Teaching for over a decade has led me to see that there are some school supplies that never make it on the list but are vital to success in studying and learning in the classroom!
1. Dry Erase Markers & Mini White Board: Color coding helps our brains store & retrieve information, so why not "color code" our learning. White boards also help students practice without fear, because it can always be erased and done again! It can also save on scratch paper in math.
2. Weekly/Monthly Agenda!!!
A simple $1 agenda/calendar is the simple fix to many late assignments, forgotten homework, and help students prepare for upcoming test and project dates.
3. Colored Pencils-
Not only do colored pencils help us with creativity, but are the perfect aid in Algebra and Geometry to color code like terms, angles and sides.
They are also helpful in color coding hand written notes to find the important points later while studying.
4. Mini Staplers and Stapler Remover: High School students get many handouts from teachers and have assignments that are frequently multiple pages in length. Some classroom staplers go missing within the first weeks of school, so having their own would save students the trouble on going on a "stapler hunt."
5. Recorder Pens- If your student does not have a recording device, this pen will record the lecture and link to their written notes. This is helpful for students who struggle to process auditory information and cannot write notes while listening to lectures. Of course, this is a more expensive item, so it should be for students who have proven they can care for their supplies.
6. One- Inch, Color Coded Binders with Pockets- These binders could be color coded per class. This helps students organize papers to the class they pertain to. The pockets can be used for hand out, while paper can be kept in the 3-ring of the binder.
7. Index Cards with box: Index cards are great for students who study well with flashcards. They can make study material for any course and keep them from getting lost by putting them in a box.
8. Pencil Sharpener- Somehow the classroom pencil sharpener almost always breaks! Having a small pencil sharpener can help students continue working even when their pencil gets dull.
9. Paper Clips- Paper clips are great to keep worksheets and other school papers such as permission slips together. However, these can also get bent out of shape and used for purposes other than learning- so decide what is best for you student.
10. Sticky Notes- Many textbooks and novels that are required readings cannot be written in and students have a hard time keeping their spot in these large books. Sticky notes can act as bookmarks and margin notes.
LOTS of Paper and Pencils!
So many students arrive on the first day of school without something to write on or write with- these simple supplies will provide for most of their needs no matter what the activity set before them.
