I’m a high school, freshman teacher! one of the best things I got was 2 plastic shoe hangers, connected them, hung it on the wall with a couple of charging ports next to it and made it a phone charging station! best thing ever, kids aren’t on the phone as much, less distractions and they get to charge their phone in class, win for everyone!
Along the same lines as the Jolly Ranchers - I buy stickers in bulk!! Smiley faces, sparkly stars, whatever seasonal stuff is in the Target dollar spot, anything I can get my hands on. I teach high schoolers and they still get so excited when the “prize” for finishing a task is getting to pick a sticker.
As a supply teacher I love my portable speaker. I bring it to every room I go to and it is huge for engagement with a new group of kids every day. I have a calm/acoustic playlist for the classroom, and a pop playlist for the gym or body breaks. I always ask kids if they want it on and so far they have always said yes. Since supply plans are often working on projects or independent work I find it helps fill some of that space too since I don’t often get to teach many lessons. My rule is that I only put it to a quiet volume and it “can’t go louder” causing them to talk in lower voices if they want to hear it. In the gym it is amazing (even more than a whistle!!) because as soon as the music goes off there is that drop in sound and kids listen. I teach them to freeze when it stops too. A small investment but a huge lifesaver, and kids love talking about music even with a new teacher they don’t know 😊
I love this channel to another good teacher channel is pocketful of primary right now she’s moving and not teaching for the next year but watch her older videos.
The water jug thing is a fact!! I’m more inclined to drink it when it’s there! I also can’t live without my kitchen timer. I totally lose track of time when I tell my students they have 10 mins or whatever to work on something. Setting a timer to keep me on track and keep THEM on track is a lifesaver!!
I had a teacher in high school who taught child development, fashion, and teaching classes. The classes were almost always all girls. To get us motivated she would get free samples of perfume from department stores. It was soooo exciting and fun!
Instead of a dust buster I have a sweeper. At the end of every class period I have a student sweep the floor and everyone makes sure the floor is completely clear. Students rush in my door to beat everyone to the sweeper job of the day. They love clean up time. I also use a wireless doorbell instead of the chime. I just put the button in my pocket and carry it with me so if it goes off, I did it. Those magnets are the best and I used them exactly the same way. Whiteboards are a huge engagement thing for me. I have the clipboard kind that are around $50 but they were so worth it. We do skills practice with them all the time and I let them draw whatever they want on them as long as I can clearly see the answer choice and they’re being school appropriate. They will always draw. They’re really respectful of them too but a few do break so I actually have 2 sets so that we can have a backup if one breaks. Being clipboards means they come out for gallery walks and scavenger hunts as well.
Jolly Ranchers are a game changer! I used to be so opposed to giving out candy but then I learned lol. They’re such a small investment but a HUGE motivator! I feel like they’re my secret weapon. I maybe give them out once or twice a month for my 8th graders for a review game or escape room activity and the kids go wild. Jolly Ranchers and Dum Dums are inexpensive and a little goes a long way.
First year SECONDARY teacher, spent all my time watching Primary Teachers talking about what they needed in the classroom- You DO NOT need a laminator unless you have your own room! However, the Jolly Ranchers thing DOES work, with all age groups! MY TIP: The thing I got is a small roller bag, about half the size of a cabin-bag suitcase, so that I can put all my books and copies in without damaging my back- I have been teased by other teachers, but I will have no back pain by 40 and they will so HA. I go from room to room, rolling it behind me, and it is so much better- Because with a backpack, I can be mistaken for a student.
LED finger lights are amazing for helping kids focus on text and those little hand held tally/counter/clicker things are great for data collection and behavior management. I was using to track behavior and I noticed that behavior stopped when I reached for the clicker.
I love to use smelly markers when my class is working on exit tickets and other work. The promise of a simple star or smiley motivates them a ton. My Kiddos love smelly markers!! Their teacher too 😁
My cooperating teacher used something she called "smellies" which are scented Chapsticks. She would pull a mystery smellies and rub on the students hand if they were on task and participating. It is reminiscent of a scratch n sniff sticker. My 1st graders loved it.
This is exactly the series I need! I have no idea where to start with building my classroom, I have NOTHING. could you do a necessity version? Necessity as in can’t buy everything at once but need the classroom foundations...
