Teacher Approved Classroom Essentials for Under $30

*Please note...some of these items have increased in cost since the original post in 2020.

Well, it's been an interesting few months (to say the least).
Between early March and late May, I (like most of you) have not been allowed to step foot in my (our) classroom(s). I (we) have been teaching from home without the benefit of classroom materials and resources.
After everything wrapped up and we finished up our school year, I started thinking about some of those materials and resources. It was interesting to me that I could conduct "class" without most of my stuff.  Of course distance learning was (and will continue to be) a completely different experience than classroom learning. In distance learning, materials are definitely minimal. Onsite/classroom learning includes more teacher "must-haves" to keep things running smoothly.
With all of that said, here are some of my favorite classroom essentials. They are in no particular order.

The Time Timer

I love this timer. It comes in a variety of sizes. I use it in small groups. I use it during writing time, I use it during centers. It REALLY helps my students and me manage our time. The timer provides a perfect visual for students. The Time Timer is absolutely one of my favorite classroom essentials.

You can click here to check it out.

Paper Trays

I use these trays all the time.  I have about 20 basic ones and I have one set of colored trays.  I use the he basic ones to collect and sort student work.  You can also find them on my teacher desk for miscellaneous notes, handouts, etc.  I use the colored ones to set out differentiated materials for students.  The colors make it really easy students to know which materials to access for their specific assignments.

Click here for the basic paper trays.

Click here for the colored paper trays.

Paper Cutter

If you make centers, task cards, write the room activities, or crafts, a paper cutter saves a ton of time. I used to own one that did not have a guide wire for cutting. I upgraded to one with a guide wire a couple of years ago and it saves me even more time. I actually have one a home too for when I'm prepping activities away from school.  My paper cutters get plenty of use.

Click here for a link my favorite paper cutter.

Laminator and Laminating Pouches

I get so, so, so much use out of my personal laminator. I mainly use it for materials students handle, like centers and task cards. The laminate film is so much stronger than the big laminator at our school. Plus the convince of being able to laminate things whenever I need to makes a laminator (and laminating pouches) classroom essentials.

Click here for the laminator.

Click here for affordable laminate pouches.

Board Game Zipper Bags

These zipper pouches are an affordable way to store classroom board games and pieces. Let's face it, board game boxes do not hold up well and they take up a little bit too much space. Game board zipper bags are a great way to store and organize games.  

*It's important to look at the size of the bags and the measurements of your games. For larger game boards (like Chutes and Ladders) you will want the A3 size bag.

Click here for more details about board game zipper bags.

Magnets

Ok, maybe not very thrilling, but they are super useful. I use magnets on my white boards, my easel, and my classroom door frame. I post student work, anchor carts, and posters with my magnets. I really can't have enough around. They just make life a little easier.

Click here for classroom magnets.

File Box and Hanging Folders

There are a thousand uses for a file box in a classroom, so you'll probably need a few. I have file boxes for student writing (that becomes individual portfolios at the end of the year). I have one that is my sub tote. I have one that I share with my assistant, where we store student information, notes, etc. 

I'm sure I'm probably forget one, but the point is...there are loads of ways to to use file boxes in a classroom. 

To go along with the file box, I really like colorful hanging files. I'm gradually replacing all of my old green hanging files. The colorful one do help me organize myself more easily and I like the way they look.

Click here for a basic file box.

Click here for colorful hanging files.

The EZ Grader

An oldie but a goodie for sure. These little slide graders have been around forever. EZ Graders are really convenient and easy to use. They are a teacher must-have.

Click here for the EZ GRADER.

Dry Erase Pouches, Dry Erase Markers, and Reusable Makeup Pads

If you are of a fan of saving paper, you need to get dry erase pouches. Handouts can be used over and over agin with these pouches. I do have individual dry erase boards in my classroom, but these pouches serve a different purpose. 

Of course dry erase markers are needed if you are using these pouches.  

