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Teachers

33 of the Best Teacher Supplies for Your Classroom

ByBig Ideas Educator November 18, 2023November 18, 2023

As a former classroom teacher and current instructional coach, I can help you set up your classroom for success. The right supplies in your classroom can make a huge difference in your mindset. 

It can be tempting to focus on classroom decorations and bulletin boards (and let’s face it – that’s the fun part for many of us!) But it’s just as important that your classroom functions well. 

The best teacher supplies aren’t necessarily expensive, but they will make your life less stressful. Below I have included both the practical school supplies you need and also a few just-for-fun items, too. 

Disclaimer: If you click on my product links, I’ll earn pennies on the dollar for each click. These affiliate links won’t affect your purchase price. More information is here.

Contents hide
1 The Best Teacher Supplies
2 What do most schools provide for teachers?
3 Concluding Thoughts
4 Want more super-fun shopping content for teachers?

The Best Teacher Supplies

Here is a comprehensive classroom supply list for any new teacher. All of these are available on Amazon, but frequently check your local dollar store, too. They have a surprisingly good selection of teacher supplies. Occasionally you can find helpful items at Oriental Trading Company.

Online teacher supply stores like Really Good Stuff and others are pretty expensive, but sometimes school districts will only reimburse from select approved vendors. 

Classroom Essentials List

what do teachers need for their classrooms - whiteboards

Mini Whiteboards

These have so many classroom uses, and it saves paper! Every teacher in our school building uses these very regularly. They are especially helpful in math classes or spelling practice. Anytime you want kids to get plenty of practice at the carpet, this is a great way to ensure that everyone is engaged in learning. 

Shop on Amazon
what do teachers need for their classrooms - fun binder

A Fun Binder

Even the most tech-savvy teachers will have some items that MUST be kept in hard copy. Sub plans, for example, must be in paper.

Shop on Amazon
utensil bag-what do teachers need for their classrooms

Supply Caddy

I take mine everywhere! If I’m working in small groups on the floor with kids, it’s great for passing out tools. I also bring it to staff meeting so I can share fun writing utensils.

Shop on Amazon
echo dot displaying 7:29

Echo Dot

The Echo Dot makes life so much easier as a teacher! You can set up playlists, daily alarms, timers, ask it about the weather, and more. Kids love Alexa, and as long as you pre-teach the behavior expectations, it should be a great way to introduce technology to your classroom.

Shop on Amazon
microfiber washcloth used to clean whiteboards

Microfiber Washcloths

I like to cut these in half and use them as dry-erase wipers. Every kid can keep one in their desk. Alternatively, you could give each kid a sock to use as an eraser.

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disinfectant bottle

Disinfectant

I really dislike dealing with the Clorox wipe containers. Kids will inevitably pull too many out at once. Instead, I think it’s more effective to spray disinfectant on the table and give each group a couple of paper towels. These are provided by your janitors.

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graphic of cordless glue gun - blue

Cordless Glue Gun

If you have cement walls or cinder block, the easiest way to hang anything will be with hot glue, and that applies to your hallways, as well. However, it’s a pain to have to use the nearest outlet, because in older buildings, there are never enough, and your glue gun won’t reach to the hallways. Cordless glue guns are the way to go! Before purchasing, ask your teammates how they hang stuff on their walls. 

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Sharpie - what do teachers need for their classrooms

Sharpies

Everyone loves a good Sharpie. I use them most often on index cards. They come in fun colors and most people (not just teachers) enjoy Sharpie markers in unique colors.

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rainbow cart - what do teachers need for their classrooms

Rainbow Cart

This rainbow cart can be found in almost every classroom in America. And you know what? Two is better than one. I can promise it will get used. Double the drawers = double the organization and paperwork management. They can roll around the classroom, too.

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washi tape

Washi Tape

Washi tape is so fun to use as a way to divide up the space on a big whiteboard. It’s the perfect choice for many random craft projects throughout the year. 

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Mr Sketch what do teachers need for their classrooms

Mr. Sketch Markers

Mr. Sketch markers are teacher’s favorite supply for creating anchor charts. We also go through a TON of them! The fact that they smell great is just a fun bonus – the colors are so vibrant and easy to see on an anchor chart from across the room.

