As a teacher, you wear many different hats. You are confidante, mentor, facilitator, assessor, nurse, taskmaster, librarian, and everything in between. Sometimes you also feel like Mary Poppins. I used to be shocked by the number of odds and ends students would ask me to produce. Now, I don’t even blink. My co-workers are the same way; each teacher seems to have a magical drawer filled with everything a student could ever need. Today, I’ve gathered together 15 unexpected supplies to store in your classroom.
Over the years, I’ve put together a few lists of traditional classroom supplies to keep in your room. This is not those lists. In general, I expect my school to provide office supplies, but today I want to share the kinds of supplies you’re more likely to buy out of your own pocket. That being said, I always want to emphasize that the amount of money you spend on your classroom does not reflect how much you love your students.
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Organizational Supplies
First, I don’t keep a traditional classroom desk. It’s just not my style, so my “desk drawer” fits inside one of these three-drawer carts. I like to keep these kinds of supplies in a drawer so students don’t just start digging around.
Another organizational need is a place to keep your phone, wallet, car keys, and/or purse. Maybe your classroom has a closet or a file cabinet with a lock. For my classroom keys, I have a specific magnetic hook. Otherwise I misplace my classroom keys ten times a day!
Finally, I use resealable bags and totes way more often than expected. Students come from the nurse with ice packs and need a resealable bag. I end up with a new school sweatshirt and need a tote to carry it home. These are two easy items to keep in your classroom, and they will help keep you organized!
Supplies to Keep You Feeling Good
Since teachers spend so much time at school, it’s helpful to have everything you need to keep feeling good!
- First, keep a reusable water bottle in your classroom. It also helps to keep your favorite snacks on hand for when you need a quick pick-me-up. Personally, I love Mentos!
- It’s also helpful to keep some plastic utensils and napkins in your classroom.
- At the beginning of the year, the school nurse always drops off bandaids, gauze, and plastic gloves. However, I also keep Advil, cough drops, and hair ties on hand.
- There’s nothing worse than being at school with a dead cell phone, especially if it’s a late night for conferences. Keeping a cell phone charger on hand will solve this problem!
Supplies to Keep You Looking Good
Not only do teachers want to feel good, we also want to look good! Looking good always helps to make sure you’re feeling your best and teaching your best.
- First, keep a spare outfit (and a jacket) at school. I mean, the whole thing from top to bottom and everything underneath. A spare pair of shoes is also a must!
- In the same vein, keeping a small sewing kit and eyeglasses repair kit on hand helps. I’m always afraid that I’m going to wind up with broken glasses and no way forward.
- Two small items to keep in your desk: travel deodorant and a lint roller. Honestly, my students ask for the lint roller more than I’d ever expect.
Unexpected Supplies
These are a few odds and ends to keep in your desk drawer.
- First, keep a few dollars in your desk drawer. Sometimes you need to visit the vending machine, and sometimes you end up buying band candy.
- Next, keep some stationary on hand. I keep thank you cards, sympathy cards, and blank cards around. You cannot underestimate the power of a quick note given to a colleague in need.
- Finally, keep a Feel Good File in your desk drawer. This is full of notes from students, crafts they have made, and everything in between! This is a desk treasure that will cost you nothing but will always be there to pick you up when the going gets tough!
