50 Essential Things Teachers Need In Their Classroom – Supplies & Fun!

Today I’m really excited to bring you this massive list of the 50 essential things teachers need in their classroom. I have been speaking with a teacher recently and she has been gracious enough to help me put this list together! With 3 kids we always knew that teachers put a lot of their own money into supplies and things for their classroom, but we honestly had no idea how much. 

Whether you are a first time teacher looking for ideas or you are a parent just curious about what things teachers need in their classroom, this list should have you covered. If you are a parent, there are many functional and affordable things on this list. Grab something off the list and surprise the teacher helping make a difference for your children. You might be surprised just how much they appreciate even the smallest gesture. 

If you are looking to get a teacher a gift of some sort, the personalized gifts are always nice but teachers also really like things that they can use in their classroom. They really appreciate gifts that help avoid them needing to spend more money out of their pocket. This list of essential things teachers need in their classroom is chalked full great ideas! 

If this list helps you out, make sure you click your favorite social media button on the floating bar in the upper left and share away. 

Read This First
Before going too much further, I wanted to stop and take a moment to just say thank you. Teaching these days can be such a difficult and thankless task. Dealing with difficult parents and students can be a mental and physical drain. I just want all the teachers out there to know that there are parents and members of the community that 100% support you and thank you for all your hard work. We appreciate the time and effort you put into helping make a difference with our children. If you are here, it means you are looking for ways to improve yourself and better your craft, for that we thank you.

50 Essential Things Teachers Need In Their Classroom

Alright, lets stop talking and get this list going. Like I mentioned earlier, this list was helped put together by a teacher that has taught in both middle school and grade school. She has about 7 years experience now and has a good idea of things most teachers either need or want for their classroom. I’m so thankful for her to sit down and help me sort out this giant list of supplies and fun stuff for classrooms! 

There is no particular order here that really made sense to us so we decided to just go with it. They aren’t really categorized or anything, just a huge list of things a teacher may need! 

Much of the beginning of this list is normal classroom essential. If you keep scrolling toward the bottom there will be many more luxury rather than essential items. But I can almost guarantee you will find some stuff on this list of essential things teachers need in their classroom that you have not considered before! 

Portable Tabletop Sticky Easel Pads

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Whether you are in the classroom or distance learning the easel pads are super handy and definitely necessary. They are great for brainstorming ideas and making lists. These are resistant to bleeding through and have the sticky on the back to easily stick to a wall to hang in the classroom!

Classroom Scissor Kit & Caddy

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You can get the pointy version but I think the blunt is probably better for a classroom full of kids. And I’m talking middle school and grade school! You can also get the caddy only if you already have the scissors! This is a fun way to store and display your classroom scissor kit! 

Glue Sticks

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Okay, not the most exciting item on the list, but definitely something every teacher needs in their classroom. This 30 pack should cover almost every kid in class, they do have a 60 pack if need be! 

Crayons

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Every classroom needs a good box of crayons. I know the kids usually have their own, but sometimes parents get busy and a kid may not have theirs come mid year. It’s nice to have a backup supply ready so no one gets left out of any crayon necessary activities. This kit is affordable and has a lot of crayons. If you are a crayon snob (like I admit I 100% am) you can go for the Crayola kit for a little more below! 

Click Here For Crayola! 

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Classroom Dry Erase Boards

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These are super cool and can be a lot of fun! They can be great for having classroom competitions and all kinds of different games. They have 2 sides one side has a blank dry erase surface and the other side has a clear sleeve for the lined or graph template that slides in. I’m sure your teacher brain is already thinking of great ideas for these! 

Dry Erase Markers

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Dry erase markers are a staple for any teacher. I just showed some dry erase boards, now it’s time to get some markers! Arteza has some great classroom sized dry erase marker bundles. They have different tip sizes and tons of different bundles to pick from for your classroom. 

Watercolor Paint Set

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Watercolor painting is an old classic and I think most teachers have fun with watercolor painting. Especially for the younger kids. The paint doesn’t stain and doesn’t make a huge mess. This is a great set for an affordable price. 

Laminator

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A laminator is definitely an essential thing that teachers need in their classroom. This one does hot and cold laminating and it’s super fast. One thing teachers rarely have a lot of is spare time, and this 

Pre Sharpened Pencils

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Don’t even worry about the noisy pencil sharpener. Be ready to go with these pre sharpened pencils! It’s always nice when the pencil comes already sharpened. They are ready to be used right out of the box! 

