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Do you need to restock your classroom after Christmas break? Do you need to stock up on supplies for the new school year? As teachers we ALWAYS need supplies! But, what school supplies will you really need? What school supplies will you really use? Especially in a high school classroom! Obviously the must have supplies for elementary school teachers are going to be WAY different for us high school teachers and we need to know what to get!
I remember when I first started teaching I scoured the internet to see what lists teachers had posted to get an idea of what I would really need, but I could hardly find anything about supplies that high school teachers need. I also noticed that most of the lists tended to be about decorations or obvious things like pencils and notebook paper. I needed more. I needed better ideas. Of course it’s nice to get your classroom Pinterest ready, but I was more concerned about how I was going to help my classroom to function better and more smoothly. So if you are thinking the same thing I was, this list is for you. Here are 9 items that have helped me run my high school classroom more smoothly, and efficiently while also saving me money!
1. Presentation Clicker (with laser pointer)
Y’all, when I say I use my presentation clicker everyday, I mean everyday! This small item is so extremely useful! Not only will it allow you to be able to control your slides from anywhere in the room, but it also will allow you to point to anything in the room. Teachers, you know how important it is to be able to walk around and monitor your students. It’s a MUST! Well, with the presentation clicker you are able to walk around and check on your students all while clicking through your lesson or pointing at important things on the screen/wall. The clicker I linked above I got off amazon. It works great but one disclaimer is that it doesn’t really seem to work with apple computers. If you want a more compatible and ergonomic clicker then this logitech one may be a better option.
2. Wireless Keyboard
This item is just like the clicker. It is so nice to have when you need to play videos in class. You’ll be able to walk around and pause/fast forward/change the video if you need to. You basically are able to carry the power of your computer with you as you monitor your students. When I first started teaching I carried my wireless keyboard around with me the whole period, and it was so helpful! The wireless keyboard that I linked is the best because it comes with a touchpad. This will allow you to be able to walk around and not have to carry a mouse with you.
3. Plastic Cover Sheets (Sheet Protectors)
When it comes to doing lessons with your students, plastic sheets will save you so much money (especially that precious printing money). These sheets are especially useful when you do stations, gallery walks, or readings (really any activity where your students are going to be touching/handling the copies). These sheets allow you to preserve your copies because students won’t be able to write on them or rip them (as easily haha. They still find ways). Seriously, using these sheets will keep you from having to make a bunch of copies and will allow you to reuse material throughout the different class periods and school years.
4. Chargers for student computers
This item is ESSENTIAL if your students have personal computers. My school provides chromebooks, and I expect students to bring their chromebooks to class everyday. More often than not the problem that I run into is that students have their chromebooks but they are not charged AND they do not have a charger! Instead of having the students miss out on the work or having to create paper copies you can easily purchase some chargers for your classroom that students can use. The chargers are not too expensive and if you purchase a couple of them it will go a long way! The charger I linked above is a USB C charger so it will work with many types of computers.
5. Mini Whiteboards
Individual white boards are seen as a luxury in most teachers’ eyes but they are awesome tools! I definitely would recommend making the investment because you will really enjoy having them for games, reviews, and lessons. Individual whiteboards will make it really easy for you to see students’ answers if you are doing a formative assessment or a lesson where you need immediate student feedback. Additionally, student whiteboards make it easier for you to see your students’ answers because they can show you from where they are sitting. Really, I don’t know what it is about white boards and dry erase markers but students LOVE them. As a result, students are very engaged! Plus, the individual whiteboards I linked come with their own box with supplies and are very easy to store.
6. Colored Pencils & Markers
Coloring supplies seem very elementary, but high schoolers definitely need supplies to color with as well! I have needed colored pencils and markers in my class countless times and it’s nice to be able to provide them! Very few high school students actually have coloring supplies, so if you plan on doing anything with color, you will definitely need to provide the supplies. The colored pencils and markers that I linked are a class set and have lasted me years. I still use the same sets from when I first started teaching!
7. Games
This may not really be a supply, but it is definitely a great thing to have in your classroom. You never know when a lesson might finish up early and you have unexpected extra time. Or when something happens on campus and you have students in your class for a longer period of time. It is always good to have games to keep students entertained. Also, you can intentionally plan time for students to play games to build your classroom community. Some of the games that my high schoolers have loved are Bop It, Spot It, and Uno.
*Side note:* Uno is great if you need to randomly assign points to students for review games. They pick a card and that determines their points.
8. Tissues, Bandages, & Feminine Products
I put these three items as one because they are basically for the same use – bodily needs. Bandages and tissues are supplies that we always remember our teachers asking us for when we were in school. With good reason because you will definitely need them in your classroom! There will come a time when you’re in the middle of a lesson and a student raises their hand. You’ll be so excited because you think that they are going to ask a super awesome question about your super awesome lesson, but no. They just need to blow their nose. Of course, you do not want to deny your student the ability to take care of their needs, so ideally you can just point to the tissue box you have on your desk. They can get up quietly and take care of business. Problem solved!
Now, if you don’t have tissues in your classroom, students will have to go to the nearest restroom, leave class, and miss valuable instruction time. The same goes for bandages or feminine products (except they will have to go to the school nurse for these items and that will cause them to be out of class even longer!) It is always so much nicer for you and your students to have these necessary items on hand. So, make sure to buy tissues, bandages, and feminine products. A class set of tissues will last a long time and is not too expensive. The same goes for bandaids and feminine products. When you have everything already in your room students do not have to leave and miss out on instruction which is a win-win for you and them!
9. Window Pane Sticker
This is definitely an item that you would not think about but is essential. I teach in Texas. All classes are required to have something that covers the windows on doors. This is in case there is a lockdown. Nobody should be able to see inside. Some teachers use curtains, and if that is your style, go for it! I just find it is hard to mount them on the door so I prefer not to use curtains. Some teachers use butcher paper for a simpler approach. I found a halfway between fashionable and functional with the window pane sticker. You can find these anywhere and in so many styles. I found mine at home depot. All you need to do is measure, cut, and stick it on your window!
