50 First-Year Teacher Must-Haves For An Organized Classroom
If you’re a brand new teacher setting up your first classroom, you’re probably thinking about what to purchase for your classroom. Let’s talk about the first-year teacher must-haves you’ll want now and what can wait.
Before I share my recommendations for first-year teacher must-haves, here are a few things that can wait until you’ve gotten settled into your room.
- Decor Items – You’ll probably want to buy some classroom decor but don’t prioritize it in your budget. Stick to the basics for now. You can always add on later.
- Curriculum materials – Get into your classroom and connect with your team first. There are likely some curriculum resources you’ll be required to use.
- Furniture and Storage – Sure, you might want to try flexible seating or buy all the cute storage containers, but these items add up fast. See what you’re school has, what will fit into your classroom, and what works for your teaching style before investing in these items.
So, what do I recommend getting? Check out the list below and have fun shopping. Just, remember to reach out to your new teammates and ask what the school provides you with first.
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1. Planner
Every teacher needs a good planner. It’s definitely one of the top first-year teacher must-haves. There are lots of options, and everyone has their own taste, so look for one you love.
2. Mechanical Pencils
Since plans change, I prefer to use a high-quality mechanical pencil to fill in my planner. Mechanical pencils aren’t all created equally. Pentel Quick Click Pencils are my favorites.
3. Pens
Colored pens are useful for so many things.
Paper Mate Retractable Pens and Flair Pens are my top picks for grading.
Frixion Erasable Pens are perfect for taking notes or planning.
4. Sticky Notes
Not only are sticky notes great for jotting down messages and reminders, but they’re also useful learning tools. You’ll find lots of uses for them in the classroom.
5. Astrobrights Paper
Colored copies can get expensive fast! Printing black-line copies on colored paper is a fun alternative. Astrobrights Paper is great for printing classroom newsletters, task cards, centers, and more.
6. Cardstock
Some projects work best with cardstock. Cardstock is the way to go if you plan to print, laminate, and reuse centers, classroom games, or other activities.
7. Printer
A printer is a bit of a splurge. Your school probably provides basic printer access, but you may be limited regarding the amount of ink you can use, and it may not be capable of printing in color. I always invested in a printer of my own. It also meant that I could print and prep at home.
8. Laminator
School laminators tend to use thin lamination. Plus, there’s often a limit or other restrictions. A personal laminator is a worthwhile purchase.
9. Lamination Sheets
If you get a personal laminator, you’ll need lamination sheets.
10. Good Scissors
Elementary school teachers do a lot of cutting. Trust me, you’ll want a good pair of scissors.
11. Paper Cutter
A paper cutter will cut straight lines quickly and easily. This style really gets the job done!
12. Dry Erase Pockets
Many schools limit the number of copies teachers can make. Reusable dry-erase pockets make it easy to reuse worksheets and centers.
13. Dry Erase Markers
Another classroom essential is dry-erase markers. Black is the best color for students to use because it erases the best, but bright colors are fun to use on the board.
14. Dry Erase Boards
Small whiteboards are a great way to reduce your class’s paper use. Plus, the kids enjoy using them.
15. Mini Board Erasers
A set of erasers lets kids easily clean off their whiteboards and reusable dry-erase pockets.
16. Hook And Loop Tape
Whether you use it for creating center activities or hanging up decor, hook and loop tape is a must-have for the elementary school classroom.
17. Cordless Hot Glue Gun
A cordless hot glue gun is perfect for hanging up classroom decor, posters, and labels.
18. Hot Glue
Get plenty of hot glue. It’s the best way to hang things on cinder block walls if your school allows it.
19. Mavalus Tape
Some schools don’t allow hot glue on the walls. Mavalus tape is a great alternative. You can also stick it to the wall and then glue things onto the backside of the tape to make removing items easy.
20. Stikki Clips
If you need to hang up student work and other items that you want to change throughout the year, Stikki Clips work well.
21. Clothespins
You’ll find more ways to use clothespins around the classroom than you think. Whether you’re hanging stuff up, creating center activities, or simply holding baggies shut, clothespins are a must-have.