Six Tier Letter Tray

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It’s always nice to have a letter tray and a nice plays to organize certain papers. Or maybe you designate a row for kids to turn their tests in when they are done. Organizing is incredibly important for a teachers success, a letter tray is an easy way to keep the classroom organized. 

Magnetic Metal Hooks

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You never know when you are going to need to hang something up. Maybe this will be great for the kids jackets or maybe something else. They can be used to hang things vertically or horizontally. These are great to have around the classroom, you never know when you will need them!

Attendance & Gradebook

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Again, this really comes down to organization. Having an attendance and grade book can help you keep your students organized and allow you to easily identify trends. I’m sure most teachers already use some type of gradebook, but this one is pretty good. You might be surprised how much easier being a teacher is with a well made and organized greadebook. 

Paper Cutter

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The old guillotine paper cutter. I remember being a little scared of this guy back in grade school. These are super handy for the class room, this particular paper cutter comes in a 12 or 15 inch so you have options for size. Having a good paper cutter in the classroom is almost a must. I remember one particular teacher in grade school had to go to the library to use one and she always complained about it. 

Document Camera

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If you are doing any kind of distance learning with your students, the document camera is a must. Whether you are showing a math equation or just want the students to follow along on a document the document camera will blow up whatever you are looking at and make it full screen for your students. The web camera just doesn’t cut it when you need your students to see something. The document camera is a must have for anyone doing more distance learning. 

Classroom Globe

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I remember in 5th grade my teacher had a globe in her classroom. I spent so much time spinning that globe and looking at the different places. I actually learned a lot of geography from just staring at a globe. They are great for a classroom and kids always seem interested in them. Anything that can keep a kids interest and doesn’t have a screen is a win in my book! 

Learn To Count Money Set

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When you start teaching kids how to count money, this set will help so much. The fake money looks close enough to the real so kids wont be confused when they transition to counting real money. This is a great set is and extremely helpful with helping kids learn to count money. 

Colored Pencils

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Basically the same thing as the crayons. It’s good to have backups ready for when kids don’t have them. Having extra boxes in a closet can really come in handy!

Construction Paper

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Construction paper is definitely something a thing teachers need in their classroom. Especially at the grade school level. So many craft projects start with different colored construction paper, it’s definitely a staple for any grade school level classroom! 

Elephant Tape Dispenser

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A tape dispenser is obviously a necessity in any teachers classroom but why not have a little fun with it. Check out the elephant shaped tape dispenser above. I also saw a hedgehog and other neat animal shaped dispensers over at Amazon. Click the link above to check it and others out! 

Classroom Area Rug

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Having a great classroom area rug can really make your classroom pop. You might as well get one that has educational shapes and designs on it. This one has all the letters with a word example and numbers 1-10. This would make a great classroom rug for a kindergarten or 1st grade classroom. There are so many cool area rugs you can pick from, click here to see more on Amazon!

You can also click the photo below to see that one on Amazon. 

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Manipulatives – Blocks & Building Sets

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I remember LOVING getting out the pattern blocks and letting my imagination take hold while I made all kinds of cool patterns. Having a good selection of manipulatives will really help kids use their imagination and keep occupied. Check out some of the other cool sets on Amazon by clicking below, including magnetic pattern blocks and more traditional sets. 

Click Here For Manipulative Sets On Amazon

Mini Fridge & Microwave Set

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Tired of spending half of your lunch waiting for the microwave in the teachers lounge? Have a place to keep water and your lunch cool and a microwave to heat up your food. The pro is no more waiting for the microwave, the con is you might not leave your room as much! Okay, maybe this is more of a luxury rather than an essential, but it’s something you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. 

Electric Pencil Sharpener

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I’ve heard teachers go both ways on electric pencil sharpeners. On one hand they get the job done really well. On the other hand, they are fun for kids to tinker with and can be a loud distraction. I’ve heard some teachers prefer to have old manual sharpeners because they are more work for the student and not as fun to tinker with and tend to be less of a distraction. Either way, a good pencil sharpener is definitely an essential that every teacher need in their classroom. If you prefer a good manual sharpener, check out the one below. 

Click here for a good manual pencil sharpener.

Plastic Utensils

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I don’t know about you, but I forget to throw a spoon or fork in my lunch all the time. I’ve ate things with my fingers that I’d be embarrassed to admit. Keeping some plastic utensils stashed in your closet or desk is a great way to mitigate this risk! Plus, there are always going to be times when you would rather eat in your classroom rather than going to the teachers lounge. 