Depending on the grade you're teaching some of these may not apply. One area where you can start is thinking about your classroom theme; colors, style, animal character (owl, birds, 🍎, farmhouse)etc. You may choose not to have one. This will be your foundation and you can build out from there. Storage containers of all sizes will always be of use. Depending on your school you may or may not be able to hang things on your wall. Command hooks work very well for a number of things. Your favorite office supplies are a (fun) must! A hot glue gun, fave pens/pencils/Sharpies/markers, stamps, stickers, personal laminator (Walmart, Target, Amazon) with thermal pouches, scissors and stapler, Post It notes, pencil sharpener. If you're a planner type of person grab one of those too. Border and material/fabric for decorating bulletin boards. Depending on what your school has available you may not have to buy many office supplies unless you just want your own, which is ok. A milk crate with hanging file folders or a mailbox (Amazon and Walmart carry them) to hold student papers. I'd suggest a crate with file folders for younger grades (K, 1st) and a mailbox for upper grades. Start things about how you want to organize work; homework basket, un/finished work, absent work. Where will students put their pencils that need sharpening or to get one. IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GET YOU!!! 🥴 Also start thinking about your classroom management strategies. You may have to tweak them once in your room but at least you'll have a plan.
Also read teacher blogs, Pinterest. They have some good ideas there too. The main to remember is to keep it simple! Do a little bit at a time. It's VERY easy to get bogged down in thinking you need EVERYTHING at once (my testimony) and thinking that your classroom has to look like they teachers you're seeing. IT DOESN'T! That will be your home for however long you're there. MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR YOU! I hope this helps a little. 😊
Love these! My cordless doorbell is my favorite thing to use. I have the button by my document camera but the ringer across the room. Perfect for grabbing attention. The other thing I can never go without are my light filters. They are these sheets that have magnets on them that go over the lights. I have seen a huge shift in my students with ADHD and autism with their attention span and behavior.
I totally agree with you, I taught 8th grade math my 1st year teaching & kids really will do anything for a jolly rancher!! Some days these were my saving grace! haha
I have “jolly good jolly ranchers”, “you’re a star starburst”, and “compli-mints” (mint life savers). If given a choice they always pick jolly ranchers!
First year teacher here! I highly recommend reading The adventures of Edward Tulane to the kids! I read it to my third graders and it’s intense, but so good. I think it’d be perfect for all grade levels over 3rd. I’d love to see any chapter book recommendations to read to the kids! I still need to build my class library.
I love the jolly rancher idea! I had a high school P. E. Teacher who would reward us with a gaterade if we answered a question correctly, won a game or if we could do a cool trick shot (in a sports oriented class) and no matter what it was, we were all motivated to earn a gaterade. Food/drinks/candy are great motivators no matter what age! Thanks for the tips! I’m currently studying to be a teacher and these will definitely come in handy!
My 8th graders love Dum Dum suckers! They get so excited when I bust them out. I also love my clicker for when I’m giving notes on Power Point since I constantly move around the room. I have a karaoke microphone that I use to get their attention. The kids also use it when they do presentations.
I like using the dice as well! When I introduce a new math game all eyes are right on me.It is a game changer once you take them out! I even will randomly swap them out with the little dice if they are working in partnerships and are staying on task.
Lol omg my 6th graders would do anything for a jolly rancher for REAL. Came in real handy for formal observations! They knew they were working for a jolly rancher when it was all over
The clips for the white board also work great for pencil sign outs! Students take a pencil off the clip, write their name in dry erase marker on the board, then erase their name when they clip it back. Also something that works really well in my classroom are the round puck-style push lights. Teachers are able to decide their own policy on cell phones and I use this as a visual reminder for if students can have phones out to listen to music. If the light is on, phones are okay, if it’s not, put them away.
I usually keep Hershey kisses and starbursts in my classroom as rewards. Hershey kisses I started because I had kids with braces that couldn't have the other kinds of stickier fruit candy.
My cousin whos a elementary school teacher has a 4 in 1 vacum ( it has smaller attachments for hand held and larger one for her reading carpet or whatever bigger messes she needs)
I like the recordable versions of the answer buzzers for my nonverbal students. You can use then to record your i can statement, answers, yes or no and they are way cheaper than the assitive tech version!
My daughter is diabetic so I learned to motivate my students with anything but candy. They get their occasional nerds but I place those in a jellybean bamboozle jar that only 2-3 come out at a time (saving tons of money in candy too). I have a big collection of stickers from the dollar store and I also use smelly marker and fruity chapsticks. I draw an invisible happy face on the back of their hands and and they have something to smell. Kids love it. BYW, I am not technically a teacher I am a speech therapist but all of this apply as well. 😊👍
Loved your hand lettering book idea! I’m also a teacher and after a long day of teaching I will look forward to calming down mentally with this fun new hobby.