Shop on Amazon
red binder clip - best teacher supplies

Binder Clips

You’ll use these all the time in your classroom, to separate stacks of paper that need grading or flyers that need to be distributed. Your supply closet will probably have basic black ones that do the job just fine, but if you love beautiful things, your options are endless!

Shop on Amazon
Swingline plastic stapler - essential teacher supply

Stapler

It’s important to have a quality stapler, but they’re cheap, luckily! You don’t need anything fancy. Double check with your secretary because they may keep extra Swingline staplers in the supply closet, and that’s what you need.

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Bostitch electric pencil sharpener - best teacher supplies

Electric Pencil Sharpener

Opinions are split on whether to purchase a manual or electric sharpener. Some day they prefer manual ones because electric sharpeners break too easily. Manual sharpeners are less fun, so kids aren’t constantly interrupting instruction because they want to use it. I saved ALL sharpening for the end of the day and made it a student job, so I prefer this one. 

Shop on Amazon
Scotch brand white laminator with blue trim - shows display buttons

Personal Laminator

There will come a day when your campus laminating machine is out of lamination, or you don’t have thirty minutes to wait for it to heat up. For big projects, use the one in your workroom. This personal laminator is perfect for when you just need one or two sheets and you don’t feel like trekking down the hallway, only to find it broken. I love mine!

Shop on Amazon
Books for Read Aloud what do teachers need for their classrooms

Classroom Library Books

You’ll probably want a classroom library unless you’re using a highly scripted program that doesn’t allow for extra minutes spent reading for enjoyment. There are so many ways to stock your classroom library – donations from other teachers who are paring down, shopping used book stores and Facebook marketplace for bulk books, and adding them to your Amazon wishlist.

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Plastic crates what do teachers need for their classrooms

Plastic Crates

Plastic crates don’t seem like much, but they’re so useful in a classroom. They’re sometimes used for filing. More commonly, they get turned into seating by attaching a piece of plywood and fabric to the top. Other teachers will use them as baskets for backpacks and supplies in older schools without great storage.

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second monitor hooked up to a laptop

A Second Monitor

There’s nothing better than a second monitor for saving time on administrative tasks. Especially when dealing with student data, it’s so helpful to me to have data on one screen and email open on the other. It saves a ton of time when you’re not having to hold lots of information in your mind and can instead just glance back and forth. 

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stack of plastic clipboards

Clipboards

If you’re teaching elementary, you’ll want a class set of inexpensive clipboards for the kids to use at the carpet. Sometimes, kids need to sit close to the Smartboard. Clipboards allow them to maintain decent handwriting while sitting criss-cross applesauce. 

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ziplock baggies for storing student small group materials

Quart and Gallon Baggies

You’d be surprised how often these get used. You’ll be storing small group activities and partner manipulatives. These are great for dividing up materials amongst groups. 

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EZ grader - vintage pink

EZ Grader

Unless you’re just amazing at mental math, this silly little tool will save you time. I know what you’re thinking – why not just use the calculator on my phone? You can, but this is faster. 

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Magnetic Hooks - what do teachers need for their classrooms

Magnetic Hooks

You’ll likely have tons of magnetic surfaces in your room, and magnetic hooks are fabulous! I use mine most frequently in conjunction with binder rings and lamination. Emergency protocols, staff phone directories, rubrics, and any other frequently used documents can benefit from easy access. 

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Flair Pens - what do teachers need for their classrooms

Flair Pens

Perhaps your favorites won’t be Flair pens, but many teachers do like them. The main point is that you’ll be handwriting somewhat often, and you want a collection of pens you love. Many teachers love the wide range of colors available.

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Bulk Stickers what do teachers need for their classrooms

Bulk Stickers

Kids love stickers. We use them as an incentive they can earn after they accumulate 10 Class Dojo points. Kids put these stickers on their Chromebooks, water bottles, and anywhere else they please. The bulk stickers on Amazon are so inexpensive and they peel off your technology nicely at the end of the year.

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command hook holding an umbrella

Command Hooks

Command hooks are great! I use them to hang up my jacket and umbrella on the side of my desk and also lightweight signs around the room. 