In my class, students use makeup pads as erases for dry erase markers.  Every once in a while I bring them home and wash them.  Again, convenient, easy to use, and affordable.

Click here for dry erase pouches.

Click here for class set of dry erase markers.

Click here for reusable makeup pads.

Velcro Shapes

There are all different sizes, shapes, and colors of these velcro shapes. Some of these shapes have numbers or letter printed on them. You can also write on them or leave them plain. You can use them in so many ways. 

Currently my students have velcro stars assigned to them at our gathering area. I also use the velcro spots as makers for students' desks. Students tend to "drive" their desks around the room. The spots provide a visual on the floor, so that students know where their desks belong.
Velcro shapes are a wonderful classroom management tool.

Click here for velcro shapes.

A Megaphone

My megaphone stays in my playground bag. It get's 99% of it's use on the playground. I love it. Years ago we all brought whistles to the playground. Most of the time it would take quite a few white blasts to get students' attention.  

The megaphone is way more effective. While most of the time I'm just using it to announce it's time to line up, sometimes I'm using it to prevent an accident that might be about to happen. 

I think a playground megaphone really ups the safety factor at recess.

Click here for a teacher friendly megaphone.

There you have it, some of my favorite classroom essentials under $30. I hope these suggestions are useful to you.  Teachers must spend their money very wisely.  All of these recommendations are items I would buy again in a heartbeat, because they have either saved me time, helped me stay organized, kept my students engaged, and/or supported my classroom management. Basically they are teacher approved. :)

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

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Please know that all of the recommendations on this site are authentic and come from personal experience.

Make an Indoor Recess Cart for Your Classroom {Plus FREE Cart Labels in a Variety of Colors}

I have a super quick project that you are sure to find useful in your classroom.  It is an Indoor Recess Cart, customized to your own students' interests.

Not only is this cart easy to put together and compact in size, it also allows you to put to use items that you probably already have on hand.

The main reason I created an Indoor Recess Cart was for sub days. I've always had a variety of activities students could choose on the days that we couldn't make it outside. However, I had them tucked here and there in the classroom, way too much explaining to leave for a sub.  Once I consolidated the activity choices on the Indoor Recess Cart, it was much easier to leave for a substitute.

To create an Indoor Recess Cart, you will need a utility cart. Once you have your cart and assemble it, you will print your labels. I printed mine on cardstock and laminated them for durability. Finally, I glued the labels on the cart.

Click on the link below for a FREE set of labels for your Indoor Recess Cart.

After your cart is put together and labeled, next comes the fun part...filling it. 

I recommend not over stuffing the cart. It will be too difficult for students see what activities are available and too difficult for them to cleanup appropriately. 

You should discuss with your students the expectation for the Indoor Recess Cart. That way students are responsible for it and it doesn't become one more thing that you have to manage.

Below are some ideas for an Indoor Recess Cart.

Ideas for an Indoor Recess Cart include:

1.  a utility cart

2.  a variety of simple games, like Memory, Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!, Connect 4, and Hi Ho! Cherry-O

3.  jigsaw puzzles (I like to put mine in baggies and store in one shoebox size tote.)

4.  fun art supplies and drawing journals (Spiral notebooks I give students at the beginning of the year, that only come out on indoor recess days.)

5.  dominoes

6.  building toys, like Legos and Brain Flakes

After you loaded up your cart, you're finished!  You have a fabulous Indoor Recess Cart that your students will really enjoy. As the year progresses, trade out some of the activities, so that students will continue to be interested in the choices.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Stay well.

School Is a Happy Place is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associated Program, an affiliate program that allows this site to earn advertising fees.
Please know that all of the recommendations on this site are authentic and come from personal experience.

Aloha School, Aloha Summer: Ways to End the Year on a High Note

The last three weeks of school...my family knows, it's go time.  And now that my daughter is older and is involved in extra curriculars, plus nightly homework, we are beyond busy during the last weeks of the year.
Taking care of all the loose ends at the end of school and keeping your students moving forward in their learning, takes some planning in advance.  Otherwise you will find yourself completely spent by the time you say your final goodbyes to all your sweet students.

