Top 5 Essential School Supply Buys

Every year, I get a supply list from my school with a bunch of things I’m supposed to need each year. It’s usually the basics: a calculator, some paper, a pencil or two, but when you get to class you always seem to be missing the things you REALLY need. Each year, I get a few extra things that help me succeed in the upcoming school year and even get excited to go to class. 

Here are my Top 5 Essential School Supply Buys:

#1  Get a notebook for each class. Having a separate notebook for each course you take will help you focus on just one class at a time–no need to worry about Algebra when you’re in English class. Having a different notebook for each class will also help you keep things organized and ordered so that your notes are useful when you need to look back and study. Try to find notebooks with a colorful and fun cover. I find that the more you like to look at the notebook, the more likely you are to write in it. 

#2 Get a planner. I prefer a physical planner, but it can be digital too. Writing assignments and to-dos in a planner makes you more likely to remember to do something and actually do it. Something about checking off everything on a list is very gratifying, so a planner encourages me to get my work done. A planner will also keep everything in one place, so you won’t forget about or lose your assignments. And, the best perk of a planner is that it will allow you to time manage. (An article on time management is coming soon!)

#3 Buy highlighters. My highlighters are my favorite part of my school supplies. Highlighters can be used to point out important things in reading or notes, add color to a diagram or drawing, and spice up your notes so that they are neat and engaging. I use my highlighters most when I’m drawing a title for my notes. (An article about how I take neat and engaging notes is on the way!)

#4 Invest in a pencil pouch. My pencil pouch is sacred, ask anyone in my classes. I keep my pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, chargers, hair ties, post-it reminders, and any other small item I could need in my pencil pouch. A pencil pouch will prevent losing your writing utensils so you always have one when you need it–I personally think there’s a monster in everyone’s backpacks that eats up pens and pencils so no one ever has one.  

#5 Have a charger for school and a charger for home. Especially in 2020, all teachers have digital assignments so it’s critical that you always have a charged device. I bet everyone has forgotten to charge their laptop and had to go around all their classes asking to borrow a charger, so I keep one charger in my room to charge my laptop at night and one charger in my backpack for emergency charges or helping out a friend. 

Buying these 5 things will make your school year much smoother, more successful, and more enjoyable.

As always, leave a comment with questions, thoughts, and suggestions for the future!