Although many of the basic items in the classroom may already be in place when a teacher starts a position, there are some additional items that are helpful to have at the start of school. Many of these things may be found at discount stores and so are relatively inexpensive to purchase.
Items for Storage Purposes
- Plastic baskets of various sizes: Small narrow ones can be used for desk supplies and students' pencils, the largest ones are useful for holding papers. Stackable baskets are a plus.
- Clear storage bins with lids: Using clear bins enables easy identification of what is inside. Look for large shallow bins for storing posters. Try using plastic pencil boxes and food storage containers to store small items.
- Portable file boxes: These come in cardboard and plastic. File boxes with lids and those with wheels are especially nice to use.
- Portable silverware or shower caddies with handles: These are self-standing and have different compartments useful for school supplies that will need to be moved from place to place, such as at a learning center.
- Stacking plastic drawers: Very useful for storing daily papers, or if more desk space is desired.
- Plastic or canvas shoe bags with pockets: Store student mail, small items used daily in teaching, etc..
- Stacking trays: Set up as a homework or classwork return center, file construction paper by colors, or set out papers for the week on these trays.
- Label maker
- Self-closing plastic bags: sandwich bag size to gallon-sized bags are useful for many items.
Miscellaneous Items for the Classroom
Reading corner: large pillows, books found at tag sales, carpet squares purchased or donated from a carpet warehouse , and a floor lamp.
Indoor recess games: look for cheap board games that can be played by more than two players, that do not have a lot of pieces, and that can be set up quickly and put away quickly. Puzzles are good if they can be kept on a puzzle table and continued at a later date.
Check out dollar stores for consumable items such as stickers, name tags, index cards, dry erase markers, bulletin board decorations and other school supplies. Many of these stores have sections dedicated just to teachers. Items to be purchased in bulk such as folders and lined paper are better purchased at a department store the month before school starts, when there are sales on school supplies.
The start of the school year will run smoothly when items are well organized for both teacher and students. An organizational system will only be efffective if it is user-friendly. It is not necessary to have all of the above mentioned items in place the first week of school, however. It is best to have the basics in place and see what will work best for the students.
