10 Minimalist Essentials I Actually Use as a Middle School Teacher

As a teacher and mom of two under two, I understand the importance of time. One way I make sure I'm making sure I'm being effective with my students is by keeping it simple.

I don't rely on extravagant things to make my classroom successful. Instead, I focus on strong routines, high expectations, and a few simple essentials that are easy to implement in any classroom.

Here are 10 minimalist teacher essentials I actually use (& love) as a middle school teacher:

1. Folders with Pockets

One way I minimize what I have to keep track of is by having my students be responsible for their own work. Middle schoolers are at the perfect age to start practicing and learning how to take responsibility for their assignments.

I have my students keep their work in folders with pockets, which gives them a designated place for their assignments and keeps things organized without adding extra work for me.

And don't worry-I always keep extra copies on hand just in case!

These folders are only $.045 each, and they're actually really good quality!

2. Wire Turn-In Basket

As simple as it sounds, I have one basket where everything gets turned in. I am paper-based in my classroom, so having one designated place for assignments makes turning in work much easier and keeps papers from ending up all over my classroom. It also stops the constant "Where do I turn this in?" questions because students always know where their work belongs.

Do what works best for you! You could have one basket for everyone, or a separate basket for each class or block. The goal is simply to have a system that is easy for both you and your students to follow.

3. Teacher Planner

I like a planner that is simple & easy to keep up with. The two things I find most important are a monthly spread and a weekly spread with space for each class period.

I use mine to keep track of what I'm doing each week and to write down important assignments, tasks, and reminders. I don't need a planner with a million sections. I just need one that helps me stay organized without becoming another thing I have to keep up with.

4. Easel Pad

I use easel pads to make anchor charts that I can easily put up for whatever I'm teaching. I love that I can pull out a new chart when I need it, which makes it feel fresh and more likely that students will actually read it.

It's also an easy tool to point to during a lesson when there's important information I want students to remember or refer back to. And I don't think anchor charts are just for elementary classrooms, they can work for any age!

5. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

I use these when I'm teaching with my document camera because they make the content easy for students to see. I also love using different colors to color-code important information in my notes.

They're a simple way to make what I'm writing more visible & engaging without needing anything fancy.

6. Sticky Notes

Sticky notes are one of those simple supplies that I find myself using for just about everything. They're versatile and easy to keep on hand without adding clutter.

I use them for exit tickets, quick notes, passes, reminders, and so much more. The possibilities are endless!

7. Presentation Clicker

A clicker makes it easy to move around the room while teaching instead of being stuck at my computer. I can move through slides, use the laser pointer to easily point to something on the board, and keep teaching from anywhere in my classroom.

It's also useful when students are presenting and need to control their own slides. One small tool that makes presentations and everyday teaching a little easier.

8. Highlighters

Highlighters are another item that are simple and versatile for the classroom. I only buy one color, which keeps things simple while still being useful. I use them for annotating texts in both ELA and Social Studies, especially when I want students to identify important info or pull out key details.

You don't need a whole pack of different colors to make them useful. One color can go a long way.

9. Visual Timer

A visual timer comes in handy for students to be able to track their time for independent work, transitions, activities, or pretty much anything. I like that students can actually see the time counting down instead of constantly asking how much time is left.

10. Document Camera

This one is a little bit of a splurge, but it is so worth it to me. I use my document camera every single day, especially since I have a lot of visual learners. I use it to model notes, have students follow along with reading, demonstrate examples, and easily show students exactly what I'm doing. It's one of those tools I use so much that I definitely think it's worth the investment.

For more of my classroom essentials, check out my Amazon or click on the 'Favorites' tab!

And as always, thank you for being here. 🤎