Affordable School Supplies Every Teacher Needs

It’ll soon be that time of year again — time for summer vacation to end and school bells to ring. As the new school year begins, teachers have to begin the annual task of stocking up on all the supplies they’ll need to help their students succeed.

Finding budget-friendly school supplies that are also high-quality can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve put together this list of top school supplies every teacher needs, which includes:

• Space saving supplies
• Safety supplies
• Health and wellness supplies
• Arts and crafts supplies
• Writing supplies
• Pouch laminating supplies

Whether you’re an experienced teacher or a fresh graduate just entering the classroom, this school supplies list will set you up for success in the upcoming school year.

Space Saving Supplies

Space is often at a premium when you’re working in a classroom. Fortunately, there are a ton of great space-saving supplies that can help declutter and streamline your work area.

Desk & File Organizers

Staying organized is just as important as saving space. After all, you’ve already got enough on your hands trying to keep up with a class full of students. 

Teachers love organizational supplies and for good reason. They help them keep everything in its proper place, making them indispensable tools.

For example, desk organizers can become your new best friend. These handy devices feature compartments and/or drawers that can hold everything you can think of — pens, markers, scissors, sticky notes, and more — to keep your desk free of clutter. And even better, everything’s in one easy-to-access spot. No more searching for that rogue paperclip when you need it most!

Another key space saver? File organizers, which feature multiple compartments to keep all your papers right where they’re supposed to be. Perfect for storing worksheets, lesson plans, and important documents, these school supplies are the ultimate tools for keeping your classroom orderly, neat, and tidy. By creating a designated spot for each subject or category, file organizers transform potential chaos into structure.

They come in all shapes and sizes, from desktop varieties for quick access to wall-mounted versions for optimizing space. Some even have color-coded tabs for an added layer of organization. They're essential for keeping your lesson plans in order, student records up to date, and handouts ready for the next class.

Three-Ring Binders

Teachers know the struggle of managing countless loose sheets of paper, both for themselves and their students. Three-ring binders serve as a centralized place to store all those important papers, making them a highly useful space-saving and organizational tool.

Binders are perfect for creating individual student portfolios or keeping track of different subjects or units. Label the spine or color code them, and you’ve got yourself an easy, visual way to manage your classroom materials.

But three-ring binders aren’t just for teachers — they’re incredibly useful for students too. Binders can help your students stay organized, learn the concept of file management, and keep track of their work. These features are especially beneficial for older students who have multiple classes and teachers. They can have a binder for each class to keep their schoolwork structured and in order.

Safety Supplies

Safety comes first in any classroom, so you need adequate safety supplies to protect you and your students. Whether needed in the current climate or not, having some essential personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand means you will be prepared for the next health emergency, helping students and staff avoid nasty germs and hazards. Face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and safety signage are just a few of the items that could come in handy. 

Health and Wellness Supplies

Given how many students come in and out of classrooms, sneezing and coughing all the while, it’s no surprise that teachers and purchasers are also looking for health and wellness supplies to help keep them and their students protected. This aspect of classroom safety includes things like cleanliness, ergonomics, and air quality.

Products like air purifiers can be a great addition to your classroom. They help to improve indoor air quality and also remove allergens and other airborne particles, promoting better respiratory health for everyone in the room. 

They are available for various room sizes and with different levels of cleaning, so you can tailor your choice to your particular needs. A college lecture hall, for example, would need a larger unit or multiple units to effectively clean the air while a small bungalow classroom would only need a small unit.

Air purifying machines with carbon in the filters also remove any less-than-pleasant odors from the room, which comes in handy when you’re surrounded by students all day.

Arts and Crafts Supplies

We all know that children learn best and retain more when they are able to explore their surroundings and have fun while they learn! That’s why unleashing creativity is a crucial part of education. So stock up on arts and crafts supplies to help your students express themselves artistically.

Scissors

No arts and crafts school supplies list is complete without mentioning scissors. Child-friendly safety scissors allow students to engage in activities like cutting out shapes and images, which contributes to their fine motor skills development. This simple yet effective tool can make learning a hands-on experience by helping them understand concepts like symmetry, shape, and size.

