Setting up a new classroom can be exciting and overwhelming. When I started setting up my first classroom I wanted the perfect Instagram worthy space that myself and my students would love, however I quickly realized that this was not in the budget. I shifted my focus to practical items that me and my sixth graders would use and that aligned with my vision of creating an inclusive classroom space.
Here are 5 items me and my students loved, that every first year teacher should consider adding to their Amazon wish list.
1. Class Set of Double Sided Dry Erase Boards
These durable dry erase boards get used daily in my classroom for everything from LA to Math. They clean easily and are perfect for my students to do their “rough” work on before committing to paper.
Get them here
2. Large Dry Erase Calendar
Pocket calendars are great for younger grades, but when students are older their is much more going on that they need to know about. This calendar is big enough to write everything, birthdays, holidays, spirit days, upcoming tests, and more.
Get it here
3. Electric Pencil Sharpener
Having a good quality, quiet, electric pencil sharpener in your class might just be one of the most important things you buy all year. Students pencils seem to always be breaking, having one of these that they can use quickly and independently might just save your sanity.
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4. Crayola Colors of The World Pencil Crayons
Chances are your students skin color does not match the generic “skin tone” or “peach” pencil crayon found in most colored pencil package, does anyone’s? I like to keep about six boxes of these in my classroom for whenever students may be drawing themselves or people and need to color the skin tone. My students love to borrow them for projects throughout the year, and it helps make my classroom a more inclusive and welcoming space.
Get them here
5. Visual Timer
Many students thrive on routine and predictability, this large 7.5 inch timer that can be placed anywhere in your classroom allows you to provide your students with just that. Gone are the days of students asking how much longer until you move on to the next activity.
Get it here
Hopefully you find these products as useful as me and my students do. Have other classroom essentials that you think should be added to every teachers wish list? Leave them in a comment!
