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School Supplies for Teachers Buying Guide

It's not just the kids that need to get ready to go back to school, it's the teachers too! Whether you are setting up your classroom  for the first time or you are looking for new decorations  and ways to update it, make sure you have all of the bases covered. Obviously your needs will vary depending on what age group you are teaching, so make sure to give yourself a couple of weeks to prepare before the fall season begins. 

Elementary School Teachers

Learning is still a very new and exciting experience for younger kids, so make sure you have decorated your room to stimulate the young mind. Think bright colors, cubbies, lots of decorations, and an overall feeling of a friendly space where kids can feel comfortable learning.

Books 

Most grade school classrooms are equipped with a reading corner or a large shelf  where educational books can be placed. Pick out some titles that were your childhood favorites, or stories that demonstrate the lessons you are trying to teach.

 

Nap Mats 

When teaching kindergarten, you may want to have nap time in your classroom. Pick out some comfy mats that don't take up too much floor space. Even the kids don't use them for napping, these mats can be useful for group activities like reading as well.

Bulletin Board 

Bulletin boards are great for stimulating young minds. You can decorate it however you want; list the day's activities, hang up special holiday projects, or let a new student personalize the board themselves each week.

Activity Sets 

These may work especially well for the younger grades; pick up five or six small tupperware containers and place crayons,  markers,  pencils,  pens  and all other craft supplies  inside. This way, when you are doing a project with the class, you can place one on each table...and then clean up should be relatively easy!

Borders 

Borders can add lots of character and design to an otherwise bland classroom. For younger grades, they are great for reminding kids of the alphabet and numbers. For the older children, they can serve as pointers on grammar and division.

Junior High and High School Teachers

When teaching older kids, the room is going to be decorated a bit differently. Rather than lots of flashy colors and decorations, you may want to go for more subdued items that are educational, but will appeal to an older group. While you don't need to go overboard, keep in mind that it is important to spruce up your room a bit--it promotes mental stimulation and may help to keep kids focused.

Motivational Posters 

Think about inspirational quotes, but don't make them cliche. Pick out quotes that you like or sayings that you think might make a difference to a teenager when they read it. It might also be useful to include a quote from whomever your teaching unit is based on at the time.

Educational Movies 

Obviously you don't want to buy hokey movies made in the 1980s, but especially if you are teaching history or art, there are some great videos you can pick up to show your classroom.  These videos can provide a nice visual aid and help the information to stick. 

Whiteboard 

This can be useful for hanging on your door and mapping out the day's lessons or writing out  a quote or two of your own. They can also be a fun interactive tool for teens other than a chalkboard. 

Tips

  • When stocking up your classroom, don't forget to bring in a few personal items for yourself: stationery,  coffee cup,  a calendar.  These things will help to make your area personal and will come in handy just about anytime. Also, if you spend a lot of time at your desk after school grading papers, why not pick up a footrest  or make sure you have a nice desk chair?  These can make those long periods of sitting and marking with your red pen  more comfortable for you.
  • When picking out your daily wardrobe, think of the fine line between business and casual: you want to be comfortable, but not too comfortable. Button-down shirts,  nice pants,  low to the ground or flat shoes,  and sometimes even dark wash jeans  all help to make a good impression and feel good, too.
  • Arranging desks can be tricky, so you may need to try a few different designs before getting it right. If you mostly teach in the middle of the classroom, you may want to arrange all of the desks around you in a circle. If you tend to teach in front, arrange rows staggered so that all of the students can see you. As for your desk, placing it right in the middle of the floor may get in your way, so you might want to put it off to the side of the room.
  • When decorating your room, remember you may want to change it a few times a year according to the seasons or your lesson plan. When stocking up on banners and other decorations,  keep this in mind so you have everything ready when you choose to re-decorate.
  • Don't forget the rewards!  Whether it be a special sticker,  a happy birthday pencil  or a piece of candy, just about any kid at any age appreciates prizes  for doing well. Stock up on some age appropriate motivators for learning.

Storage

No matter what subject you are teaching, having somewhere to store files or other supplies is definitely important. See a couple of storage ideas below.

Filing Cabinet 

Filing cabinets are great way to keep all of your papers organized, and if you have enough space in your classroom to fit one, then why not use it? If you want a smaller cabinet that's lower to the ground, consider one with wide drawers. 

Safe 

Depending on what type of area you work in, you may find that a safe is a good place for you to keep your valuables (such as money that you know you will not be needing in the classroom).

Shelving 

These can work especially well for afterschool programs, gym class, or if you are sharing the classroom with another teacher. They are large and heavy duty enough to fit most of your items while keeping them organized at the same time.

Book Cart 

These are great for librarians or teachers who need to travel room to room. If you pick a double-sided cart like the one above, it will be heavy duty enough to hold all of your items and easy to push around because it's on wheels. A file trolley  is another useful option.

Storage Cabinet 

These work well in supply rooms by enabling you to store items and keep them locked away or out of sight. They can also work well in large classrooms and can hold anything from books to food while keeping it contained.

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