Classroom Must-Haves

Today I went on a little lunch and shopping date with one of my besties….

the one, the only,

Lyndsey from A Year of Many Firsts.

We enjoyed some delicious Noodles & Company. 
We stopped by Loew’s to check out some materials for upcoming classroom redecorating (you can read about this in upcoming blog posts!)

Then we headed to Ikea.  I LOVE IKEA.  I don’t even think the word love fully describes my feelings for Ikea. 

Let’s see… obsessed, can’t live without, captivated, hooked on, infatuated…

Are you understanding our relationship a little bit better now?

After a lot of wandering around the store, stopping and discussing possible uses/options, Lyndsey and I both had a cart full of goodies. 

We already know we are going back for more but I wanted to share

the must-haves I found!

This upcoming year I am implementing Daily 5, along with Investigations for Math, and a brand new Language Arts program.  I have been feverishly working on how I want my room to be organized in order to be the most practical, useful, and inviting space for my students. 

(Crazy that I am already stressing over next year when I still have 3 weeks left!) 

I plan on using the Malm Table and Marius Stools as a moveable writing center.  I want my kiddos to have special areas for each of the Daily 5 stations.

My plan is to have the table pushed against my back wall, with the stools underneath, and necessary supplies on top. 

My kiddos ALWAYS ask for drawing paper and I feel horrible saying no.  We reuse backs of old papers, but when I don’t have any, I give them computer paper.  When I noticed the Mala Paper, Lyndsey and I both grabbed a roll instantly!  When I got home I found the Mala Paper Holder, which I will be going back to purchase!

The Kusiner Box will keep my cushions and pillows clean and organized.  In the past, I have had them left on the rug in the library and I HATED that.  This will keep them nicer in between washes and uses. 

The Trofast Frame and Trofast Storage Boxes will be the easy storage for each month’s Work on Writing activities for Daily 5.  Lyndsey is going to let me use her brand new Cameo to label each bin.  The students will be able to grab the bin and pull out the activity they chose to work on!  (Second Story Window has fabulous resources for free for this station by month.  THEY ARE AMAZING!)

The Vessla Crate will stack and stay under the chalkboard.  These will hold the materials for Word Work.  The Glis Boxes will hold the smaller supplies within each bin. 

(Stamps, Magnetic Letters, Playdoh, Whiteboards, etc.)

As I continue to find great items and plan out my classroom for next year I will share pictures with you!  I am very excited for new curriculum and programs to use in my room!  I am even more excited that I have Lyndsey around to work on all of this together!

What do you love to buy from Ikea

for your classroom?