Classroom Teacher Toolbox Ideas for Beginners

Need ideas for a killer classroom toolbox? We’re here to help!

Teachers are faced with unexpected classroom challenges on a day to day basis. When decorations need to be hung and furniture needs to be fixed, you need more than pens and paper to solve your problems. Your room isn’t going to put itself together, and for this reason, it’s best to have your own arsenal of tools.

In this article, we’re going to reveal the gadgets you absolutely need in your classroom teacher toolbox, and by the end, you’ll know the secret ingredients you’ve been missing. It’s time to stop working so hard and let your tools do the work for you. Let’s hammer on!

Essential items for your classroom toolbox

Toolbox/toolbag

It seems like common sense, but it’s often overlooked. You need a container for keeping all your tools in one place. Thus, the most basic element of any classroom teacher toolbox is an actual toolbox…or toolbag! We recommend toolbags, as they’re lightweight and easiest to fit into small spaces. The malleable materials bags are made of allow them to bend and conform to various shapes. Our classroom bag has plenty of spare space inside, so it folds down to half its size when stationary. Toolboxes offer more organization options, but what you see is what you get. They’re usually sturdier than bags but can feel like overkill if you don’t have many tools inside. A basic toolbag will give you plenty of storage space to start with, and if you find yourself needing more, you can always upgrade later on down the line.

Staple gun

Teachers are frequently required to change and update bulletin boards, and owning a quality staple gun is a complete game changer! Opening a standard paper stapler for use on a bulletin board is awkward, not to mention tedious. Heavy duty staplers are a bit clunky. But a mid to lightweight staple gun is perfectly suited for the task of decorating boards and feels natural in hand. We searched long and hard for the best staple gun for our classroom teacher toolbox and settled on the HAUSHOF Light Duty Staple Gun Kit. It’s lightning fast and an absolute essential for board-decorating. We have to be careful, however, because coworkers are always trying to steal *cough* borrow it!

Measuring tape

Rulers go a long way, but tape measures go even longer (literally). Having a tape measure in your classroom teacher toolbox will give you versatility in situations where specific lengths and heights need to be calculated. Trying to measure how much trim and backing you need for your bulletin board? Trying to space wall decorations proportionally? By design, these regular duties are made simple with a tape measure. Forget having to measure foot by foot with a ruler. A tape measure is where its at.

Utility Knife

You’d be hard-pressed to find a teacher without at least one pair of scissors in their classroom. And while scissors are super handy, they aren’t always the optimal cutting tool. Utility knives, or box cutters, can help you tackle a few situations where other clippers falter. The sharp, exposed blade of a precision knife, such as the WORKPRO Folding Utility Knife, can help you make quick work of opening boxes and cutting stencils. If you need one on the go, they’ll fit comfortably in your pocket, and if you forget to take them out before leaving school (like we do on occasion), you’ll have a daunting self-defense weapon!

Multitool

No classroom teacher toolbox–or any toolbox, for that matter–is complete without a multi-tool! With 10-20 tools in one, gadgets like the world-famous LEATHERMAN offer so much versatility that teachers would be remiss to pass them up. Most basic multitools wield at least a knife, screwdriver, ruler, and set of pliers, all of which are useful in classrooms. These tools make life easier whether you’re opening packages or repairing desks on the fly. Equipping your toolbox with a worthy multitool will bring your entire toolset together.

Additional classroom toolbox items

Watch our classroom teacher toolbox breakdown

Final Words

Now that you have plenty of ideas for stocking your classroom teacher toolbox, it’s time to venture out and gather your materials. There’s no limit to the specific tools you made need, so be creative and find what works best for you. Pretty soon you’ll be equipped for every teaching situation and have confidence in knowing you’ll always come out on top!

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