As I've been keeping myself busy during my mat. leave, I've been creating all sorts of products for next year. There are a couple of products that I have been using constantly which have made my life so much easier, and today I wanted to share them with you!
First, a product that many teachers already know about. It is the Scotch Thermal Laminator.
This thing is FANTASTIC! It has been such a lifesaver to be able to be at home and doing some laminating. I have used it for everything from labels to reusable student sheets. I also love how it ends up thicker than the lamination used at my school. It makes things a bit more durable. Plus, how nice is it to have a reliable machine! I don't know about your school, but the laminator is the machine which breaks (and stays broken) for the longest time. When you really just need to get things done, this machine will save you!
Click HERE or the picture above to be taken to Amazon for purchase. Or HERE if you are a Canadian buyer.
I would keep your eyes open. Amazon tends to put it on sale every so often. While I would buy a replacement at full cost, any little bit of cash saved is money in your pocket!
Okay. This product has been a lifesaver. You know how many hours it takes to roll those little tape circles and stick them on the backs of things to post them up around the classroom? Well, NO MORE! This product has saved my life. I originally got it for scrapbooking (a hobby which has since been abandoned), but now use it for school things and I would never go back!
I would suggest shopping around for re-fills, because the prices vary hugely. Recently I purchased these ones which will last me forever and have been holding up well.
But honestly, it will save you oodles of time. Trust me. For everything from putting posters up, to a quick Interactive Notebook entry without the drying time, it has saved me many a time!
This is my newest, but next loved product. I first learned about this product from The Ladybug Teacher who has a whole blog post on the wonders of this product. It is the Proclick Binding Machine. I have recently received my own, and have fallen in love. There is something to be said about a nicely bound, fat notebook full of things that you can customize.
And last, but not least a standard. A good colour printer. I never had a colour printer until a couple of years ago, and my school only uses a black and white photocopier, so a colour printer has been fabulous. It is one of those novelties that you choose your products wisely because ink can get expensive, but is so worth it!
I have some very high standards for what gets printed in colour, but these include things like:
- Things I plan to laminate
- Posters
- My own teacher supplies
- Labels for things
It is one of those "special treat" things, but has allowed me to create many products for my classroom on a much cheaper budget than purchasing from a teacher supply store.
If you don't own one, or don't have that fabulous friend you can beg from, I would certainly recommend getting one! Mine is a couple of years old at this point, but HERE is the one I am currently using. I personally love the laser aspect, it saves me from buying so many ink cartridges as they last FOREVER! I've had this printer for at least 2 years and while I am selective with my printing, I've only had to buy a replacement ink cartridge once!
But those are my 4 teacher tools which have made my life as a teacher 10x easier! These products have helped take my classroom to a professional level, and made it so quick and efficient to do what I need, and we all know as teachers how useful saving those 10 minutes can be.
Thanks for joining me for this post, and I hope some of these tools help you out.
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