Top 10 essentials for a teacher! (All easily bought on Amazon or found outside!)

There are so many items that a teacher should have in his/her classroom.  I've decided to make this a monthly feature on my blog.  Here is my list for April - enjoy:

Number 1 - This is a must!!!  You neeeeeeed lip balm.  Over the years I have tried many but this is definitely my go-to product:  EOS Visibly soft Lip balm.  This is a great all-rounder as it not only smells great but also keeps your lips kissable soft!  No chapped lips when it comes to this teacher.  I also am a sucker for cute packaging and this ticks that box.  Cute round container that you unscrew before whipping onto your lips.  A good talking point for my 5/6 year olds too.  Main question, "What's that?"

Number 2 - You need a bullet journal (reasons given on my website - "Organised using planners" page.  Check this one out.  I have my eye on this one:
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But also this one!!  And if you know me - I find it hard to make a decision!!  Both lovely!!

The price might sway me - and you can't go wrong with a moleskin!  

Number 3 - another beauty product.  I have to put Coconut oil onto this list!!!  Firstly, I use this for hand-cream in the classroom.  It is a natural skin moisturiser and it absorbs quickly.  At home I use it in my hair when it is looking particularly dry.  Living in Northern Ireland and promoting outdoor play - can play havoc on your locks.  I simply take a chunk of it and paste it onto my hair, eh pants on my head or a shower cap and a towel on my pillow and WOW the next morning (after I wash my hair) it is looking SHINY and healthy!!!  Girl we have to look after ourselves when we teach.  Make sure that you buy 100 percent organic with this one.  I have tried both and there is an amazing difference with the organic one.  Here are my two favourites:

I also have bought the cheap version in Home Bargains.  I keep that one in my classroom too.  Check their one out the next time you are in.  

Number 4 - Pens!!  And I am going through a mad stage of using pink pens at the moment.  Very girly!!!  I will have to do a youtube video on my mad pencil-case but in the meantime check out these beauties!!

Number 5: A fly swatter!  I use these for games, "Write the Room" activities and pointing to areas of the whiteboard and for swatting wasps!  The latter is a main issue in my room - I reckon there is a wasp nest somewhere near-by!!  My pupils loving using the one that is a hand!  

Number 6 - Place mats!  I use the lovely stripey ones from Ikea for my desk.  But also use some from Amazon for my children to do individual work on.  Play dough/ slime play being good examples as why we need these in our classroom.  

Number 7  - Cute file folders and wallets!!!  I love Sainsburys for their lovely stock on folders and matching accessories.  That isle makes me happy and my 3 children groan!!!  I spend far too long in that area of Sainsburys.  Here are lovely items directly from Amazon:

Number 8:  WASHI-TAPE
Oh how I love wash-tape.  I decorate my planners with it, my filing cabinet and anything that moves in my room that doesn't look cute.  My latest set is goooooollllllllld:  

Number 9:  Stones - eh no link to Amazon for this one.  I use stones for the self-registration in my class, story stones, to decorate outdoor tyres for small world play, I number stones for the children to put into the right order.  

Finally number 10:  3 for this one: Marbles, Golf tees and tweezers.  
The reason for these being in my top ten - this is my favourite finger gym to promote in my classroom as I have witnessed kids with poor fine-motor skills developing their little muscles as they play the finger gym games within my room.  Check out my blog on finger gyms - down this page: 

Well that's this month's top list of the 10 essentials for the Primary School teacher.  Comment below on your favourite and suggest another item that teachers must have. I will check it out and feature it in May's Top 10 list.  It should be  something that you can't live without!  Have a lovely day and keep smiling.