I am so excited to be joining up with my Freebielicious gals with a week long linky party.
Today is dedicated to MUST HAVES for the classroom!
I am not going to sugar coat this.
Teaching is an expensive job!
I take EVERYTHING to school because,
well,
I need so many things that I can grab quickly in the classroom.
I think I might have to break this list down a little more.
Is that okay with you?
1. MUST HAVES for Decor:
I strongly feel you must have fabric for your bulletin board or calendar board.
I tried paper and it wrinkled all the time.
Then I tried yellow fabric, but it got very dirty.
So I quickly learned to use black fabric for my calendar bulletin board.
Since we write on it with dry erase markers,
this helps keep the area looking clean without taking away from the educational aspects and opportunities.
Here is a picture of my calendar board with the black cloth background.
You must have a glue gun.
In fact, this is a great item to get any student teacher you might have.
Every teacher I know appreciates a good quality glue gun.
I am not a huge fan of the mini glue gun either.
I look for a standard size one that stands up.
I personally own this AdTech 2 Temp Cordless Glue Gun.
I like that I can use the cooler setting for projects that involve students close by,
but I can also use the hotter temp for others.
Plus, sometimes I need to glue in a place that the cord doesn’t reach…
and I LOVE that this glue gun can go cordless!
I also think you have to use these
You can table tables, groups, centers, or anything in between.
You can also display student art or great efforts!
On of my favorite ways to use these is in the art center.
We hang our art work from these hooks to dry or for display.
I also think you have to decorate your room in a way you LOVE.
your classroom is your home away from home.
And it has to be CUTE.
I adore my monkey themed classroom.
And by ADORE I mean I don’t want to ever change from it.
When I was moving classrooms,
another teacher BEGGED me to give her my monkey set.
I couldn’t do it!
I still love it sooooo much!
I also created a classroom decor set for each of my TAs when they got their own classrooms.
One asked for an owl themed classroom…
and another asked for a bee themed classroom.
I know there are lots of decor sets out there.
Find one that you LOVE and use it for as long as you can.
The best benefit for buying a digital copy is that you can PRINT
as many copies as you need if each element for your own classroom!
You can use it again and again and again.
Which is the best feeling if you love your theme like I do.
2. MUST HAVES for Organization:
I love a well organized classroom.
So do my students.
But the truth is, my special friends NEED a highly organized classroom.
When these friends are in a classroom where they know
where things are,
where they go,
and what they need to do;
they become calm and ready to learn.
You MUST have color coded baskets. Period.
I don’t know any better way to organize.
I LOVE these baskets from Really Good Stuff.
During back to school, you can find colorful baskets in LOTS of places for great prices.
I know dollar stores, Walmart, Target, and even Big Lots.
These bins below were purchased at Target a few years ago!
And they have tons of great colors to match your classroom style.
You also MUST HAVE an organizes classroom library.
This is something I have to go thru each and every year.
I use these clear bins with library labels to make my library organized
and useful for my non readers.
It doesn’t matter if you library labels are cute and match your classroom.
If your students can’t use them,
you library area will be a huge mess and not any good to you!
And no I don’t fill my library from day one.
We build the library as we go so they can learn how and
We build the library as we go so they can learn how and
where to add books to and how to pull books from each bin.
You also MUST have a plan or center time and other grouping times.
{As well as actually giving your students OPEN FREE PLAY center time,
but that is another story.}
Here is a look at my center time clip chart.
Go ahead and make one NOW so it is one less thing on your to-do list for later.
And here is a look at my literacy block rotation.
Here is what this looks like on my white board.
3. MUST HAVES for Learning:
You don’t know your students or their abilities yet.
That is the fun and the pit fall of kindergarten.
I love to plan ahead for a lot great things that meet lots of needs.
Here is what a cubbie looks like to me.
Each student has a Rise and Shine Binders from Reagham.
And they each have a book box.
I prepped these two years ago and I did minimal upkeep to them now.
They were worth the money to set up!
I also KNOW Sight Word Stations are a MUST HAVE!
I will never go without teaching sight words using them ever again!
Here is a glimpse at some of the stations we use
to make learning sight words FUN and age appropriate.
We require 100 sight words in Kindergarten,
which means we cover at least the preprimer and primer sight word lists.
But I also add all the Dolch words during the whole year to make strong readers.
That means I teach the preprimer, primer, first grade, second grade, and third grade lists.
Then, I move on to Fry for those who are ready.
{Remember I teach at a Title 1 school, so these children are 100% just like yours!}
I also personally LOVE
I bought the bundle and upload the additions each and every month.
I don’t just use these games and activities during sensory tables, but at calendar time and literacy stations as well. It is really versicle and well worth the price.
I LOVE Katie’s Pattern Block sets as well,
this is her MARCH one but she is adding to these all the time.
4. MUST HAVES just because:
I learned my first year there are a few things you just have to keep at school.
All the time.
And never bring home.
My Hot Hubby bought me a tool kit my first year teaching because I always used my neighbors.
I never thought about needed a screw driver to change out batteries in Leapsters or such.
Or a hammer to put a shelf back together or smash open a nut for science.
Or a measuring tape to see how much fabric to buy or if I can fit that desk there…
but man it is so handy!
As a matter of a fact,
I also keep an older, light weight ladder around
as well as a full set of baking supplies including
measuring cups, bowls, mixing spoons, and even a can opener.
Not only does my class use these items often, but so do my co workers.
Okay… I told you there are a LOT of must haves.
But I honestly KNOW you MUST HAVE ALL THESE THINGS!
What did I miss?
What are you going to run out and buy asap?
I love this article! Where did you find your clear bins for your library? I would love to have them in mine. 🙂
I think some random must haves are sunglasses that stay at school and rainy day gear…ex. an umbrella, boots, poncho, etc. These things are something I frequently hear teachers complaining that they wish they had, plus they are very handy during recess, afternoon duty, or when walking a student home.
Thank you so much for sharing your Must Haves with us! You had so many awesome choices! I love how you broke it down into categories, that was genius!! I couldn't agree with you more about using fabric on the bulletin boards and a glue gun!! I wish we could hang things from our ceilings, but the fire codes say no!! Thanks so much for sharing about those pattern blocks activities, I'm definitely going to be looking into those!
Thank you for sharing your Must Haves, I loved reading them all!!
Erin
Kindergarten Dragons