Shakin' it up with Mrs. Shannon: Back to School Must Haves

When I go shopping for back to school items there are certain things that are always on my list. Here is my MUST HAVE list and how I use them in my classroom!

1. Post-its: This was the year of the post it in my room. I bought large lined Post-its, a 10 pack of regular size and two packs of the small! At first I thought I was going to use them in my planner (but I ended up with an AWESOME Erin Condren one!) So I think I'm going to have to come up with some activities that require the use of Post-its! ~~I'm also working on getting my principal to let me buy some large chart size ones! PLEASE!!!~~ When I started this post I thought I was going to either have to beg or pay an arm and a leg for large Post-its for chart paper... Turns out WE HAD SOME IN A CLOSET!! NO ONE was using them so I get to! YAY!

2. Sharpie Markers: I think this is probably a staple on EVERYONE'S list. Nothing is better than writing student names with a fresh, pointy, black Sharpie. One of life's simple pleasures.

3. Crayon Boxes. I started last year buying the smaller pencil boxes. They take up less room in cubbies but still fit pencils and 24 crayons. I like the smaller size this year because they are going to be in these boxes with scissors and glue as community supplies.

ugh... I know this is upside down but I tried like 7 times and it won't turn around!

4. Folders: This year I decided I was going to have activities for students to follow along with during our calendar time. (If you have suggestions leave them in the comments!!) I bought folders for that, sending homework back and forth and daily folder. We were then informed that we are getting red Nicky folders this year! I've never used them, but I'm pretty excited to try them out! So I'm re-purposing my folders. The ones I intended for calendar are going to be used to keep centers supplies if I want each group to do a different paper or activity. Blue folders will now be our calendar folders and green will still be homework folders.

This one too!!! GRRRRRRRR.

5. Cardstock and Astrobrights: My brother (the tech guy at my school) could probably tell you exactly all the amounts of color ink I've used to print out awesome TPT products. I love printing them on cardstock and laminating them to be used over and over! Astrobrights are my new best friend. I'm using them for my flip books at Back to School night and also for monthly newsletters (since I'm using my colored ink on all of my TPT products this makes them pop without using more colored ink!)

6. Ticonderoga Pencils: LOVE these pencils. If you've never tried them... you MUST! I read in a Facebook group that someone was a pencil snob because they only allow these in their room ... me too! They sharpen sooooo much better than some pencils do. The best part... I can spend a little more and buy them ALREADY SHARPENED!! No time spent fussing with the sharpener or blisters on your fingers to get 24 pencils ready for the first day. Yipee!

7. Erin Condren Planner: Ok, this has never been on my list before but I can tell you this is most definitely going to be on there from now on (at least I think so). This is my first year having my planner and just leading up to the school year I am loving it. I have found a place to write in all of the important things I want to access while planning and I'm so excited to start using it for my daily plans.

8. Flair Pens: Confession.. These have never been on my list either, but (again) they will be on there from now on. They write so nice! I love all of the colors and they look great too!

9. Washi Tape: I have fallen head-over-heels in love with Washi Tape. It has so many uses! I'm going to use it in my planner to separate months, planner to write down things that happen each week, on my chalkboard as a question of the day divider, and on my cabinet doors so I can easily direct someone where I want them to go. Pictures to come!

10. Color posters: These are new to my room this year and I love, love, love how they turned out! They are fairly low in the room so the kiddos can reference them in their writing!

11. I know lots of teachers have these drawers in their classrooms. I was always partially jealous and partially stupefied by these drawers. I loved them but wasn't sure I had a place for them in my classroom. However, this year I made a place! I got rid of my original word work space and these pretty drawers will be housing my word work options from now on!

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear all about your back to school must haves if it's not on my list! What should I look for? It's never too late (or early!) for back to school shopping!