One way you can help get yourself organized, is by setting up some end of the year totes during the last couple of weeks.

The totes I set up were complete, donate, put away, toss.  In each tote I placed items or notes for myself to deal with as soon as possible.  My goal was to take care of everything in the totes before going home that day (although some items stayed in the totes for a few days).  

But even if the tote wasn't cleaned out before I left for the day, having everything I needed to do together in one spot really helped me stay focused on getting my end of the year tasks complete.

By the way, if there was something in the tote I needed to complete outside of school, like getting gifts for the students, I took a picture with my phone to reference when I was out running errands.

This system really helped me get things accomplished before the last day of school.  And while I was  not able to walk out the door after our end of the year teacher luncheon, I had all my "have to's" finished and had a chance to work on some bigger organization projects.
Click here for a FREE copy of the labels I used on the totes.

If your school is anything like mine, there are a ton of special days and activities during the last weeks of school.  All this fun can make the class time a bit challenging.  

To keep my young learners focused, they worked with end of the year/summer themed literacy and math centers.  These centers served as a great review of many skills we practiced during the year.  I could really see how far my young learners have come.

Pictured below are a couple of the literacy centers students worked with during the final weeks.

 You can click here if you'd like more details.

We also kept busy with the companion set of math centers.  Pictured below are a couple of centers from this packet.

You can click here if you'd like more details.  These end of the year literacy and math centers offered a good deal of flexibility and quality skill practice during the last weeks of school.


In addition to our center work, another end of the year project I love is my Graduation Glyph.  We've made these glyphs for the past few years and they always turn out so cute.
Like with all glyphs, students answer questions to determine details about their project.

We used our glyphs for some data collection to help complete our end of the year memory booklets.  When we finished, students autographed each others' booklets.  (They loved this part.)

If you would like more info about my Graduation Glyph {A Fun End of the Year Craftivity and Memory Booklet}, just click here.

One item, always on my end of the year to do list, is getting students a small gift.  I usually go the book route.  Scholastic Book Clubs is a great resource when you are trying to outfit your entire class with the same book.
 Last year I added a personalized bookmark to each book.  I used the same book mark again this year.  If you would like to use these FREE bookmarks with your students, click on the picture below.

Another end of the year tradition is our class awards.  We used to do our awards is our school auditorium with the entire grade level together.  But, we've changed to a more intimate setting and do them in our classrooms with just our students (and of course their families).  I like this setup better, because I have a chance to speak about each student and give out personalized awards, instead of just grade level completion certificates.

For me, it's very meaningful to recognize each student for their unique abilities and strengths.  Having a class awards day is a perfect way to wrap up our year together.

For more details about the end of the year awards I used with my students, you can click here or on the picture below.

Not seen in our awards day pictures is a cute (last minute) banner I put together for our classroom.  Although I was trying to get everything cleaned up and organized for the summer, I thought we needed a little something to decorate with for the event.

To make this banner, I printed and cut the letters to spell congratulations.  I hole punched the letters and strung them together with yarn.  Then, voila! a banner for awards day. 

If you would like a FREE copy of the pattern to make this CONGRATULATIONS! banner, click here.

Finally, I'd like to share a gift tag I made for the cookies we gave to my daughter's special area teachers before she left for summer break.  After posting a pic on instagram of these gift tags, I've had several requests to share them, so...here you go.

You can use them for a wide variety of sweet treats for friends, coworkers, teachers, and students.  These tags are also editable, so that you can add your own special message at the bottom.

If you would like a FREE copy of my Have a Sweet Summer gift tags, click here.

The end of the year is a time to keep your students plugged in, take care of loads of paper work (insert eye roll), make the people around you feel appreciated, and even schedule in a little fun.  Hopefully some of these ideas and resources will take a some of the work off of your shoulders.  Even if you are feeling overwhelmed with all things end of the year, remember you've almost made it to the summer break finish line...you can do this!

