Essential stationery checklist for teachers
The last thing any teacher needs is to be caught short on supplies in the middle of a lesson. Finding a replacement for glue sticks or rushing to another classroom to find some Sellotape only adds unnecessary stress to the day. So, here at Hope, we have teamed up with teachers across the UK to give us their essential stationery checklist.
Mrs Kelly, EYFS teacher
https://www.instagram.com/mrskellyclassroom/
- Post it notes – I need them all the time
- Chalk pens to write on tuff trays/ tables/ mini chalkboards etc.
- A good set of biros for the endless notes & marking!
- Teacher stickers/ stamps!
- Your own glue stick that you can hide from the children, so the lid doesn’t get lost, and it’s not rolled all the way up.
Mrs Ivory, Assistant Head at a Primary School
https://www.instagram.com/teachingyear6/
- Definitely sticky notes – great for reminders and to-do lists but also so many amazing uses in the classroom!
- Highlighters – no idea where I would be without them! Especially when it comes to analysing data (even more important now I’m a leader!)
- A pretty notebook/notepad – essential for taking down notes from CPD/meetings. I keep all of my filled ones too and constantly go back to them – I went back to some old ones just this week when creating CPD for staff. And make it pretty because who doesn’t love that?
- A lever arch file/ring binder – to be able to organise all of the important documents you need.
- Mechanical pencils – I love using these when analysing data! Easy to rub out if you make a mistake and tend to be a finer point, so can add notes into smaller spaces!
Kelly, Year 2 teacher
https://www.instagram.com/teachinginspotsandstripes/
- Post-it notes
- Highlighters
- Paper clips
- Pens (for marking)
- Glue sticks
Mrs Clarke, Primary 7 teacher in Scotland (Year 6)
https://www.instagram.com/notquitehogwarts/
- Post-it’s – I love all colours and sizes of post-it’s! As part of my stationery checklist, they are great for giving feedback, adding to working walls and I also give them to the pupils for their table tubs.
- Flair pens – my favourite type of pens for marking and modelling handwriting!
- Skin tone pencils and crayons – I am committed to developing an inclusive and diverse classroom, and providing skin tone pencils allows pupils to create characters and representations of people from all ethnicities.
- Teacher scissors – I always make sure I have a pair of sharp scissors on my desk for quick and precise cutting out.
- Highlighters – great for marking writing and drawing pupils’ attention to specific aspects of their work. I love the pastel ones in particular!
Sophie, Year 1 teacher
https://www.instagram.com/teachingdiaries_/
- Post-it notes
- Pastel highlighters
- Diary and matching notebook
- Sentence writing strips
- To-do list!
Rose, Primary & Secondary school teacher
- Diary to keep organised
- Pink pens – when marking it presents the feedback as positive rather than using red which has bad connotations. Pupils see red as negative too due to this.
- Your own scissors – no one else can touch them so you don’t lose them, and they come in handy!
- Whiteboards & pens for pupils – helps with quick activities and easy to rub out mistakes.
We hope this list guides you in the right direction of what you need to have in your stationery checklist. Staying stocked up and ready for whatever the day brings will help to minimise some of the stress that comes with the job. Not only this, but it will help maintain the essential organisation and preparation it takes to handle even the most hectic school days.
Is there any stationery that is missing from the lists? Get in touch with us on Twitter or Instagram and let us know!