These teacher must haves will make your classroom life easier and more organized! Every teacher has a wish list of items for their classroom and this line up has everything you need. These 31 items are perfect to add to your Christmas, Birthday, or Donor's Choose wish list!
1. Swingline Paper Cutter
My number one most used item in my classroom, that I absolutely can't live without, is my paper cutter. I use it every day to cut anything with a straight line!
2. Laminator
One of the best purchases you'll ever make is a personal classroom laminator! It heats up in an instant and you can laminate from the convenience of your own room. I loved mine so much that I bought another one for home!
3. Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches
Another teacher must have, to go with your classroom laminator, are these thermal laminating pouches. Just slip your paper into the laminating pouch and slide it through your laminator. You'll love the convenience of using these in your room or at home!
4. Teacher Toolbox
This teacher toolbox is one of my favorite items for storage and organization. It's small enough to fit on my desk and I keep it stocked with paper clips, rubber bands, staples….you name it! It's the perfect way to keep those little desk essentials organized and easy to find.
5. Magnetic Letters
You will use these letters for so many activities! From whole group phonics activities, small group practice and learning centers – this box of 214 magnetic letters is a great resource for your classroom.
6. Tabletop Easel
This tabletop easel is a little pricey but definitely, one of my teacher must haves! This wooden easel is perfect for small group work and comes with a pocket chart to keep your small materials organized and within reach. This would be a great item to add to a Donors Choose project!
7. Heavy Duty Magnetic Hooks
Another teacher must have are these super-strong magnetic hooks. These bad boys are strong enough to hold several pieces of paper, pocket charts, or chart paper. This is another item you'll use every single day in your classroom.
8. Paper Pro Stapler
This stapler has literally saved my fingers from pain and exhaustion. It easily staples up to 15 pages of paper, without jamming. It's perfect for making little mini books for your students!
9. X-Acto Pencil Sharpener
THIS is the pencil sharpener that you want in your classroom! I've had mine for years and it still works great! Well worth the investment and one of the best gifts you'll ever buy yourself!
10. Boom Learning Membership
One of the best things I purchased this year has been my membership to Boom Learning. My kids absolutely love using boom cards and they have seriously saved my sanity during distance learning! Click here to read more about how you can use boom cards in your classroom.
11. Teacher Bag on Wheels
I'm sure you have a tote bag of some kind for school and if you're anything like me, it's filled to the brim! This teacher bag on wheels will save your arms and back from carrying items back and forth to school every day. One of my top teacher must haves!
12. Tabletop Pocket Chart
These tabletop pocket charts come in handy for so many things! You can use them for your small group, learning centers, directions, and more!
13. Three Hole Punch
This three-hole punch is super affordable and you'll love the convenience of having this at your fingertips any time you need it! I use this at least once a week in my room!
14. HP Instant Ink
If you're an elementary teacher then chances are you make a lot of copies! The HP Instant Ink program allows you to print up to 300 color copies each month for a very small fee. There's no more running to the store because you ran out of ink. HP will automatically send you ink when you begin to run low, so you always have ink on hand. The ink is delivered directly to your address and it's one of the best investments you can make! Check out the instant ink program here and get your first month free!
15. Bucket O'Dice
Another one of my teacher must haves is a bucket of dice. You'll use these all the time for classroom games and math activities.
16. Flair Pens
Flair pens are a teacher must have for every elementary teacher! You'll love the smooth writing and assorted colors for grading papers, planning, and more!
17. Junk List
Why buy everything yourself when you can get donations? Every year I made what I called my Junk List. I put all sorts of items we could use for crafts, cooking, and STEM projects. Some of the items on my junk list were: toothpicks, string, popsicle sticks, wire, beads, cotton balls, buttons, paper cups, paper plates, cupcake liners, yarn, and more.
Anything you can think of can go on a junk list. I sent this free list home at the beginning of each year and asked parents to donate anything they could from the list. I got tons of stuff! Parents would clean out their cupboards, glad to get rid of stuff, and I had everything I needed for every craft project for the rest of the year. A junk list is a teacher must have in any elementary classroom. Click here to grab this free classroom donation form.
18. Astrobrights Paper
You'll love having an assortment of Astrobright paper in your classroom cupboard. These bright, neon colors are perfect for those important notes that you want parents to be sure to see!
19. Construction Paper Storage
Who needs a messy cupboard with construction paper all mixed together? Not you! This will be one of your all-time favorite investments. This organizer keeps your construction paper separated, neat, and organized.
20. Classroom Mailboxes
Another great investment and teacher must have are classroom mailboxes. They make it easy to collect and pass back papers from your students. Such a time saver!
21. Dry Erase Boards
Dry-erase boards are an absolute essential in any elementary classroom and this class set is great! It comes with erasers and markers!
22. Multicultural Construction Paper
This multicultural construction paper is great for your craft projects and helps to ensure that every child is represented in your room! You'll be glad you have this teacher must have for your classroom projects.
23. Dry Erase Pockets
No time to laminate those classroom games? Simply slide it into a dry erase pocket and you're good to go! These are an elementary teacher must have!
24. White Post It Cover Up Tape
This white post it cover-up tape is a must have when working in shared writing with students. We call this “boo-boo” tape and when we make a mistake on an anchor chart or shared writing activity, we can quickly cover it up and write over top. I wouldn't be without this in my classroom!
25. Yeti Rambler 30 oz.
Are you a teacher who always has a large cup of water or other beverage on your desk? Then you need this Yeti! This insulated cup will keep your drinks cold and icy for up to 24 hours. My Yeti was a gift from my son and it's still at the top of the list for teacher must haves!
26. Yeti Rambler 14 oz.
Tired of drinking cold coffee or tea? The small Yeti rambler is the perfect size for your morning cup of java or tea and will keep your beverage hot for several hours.
27. Hot Glue Gun
Another teacher must have is a hot glue gun. Perfect for holiday crafts and attaching things to cement block walls!
28. Scented Chap Sticks
If you're looking for a low-cost incentive for your classroom, scented chapsticks are your answer. We call them “happy chappys” in my room! I let the kids choose the scent they want and rub a little bit on the back of their hand. They love the way it smells and it's a simple way of saying “Good job!”
29. Colored Plastic Trays
These trays are perfect for organizing papers at centers and your daily work.
30. Plastic Book Bins
Will your students be reading independently in class? These bins are perfect for your student's independent reading bins. Throw away the ziplock bags that tear and break! Invest in these quality plastic book bins that will last you for years.
31. Magnetic Expo Markers
If you're always searching for an expo marker, this is what you need. Hang a couple of these magnetic expo markers on your board and you'll always have a marker at your fingertips.
What are your favorite teacher must haves in your classroom? Please share your ideas in the comments below! We'd love more ideas!
Before you go, grab your free junk list for parents here.
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