MUST HAVE-for next year :)

Sorry guys, I'm on a roll with Linkys this morning!  I thought this was a fun idea to get my mind thinking about what I'm going to require my students to have next year.  I'll admit right away that I got a smidge carried away, but I LOVE back-to-school supplies so I went with it.  I'm a nerd, I know.

I also know I'm a bit late to this Linky Party, but I saw someone else join in last night and figured, why not?!

First, my students will be required to get a graphing-composition book.  I learned from this year that the composition books can be used to keep amazing notes that will help students when they need to refer back.  I like the graphing ones so that when we get to that point in the year, I don't have to worry about the OCD students like me who need to have perfectly straight graph lines.  Also, the students who struggling keeping their math organized really benefit from having the graphs.


Index cards are a must in my classroom.  As I discussed here, I use the regularly for motivation as well as for students studying.  I also love to use them in math for various review games and such.

Calculator.  Yes, I always require my math students to be able to work out their problems by hand.  I am, however, also realistic.  They need to know how to use a calculator as they will probably never do mental math outside of my classroom.  Not to mention, when we get into our Geometry unit it will be hard to keep the figures accurate.

Clorox wipes are by far the most important tool for my room.  Let's be honest, Middle School students are disgusting.  The best thing I ever started doing was asking for parents to donate 3 bottles of Clorox Wipes.  They last me through the year and allow us to actually clean our classrooms in a sanitary way.  And it makes the room smell nice because, again, Middle Schoolers have that stench problem.  Yuck.