Getting a classroom ready takes a lot of stuff. And dollar stores are a teacher’s best friend. But there are few things a dollar store doesn’t have that are worth knowing about. So here’s a bunch of my favourite things that just make classroom life better.

Bulletin board backgrounds,  there are so many things you can use – wrapping paper, fabric, plastic tablecloths – but the best background material is Better Than Paper Bulletin Board Roll. It doesn’t tear, it hides staple marks, and it can be used over and over. Write on it with chalk or dry erase markers and clean it with a cloth. It comes in endless colours and patterns. It’s 4’ high and 12’ long so there’s plenty to work with! Ideally, get your school to buy several useful colours and cut them to size of your bulletins. It’ll last forever and all the teachers will love it. {List of Links}

• Better than Paper Shiplap White
• Better than Paper Black
• Better than Paper Confetti
• Better than Paper Black & White Stripe
• Better than Paper Beachwood
• Better than Paper Vintage Blue Stripe

The Better Than Paper Rolls have more uses than just bulletin boards. Have an ugly surface? Cover it with a beautiful pattern. Creating a scene or silhouette on the wall? Cut it out of Better Than Paper and it won’t tear, curl, or fade. 

Hanging up picture frames or anything heavier than paper? It’s possible without having to ask permission to make nail holes. You need 3M strips. They come in all sizes and for all weights. There’s double-sided sticky ones or sticky on one side, velcro on the other. You can even get sets with hooks. Pull the strip off the wall at the end of the year and no damage has been done. Use them to hang up magnets, then add magnets to your class charts for quickly hanging up and taking down. 

• 3M Command Strips Velcro Together
• 3M Command Strips
• 3M Command Strips with Hooks

And while we’re on the subject of magnets, they’re another fun hack. If your chalkboard is magnetic, magnets on your charts make it simple to put up a chart just for class. Add magnets to any pieces you move around on the charts too. It’s faster and simpler than sticky tack! 

Velcro is another option for sticking pieces to charts. Once you’ve started using Velcro and magnets you’ll start to notice other places where they can make your life easier.

• Magnet Strips with Adhesive Backing
• Velcro Strips with Adhesive Backing

Pens, pencils, markers, eversharps, erasers… the things you use the most. Steadler is my favourite brand for erasers and eversharps. The erasers are the best for getting rid of every trace of pencil mark. Sharpie is another brand you can’t go wrong with. We all know them for their markers and you’ll for sure want some black ones on hand. I love their felt tips and S-gels for regular writing as well. BIC ballpoint pens are still some of the smoothest writing. Personally, I like a little thicker pen but I can’t argue with their reliability. 

• Steadler Mechanical Pencils
• Steadler Erasers
• Sharpie Black Markers
• Sharpie Coloured Markers
• Sharpie Fine Tips
• Sharpie S-Gels
• Bic Pens

For more specialty situations, here’s some options:

• An opaque white – Gelly Roll White
• Semi-permanent on glass or metal, permanent on porous surfaces – Posca markers
• Watercolour markers – Tombow Dual Brush Pens 
• Extremely Fine Lines – Micron Fineliner 
• Gold, Silver, or Bronze Metallic Finish – Sharpie Metallic Markers

Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra on some of these items. You’ll have a little less stress and more time to actually focus on teaching!