Ever classroom environment needs essentials to help Exceptional Children successfully crush their academic and often their behavioral goals. GIMO offers their must have for classroom organization, classroom furniture, and student supplies. Take a look below.
1. Transparent Sticky/Post It Notes
These transparent sticky notes are the COOLEST sticky notes. Why? They can be utilized in so many ways, especially in working with students with learning disabilities. These transparent sticky notes come in clear or colored notes and they allow students to see a possible change in their student classwork. These transparent sticky notes can be used as visuals to help students to determine open syllables versus closed syllables. Students can also receive visuals on changing CVC words to VCe words. I also love using transparent sticky notes to mark writing errors for students in their writing samples. Students are able to see a possible change without changing the document or assignment. The possibilities are ENDLESS.
2. Teacher Created Resources 5 Minute Sand Timer
Timers are a great way for teachers to set clear expectations pertaining to class assignments, group assignments, and a great way to transition to the next classroom related task. Teacher Created Resources sells these in 10 minute, 5 minute, and 3 minutes. Keep your students on track with these.
3. Astrobrights Bright Colored Paper
Copy paper is a commodity in the classroom. This bright colored paper can be used in various ways around your classroom or learning environment. Set up your classroom expectations, print class assignments and letters home.
4. Scotch Pro Thermal Laminator
This laminator is a gem, and one I frequently used within the classroom, especially when I had no time to run down to the library and wait for the 30 minutes for the school laminator to heat up. Laminating certain class assignments, classroom visuals, and group games allows them to be reused. This laminator is tried and true.
5. Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches
These laminating pouches are a must have to use with the thermal laminator above. You receive 200 pouches in this pack.
6. Swingline Paper Cutter
Do you need to cut multiple items for class? This paper cutter “cuts” down on cutting time, so that you can plan, prepare for your next class, or take a much needed break.
7. Hook and Loop Velcro Dots
These Velcro dots are plentiful for your use around your classroom or learning environment. I use these to hang up classroom visuals, expectations, and charts. These dots are so useful in setting up your classroom or learning environment.
8. Binder Rings
These binder rings are very useful around the classroom or your learning environment. These allowed me to keep IEP progress monitoring data for each of my students. In addition, I was able to create, laminate, and place group activities on these rings.
9. Fidgets
Fidgets are a must when working with students with disabilities. Fidgets are not simply toys within the classroom, but are very beneficial. Fidgets increase a child’s focus and productivity. I have worked with students with Other Health Impairments (OHI) specifically students who have been diagnosed with Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Fidgets help students decrease their anxiety, attend to sensory needs, and stimulate their brain cells. Students are using both the left and the right brain hemispheres. Thus increasing their ability to store essential information in their long term memory. I have found it useful to set the expectations on proper fidget use and to set a timer and allow my students 1 -2 minutes to play and explore with the fidgets.
10. Heavy Duty 3 Hole Punch
This heavy duty hole punch will work through 40 sheets of paper. This comes in handy when putting together student packets or training materials for professional development.
11. Binders
These binders are great. As a middle school resource SPED teacher, I created a student center within my classroom and these binders were the STAR of the show. They allowed students to personalize the front with their own art or drawings. They are large enough to have several sections for student work, goal progress, student work samples, Do Now warmups etc. Best of all, middle school students can be taught all about keeping their school items organized.
12. Cascading Wall Organizer
This gem allowed me to hang my daily materials needed for my resource groups. Items such as my daily lesson plans, student assignments etc.
13. 3 Tier Rolling Cart
This rolling cart is great to hold projectors on the top tier and keep those supplies that every teacher needs to keep near.
14. Large Capacity Pencil Boxes
These pencil boxes are great for students to use individually or share to a table. I utilized these as individual pencil boxes for my students during the national pandemic. They are easy to wipe down and keep sanitized.
13a. Clear Bins
Shoe bins, right? Yes! These are versatile and can be used in many ways. From placing manipulatives to storing in class file cabinets. These are super handy.
14a. Mesh Pencil Bins
These are another inexpensive option that can be used for many items around the classroom. Make sure to label and provide pics of the items that belong inside. Best of all they offer a variety of colors.
15. Flexible Seating Option #1
Flexible seating has so many great benefits for Exceptional students. Students are able to have brain and body balance and improve focus and decrease distractibility. These are just a few benefits. Just make sure to let your students have time to “play” with their new flexible seating options. Set a timer for a few minutes and let them enjoy before transitioning to the next lesson, assignment, or activity. These stools are the BEST and worth every penny. Trust me on this. They were easy to assemble, they are adjustable, and they twist. I incorporated these stools as rewards for behavior and work completion. My students loved them and were proud to have the school invest in them this way!
15a. Flex Seating Option 2
Option 2 for flex seating is the popular Big Joe chairs. Students of all ages love these. This particular style was always a big hit with my students. My students used these in our reading corner. It was used for rewards, quiet time, and motivation for work completion.
15b. Round Floor Cushions
These cushions can be used on the floor, carpet, or students can place in their chairs for flexible seating.
16. Portable Desk Tray
These desk trays allow students to work on the carpet or in a bean bag chair. My students love it.
17. Electric Standing Desk
This standing desk is great! It allows students who need to stand to engage and decrease distractibility. It was always a hit in the classroom and my students were super productive.
18. Dry Erase Pockets
These dry erase pockets are great to use in organizing and creating learning stations.
19. Plastic Storage Clipboard
This is great to use in the resource room or in the general education setting.