Cough Drops

When you are teaching, you talk a lot. There is nothing you can really do about that. Sometimes you throat wont but all the way up for the task. Cough drops are a good way to keep your throat lubricated and to help make it through the day with a scratchy throat. Keep a stash of these in your desk at ALL times! 

Headache Relief

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Being in a classroom full of kids is not the best environment for a headache. Make sure and have a stash of whatever makes your head feel better when the pain hits. It’s really hard to be a good teacher with a headache. I try not to take too much medicine for headaches, but sometimes it’s just necessary. 

Bucket Of Disinfecting Wipes

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Even more now than ever, having disinfecting wipes is very important. Having clean work stations and keeping your area clean is as important as anything else these days. This big old bucket of wipes will help you stay stalked and ready to wipe down any dirty surface. 

Hand Sanitizer

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Keeping a good supply of hand sanitizer in your classroom is definitely essential. Now more than ever, like the disinfecting wipes, it’s important to make sure hand sanitizer is readily available for you and your students. Encouraging students to make at least one or two stops a day at the sanitizer can make a big difference in stopping the spread of anything unwanted. Here is an affordable pack of 12 to keep you stalked for a while!

Compact Emergency Umbrella

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How many times have you walked into school on a nice day only to be leaving in a rain storm. Or maybe you run an errand or need to go somewhere and the weather has taken a turn for the worst. These umbrellas are ultra compact and take up almost no room. You will be happy you stashed one of these when you look your window and the deluge has begun! 

Extra Phone Charger

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Don’t make yourself remember to tote a phone charger around with you. This universal charger will charge most Samsung and Apple phone devices. It’s a chore always remembering to pack a phone charger, just keep one in the classroom at all times! 

Duct Tape (Fixes Anything!)

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You never know when you will need to switch your career from a teacher to a handyman/(woman). Make sure you have the universal fix everything solution at your finger tips. Sometimes a job calls for something stronger than the old scotch tape. This is not a time to look to your elephant tape dispenser, it’s time for duct tape. Make sure you have a roll of this sitting in your desk or closet for those emergency fixes. Never rely on the maintenance people, have it ready when you need it!

Kleenex Tissues

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School starts right around the same time as cold/flu season. Don’t be caught without some Kleenex in your classroom. This is a pack of 18 boxes so you don’t have to keep reordering. This should keep you stalked most of the year. You may need more than one order but at least this way, it will only be a few times a year rather than numerous trips to the grocery store to look for tissues. 

Paper Towels

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You can send a student to the bathroom to get wads of paper towels or you can be ready with some on hand. These are affordable and comes with 2,400 towels. This should keep you plenty stalked for this year and possibly even the next couple years! 

Stamps & Stickers For Praise

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A cool stamp set like the one above makes it super easy to leave your student a nice seal of approval on some work well done. There are also sticker sets if you would rather not deal with the ink and a stamp set. You can click below to check out some good sticker sets for teachers in their classroom. 

Sticker Set For Teachers On Amazon Click Here

Echo Dot (Alexa)

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Music can be a wonderful incentive for students. The right kind of music can help bring the right vibe and attitude. Whether you want to get the kids pumped up about something or whether you need them to calm down a bit. Giving the kids an option to have music at times in the classroom is awesome. Alexa makes this SUPER easy when connected to your Amazon account. On top of that, you have instant weather reports and other information right at your finger tips. Just make sure you don’t have anyone named Alexa in your classroom, that can get a little crazy! 

Strip Of LED Lights

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Okay, stick with me here. A strand of LED lights can have some really meaningful uses in the classroom. On a students birthday, they get to pick the color of the light for the day. Or you can assign a color to signify voice level. Maybe blue is group voices, yellow is keep it to a whisper and red is no talking. If you let your  imagination fly you can come up with some really cool ways to incorporate remote controlled LED lights into your classroom. 

Visual Timer

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This visual timer is really cool. It is a large timer that provides a visual representation of the time available. I’m sure you can just imagine how this can be incorporated into many different classroom activities. It has different noise settings and you can make it so it has no ticking noise when running down. Once you have one of these in your classroom, you will always want one. 

Extra Headphones

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Kids should typically have their own headphones but I’m sure you know as a teacher that kids will forget theirs. Having some spare headphones will come in handy. Don’t go crazy here, typically this will just be replacement headphones on days when kids forget. These aren’t Beats headphones, but they will get this job done when you really need them! 

