Top 7 Essentials for an Elementary Teacher Classroom
I've wasted at least $400 on classroom supplies collecting dust in a cabinet. These 7 actually earned their spot.
A $17 doorbell did more for my classroom management than any PD I’ve ever attended.
That’s the kind of discovery this newsletter is about—cutting through the noise to find what actually works. No Target Dollar Spot impulse buys. No Pinterest-perfect junk that falls apart by October.
Just the essentials.
Quick Picks
The Ratings
1. Honey-Can-Do 12-Drawer Rolling Cart (~$70)
If you’ve ever carried a teetering stack of guided reading bins while 24 kids watched like it was a circus act, you need this.
Pros: 12 mixed-size drawers, locking wheels, flat top doubles as workspace Cons: Assembly required (budget 20 annoyed minutes)
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Not glamorous. You’ll wonder how you taught without it.
2. Time Timer 8-Inch Visual Timer (~$35)
“Five more minutes” means nothing to a second grader. A red disk that shrinks as time runs out? That they get.
Pros: No numbers to decode, optional silent mode, surprisingly durable Cons: Only goes to 60 minutes, pricier than digital options
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Worth every penny for centers, timed writing, and keeping yourself on track.
3. Paper Mate Flair Pens, 24-Pack (~$22)
There’s a reason these show up on every teacher Instagram. Smooth ink, no bleed-through, colors that make even your lesson plans look intentional.
Pros: Water-based ink won’t bleed, point guard prevents fraying Cons: Kids will try to steal them (hide your favorites)
Budget Alternative: Amazon Basics felt-tips (~$13) are 80% as good at half the price.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Cult favorite for a reason. Buy one pack for school, hide one at home.
4. SadoTech Wireless Doorbell (~$17)
Forget clapping patterns. Press a button, a chime plays, they freeze. My voice hasn’t been the same since I started using this.
Pros: 52 chime options, remote clips to your lanyard, loud enough to cut through chaos Cons: Takes a week to train them—then it’s magic
Pro tip: Clip the remote to a mini hand sanitizer holder on your lanyard. Game-changer.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The best $17 you’ll spend on classroom management. Period.
5. Teskyer Retractable Lanyard (~$8)
You’ll clip your keys, ID, doorbell remote, and probably a pen to this. It needs to survive until June.
Pros: Retractable reel that actually works, breakaway clasp for safety Cons: Nothing exciting - it’s a lanyard
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Boring but essential. Replace annually.
6. Simple Modern 40oz Tumbler (~$25)
You won’t have time to refill water. You won’t remember to drink. This giant tumbler is the only thing between you and a 3pm headache.
Pros: Ice stays frozen all day, handle for grab-and-go Cons: It’s huge—takes up desk space
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Obnoxiously large. Absurdly useful.
7. Bostitch InPower Stapler (~$20)
I burned through three cheap staplers my first year. All dead by December. The Bostitch is still going strong in year four.
Pros: Spring-powered (70% less effort), rarely jams, opens flat for bulletin boards Cons: Bulkier than basic staplers
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The last stapler you’ll ever buy.
How We Rate
Your Turn
What’s your non-negotiable classroom essential? Drop it in the comments… we might rate it next.
RatedEd rates the products, PD, and programs educators actually use… so you stop wasting money on stuff that doesn’t work.