This Year's Classroom Tour

Well, here it is...the last day of the year.  I have been sitting with beginning classroom reveal pics on my phone for about five months.  This school year has been crazy busy.  (But really, aren't they all?)
Before school starts back from winter break.  I wanted to show you this year's classroom design and layout.

We'll start with view for the door as soon as you walk in.   My classroom is pretty small and there is not much wall space (curse you accordion curtain wall).  I have to be smart how I use every square inch of my class.
We have desks and chairs.  However, throughout the day students have the flexibility to work away from their desks.  They often choose to work in the floor with clip boards and cushions.

Also, as you enter my room I have some bookcases that serve as a big part of my storage.  My sweet mom (bless her heart) sewed all of these curtains to hide the supplies on the shelves.  (I found the fabric at Hobby Lobby and I bought the chalkboard from Pottery Barn Kids.)

 By the way, if you are interested in making custom pennant banners for your own classroom, click here.

My teacher desk was a new addition this year.  I was completely inspired by School Girl Style's design for a colorful classroom.  (You can click here to check out Melanie's post.)  My favorite part of the post was the teacher desk.
I scouted out this desk at a local antique shop.  I painted it white and added the tassel bunting.  I loved how it turned out.
Since the bunting is made out of tissue, I was afraid that it wound not be durable enough for my classroom.  But, I'm happy to say that half way through the year, it is still perfectly intact.

For some extra storage, I grabbed this metal cart at Target.  I used various sized jars to house some supplies.  I made a file out of this cute tote (that I also found at Target).

To make the tote into a file.  I added file rails, which can be found at any business supply store.  I also added some hanging files.  Since it's so easy to access, I keep my copies for the week in this file tote.

About eight months ago, I got an interactive whiteboard in my classroom.  So, our magnetic whiteboard is (sort of) serving a new purpose.  I still use it to write on.  But, I also use about a third of it to display our calendar (click here to learn how I made a custom calendar) and some anchor charts.

I made these magnetic clips to hold the anchor charts.  I bought these clips at Target's dollar spot.  I hot glued some magnet strips on the back.  It was a super easy project.

Another new addition to this year's class set up is a word wall.  I haven't had a word wall in several years.  I decided to give it another try.  But, unlike my old word wall, I wanted one customized to my classroom colors.

I made this simple watercolor word wall and coordinated it with my library labels.  

The classroom library was another newish addition this year.  Of course I've always had a class library.  However, this summer, I decided to reorganize my library and level it.
(To read more about my classroom library redo, just click here.)

If you would like a free set of my leveled library labels, click here.

I do a lot of instructing at our gathering area.  I have a easel on wheels (not pictured) that I use for teaching lessons at our gathering area.  I find, students listen better when they are physically closer to their teacher.
Some other tools in my gathering area are my Apple TV and my interactive whiteboard.

I found my polka dot rug and pompom pillow at Pottery Barn Teen.  The slipper chair and red cabinet are from Target.

Also, in my gathering area are two small magnetic whiteboards I use to display class jobs and our agenda for the day.

The final stop on my class tour is the main storage hub in my classroom.  I have these three huge wheeled cabinets.  Judging from their original color, they are probably from the mid-70's.  I painted them and arranged them to make a faux closet for extra storage.
I keep all sorts of things in (on and behind) these cabinets, including all of my monthly math and literacy centers.
I used the same clips that I magnetized for the whiteboard and hot glued them to the cabinets to display student work.  Like I said before, I am very limited on wall space.  Adding the clips turned these cabinets into great place to show off students' work.

Teachers and students spend so much time at school.  It's really important to create a space that is functional and organized.  The biggest tip I can give you as you think about your classroom design is, don't be afraid to get rid of things.  Often times, less is more.

There you have it, my classroom reveal.  Better late than never. ;)
Have a happy New Year!