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up close blue handheld blue timer

Timers

Some teachers put digital timers on their Google slides, and others just use their phones. I prefer these timers the best because it doesn’t require me to pick up my phone or toggle between tabs on my smart board. Once in a while, the old fashioned way really does work best! You can also just sit this timer underneath your document camera for kids to know how much time is left.

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plastic shoeboxes

Plastic Shoe Boxes

This is the perfectly sized box to store many of your manipulatives and group work supplies. If you have built in bookcases, these can often stack neatly. Many teachers will purchase inexpensive fabric and use tension rods to hide unsightly materials in their rooms. 

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What Teachers Need for Their Classrooms - Bonus Fun Items

Fun Lamps

Overhead fluorescent lighting is the pits, but you can create a wonderful learning environment with the right combination of lamps at various heights.

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clothespin to display student work

Clothespins

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to display student work is with clothespins that are hot glued to your walls. This teacher glued decorative paper flowers on top of each clothespin to match the theme of her room.

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Pop-It - what do teachers need for their classrooms

Pop It Fidget Toys

Every teacher has a few students who need to keep their hands busy. They can also be incredibly helpful for teaching spelling. I use fidget toys in my classroom to segment sounds and practice spelling.

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Fun Fabric

​If your campus is old, you’ll probably have lots of exposed storage that can start looking really junky over time. It’s helpful to cover it with tension rods and fabric. You don’t need to be crafty; we just drape fabric over a tension rod and add staples along the top. Kids won’t be handling it, so it won’t get torn up.

Shop at Michaels
expo markers

Dry-Erase Markers

At our school, the office provides as many black dry erase markers as you could possibly want. However, Expo markers are the highest quality, and we often receive off-brand ones. For your classroom, you’ll probably want some Expo markers in fun colors. This is not a necessity at all, but it’s a little dose of happy that you may enjoy. 

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multicolored post it notes

Sticky Notes

Even if you’re a very techie person, there will be times when a good old fashioned Post-It note is the most logical place to jot something down or send a note down the hall to a teammate.

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What do most schools provide for teachers?

Most campuses provide basic office supplies for the teacher, but they don’t usually have the cutesy stuff. Those freebies may or may not last you the whole school year.

You’ll likely have access to pretty great technology, including Smart Boards, document cameras, and Chromebooks or iPads, depending on your grade level. 

In other words, you can probably visit the supply closet for basic yellow Post-It notes, manilla file folders, binder clips and paper clips, and chart paper. They will likely not provide anything FUN and certainly not all of your essential teacher supplies will be provided to you. 

If this is your first teaching job, call your campus secretary and ask him or her what’s in the supply closet, so you can make preparations. 

When your whole world is that classroom for 9 or 10 hours a day, having pretty things helps the mental state. Of course, you’ll want to build your classroom slowly over time because setting up a classroom can get expensive quickly. Begin with only the most essential items and take advantage of that campus supply closet and work room. Then you can set your priorities for what you’ll buy next. 

Here are some cute supplies and decor that are also super functional. You may be the type of teacher who doesn’t need everything to be *fabulous* and that’s perfectly okay. Sometimes the pressure for everything to be adorable can feel like a lot, especially in elementary schools. Don’t give it much thought. Focus on what’s most important – student outcomes and managing your stress levels!

Concluding Thoughts

For many of us in lower income communities, it’s pretty rare to receive a gift from students. My favorite gifts are ones my students have made for me, no matter how childlike and silly they might seem to parents. One time, I got a can of Chef Boyardee from a child who wanted me to try his favorite meal for Christmas. Those are the gifts a teacher never forgets.

What do teachers need for their classrooms? Practical stuff with a dose of fun and whimsy, usually. Remember that the average teacher spends about 9 hours a day in her classroom without many breaks. We want a beautiful space that feels like home. Hopefully this post gave you some ideas!

Want more super-fun shopping content for teachers?

  • 45 of the Best Teacher Bags
  • 15 of the Best Teacher Lunch Bags
  • 9 Clever Classroom Lighting Ideas
  • 8 of the Best Teacher Staplers
  • 40 of the Best Classroom Rugs
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