What I Actually Buy for Back to School (High School Teacher Haul)
I showed up to my classroom in August with a box of donut holes and a shopping cart's worth of opinions. Both were necessary.
In this video I go through everything I purchased for back to school - some of it for my English classroom, some for my Theatre program, all of it intentional. (Because buying random stuff and hoping it helps is not a strategy!!)
Let me show you what actually earns a place in my classroom and why.
What made the list — and why
Charging cables and power strips with USB ports. This is non-negotiable. Kids will always forget chargers - especially on day one. I keep labeled cables in multiple classroom spaces so students can charge without disrupting anyone. Label them or they will walk away.
Remote-controlled outlet switches. My theatre office has overhead lights that need to all be turned off at night, and the switches are in an inconvenient spot. These remotes (one by the door, one at the back) solve a problem I didn't know I needed solved. Small thing. Big quality-of-life upgrade.
Slip covers for donated furniture. Our theatre lobby is getting a makeover with donated furniture from Facebook Marketplace and my own classroom. Mismatched furniture covered in the same color looks cohesive and intentional. Total cost: about $15. It looks like a real space now.
Broadway musical mini posters. 50 mini Broadway show posters in a card-sized format. They're going to live on bulletin boards and callboards in my theatre spaces and I already know my students are going to lose their minds over them in the best way.
Sand timers (2-minute). These are for quick discussion windows, community-building activities, and transitions. I bought a whole rainbow of colors so I can have them in multiple locations. Low tech, high utility.
Calm strips / texture strips. This is my favorite purchase. I bought two sets of 50 - one set with galaxy designs, one with beach/sunset scenes - and they're going on the backs of phones, Chromebooks, and anywhere else students need a little tactile grounding. Inexpensive, accessible sensory support that serves a real need without calling attention to itself.
The philosophy behind all of it
Three words guided every purchase: ease, comfort, and welcome. I want things to be easy for me to use and manage. I want the space to be comfortable for students and adults alike. And I want everyone who walks in (students, parents, administrators, the kid who's never come to see a show) to feel welcomed.
The more welcome students feel, the more they relax. The more they relax, the more they learn. (And the easier classroom management becomes…)
Watch the full video for the complete haul and a tour of where everything is going in both my English and Theatre spaces.
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