Back to School Teacher Essentials

Hey friends!

I know that a lot of you out there are fellow teachers getting back into the grind of back to school. This time of year can be really crazy and I just wanted to share a few things that have helped me over the years to make classroom life easier :) Even if you aren't a teacher, these are things that you may find helpful in your work environment, too!

1. A Lanyard - Who else has locked themselves out of their room like, a million times? Just me? I love this lanyard from Lilly or this science themed one.

2. A backpack - My first few years of teaching, I tried to just carry everything in one big bag and things got lost in there like a black hole. I switched to a backpack last year and it made things easier having a pocket for my water bottles, pencils & laptop. Check out this cute one from Lilly, or this monogrammed canvas one, or this $35 tech-savvy backpack.

3. Comfortable shoes - Most of us are standing up all day and walking around the classroom and comfortable shoes are a must-have when it comes to teaching. Fortunately, shoes with support have really stepped up their game and have gotten way cuter. These wedges are super cute, go with everything, and have great arch support. Of course, these chic Birkenstock dupes are also great for standing all day, too.

4. Goodbye Stress Gummies - I love these gummies for whenever I'm feeling stressed out or anxious; they help you calm down and cool down your brain without you feeling groggy or tired - perfect for when 3rd period rolls around :)

5. Book of Word Searches - you know that kid who says "I'm done what now?" Do yourself a favor and make a few copies from this book to get ahead of the game.

6. Suja Immunity Juice Shot - these little juice shots are AWESOME. I normally get the back to school bug during planning week, and these have been a great secret weapon so far. They've got them in stores (like Publix) or you can order online here.

7. Retro Posters - there are a million posters out there, I know. But what I love about these posters is that they're vintage-looking, have amazing pictures, and give the kids a lot of "wow" moments. These don't have to just be in your classroom either, there are tons that I'd hang in my own home, too.

8. A dress that you feel awesome in, like this one for $20

9. Awesome meal prep containers to bring your lunch in. This is a set of 5 is glass (yay, no BPA's) that have 2 compartments and are great for taking your lunch in.

10. Last but not least is a rain jacket (with your monogram so no one else steals it) for if you have bus loop or car loop duty, or are at an outdoor school. This was a total lifesaver for me when I had bus loop!

That's it for my back to school essentials list! What are you doing to prepare for the year?!

xx

Lil