pick a filing cabinet or tote with your favorite color to bring some personality to your classroom.
2. An Extra Clock
Depending on the layout of your classroom, you may want to add an extra clock opposite of the one provided in your classroom so you can always keep an eye on the time from any part of the room. If you teach secondary education, you’ll want to ensure you can always see how much class time is left before students move on to their next class.
3. A Timer
If you find yourself getting carried away by your lessons, keep your day moving on schedule by using a timer to alert you when it’s time to move on to the next task. A timer is also beneficial for classroom activities that use stations. When students hear the timer go off, they’ll know to move to the next station and your lesson can keep flowing smoothly.
4. Staplers
Purchase a few staplers to have around the classroom so students can keep their multiple-page assignments together. Keep in mind you will want one of your staplers to be able to open up completely so you can use it to staple any decorations or information to your bulletin board. However, a staple gun may be a better option if you like to change your bulletin board often.
5. Staple Remover
A staple remover tool is always a great item to have on hand. Quickly and easily remove staples from your bulletin board while changing decorations or remove staples from any items that need to be shredded.
6. Tape
You’ll want to have your classroom tape supply bases covered with scotch tape, masking tape and duct tape. From arts and crafts to ripped book pages, there are endless possibilities of situations where you’ll need tape to save the day.
7. Pencil Sharpener
Pencils will most likely be used every day in the classroom, so it is worth investing in a nice, preferably electric, pencil sharpener for your class so students can always have a ready-to-use writing utensil.
If you’re looking to limit how many times a day students get up to use the classroom pencil sharpener, you can provide each student with a handheld pencil sharpener they can use while seated at their desk.
8. Paper Clips
Use paper clips to keep you and your students organized. Paper clips will be a lifesaver when carrying different paperwork together. Just paperclip piles together so you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out where one pile ends and where the other begins.
You’ll also be thankful for your classroom supply of paperclips when you need to hang class artwork from the ceiling during open houses or any other time you want to decorate the classroom with student art.
9. Index Cards
Having index cards available to students can help promote good study habits by encouraging students to make flashcards. Index cards can also be useful for icebreaker activities at the beginning of the school year or for any anonymous class voting activities.
10. Homework Bins
Make things easier for yourself by having homework bins or trays in your classroom so that when you go to review assignments, everything is already organized for you. Have different bins for different subjects, or if you teach multiple classes, have a different bin for each class.
11. Books
A classroom library encourages continued learning and is an excellent addition to any classroom. If you have students who consistently finish assignments early, having books in the classroom allows them to grab something to read while you wait for the rest of the class to finish. Add a personal touch to your library by adding some of your own favorite age-appropriate books.
If your classroom still needs a bookshelf, browse The Classroom Store’s collection of bookcases to build your own classroom library.
12. Bulletin Board Decorations
Show your personality and decorate the bulletin boards in your classroom. After all, your classroom is your room, so make it a place you enjoy.
Use your bulletin board to showcase student birthdays, decorate for upcoming holidays or use it to post important class information and reminders. A bulletin board decoration set or two can help bring your vision to life in no time.
13. Rugs, Lamps or Other Home Decor
Classrooms, in their most basic form, can be cold and uninviting. Make your room a comfortable and inviting space for your students by decorating it with a reading rug or funky lamp. If you’re a new teacher, don’t worry about having your classroom fully decorated right away. Start small with a few items and gradually add to your classroom decor throughout the years.
Personal Classroom Essentials for Teachers
While meeting all your student’s classroom needs is important, it is also essential to take care of yourself. Assess your own needs and brainstorm what would be useful for you to have in your classroom. Use the following items as the start of a classroom essentials list that will keep you being the best teacher you can be.
- Calendar: Keep track of your busy schedule by utilizing a personal calendar or planner at your desk. Visually seeing what needs to get done each day, week or month can help you feel in control, organized and ready to tackle the day.
- Flash drive: Technology can sometimes be unreliable, so always back up your files onto a flash drive so you never have to worry about losing any of your lesson plans, presentations or other teaching materials. Flash drives also allow you to take your work home with you if needed. Want to finish up your lesson plans or input grades from your couch instead of your classroom? Just save everything to your flash drive and you are good to go!
- Reusable water bottle: As a teacher, you spend most of your day talking to and instructing students, so you’ll want to make sure you have access to water or another drink in your classroom. Have an insulated, reusable water bottle at your desk so you can grab a drink whenever you need it. Keep yourself hydrated and healthy so you can continue to be the rockstar teacher you are.
- Sticky notes: Keep a stack of sticky notes at your desk to write quick reminders to yourself that you can look back at during your free time. Sticky notes are also super handy when sending a student to ask another teacher or staff member a question. Just write down your note and send a kiddo on their way to deliver your message.
Stock Up on Classroom Essentials With The Classroom Store
A well-stocked classroom allows both teachers and students to thrive. Knowing you have all the supplies you need will enable you to keep your focus on teaching and supporting your students.
Whether you are a new teacher preparing your first classroom, or a veteran teacher stocking up for a new school year, we are here to help make shopping for your classroom essentials a breeze. Create a safe, productive and fun learning environment, and shop classroom materials from The Classroom Store for all your must-have supplies today!
