I recently compiled the following list of items that I feel are the must-haves when it comes to being an organized math teacher. While I am sure there are more items that could be added to this list, these are the things I make sure to have in September.
1. Teacher Planner - Have your week, month, and year planned out with a good teacher planner. This will truly be your everyday "go-to" item, so be sure to invest in a good one. Try to find one that includes an area to include student personal information, substitute pages, call home logs, graph paper, and the list of the important dates. I love this one because you can also personalize it.
2. Home Printer - This is a must for printing your lesson plans, worksheets and mini-anchor charts. You will be using your printer often so be sure to have an extra supply of ink on hand.
3. Chart Paper
- Nothing beats good old fashion chart paper. When your Smartboard, is not working or the laptops are not fully charged grab some chart paper and you can make magic. The students love to write on them and it is the perfect size for creating anchor charts. I go through at least 50 sheets each year so be sure to pick up a few pads. They are pricey but I find it is worth buying them in bulk. I have recently discovered that if you take the time to store them in a safe place during the summer months, you can definitely reuse them the following school year.
You will also need a pack of flip chart markers. I have managed to hold on to the same pack of markers for a few years. I love the variety of colors and it really does help when I am trying to emphasize different concepts to my visual learners.
4. Quality Math Resources - I have spent many years creating middle school math resources, including math task cards, assessments, guided notes, error analysis, homework assignments, activities for math stations and much more. All the resources you need have been created so take the time to research and invest in a variety of quality math resources that will save you time. You can find all of my resources at my TpT store including free math resources.
5. Tote Bag - I have learned to have a bag dedicated just for bringing those teaching resources, exams, and supplies back and forth.
I cannot tell you how many times I forgot those tests in my other bag, or I left my lunch bag in the car. I have finally figured out that I just need one bag that I keep by the front door. I take this bag back and forth every day and it saves me the grief of wondering where I left my work keys or teacher planner. This bag is big enough to hold everything. It has enough pockets for me to separate my teaching items from my personal items and a side pocket for my water bottle.
Check out these other "math haves
" for your math classroom.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for a program, I may earn a commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
1. Teacher Planner - Have your week, month, and year planned out with a good teacher planner. This will truly be your everyday "go-to" item, so be sure to invest in a good one. Try to find one that includes an area to include student personal information, substitute pages, call home logs, graph paper, and the list of the important dates. I love this one because you can also personalize it.
2. Home Printer - This is a must for printing your lesson plans, worksheets and mini-anchor charts. You will be using your printer often so be sure to have an extra supply of ink on hand.
3. Chart Paper
- Nothing beats good old fashion chart paper. When your Smartboard, is not working or the laptops are not fully charged grab some chart paper and you can make magic. The students love to write on them and it is the perfect size for creating anchor charts. I go through at least 50 sheets each year so be sure to pick up a few pads. They are pricey but I find it is worth buying them in bulk. I have recently discovered that if you take the time to store them in a safe place during the summer months, you can definitely reuse them the following school year.You will also need a pack of flip chart markers. I have managed to hold on to the same pack of markers for a few years. I love the variety of colors and it really does help when I am trying to emphasize different concepts to my visual learners.
4. Quality Math Resources - I have spent many years creating middle school math resources, including math task cards, assessments, guided notes, error analysis, homework assignments, activities for math stations and much more. All the resources you need have been created so take the time to research and invest in a variety of quality math resources that will save you time. You can find all of my resources at my TpT store including free math resources.
5. Tote Bag - I have learned to have a bag dedicated just for bringing those teaching resources, exams, and supplies back and forth. I cannot tell you how many times I forgot those tests in my other bag, or I left my lunch bag in the car. I have finally figured out that I just need one bag that I keep by the front door. I take this bag back and forth every day and it saves me the grief of wondering where I left my work keys or teacher planner. This bag is big enough to hold everything. It has enough pockets for me to separate my teaching items from my personal items and a side pocket for my water bottle.Check out these other "math haves
" for your math classroom.This post contains affiliate links, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for a program, I may earn a commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
