Teachers: What do I *need* for my classroom?

[belle8306]

Hi! I am also a first grade teacher. Things that I could not live without:

Word Wall (you can buy a 1st grade word kit)
Classical or soothing music CD's
word family wall (another kit)
Welcome Back bulletin board
Lots of colorful dry erase markers
Extra pencils, glue sticks scissors and crayons (I always have students that don't bring in supplies)
A bell
Student Mailboxes
Over the door shoe organizer to hold student supplies
lots of books (check garage sales and Goodwill)
baskets to hold the books and other items
desk supplies (tape holder, stapler...)
Note paper to write to parents on
post it notes
stickers
treasure box
card stock
file folders
Make yourself a kit with things like a small sewing kit, cough drops, headache medicine, and of course chocolate!
You can find tons of great teacher items at Dollar Tree, Target's Dollar bins, garage sales and Goodwill.
Also check out Dr.Jean Feldman's web site for a lot of great ideas.

First graders are great! Good luck!

 

[monsterkitty]

We do have to purchase our own lesson plan book and grade book. Although we do have a computer grade program, we are still required by our state law to have a hard copy and our district won't accept print outs of our online grade book.

Other things we must purchase ourselves:

stapler and staples

tape - I use clear packing tape because that sticks better to my walls. I also purchase different colors of masking tape (purple doesn't stick as well as blue )

all types of markers

posters

antibacterial soap, wipes, or gel

and most important

Band aids!

 

[middleofamerica]

I would say to go ahead and make the most of the 20% off, if you buy things that are provided, keep the receipts and take it back when you find out. My first grade classroom didn't have a built in little "mail" center type thing, to pass each child's papers into. I bought a divider with 20 or so stacking openings and put names on each for each child. I passed their papers there, then they could pick them up. My son's first grade used a file folder set-up for that purpose, but it was kind of hard to get them into folders that way. I also bought paints and those little colored paint buckets that have lids at Mardel, those things and many many others were not provided for me, but you may be luckier. I did not get lucky enough to have much of anything left in my room, so I went to garage sales and got lots of puzzles and games for indoor recess. Some sort of center organizer, that tells the kids which center they go to and what group they are in would probably be helpful. Mardel is good to pick up some Bingo games and fun things like that...I never had those things provided. Good luck!

 

[flying_babyb]

I forgot about indoor recess. I remember (many years ago) my teacher would let us toss a beach ball around the room (never broke anything either, but thats cause it wasnt fully inflated (softer that way). We also used to play with sidewalk chalk on black paper. A cheap choice, Tape. You can recreate four square and hopscotch inside with masking tape.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

kleenex

roll of paper towels

small baggies (snack size ziplocs) for then a kid loses a tooth!

in your school district -- can you post a wish list for parents? our teachers always had a wish list and we always took several bags of supplies in and donated them.

 

[daisyduck123]

HI!
Another 1st grade teacher (18 years experience) chiming in here!

You need a classroom library!
Here's what you do...start hitting garage sales & you should be able to begin a nice classroom library in just a few weekends.

You can probably find some nice book bins at the Dollar Store. I have gotten some great ones at IKEA...they have red ones and blue ones for only $1.00 each!

I have bins labeled & grouped for each of these:
1) Arthur books
2) Junie B. Jones
3) Franklin
4) Clifford
5) Animals Non-fiction
6) Berenstain Bears
7) Huggly
8) Disney
9) Hello Readers (a bin for each level)
10) Step Into Reading (a bin for each level)
11) Alphabet books
12) Magic Tree House
13) Arthur Chapter Books
14) Clifford Big Red Readers
15) Amelia Bedelia
16) Horrible Harry
17) Little Critter

In my area, I can find these paperback books for .25-.50 cents each.

 

[flying_babyb]

I would also pick up a few ramona books by beverly cleary. When I was in first grade I was reading at a fourth grade level. My teacher didnt care so I would get SO bored during reading time.

 

[McKelly]

How about a jobs chart? I agree about the library. Make sure you ask for a parent volunteer to do your Scholastic book orders, you can start to build up your library with free books.

 

[BrerMom]

I agree with the 100 chart and a number line. You can have all kinds of fun with the 100 chart - use square sticky notes to cover up "most" of the squares & have the kids guess the missing numbers or use the sticky notes to cover the odd numbers so they can count the evens, etc.

I'm required to provide my own lesson book. A grade book is optional since we have an online program - and unlike a previous poster, I don't have to print out a hard copy (in fact, it's discouraged - a waste of paper).

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a rolling cart to keep lunch boxes. An electric pencil sharpener is also wonderfully convenient, even if you don't let the kids use it.

Your school may provide you with a lot since you're new - or you could be completely on your own. In my district, each teacher gets $100 to buy EVERYTHING they need for the year. Unfortunately if you're not around in April to order things, you get zilch.

Ask your secretary if you are allowed to use your money and order through the school. If so, that may be better than the 20% off sale for some things.

 

[MM27]

I'm really shocked schools don't supply hall passes

You'd be equally shocked about some of the other things that schools don't supply. When I started teaching I got one small box of books for my classroom library, half of which were falling apart and the textbooks, desks and chairs. Nothing else in the room.

To the OP, my suggestion is, don't go crazy buying things now. 20% sounds like a good deal, but half of the things you buy you probably won't even need. You can always get things later when you see that you need them.

As far as the gradebook/planbook, I would wait. Different districts have different requirements. In my district we can use a book for grades and plans or we can do them on the computer. This was the first year that I started doing both on the computer.

