School Supplies for Kindergarten Teachers

When summer vacation begins and the new school year slowly approaches, parents and their kindergarten children are getting ready by buying the school supplies they will need. If you are a kindergarten teacher, then you should be doing the same. You need to add to the current inventory of your classroom supplies, especially if you have already run out from the year before. You also may decide to change up the themes to some supplies (such as bulletin board sets and charts), or add supplies you have never used in the classroom before (maybe this year you want to add a few art easels to the classroom). Here are a few school supplies for kindergarten teachers to consider using during the new school year.

While your class will have their own basic school supplies, you never know when a situation will come up where you will need extra supplies. One child could forget their glue while another may lose their pencils. You may even have a new student who is not fully prepared yet for the class. To help these situations go by without tears, have a few extra basic school supplies handy to loan out. Here are a few of the basic supplies you can store in the classroom.

- Number 2 pencils.

- Erasers.

- Safety scissors.

- Glue or glue sticks.

- Notebook paper.

You should keep the supplies in a pencil box or storage container and only allow the children to use them for the day if they do not have any of their own.

You can also keep a few art supplies in the kindergarten class for arts and craft projects. Your class may bring some of the supplies themselves, but you still never know when you are going to need extra! This can come in handy when a child does not have the supplies necessary (for the same reasons as the basic supplies), or if you need extra for a specific project. Here are a few art supplies to keep in the classroom.

- Crayons.

- Washable markers.

- Construction paper.

- Drawing paper.

- Watercolor paints.

- Finger paints.

- Paint brushes.

- Play Dough.

- Art easels.

- Art smocks or shirts to use as smocks.

You should store the smaller materials in pencil boxes and storage containers, smocks or shirts in a box or the closet, and the easels off to the side. Do not allow the children to use the art supplies until it is time for arts and crafts or playtime, or unless another assignment calls for it.

Kindergarten children love to play with toys and games! You can keep a few in your classroom for specific lesson plans and playtime. Of course you want them to be educational, so that your class is learning even when it is playtime! This can include learning specific topics, improving different skills, and using their imagination. Here are a few of the educational toys and games to keep in your classroom:

- Puzzles.

- Building blocks.

- Shape-sorter set.

- Number mats.

- Letter mats.

- Age-appropriate books.

- Flash cards.

- Pretend play toys (such as toy food and pretend doctor kits).

- Dress-up clothes and accessories.

- Board games such as Chutes and Ladders, Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Candyland, and The Memory Game.

The school will usually have bulletin boards already in the classrooms and ready for you to decorate. You can decorate with bulletin board sets that include borders, signs, and stickers. The sets come in different themes, such as animals, holidays, seasons, and school topics (numbers, letters, etc.). You can also hang up different school charts on the bulletins boards. The school charts are usually educational and come in many themes, such as the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, months of the year, weather, seasons, holidays, and animals. You can also hang up different classwork, artwork, and class photos on the bulletin boards as well.

Whether a mess occurs or cold season approaches, there are a few extra supplies you should keep in your classroom. While some parents may send the supplies with their children or donate the supplies to the entire class, you still may want to have extra supplies as well. Here are a few of the extra classroom supplies to keep in your classroom for messes and cold season.

- Kleenex or (another brand of tissues).

- Hand Wipes.

- Paper Towels or Napkins.

- Hand Sanitizer.

- Ziploc bags (can be used for storing other supplies).

You can find the supplies you need for your classroom at various stores, such as Staples, Office Depot, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target, and The Dollar Tree. You can even check stores such as Safeway, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens for some of the supplies. Are you looking to add a few pieces of furniture? This can include chairs, tables, easels, rugs, cubbies, and bean bag chairs. You can check Ikea, Toys 'R' Us, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. You can go to different retail stores to pick up what you need or order them off of an online shopping website and have them delivered directly to your home. The items and prices may vary per store, but you are sure to find everything you need for your classroom!

Just like school supplies for students, buying the school supplies for kindergarten teachers in advance will help to make the school year start and go by smoothly. If you are not finished shopping yet, then it is recommended you make a list and start adding to your classroom supplies as soon as possible. When you are prepared for the new school year, your kindergarten class will be prepared for the new school year! Enjoy using the supplies and teaching your kindergarten class!