Magnetic Florescent Light Covers

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I’m sure you have ran into issues where you can’t see your board very well because of the glare from the florescent lights. These covers use magnets to reduce glare and create a less harsh light in the classroom. Even if you only need to cover 1 or two of your lights, this can be a life saver! 

10 Drawer Organizer

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Having mobile storage drawers like this can be a life saver. You can keep a lot in one of these and they stack vertically so they use up less floor space. We all know floor space can be very valuable in the classroom. Putting this on wheels is the cherry on top. They do also have a bigger 15 drawer size as well, click through to Amazon to check it out!

UV Light Sanitizer

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We are living in a time where people are hoarding sanitizer and toilet paper. If you run out of sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer, you will be happy you snagged one of these UV light sanitizers. These wands can kill germs with the UV light and based on the reviews on Amazon and talking to friends, they actually work pretty well. They are pretty affordable too, which makes them pretty accessible. 

Ink Joy Gel Pens

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These pens are fantastic. They are really nice to write with and make grading papers fun and easy. Colored pens are a pretty fundamental thing needed in a classroom, but these will make writing a joy! 

Magnetic White Board Erasers

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These are super cool! They make keeping track of the white board eraser super easy and can even be used for some white board activities. They can be used as visual aids or their main and intended purpose are erasers. This kit comes with 48 of them and is under $15. Definitely worth the investment!  

Beachball

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Use a beach ball to keep the kids engaged. Maybe toss the ball around just to wake everyone up or write an equation on the ball with the dry erase markers and have the person who you toss it to solve the problem. Using them as a dry erase board really opens up options. This will also really help keep engagement higher.

Clipboards

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You always want to make sure you have plenty of clipboards on hand in your classroom. I don’t think they need much explaining as they are an obvious an essential thing needed in a teachers classroom. 

Office Supply Kit

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You never know when you will need a rubber band, clip or paperclip. The kit above gives you a nice assortment of clips, rubber bands and paperclips. They are assorted colors and are easy to stash in your desk. Make sure they are there for you when you need them!

Printer

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Once you have a printer in your classroom you are going to wonder what took you so long to get one. Walking down to the teachers workroom to grab 1 peice of paper I needed to print off is such a pain. Especially if someone is in the middle of a large print or copy job. It’s so much easier just to have a printer in your classroom. You can obviously use the printer in the teachers area for large jobs but having your own personal printer in the classroom can be such a life and time saver. 

Single Serve Coffee & Tea Maker

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Don’t settle for the stuff in the teachers lounge, you’re better than that and deserve more! This handy little coffee maker can take grounds, k-cups and loose leaf tea to make whatever delicious hot beverage you prefer. Make it the way you like it every time! Once you have one of these in your classroom, you will wonder what took you so long to get one!

Extra Shoes

Always keep an innexpensive but comfortable pair of shoes somewhere accessible. Maybe you stepped in a puddle on recess duty or maybe you wore mismatched boots because you got ready in the dark. Either way, having a comfortable pair of slip on shoes can save your life on those days where things just never seem to go quite right. 

Deodorant, Lotion & More

Always keep everything you may need somewhere in your desk. Whether it’s an extra stick of deodorant, hand lotion or lip balm. Make sure to keep this on supply as I promise you will be happy they are there. You may not need them often, but when you do, you usually really do. You can even keep those cool floss sticks and an extra tooth brush handy. 

Teacher Supply Haul Video

Check out this fun video where a teacher shares her haul for going back to school. You may find some more great ideas in this video! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuCdihPhqNo

Things Teachers Need In Their Classroom Final Thoughts

Having the right supplies and items in a classroom is really important to ensure a teachers year goes well. You obviously can’t have absolutely everything on the list above but I hope you found something that will help make your year of teaching easier or more effective. 

There are a lot of really cool ideas out there that other teachers are sharing. Sometimes just having the right tools or supplies can help bring those ideas to life. Teaching these days is really difficult. We are in the middle of a pandemic and it has made teachers jobs really difficult. I’m sure many of you are reading this missing your classroom. 

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all you teachers out there again for all your hard work and commitment to a really difficult job. Just the fact that you are here looking at this list means you care and want to improve your craft. That means a lot to all the parents out there.

Make sure to tweet, share, like, pin or upvote this on your favorite social media platform. You can do that by clicking the buttons on that annoying little floating share bar to the upper left. Make sure to share with everything all the things teachers need in their classroom. I hope you have a wonderful year!