25 Elementary Teacher Must Have Teaching Supplies

At the beginning of the school year, you need to stock your classroom with the supplies that you’ll need. When you have everything at your disposal, you can simplify your day. So what are the must-have teaching supplies you should start gathering? Check out this list with a few helpful tips to help you get started.

What to Stock up On

1. Pencils and pens- Not all pencils are made the same. A lot of teachers agree that the Ticonderoga #2 pencil is the best choice, because it’s long lasting and won’t get eaten up by the pencil sharpener. Also, you could get mechanical pencils if you don’t want to worry about a pencil sharpener. And for pens, have lots of different colors at your disposal for writing notes, grading papers, and more.
2. Coloring supplies- You could purchase cheap brands of crayons, markers, paint, colored pencils, and highlighters from the dollar store. However, these will run out and generally “go bad” far quicker than the good brands! So go for the best brands that will last for a longer time.
3. Staples and stapler- There are lots of staplers on the market. You may want to get an electric one that will do all of the work for you. However, it might also be a good idea to look for one that will open, so you can staple things to the bulletin board or wall.
4. Stapler remover
5. Hole punch
6. Index cards
7. Paper clips- Have a variety of paper clips on hand. Stock up on large and small clips in both plastic and metal. And be sure to get different colors.
8. Pins- Safety pins, pushpins, and tacks all come in handy throughout the school year.
9. Sticky notes- Choose a range of sizes, colors, and shapes to use.
10. Rubber bands
11. Rulers
12. Scissors- High quality scissors will last longer and cut better. (I prefer Fiskars scissors.)
13. Paper- This means all types of paper. Think about what you’ll need, and then get a variety, like loose leaf paper, construction paper, blank copy paper, sketch paper, or any other paper you think will come in handy for the year.
14. Calendar
15. Grade book- You may prefer to use an electronic grade book, many teachers do. But you could purchase a paper one to quickly jot down attendance, participation, and other things.
16. Clipboard- As you’re walking around the classroom, a clipboard is helpful to carry around your notes and other papers.
17. Individual white boards- Save paper by handing out individual white boards to each student in your class. And if you teach a grade that practices handwriting, choose ones with lines.
18. Dry erase markers (or chalk)
19. Adhesives- This includes glue, glue sticks, rubber cement, glue sticks with a glue gun, craft glue, and tape with a tape dispenser.
20. Bags- Plastic bags come in a wide range of sizes: snack, sandwich, pint, quarter, and gallon. Consider having lots of different sizes available.
21. Craft supplies- What crafts will you be doing this year? What supplies will you need for them? You may want to have string, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and other supplies on hand.
22. Whistle
23. Filing cabinet/Boxes- Keep your class clean and organized with a filing cabinet, boxes, and other containers. And don’t forget to label everything!
24. Cleaning supplies
25. Timer

Take Your Specifics Into Consideration

Depending on the grade you teach and the projects and assignments that you do in your class, there may be other must-have teaching supplies you need. Start gathering these supplies early, so you have everything you need throughout the year. And don't forget, there are grants available to help pay for supplies.