A famous credit card commercial asks, “What’s in YOUR wallet?” As I get ready for school to start, I think about the things I typically keep in my desk besides office supplies. Sometimes a little offbeat, they help me keep it together.
- An egg timer
I use this more than I like to admit, but it helps me keep track of time. If students and I have 20 minutes of SSR time, I would read for the whole period if I didn’t set the timer. - Magnet clips
Ever get a paper that you don’t dare lose — perhaps a recommendation form or a message? The magnet clip holds it in place on the font of my filing cabinet and keeps it off the top of my desk (where it would never be seen again). - Colored Chalk
Adds a little visual appeal to lists and reminders. Also useful during grammar and language lessons. I prefer the thick “sidewalk” size, but my students prefer the regular. - Sponge Activities
I keep a box of MindTrap, minute mysteries, handy. (I’m not connected with the company in any way; I just like the product.) Another good Sponge Activity is the game Tribond (ditto on disclosure). Take away the board and just let students figure out the answers to the questions for some good lateral thinking practice. - Band-Aids and cough drops
My school allows teachers to give students these two items (only). That little first aid kit helps keep kids in class instead of wandering the halls en route to the clinic. - A counter bell
Rather than raise my voice over small group discussion, I can use the counter bell (“Ding! Ding!”) to get attention focused at the front again. It’s surprisingly effective. - A ball of yarn
I brought this in for a lesson on Whitman’s “A Noiseless, Patient Spider” to illustrate connections. I keep it because it comes in handy every now and then. - An extra box of tissues, a spare pair of earrings, a tube of hand lotion, and other personal items
Tissues disappear without warning, so I try to keep the next box in my desk. It’s so much better than a roll of toilet paper! The earrings are for the days when I lose one or forget them altogether in the morning. Hand lotion and other items are often needed without warning. - A bottle of aspirin
That first week of school can be a killer. - A family photo
When the day is tough, it’s good to take a quick mental break and think about my life outside of school.
That’s my list. What’s in YOUR desk?
A small collection of Magic 8 Balls. Students keep bringing them in. Sometimes when they ask for me to accept an answer on a quiz that was not the target answer, I’ll consult the 8 Ball to see if fate thinks their answer is correct.