One of them goes home with the children and may include these basic items: Pencils Pens Folders with pockets Composition notebook Glue (stick and/or bottle) Crayons, markers, colored pencils Ruler Scissors Index cards Ream of copy paper Ream of notebook paper Box of Kleenex Roll of paper towels Be aware that some households may need the supply list in another language. Avoid insisting on expensive brand names. Make sure to have a set of supplies for children whose guardians do not come through, or have all supplies go into a community collection to be shared as needed. Let families know that at some point in the school year you will be reissuing a supply list for consumables (things that get used up and need to be replenished, like pencils, pens, art supplies, and paper products). As for your own supplies, here are some basics for your pantry, desk, classroom environment, and wish list: Adhesive address labels (with name and room number to mark personal belongings) Air purifier/humidifier Airborne or zinc tablets Aluminum foil Aspirin or other pain reliever Baby wipes (great for quickly cleaning off glue and paint from hands) Board games, card games, and puzzles for indoor recess (ask parents for gently used items) Book covers Breath mints Broom and dustpan Bulletin board alphabet (in print or cursive) Bulletin board borders Bulletin board letters Bulletin board background paper Calculator Calendar for the class Camera CD or tape player Chalk and eraser Change of clothes for a child, in whatever general size suits your grade level (get a T-shirt and drawstring sweatpants at the Goodwill—accidents happen) Children’s books, bookshelves, and displays Clear contact paper Curtains Dental floss Dry-erase markers Dustbuster Easel and paper Electric pencil sharpener Envelopes (regular and manila) Fans (if your school is not air-conditioned) File cabinet and files First-aid kit, rubber gloves, cute band-aids Flag Flashlight Glass/wood cleaner Glitter Glue (stick and bottle) Grade book Hand bell or whistle Hand sanitizer Hanging map Happy box (fill with rewards like stickers, bookmarks, pencils) In-box/out-box Index cards Lamp Large dictionary and thesaurus Lesson plan book Library pockets Long-reach and regular stapler, staple remover Loose change (bring in your penny jar; you’ll use it at lunch count) Loose-leaf rings Mailboxes Magnet (great for picking up spilled paper clips, staples, and thumbtacks) Markers (colored, dry-erase, permanent) Maxi pads (men, if you teach girls in the fourth grade and up, keep a few, too; hand very discreetly in paper if requested or necessary) Microwave popcorn (it will make you popular at teacher’s meetings) Nameplates (desks, locker, cubby, and one fancy one for you, teacher!) Needle, thread, and safety pins One-hole and three-hole paper punches Pail and sponge Paper (construction, lined and copy/printer, scratch) Paper clips, bulldog clips, paper fasteners Paper cups, plates, napkins Personal appointment calendar Plants Pocket chart Poster board Post-it notes Printer ink Rubber bands Rubber stamps and inkpads (my favorites at kidstamps.com) Rug Ruler and yardstick Stepladder Stickers Storage boxes Storytelling chair Tape (clear, packing, and masking) Timer Thank-you notes Thinking cap Throat lozenges Thumbtacks Trouble basket Vase Wall mount tabs Watercooler Zip drive Ziploc bags (sandwich, quart, gallon size) Is that all?
