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Each year, teachers across the United States find themselves spending thousands on school supplies for their classrooms. Despite a tax deduction accounting for $250 worth of their spendings, teachers are saying that simply is not enough. Selfless teachers know that their students need supplies, and are often generously willing to extend a helping hand. Teachers and educators should know that there is a multitude of savings out there to assist them in their efforts. Below are eleven must-have items for the classroom, where to find them, and some opportunities to save big (*all quoted prices were current at the time of publication):
1. Pens and Pencils
Having a good stock of pens and pencils is essential to any classroom, as these are often used daily by students and educators alike. Additionally, anybody who has gone to school knows that these items easily become lost or damaged throughout the year. Buying bulk is your best option for pens and pencils. Luckily, there are a plethora of stores dedicated to assisting you in all your wholesale needs. For instance, Pens.com offers an array of wholesale pencils, as well as wholesale pens.
2. Dry Erase Markers
Since some lessons are performed on whiteboards in the front of the classroom, having plenty of dry erase markers is imperative. Running out means having to halt a lesson where it is or attempt to teach without the assistance of the whiteboard. Additionally, many teachers find the interactive nature of student whiteboards to be beneficial to their learning. This, in turn, provides another reason for keeping a good stock of dry erase markers. Amazon has a variety of marker pack options at good prices, often with Prime delivery.
3. A Fresh Rotation of Books
Regularly updating your supply of books for the classroom can prove to be one of the most daunting and expensive tasks. However, BulkBooks helps teachers and schools save money by buying educational books in bulk. Buying in bulk means no extra trips for additional books in the middle of the year; everything you need will already be on hand.
Place a third of the books on the shelves at the beginning of the year, then swap them out every month or so to keep students both entertained and well-read. Deals can be found for teachers of practically every grade at BulkBooks. For elementary teachers, there are early childhood books, as well as books that help teach children life lessons. For middle and high school teachers there are books for lessons on literature and fiction to social studies and more.
4. Glue and Tape
Class projects more often than not involve some combination of glue and tape. Art classes, especially, will benefit from having all the necessary supplies for crafts. You’re going to want to make sure these are stocked up, as children are notorious for losing glue sticks, or not putting the cap back on. The good news is glue sticks are relatively inexpensive. Amazon has some good deals, like a 30 pack of Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue for $6.99 without shipping, making the cost per stick only about 23 cents each.
Tape, on the other hand, can get a little expensive. It is recommended that you keep your own tape dispenser at your desk, then assign a different one to your students. A six-pack of the classic Scotch Tape costs $11.36 without shipping on Amazon. Be cautious shopping on Amazon, as some sellers may list incredibly low prices for their items, but have unexpectedly high prices for shipping.
5. Trash cans
A student having to walk from one side of the classroom to another can tend to cause a distraction not only to that individual student, but also to the class as a whole. The tendency to stop at friends’ desks and chat on the way to or from the bins can be cut down by having at least two trash cans per classroom. Not only does it help minimize distractions, but it also means fewer trips to the dumpster for you. Trash cans often range in price, though the cheapest one at Walmart can be bought for only $6.28 (excluding shipping).
6. Post-It Notes
Post-It Notes are a must-have for any profession, especially teaching. Use these to organize your files, facilitate games, as well as send notes home to parents. With a plethora of reasons to use Post-It Notes, they’re easy to run out of and could be expensive to keep up with. Luckily, Amazon sells Post-It Notes in bulk for decently low prices; for $8.11 you can a 24 pack of pads with 100 sheets per pad.
7. Disinfecting Wipes and Soap
Disinfecting wipes and soap are indispensable items for ensuring a clean and healthy environment for your students. Not only do you want to keep them from getting sick, but you also want to protect yourself. Wiping down the daily spills, snot, and dirt that younger children bring with them may become expensive, but there are ways to save. Companies, such as Amazon, offer the opportunity to buy disinfecting wipes, soap, and hand sanitizer all for relatively cheap prices, including a four-pack of 30-fluid ounce Germ-X hand sanitizer for $14.69 (excluding shipping).
8. Clipboards
Clipboards can be used as calendar holders to keep track of due dates, presentations dates, and holidays. Instead of buying a whole new calendar each year, simply print off one online and attach it to your clipboard. Not only can they hold multiple sheets of paper at once, but the paper can be switched out at any time.
Several stores, such as Walmart and Amazon, sell clipboards for a great price. At Walmart, two standard sized clipboards come to a total of $3.24 without shipping. Alternatively, a pack of 12 standard-sized clipboards can be bought for $16.95 on Amazon.
9. Snacks
Your classroom will definitely want to have a decent supply of snacks. Teachers know that unsatisfied hunger can hinder a student from achieving their full potential. Thankfully, there are many places where you can buy snacks in bulk, such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and Winco, depending on your region.
You’ll want the snacks you buy to be both non-perishable and allergy-safe, and preferably healthy. Options such as low-sugar cereal or granola bars are easy go-to's for teachers. At Costco, a pack of 48 Nature Valley granola bars pouches sells for $12.94, with one pouch containing two bars. The price per bar comes out to just 13 cents each.
10. Storage Bins
The supplies mentioned above will need to be organized and stored somewhere, in order to keep them neatly out of the way. Storage bins can be used to house all of your classroom essentials. While one can hold supplies such as glue, tape, Post-It Notes, and dry-erase markers; another could hold all the snacks for your students. Storage bins come in varying prices from thrifty to a little more costly. Amazon offers some good deals for buying one or multiple storage bins. Your local craft stores, such as Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics, are also likely to carry a selection of storage bins.
11. A Bulletin Board
A bulletin board can serve as an important source of information for your students or even for visiting parents. Attach mandated printouts, such as fire escape routes and safety instructions, to these and place them in an area the students are likely to see. Furthermore, use these to inform students of what today’s schedule will look like, or even what the month will look like. Keeping students up to date on the happenings can be beneficial to you and them alike. Bulletin boards start at $13.99 on Amazon. Buying a durable board could save you money in the future, as bulletin boards are perfectly reusable for years to come.
