New to the ML World? Here Are My Top Supplies!

 First, I want to preface this with saying that our schools across the country are underfunded, and educators across all categories are underpaid. I wish this wasn't the case. I also don't believe that educators should be paying out of their own pockets to purchase basic supplies for their classrooms! I hate that so many of us have to make DonorsChoose accounts, online wish lists, and write our own grants on our own time for basic things to do our jobs. I'll stop here, but I have a lot of big feelings about it...

Another note: I also have big feelings about Amazon. I prefer not to shop Amazon for several reasons, AND ALSO I know how convenient it is for folks, so these things below are from there. Shop where and in the way that feels best for you.

However, I'm often asked about my top supplies for a Multilingual Classroom - things that support language-rich learning environments. I'm also asked often about what's in my holographic workshop pouches and how I use them - so I'm hoping to get that going soon! Stay tuned!

My Fave Presentation Tools for Promoting Language-Rich Physical Spaces

Plastic Frames - easy to swap stuff in/out if you have arthritic hands like me! Fairly durable, my great dane sat on mine a few times. I have a blog post called Coffee Shop Tools/Templates you can check out! 

Table Frames that are smaller but do the same job. You can use as is, or take out the center, purchase some binder rings, and display tools in another way. I have a blog post called Coffee Shop Tools/Templates you can check out! 

Magnetic Dry Erase Sleeves

Student writing utensils of alllllll kinddddds. Seriously. I want my kids to write and feel like writing is fun. Anything you can write with, I want in my space. Pencils, mechanical pencils, fun pens, smelly pens, markers, thick markers, crayons, pencils, oil pastels.... you name it, I want it.

My Fave Tools for Instruction:

Dry Erase Sleeves - these have endless opportunities, but I love them for "PWIM (Carly's Version)" with images, but also for annotating texts, chat mats, and tons of other great options. Another easy use is to have these be your "white boards" in your classroom - just throw in a blank sheet of paper. I always grab a fresh set of these mini dry erase markers too with a built-in eraser. You can also play with binder paper sleeves for this purpose, too - or for student rubric work.

AstroBrights paper - I buy several times a year

Mr Sketch for my anchor charts, always a must for me. I also love the thin ones for any written student feedback, family notes, etc! Always love Flair Pens as well.

Anchor Chart paper (check your size preferences/instructional real estate of your space), or check out WipeBooks for dry erase posters!! Bonus: Call your local auto glass shop and ask for any discarded windshield sleeves - they're giant cardboard sleeves and they're perfect for anchor chart storage! 

 "Big Note" Post Its and sticky notes in every size/color

My Fave Objects in Learning Spaces:

I was a biggggg big fan of ReallyGoodStuff bins and baskets for books, and the lil labels, too. But omg they're expensive... 

Other things I loved included rugs, lamps/lights, neon lights, cool seating arrangements, etc. 

Also not-to-be-missed: HANITIZER (a really linguistically beautiful word that means hand sanitizer), Lysol wipes, and a really really great pencil sharpener or two.

I'll keep adding to this, but wanted to get it out quick! Email me if you'd like to chat more at carlymspina@gmail.com. Next up: my workshop pouches!