Every year as I get ready to go back to school, I like to revamp my classroom. This year, however, the weekend before school started, I was told I was moving classrooms. Everything had to come down, move down the hall, and go back up. As I got ready for my new group of incoming junior highers, I obtained some of my favorite classroom things.
This has been my students FAVORITE fidget. Honestly, I don’t usually buy fidgets they can use because they tend to break them. But this cube is so durable and sooooooo satisfying. I can loan it to a student or keep it for myself. Either way, it is calming someone down.
2. These resin Ducks
Have you seen these around your school? The kids LOVE them. Luckily, they come in all kinds of colors, can be neon, glow in the dark, glittery, OR can be all kinds of different animals. Last year, I got turtles and other sea creatures. They are a great prize or reward, and the kids love to trade them.
Well, we were told this year that fire marshal will be around. That means that everything within 8 inches of the ceiling has to be laminated. But not only that, I can laminate student sample work or anything else I create on the computer that I want to display. It helps me get more value out of my stuff, is a super cheap option, AND I don’t have to deal with front office when laminating? Win, win, win.
4. These heavy duty Magnets
Sometimes I like to laminate something cute and turn it in to a magnet for my board. But, there are other things I like to put on my board, like the bell schedule. These make it really easy. Just peel the back and then stick them to whatever you want to magnet-ify.
5. All the cute Contact paper
I have some pretty shabby looking stuff in my room. An ugly desk. An old coffee table. A dingy podium. I cover it all in contact paper. People are constantly asking me about it because it looks so cute. And the awesome thing? There are SO many different colors and patterns to mix and match. I like to do a couple simple ones, like this glossy black, and then a cute pattern that compliments it.
6. This gorgeous Window cling
That little rectangular window in the door is an invitation for anyone walking by in the hall to peer into your classroom and wave at their friends. Not anymore. This window cling is iridescent and the light shining through makes a beautiful visual effect. You get so much with this roll that you can use some and have plenty left to share with a teacher friend.
7. This erasable Chalkboard paper and the very BEST Chalk markers
This has so many different uses. You can make a bulletin board that your students can draw on or sign. You can change out quotes of the day or highlights of the week. I use this for the front of my desk. At the end of the year, I ask my most artistic student to decorate the front of my desk with my name, however they would like. I LOVE the different designs I see every year. I also use it to create a “what are we learning” board. I fill this out during each new unit with essential questions and a flow map of the unit.
8. And something fun for me: Paper Mate bright pens
How much do you love Paper Mate pens? These ones are awesome because they are so bright and bold that you can write on black and white paper. I just love having different colors to choose from. You deserve to have a little fun, too.
These are just a few things that have made my new classroom extra fun this year. What do you use?
Parenting and Pedagogy 
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