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Sometimes the littlest things can make the biggest difference. We asked our teacher audience to tell us what small, inexpensive thing has made their teaching lives better, easier, or more fun, and all of them made us want to click “Add to cart.”
Check out their picks below.
1. Small stretchy dinosaur toys
“I taught high school for 37 years before I retired, and whenever a kid was having a bad day, I gave them a stretchy dinosaur. The tactile sensation is calming and the nostalgic joy of getting a silly little toy from their childhood was priceless!”
—Gwyn S.
Buy it on Amazon: Dinosaurs
2. Postcards
“I use them to mail out birthday wishes to all of my learners. They really appreciate the handwritten messages.”
—Roger G.
Buy it on Amazon: Postcards
3. Wrist key chain
“It doubles as a fidget, and I lose my keys less often because I physically can feel them.”
—Kimberly A.
Buy it on Amazon: Wrist key chain
4. Fancy teapot and matching cup
“It makes me feel good to have this little touch of beauty in my day.”
—Lisa M.
Buy it on Amazon: Teapot and cup
5. A self-inking stamp of my face
“The kids love it!”
—Jamie F.
Buy it on Etsy: Self-inking teacher stamp
6. A plush crab
“Long since retired, but a crab stuffed animal that I would produce when I was getting ‘crabby.’ If kids weren’t listening, weren’t being kind to one another … they knew when the crab appeared, it was time for a behavior reset.”
—Ricki F.
Buy it on Amazon: Plush crab
7. A great stapler
“It’s a Swingline, made of steel, and uses special ‘high-performance’ staples. I’m amused, sometimes, by how happy I am to have it.”
—Kevin B.
Buy it on Amazon: Swingline stapler
8. A service bell
“I ring it for great answers. Kids LOVE getting a ding! Double dings are even better.”
—Christine E.
Buy it on Amazon: Service bell
9. A pencil sharpener made just for colored pencils
—Sandy R.
Buy it on Amazon: Colored-pencil sharpener
10. Lamps
“I’m telling you. Wayyyy better than overhead lights.”
—Leah S.
Buy it on Amazon: Lamp
11. Small coffee maker
“I have a very small coffee maker I use for tea and hot chocolate.”
—Tonya D.
Buy it on Amazon: Small coffee maker
12. A pencil dispenser
“Bonus: You can put cute magnets on it!”
—Jenna T.
Buy it on Amazon: Pencil dispenser
13. A Venus flytrap
“I have a Venus flytrap that is somehow still alive and my kids love earning a chance to check on/name the new traps. One of my babies refers to them as ‘the Jeffries,’ and it warms my heart every time. Always wants to water them and make sure they got a chance to catch some flies.”
—Ali A.
Buy it on Amazon: Venus flytrap
14. Desk chocolate
“Chocolate I keep in my desk for the tough moments!”
—Mary S.
Buy it on Amazon: Chocolate
15. Clickable markers
“I use these every single day!”
—Brandi B.
Buy it on Amazon: Crayola Clicks Retractable Markers
16. A battery-powered heating pad
“It sounds so stupid but I freaking love it. I have a terrible back and it helps my muscles relax and helps me relax (especially when it’s cold). It’s not ‘fun,’ but it is my favorite!”
—Dharinne P.
Buy it on Amazon: Heating pad
17. EZ Grader
—Myronna P.
Buy it on Amazon: EZ Grader
18. Puppet
“Even with high school kids! Make the puppet be the one to deliver instructions and they will listen!”
—Yasmin D.
Buy it on Amazon: Puppet
19. A karaoke machine or mic
“It’s so much fun when doing read-alouds and when kids do presentations.”
—Jason W.
Buy it on Amazon: Karaoke microphone
20. A laser pointer
“So I can point to the word wall, anchor charts, etc., without having to cross the classroom.”
—Shannon T.
Buy it on Amazon: Laser pointer
21. A clicker (wireless remote)
“Used it for the first time today. Loving being able to move around the classroom!”
—Charlotte R.
Buy it on Amazon: Wireless remote
22. For teachers of littles: an apron.
“Wear an apron with pockets! Carry the scissors, the wipe-off markers, the eraser, the Kleenex, the Sharpie, the stapler, the hole punch, the fidgets, even the cell phone in the pockets. If you teach littles, you NEVER sit down, so you may as well have everything at the ready.”
—Amy T.
Buy it on Amazon: Apron
23. Smarties candy
“For my smarties in the classroom!”
—Lupe J.
Note: Smarties are the unicorn candy. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free!
Buy it on Amazon: Smarties
24. Foaming liquid soap
“In the faculty restroom where only adults can get it.”
—Paula B.
Buy it on Amazon: Foaming hand soap
25. Command hooks
“I’m fortunate to have a walk-in closet. I lined up command hooks on the walls and keep all the hands on centers that I’ve printed and laminated in baggies or binder rings on the hooks. They’re labeled and ready to grab. You could do the same thing on the inside of cabinet doors if you don’t have a closet.”
—Rebecca G.
Buy it on Amazon: Command Hooks
26. Massaging neck wrap
“I use it in my planning period while I work.”
—Heather C.
Buy it on Amazon: Massaging neck wrap
27. A small kids’ tent
“That is our ‘safe space’ when students are feeling big emotions and need some time and space. Fill the tent with social-emotional books, sensory fidgets, and positive affirmations. Best part of our classroom!”
—Katie M.
Buy it on Amazon: Tent
28. Wireless classroom doorbell
“Best management tool ever.”
—Madeline G.
Buy it on Amazon: Wireless doorbell
29. Sound-effect maker
“That way, when the kids don’t laugh at my hilarious jokes, I can still get laughs!”
—Anna K.
Buy it on Amazon: Sound-effect maker
What’s your favorite small, inexpensive teaching purchase? Let us know in the comments.
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