22. Binder Rings
Use binder rings to organize sets of task cards, hang up posters, and make classroom books.
23. Magnetic Hooks
Magnetic hooks make it easy to hang items on the whiteboard, door frames, and filing cabinets.
24. Timer
Timers are perfect for keeping your small groups running effectively, keeping your schedule on track, and transitioning smoothly. Every teacher needs at least one.
25. Pencil Sharpener
A classroom full of kids goes through a lot of pencils. Get a good pencil sharpener!
26. Mr. Sketch Markers
Smelly markers make creating anchor charts more fun. Mr. Sketch scented markers are my favorites.
27. Black Cotton Cloth
Black cotton cloth is perfect for covering bulletin boards. Staple it up and leave it be. Since it’s neutral, you can easily change the borders, letters, etc.
28. Stickers
Kids love stickers. Stick them on student work or use them with sticker charts.
29. Self-Inking Stamps
Not every paper needs to be graded. Self-inking stamps are perfect for marking ungraded papers.
30. EZ Grader
An EZ Grader makes calculating grades so much quicker.
31. Mailboxes
A classroom set of mailboxes makes it super easy to pass back papers and send home flyers. You’ll likely want some if your classroom doesn’t already have a set.
32. Teacher Bag
A good quality teacher bag is essential. Look for a style you love.
33. Lunch Bag
Unless you plan to eat only cafeteria food, you’ll want a lunch bag. There are lots of cute options!
34. Thank You Cards
Keeping a stash of thank you cards in your desk drawer makes it easy to jot a quick thank you to community members or parents who volunteer or donate to your classroom.
35. Paper Filing Pocket Chart
These pocket charts come in handy for all sorts of things. They’re also a more affordable alternative to classroom mailboxes.
36. Clipboard
Every teacher needs a good clipboard or two.
37. Contact Paper
Clear contact paper can be used for covering paperback books, attaching labels, or as an alternative to laminating materials.
38. Whistle
Save your voice. Use a whistle to call your class in from recess.
39. Accordion Organizer
A portable accordion organizer is perfect for sorting student papers, organizing copies, or keeping papers organized.
40. Glue Sticks
If your students do any crafting or cut-and-paste activities, you’ll need a lot of glue sticks. Stock up on extras when they go on sale.
41. Crayons
Many of your students may bring in their own crayons. But, you’ll likely need more before the year is out. Look for back-to-school sales and stock up then.
42. Quality Stapler
A good-quality stapler makes creating packets, projects, and flipbooks much easier. Plus, you’ll want one that can staple when it’s opened flat to use on the bulletin board.
43. Long Reach Stapler
If you plan to make classroom books, a long-armed stapler is a perfect tool for the job.
44. Teacher Cup
Whether your drink of choice is coffee, tea, soda, or water, an insulated teacher cup makes it easy to stay hydrated all day.
45. Storage Cart
Stay organized with a simple storage cart. You can use it to organize your supplies or to store centers.
46. Wireless Doorbell
A wireless doorbell makes a great tool for transitioning between activities. Use it as an easy attention-getter.
47. Manual Pencil Sharpeners
Small manual pencil sharpeners are great for kids to use at their desks or at the small group table. They’re quiet, so they won’t disrupt your class.
48. Magnetic Clips
Using magnetic clips, you can easily hang papers, important notes, and student work on the whiteboard.
49. Staple Remover
Removing staples can be a pain, especially when you need to remove a bunch of them, like when you change out the bulletin boards. A good staple remover makes the job much easier.
50. Desk Organizer
Keep your desk organized and your supplies at hand with a desk organizer.
That’s it. Grab some first-year teacher must-haves and start setting up your classroom.
You won’t need all of the first-year teacher must-haves on this list, but hopefully, it’s given you a good idea of where to start. Grab something to drink, print out a checklist, and start planning. Remember, you don’t have to get everything all at once, and your school may already provide some of the items.
Now it’s time to set up your classroom. Grab the free classroom prep checklist to get started!
Want a step-by-step checklist to help you get your classroom ready? Simply enter your personal email below. (Many schools block outside emails with attachments.) I’ll send you the FREE classroom prep checklist.