I love watching all teaching veido’s because I’m in college after several years out of HS decided to go back for “special ed” still have core classes and 2 sciences to take. I may graduate when I’m 45 lol but I’ll teach for 5 till I’m 50 😳🤪❤️
I started teaching last January giving me one semester of "okay this didn't work/okay this did good how do I make it better?". This school year I was given the task of teaching three different grade levels (thankfully all in my content) and multi colored masking tape was a life changer! 3 different grades, six classes in total, and never did one of my kids get confused about what materials/resources around the room belonged to them. The masking tape went on their workbook and reading book spines, I used it to section off different areas and hang up different things. It made grading more enjoyable too because I graded their work in their classes color. A door bell also helped with attention grabbing and a signal when to rotate stations.
Thanks for sharing your ideas with us! I’m definitely gonna order the light up wand! I’m a preschool teacher so I know that will definitely help them stay focused and it will help fun!
Thanks for this video! Loved it. I love Kahoot trivia for an engagement activity. Great for kids and teens also. I would recommend the Happily Ever Crafter course for anyone wanting to perfect their Calligraphy/hand lettering.
Stephanie Jimenez I have one but I also got a wireless keyboard that’s small and it lets me use it to change from slides to other things as well from anywhere in the room. I use it with classroom screen and I can start the timer from my greeting post in the hallway, change text for the do now, I can type when we are creating paragraphs, I can do RU-vid videos and stop and start, it’s endless and I love it. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket too so I can store it when I don’t need it.
Jocelyn Nolton mine is just a generic wireless keyboard from amazon. I put in mini wireless keyboard and chose one that is backlit in multiple colors. I got the idea from a conference presenter who had the rii brand.
You are a year ahead of me. I am going into my third year. I am a substitute teacher in Maine and I am going to be student teaching in January. Thank you so much for this video!
another idea with the magnet clips; you can put pencils in them on your whiteboard and have a pencil checkout area my kids wrote their name to it and got to erase their name when they returned the pencil if they didn’t, I know who has it last!
If your school has unlimited printing, then ignore this post. If your school DOES limit your printing 😢, your holy grail will be an HP printing subscription!!!!!!! I am SO HAPPY I hopped on board because now I don’t worry about buying expensive ink or running out of ink when I need it most!!! Ink comes automatically since HP tracks the amount online, and you just pay for the pages you want according to the subscription plan!!! You can change the amount anytime. Look the plans up yourself but this is definitely THE BEST thing I have for my job as a kindergarten teacher!!!
I feel you're my kindred spirit! I will be starting my 5th school year this upcoming school year. I already have the clothes rack (bought for green screen background this year) but even before you said it I was thinking anchor charts. Have the answer buttons and magnet clips. I use Sweet Drops caramel or chocolate in my water in order to drink it (Amazon or Kroger)!
This video came at perfect timing! I’ve been subscribed to you all throughout university and I just graduated and landed a 2nd grade job! I’m going crazy wondering what I need! Thanks!
I use a wireless door bell in my classroom and it’s an amazing attention getter! I keep the button on my lanyard and the kiddos know to stop talking and look for me when they hear it! This was my first year teaching and ill never do away with it!❤️
I love this! A new series! I'm all in!! I want to be a teacher now!! :) I love how organized teachers are. It's inspiring to me!! I need that water bottle too!! Amazon here I come!
I love your videos. I can't wait for this series. I am going into school counseling not teaching, but this is very helpful for my future office. I am still In college. One more year left.
Should college students wanting to be a teacher start stock piling supplies for their first year teaching? I was debating about doing this, but wanted to hear some of your thoughts. This video was very helpful.
I mean yes and no! I go into more detail about this in my Classroom Setup Tips video that is going live tomorrow. I would start collecting books for sure. Any other supplies before you know what grade you're teaching and what your school will supply you with is just going to leave you with a lot of stuff to store.
Can you do a video talking about your college experience in gaining your degree in education? I would love to hear your experience shadowing a teacher while in college
Aaaahhhhhhhh! Oooohhhh shooooottt! What if one of these goes onto my birthday present list???? As of May 14, I got 10 DAYS until my 195$ Birthday! Yes, I am excited and No, I’m not ready to spit out what I want until I see this!! Lol! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 ❤️Aaron
Something I always found helpful as a teachers assistant and as a student was having fidgets on hand. If you have students that have trouble staying focused it helps them to focus better. Another item that was a hot commodity was flexible seating. Allowing students to have free range of where they sit and what they sit on helps them to focus better. You can use these items as incentives. I see a boost in grades and academic performance with fidgets and flexible seating.
You’re awesome! I need to go back to your kinder videos. Just got hired as a kinder teacher 2 days ago 💘 okay update: I swear I watched you years ago teach kinder! Am I wrong?!? Lol
