Middle School Teacher Supplies: 4 Tips for Educators

Have your middle school classroom prepped & ready for the new school year

With the start of the school year already upon us, knowing which middle school teacher supplies to have ready to go should be a priority for your classroom. Lesson plans may change from year to year or even class to class, but there are some must-have basics to keep in mind no matter what you’re teaching.

These tips and tricks will lay out the middle school classroom supplies to help you keep your class organized, engaged and ready to learn.

1. Have extra middle school classroom supplies on hand

The most important part of keeping students engaged in the classroom is ensuring everyone has what they need. Many schools have gone digital and use Chromebooks or similar devices for lessons, and spare chargers prevent kids from not being able to participate due to a dead battery. If your class isn’t fully digital yet, stay well stocked on basics like ballpoint pens, loose-leaf college-ruled paper and pencils. 

2. Create a designated area for turning in assignments

Having a clearly marked area for students to turn in assignments at the start or end of class will make it easy to wrap up class quickly and also help create good habits for the students. 

If you have a lot of space in your classroom, you can set up a large bin for each separate class. If space is at a premium you can go for a smaller set of shelves, or even something that hangs on the back of the door. The size and shape is up to you—what’s important is creating the expectation for students to turn in their work every day and giving them a clearly designated place to do it. 

Setting up a system for students to turn in their assignments is only half the equation—you also need a way to keep them straight once they’ve been graded. A good binder—D-rings are great for holding more papers—and some sturdy pocket folders is all it takes to keep assignments orderly. You can arrange them by class, type of assignment, alphabetically, seating arrangement—whatever makes sense to you and helps you return papers quickly and efficiently.

3. Set up a charging station for in-class electronics

If your classroom uses any type of technology, like Chromebooks or tablets, you will inevitably run into students who’ve lost their chargers or left them at home. We mentioned earlier that having a drawer full of spare chargers is one solution, but that runs the risk of having students absent-mindedly walk off with them when class is done. A better idea is to create a charging station. You can get a stand that holds multiple devices and a USB fast charger to minimize waiting time, or simply affix several chargers to a desk so that students can work while their devices are connected.

4. Be prepared for germs, the elements & accidents

Keeping your classroom clean is an ongoing challenge when students are coming and going all day long, but a few simple supplies can make it easier. A big bottle of hand sanitizer on your desk or near the door can help prevent the spread of germs throughout the school. A stash of Kleenex is great during allergy and sniffle season. A bottle of multipurpose cleaner and some paper towels can handle surprise spills or mysteriously sticky surfaces. 

It’s wise to be ready for the unexpected. Middle schoolers are bundles of energy, and sometimes that leads to a cut or bruise. A first aid kit packed with Band-Aids and simple painkillers can treat anything not quite worthy of a trip to the nurse’s office.

Stocking your classroom is as easy as A,B,C

You’re busy shaping young minds, so do yourself a favor and make keeping your classroom stocked easy. Save time, money and hassle with Walmart Business. Orders that are $35 or more will ship for free,¹ so buy in bulk and stock up.

Already have an account? Sign up for a Walmart Business+ membership. With it, you can earn 2% in Walmart Business Rewards on orders of $250 or more,²  and get free delivery from stores on orders $35 and up.³ It can save you over $500 a year!⁴

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

³ Restrictions apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).