Back to School can be an overwhelming time of year for kids, parents and teachers, too! Stores are stocked with brightly colored bins, borders, and stickers and it’s easy to get distracted from what we NEED to make our classrooms run smoothly. Over the years I have found that there are certain things that I MUST HAVE at my fingertips when the kids walk through the door. Here are my
10 Back to School Essentials for teachers.
1. LABELS
Label, label, label! I label everything in the classroom! Print out sheets of name labels before the first day of school. They can quickly be placed on art projects, papers, folders, and school supplies. Print them on
Avery Address Labels 
and keep them handy!
2. NAMES, NAMES, NAMES
Children feel better when they know that they are part of a classroom family. Have each child’s name written in a variety of places on the first day of school and throughout the school year. Have names already written on cubbies and desks or table areas. I also have a name list hanging in our Meeting Area that we refer to all year long. Keep several sets of name cards to use for games, circle time, pocket charts etc. Simply write the names on sentence strips
and store the sets with a rubber band. You will use these again and again! I also keep a set of prepared name tag necklaces
to wear for substitutes, specialist teachers and other occasions.
3. MUSIC
Every kindergarten teacher must have songs, fingerplays and poems at their fingertips! Whether it is one you sing on your own, with a CD, on the computer, iPad, YouTube or phone . . . just be sure you have quick access to it! Have a variety of music, too, such as quiet songs to settle them down, active songs to get their wiggles out, and songs with actions and movement. Singing a song is magical in a classroom! Some of my favorites are Greg & Steve, Jack Hartmann, Laurie Berkner and Dr Jean.
4. TEACHING EASEL
My Meeting Area is the central location for Morning Meeting, Shared Reading, End of the Day Circle and so much more. I would be lost without my teaching easel! I write my Morning Message on the whiteboard, hang song charts on it, hang a pocket chart on it, place the daily books on the ledge, and store dry erase boards, lesson supplies, and journals in the bins.
5. CIRCLE TIME SUPPLIES
It is important to have a variety of materials close at hand in your circle time area. These are items that you can use during circle time while playing games and activities (that you don’t want to search for in the middle of the lesson). Here are some things I keep in my bin: ,
pointers
, soft ball,
finger puppets
, feelings bear,
large foam dice
, two sets of name cards, small piece of fabric (for playing guess what’s missing games),
rhythm sticks
, alphabet cards, number cards and sight word cards.
6. MONTHLY PLANNING SHEETS
As a teacher you always need to plan ahead.
Editable monthly planning calendar sheets are great for looking ahead at your year and scheduling around important dates and events. You can also use them to send home with monthly homework or a calendar of classroom events (show and tell days, special snack days etc).
7. DRY ERASE LAPBOARDS
I have a class set of
dry erase lapboards
. They are great to use when teaching handwriting and writing words. I also love to use them for quick games like
“Beat the Teacher”. Be sure to make rules with the boards and
dry erase markers
(or you will be out of ink in no time!) and the markers are expensive!
8. TAKE HOME FOLDERS
Using a daily take home folder
will save you TONS of time and keep you organized! I use poly folders because they are durable and (most) will last the entire school year. All papers that need to go home (forms, permission slips, book orders, corrected papers) are put in the folder each afternoon. Parents empty the folder each night and they are returned in the morning (hopefully, empty!) The children put the folders in a basket near my desk each morning as they enter the room.
9. INSIDE RECESS TOYS
Yes, inside recess will happen so be prepared! I have a shelf that is designated for inside recess only. I do this for three reasons. One, to keep the rest of the classroom materials clean and organized. Two, so the kids have special toys, supplies, and games to look forward to using during inside recess days. And three, so the inside recess duty teacher knows which toys the kids can or cannot use. Yard sales are the best way to stock up on board games, art supplies, puzzles, blocks, dolls
, doll houses, Legos, wooden trains
, and other fun and educational toys.
10. LAMINATOR
I laminate everything in the classroom. . . posters, center signs, center activities, calendar pieces, bulletin board letters and more. I invested in a personal
laminator
so I could get things laminated at home and on the weekends. It’s definitely a MUST HAVE in my book!
AND . . . a little treat to take home on the first day of school! My
Back to School Editable Stickers are FREE through August 18th so get them now! Add your name, print, and stick to a 4 count Crayola Sidewalk Chalk pack (the best price is to use your teacher’s discount and a coupon at Michael’s!)
Get your centers printed, cut and laminated! My Back to School Centers Bundle and Fine Motor Activities are 20% off until August 18th!
I’ve teamed up with my #Kinderfriends to share our favorite Back to School Essentials. Be sure to click through all of our blogs for great FREEBIES and deals to make Back to School run smoothly for you! Just follow the link below to visit Paula’s Preschool and Kindergarten.
Happy Teaching!
