Ok…maybe these back to school items are a bit less “Must Have” and a little more “Great to Have.” Either way you look at it, these goodies will make the long days in the classroom more bearable! You can easily grab a few for yourself by just clicking on the pictures below.  Most of the pictures will click through to an affiliate link. (That means I’ll receive a small percentage if you make a purchase.) However,  I only recommend what I use and LOVE!

Back to School Must Haves:

1. Personal Kit: My first recommendation encompasses all the essential teacher must-haves. I like to keep a little crate handy with ✓ Ibuprofen,
✓ pads & tampons, ✓ deodorant, ✓ a little hair brush, ✓ chapstick, ✓ bandaids, ✓ a stock of disposable plates & utensils, ✓ a few dish towels, ✓ a little dry rack, ✓ a toothbrush/toothpaste, ✓ an alarm clock, ✓ extra staple remover, ✓ Throat Coat Tea, and ✓Pepto-Bismol. (The last one is a must because that type of sickness is the LAST type of sickness you want at school!) ✓ A box of thank you stationary also comes in handy for all those sweet little gifts that come flooding in.

2. As great-to-haves go, I’ll start with my favorite: Flair Pens!! I’ve never met a flair pen I didn’t like. Bright & smooth, they are the perfect mix between pen and marker.

3. A less fun, but necessary, classroom item is our first aid kit. You’ll most likely run out of band aids by the end of the first trimester, but don’t make the mistake of starting the year without them!

4. While on the topic of first aid,  “reusable ice cubes” come in handy. It seems like an odd item for the list, but throw a few in a baggie and you’ll have an instant solution to every kid’s bang, bump, and headache! You could just keep regular old ice cubes in the closest freezer, but they always seems to disappear when they’re needed most. Plus, reusable cubes are less drippy!!

5. Did you know that water tastes better from a super cute bottle? Okay, that’s not a proven fact. But, I love my Klean Kanteen! It seems like I’m not the only one based on a scan of the room at my last professional development training. (Stainless steel is, of course, BPA and aluminum free.) The wide mouth is great for easy cleaning, and it can go in the dishwasher!

6. Book organizers!!! The love of book organizers seems to be built into our teacher DNA. They keep libraries organized, tidy, and inviting!

7. Laminator & Pouches
There’s nothing like having your very OWN laminator! I hate to give away my age, but when I started teaching personal laminators may not have even existed. Over the past few years, technology has exploded, and they seem to be everywhere at a reasonable price too! Skip waiting in line in the office and flimsy lamination that peels. Having access to a laminator in your classroom is too sweet to pass up.

8. Finally, Mr. Sketch! Yep, I’m a little too happy about the basket of wonderfully smelly markers on my desk. They’re all mine….Bwahaha……

So, get go yourself some goodies! Like getting a new outfit, new classroom supplies just makes you smile. And, goodness knows that you work too hard not to start off feeling great about your newest classroom! Curious minds want to know….What’s the favorite “great-to-have” item on your desk?

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You might also like: 7 Sanity Saving Behavior Management Strategies

Happy Back to School Season!

~ Melissa

I hope you find these suggestions helpful! Click here to follow Peas in a Pod on Tpt for more classroom tips & freebies.

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I receive a few cents on the dollar. This commission directly supports my small business and ensures that we can continue to create high-quality content for teachers, like yourself! As always, the products shared are tried, true, and tested. Enjoy! 

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