These are a few of my favorite things that keep me sane during the school year 😉

A Few of my Favorite Teacher Things

A Teacher Essential

The day that I purchased my very own little laminator was a turning point in my teaching career! I have found that students take ANYTHING that is laminated more seriously! So, I laminate my station signs, mini-posters, lab directions pages, manipulatives, and lots of other things. I really think that the smell and feel of warm plastic-coated paper is just engrained in us! If you don’t have one already, grab one to start out this school year– you won’t regret it! And don’t worry, you can purchased laminating pouches in high quantities for relatively cheap, like these.  

A Science Lab Essential

If your classroom doesn’t already have some from some previous (brilliant!) science teacher, grab a big stack of colored foodservice trays like these. Use them to set out stations around your classroom. Prep them with lab materials the day before a lab for quick set-up on the day of. Hand out a tray with materials to partner pairs to use at their table. I suggest buying at least enough to split your biggest class into pairs (I have 15 so there are extras!).

 

The Planner That Works for Me

Every single school year I buy a Blue Sky Weekly/Monthly Planner. It begins with July and ends with June. Perfect for the school year. There is a monthly calendar spread where I write in all of my district’s days off, professional days, etc. and where I pencil in generally what I’m planning to teach that month. There is a weekly calendar for each week of that month. This is where I write more details about lessons for each day, notes from meetings and about students, and ideas!

This planner goes with me back and forth from home to school every day and by the end of the school year, this thing is chock full. I keep my planner from each year so that I can go back and peek at what I was doing/thinking/teaching the previous year!

 

Don’t Forget to Drink Your Aqua

My good friend who is a teacher also remembers that during one of her first education classes, her professor said, “My most important advice to new teachers is this: DRINK WATER!”. I always think about that because man have I had so many days filled with labs and prep and duties and grading and meetings that I have quite literally forgotten to drink water for the entire day. That leaves you feeling tired, irritable, and with a bad headache. I have tried many different water bottles over the years and I finally found THE ONE. This Camelbak Chute Mag water bottle is 50 oz (1.5 liters) so if you drink 2 bottles-worth of water each day, you feel accomplished in that department. The profile is slim so it fits in my teacher bag and the cap doesn’t leak.

 

The Perfect Portable Gadget for Someone Who Gets Hangry

This little BlendJet Portable Blender is powerful and SO easy to use and clean. It makes it so easy to make a protein smoothie during my morning prep period! It charges with a USB cable, works for about 15 to 20 blends before it needs another charge, and it self-cleans when you blend just soap and warm water.

 

 

 

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