I never leave my planbook for a substitute. Generic plans all the way when I'm out. We are required to keep five days of emergency plans in the office (full copies)

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We do have to purchase our own lesson plan book and grade book. Although we do have a computer grade program, we are still required by our state law to have a hard copy and our district won't accept print outs of our online grade book.

Don't you love it when they find a way to make you do double the work?

 

[EthansMom]

I'm not a teacher, but I'd like to offer a suggestion from my experience as a parent.

My kids' Kindergarten teacher keeps a "Wish List" on her teacher website. I'm not sure how teachers communicate to parents at your new school, but I LOVED having a "Wish List" and being able to contribute supplies that I knew were needed (tissues, craft supplies, etc...).

 

[monsterkitty]

I'm required to provide my own lesson book. A grade book is optional since we have an online program - and unlike a previous poster, I don't have to print out a hard copy (in fact, it's discouraged - a waste of paper).

An electric pencil sharpener is also wonderfully convenient, even if you don't let the kids use it.

Oh, we're not allowed to print out a hard copy because they don't want us to waste the district's money. We are required to purchase our own grade book with our own money. The kicker is, I have too many kids for one grade book so I get to buy two!

I also agree with the electric pencil sharpener.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I also agree with the electric pencil sharpener.

You might want to check first. Our district does not permit any electric appliances that they do not "issue" to us, electric pencil sharpeners included.

 

[IDoDis]

-Velcro & lots of it!!!!!!!!
-A software program called "Boardmaker" It is a library of thousands of picture icons. It's a bit pricey, but WELL WORTH the investment if you plan on continuing to be a teacher for a while. Don't know what I would do without it!!
Here is the link if you are interested:
http://www.mayer-johnson.com/ProdDesc.aspx?SKU=M125

Congrats on your upcoming job!!!

Boardmaker is an extremely expensive program for a 1st year teacher who probably won't need it. If you have special needs students in your class who need picture schedules, your school's speech therapist or occupational therapist should be able to help you make boardmaker picture schedules/books. Your school probably already has a copy that the special ed department shares. This is not something you should run out and buy.

Go to Staples this Sunday. 500 sheets of copy paper and ten packs of pencils are going to be 1 cent. Teachers usually can get 25 of each 1 cent item. I don't know if you'd get the 25 packs of paper though because there's an easy rebate invloved which may only be one per person. Check the Staples ad every weekend from here on out until school starts. You'll get some sweet deals that you can supply your classroom with to fill in for those kids who don't bring their own supplies. You'll need to sign up for their teacher rewards program which is free. They may need an ID from your school to prove you are a teacher, but if you tell them you are brand new and have maybe your college ID, they should honor it and get you all set up.

Good luck this year with your little munchkins!

 

[BrerMom]

Go to Staples this Sunday. 500 sheets of copy paper and ten packs of pencils are going to be 1 cent. Teachers usually can get 25 of each 1 cent item. I don't know if you'd get the 25 packs of paper though because there's an easy rebate invloved which may only be one per person. Check the Staples ad every weekend from here on out until school starts. You'll get some sweet deals that you can supply your classroom with to fill in for those kids who don't bring their own supplies. You'll need to sign up for their teacher rewards program which is free. They may need an ID from your school to prove you are a teacher, but if you tell them you are brand new and have maybe your college ID, they should honor it and get you all set up.

Hey, thanks for the heads up! Looks like I may be going to Staples this week. I had 1/2 a pack of pencils left at the end of the year from the 25 packs I bought last summer. Do you sign up for emails that tell you what's on sale next week?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Vodka

Yes it is camoflaged nicely in a water bottle....JUST KIDDING my drug of choice is chocolate....I have to sneak it as I bend down in the bottom draw of my desk. It is especially hypocritical because I do not allow the kids to have candy as a snack.

 

[Robindianne]

A couple of ideas: a pretty covered kleenex (or similar sized) box for worries. As students enter the room and you greet them, they put their worries, fears, troubles, etc from home into the box so they can focus on learning and growing that day.

Brain putty (poster putty) smidge for kids who need a quiet thing to work their hands so their brain doesn't need to use it's energy for being still.

I have a 5 color (face) poster but you could easily make one http://www.amazon.com/5-Point-Scale...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247240070&sr=8-3 for kids to put a yellow sticky w/their name on the mood they are in. It directs my teaching when I know the kids are all so happy they're hyper vs. many down in the dumps, nervous, etc. Then they have permission (w/in reason) to go move their name sticky throughout the day. You have to teach this first of course

I also have these movement cusions (2 or 3 per classroom) for kids that need texture/movement to help them focus. They sit on them either on their chair or on the rug for circle time. http://www.amazon.com/Isokinetics-E...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1247240300&sr=8-1

Congratulations and have fun. Primay kids are so sweet - even while they are eating glue and such

 

[NikiM20]

I am a teachers aide at a public school of pre-k.(all 16 classes are 4 ) One of the big things here are bulletin boards. The paper fades very fast, but we have used cloth and also the plastic tablecloths from the dollar tree. They do not fade and some have lasted 3-4 mths!!

 

[MM27]

I am a teachers aide at a public school of pre-k.(all 16 classes are 4 ) One of the big things here are bulletin boards. The paper fades very fast, but we have used cloth and also the plastic tablecloths from the dollar tree. They do not fade and some have lasted 3-4 mths!!

You have to get the fadeless paper. I leave the same color up all year and just change the other things on the board. Many teachers in my school use fabric. It looks good and you can't see the staple holes.