Teachers can use scissors for a variety of projects, too. They’re great for preparing visual learning aids, crafting hands-on learning materials, or even customizing classroom decorations. They’re also essential when it comes to organizing and managing paperwork. Teachers often find themselves cutting out labels, trimming worksheets to fit into binders, or slicing up index cards for flashcards or group activities. 

Scissors are much more than just a cutting tool for crafts. They’re a versatile assistant in your toolkit.

Glue Sticks

Don’t forget the glue sticks! From piecing together collages to creating three-dimensional models, glue sticks are a must-have for a plethora of craft projects. Best of all, they’re convenient, mess-free, and safe for children to use.

Decorative Supplies

Construction paper is another indispensable resource. Available in a rainbow of colors and a variety of patterns and textures, it’s the foundation of countless fun, creative, and educational projects. It’s like a blank canvas just waiting for young imaginations to create upon, whether that means drawing imaginary scenes or cutting out shapes and figures.

Finally, you can add a little pizazz to projects with craft supplies like glitter, sequins, and beads. They’re great for adding detail to crafts and making learning tactile and engaging, which is essential for students to get excited about education and retain what they learn. 

Writing Supplies

Teachers rely on a wide range of essential teacher supplies to create engaging and interactive learning environments for their students. From facilitating lessons to grading assignments, these supplies play a crucial role in effective classroom management. Not to mention the fact that students need them to do their classwork and projects.

Writing Tools

Markers and pens are indispensable tools that teachers use to write on whiteboards, chalkboards, and chart papers, allowing them to illustrate concepts, highlight important information, and provide visual aids during lessons. With an array of colors and tip sizes available, teachers can add vibrancy and clarity to their teaching materials, making them more visually appealing and captivating for students.

In addition to markers and pens, teachers also require a variety of writing instruments for individual student work and activities. Pencils and erasers are fundamental tools for students to complete assignments, take notes, and engage in classroom exercises. The versatility of pencils allows for easy erasing and editing, encouraging students to embrace a growth mindset and learn from their mistakes. 

Furthermore, colored pencils and crayons enable students to express their creativity, adding flair to artistic projects or visual representations of concepts. These writing supplies not only foster student engagement but also promote fine motor skills development and encourage self-expression.

Paper Tools

The humble notebook is an indispensable part of any school supplies list for note-taking and homework. Sticky notes, index cards, and Whiteout are other key tools. These writing supplies serve various purposes, such as jotting down important reminders, organizing information, and correcting mistakes. 

Notepads provide a dedicated space for teachers to plan lessons, take meeting notes, and brainstorm ideas, while sticky notes and index cards offer convenient tools for creating interactive displays, organizing thoughts, and promoting collaborative learning.

Laminating Supplies

We’ve never met a teacher who didn’t love laminating; there just really isn’t anything quite like the feel of a laminated project or worksheets. Especially when Tommy in the front row spills their juice on your desk and you can breathe a sigh of relief that all you have to do is wipe your documents clean.

Pouch laminators are the best option for teachers as they fit conveniently in the classroom and can be stored away when not in use. Some popular school pouch laminators for teachers include the Coverbind Duo and Fellowes M5-95.

You also have options when it comes to your laminating pouches. Incredibly flexible pouches like a 3 mil thick or very sturdy and rigid pouches like a 10mil (plus several in-between options) are available. 3 mil pouches are affordable, making them great for kids’ projects that will be passed out in large quantities while 10mil are more durable and perfect for documents that need to withstand multiple school years, like posters.

You can also choose between thermal pouches or cold pouches. Cold (also called pressure sensitive) are great because they don’t need heat to adhere, so you could even do it by hand without a machine if you wanted to (great option for kids to keep their little hands safely away from heated machines). 

Start the School Year Off Right With MyBinding’s Affordable School Supplies

Buying supplies for the new year shouldn’t break the bank. At MyBinding, we provide high-quality, affordable teacher supplies designed to make your job easier and your classroom more engaging. 

Get a head start on the school year and browse our school products today.

Need more information? Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-944-4573. Our experienced experts are always here to help you find the best supplies for your classroom.