1. Laminator and Laminating Pouches
I have to start with a couple of obvious items. Laminate everything! My school has a large laminator but a personal one is so nice to get work done at home or get things laminated when the school one is out of laminate. (It seems to always happen when I have something that has to be laminated immediately!) I especially love it for those Mother’s Day/Father’s Day/End of the year gifts when you want them to be a little more permanent. The scotch pouches are nicer and thicker than the Amazon brand and the big school rolls we have.
2. Velro: Lots and Lots of it!
Buy Velcro in bulk! AND make sure you order both the hook and the loop sides. You’ll need lots of it for visual schedules, choice boards, communication visuals, hanging up anything and everything! Attach it to your pens, use it to make felt board activities, use as fidgets or sensory boards.
3. Dry Erase Pockets
These are great for posting teacher schedules, checklists, To Do lists, etc. They are perfect for writing notes to for your staff, and
4. Staple Remover
This my seem silly but this staple remover comes in so handy for taking down things from your bulletin board! It has saved me from many broken nails!
5. Chip and Dip Tray
These are perfect for setting up different classroom activities. They make the activities so inviting and accessible and give structure to kids when it’s time to clean up. Use them to organize:
- art materials: collage items, paint, foam shapes, etc.
- sorting games: sort by color, size, or shape
- math games: organize materials for students to count out in each section
These can be found at dollar stores and party stores. Also check out the picnic supplies at Target or Walmart during the summer for deals.
6. Fidgets
Kids do not stay still…and they shouldn’t! Kids need to move and use their bodies to focus their minds. Fidgets are definitely a necessity in the classroom. I pass them out to anyone who needs one or is just interested. I find that if kids get a chance to experience it, they won’t ask for it every time (unless they truly need one!) These are favorites in our classroom.
7. SitSpots
What a great invention! Use these as seat markers at circle time, mark off center spaces on the floor, line up spots, and use them for obstacle courses.
8. Trays
More ways to organize! Kids love to work and explore in a space that is organized and makes sense. and I do too! There should be a balance of free exploration and classroom structure to help keep the calm and make kids feel safe. These trays are perfect to organizing art materials for each student. I also use them to organize my materials when teaching a lesson…especially if it’s messy! I can sit on the floor with my students and keep everything together.
What are your favorite teacher tools?
Everybody's Classroom 
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