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Walking into an ELA classroom means juggling a little bit of everything. One minute, students are annotating a short story. The next, they are working in groups, revising an essay, or trying to remember where they put the pencil you handed them five minutes ago.

Having the right classroom supplies will not solve every problem, but it can make your day run much more smoothly.

Whether you are setting up your first middle school ELA classroom or simply looking for ways to make your current classroom more organized, these are some of the must-have supplies for ELA teachers that are worth keeping on hand.

1. Plenty of Pencils

It may seem obvious, but pencils deserve the number-one spot.

Students will forget them. They will lose them. They will somehow use an entire pencil during one class period.

Keeping a supply of inexpensive pencils available can save you from turning the beginning of every lesson into a search for something to write with.

One idea is to create a simple pencil station where students can borrow a pencil without interrupting instruction.

You might also keep a small container of golf pencils for students who repeatedly forget supplies. They work perfectly well, but students are often motivated to bring their own pencils after using them a few times!

2. Highlighters

Highlighters are incredibly useful in an ELA classroom, especially when teaching students how to analyze a text.

Students can use different colors to identify:

• Text evidence
• Main ideas
• Supporting details
• Figurative language
• Claims and evidence
• Character traits
• Important vocabulary

Color coding can make abstract reading skills much easier for middle school students to see.

Just be careful not to turn highlighting into coloring. I always recommend giving students a specific purpose before asking them to highlight anything.

For example:

Highlight the sentence that provides the strongest evidence for the author’s claim.

That is much more effective than simply telling students to “highlight the important parts.”

3. Sticky Notes

Sticky notes might be one of the most versatile supplies in an ELA classroom.

Students can use them to:

• Annotate novels
• Record questions while reading
• Identify unfamiliar vocabulary
• Write predictions
• Track character development
• Mark evidence
• Respond to exit tickets
• Participate in classroom discussions

Sticky notes are especially helpful when students are reading classroom novels that they cannot write in.

Instead of writing directly on the page, students can place a sticky note next to an important passage and record their thinking.

4. Composition Notebooks

A composition notebook can become one of the most useful tools students have throughout the year.

You can use notebooks for:

• Bell ringers
• Grammar practice
• Vocabulary
• Reading responses
• Writing practice
• Notes
• Journal entries
• Exit tickets

Some teachers prefer separate notebooks for different subjects, while others create one large ELA notebook divided into sections.

Either approach can work. The important thing is developing a consistent system students understand.

5. Dry-Erase Boards and Markers

Individual dry-erase boards are fantastic for quick formative assessment.

Instead of calling on one student and assuming everyone understands, ask the entire class to write an answer.

Students can hold up their boards, and within seconds you can see who understands the concept and who may need additional help.

Use dry-erase boards for:

• Grammar corrections
• Vocabulary practice
• Sentence combining
• Multiple-choice review
• Figurative language identification
• Short constructed responses
• Test review

They also tend to feel more like a game than traditional written practice, which can increase participation.

6. Colored Pens

Colored pens are useful for both teachers and students.

Students can use them during revision activities to make changes easier to see.

For example:

• Blue = add details
• Green = improve word choice
• Red = correct conventions
• Purple = add text evidence

Colored pens are also helpful during peer editing because students can easily distinguish revisions from the original draft.

For teachers, colored pens are useful for grading, conferencing, and jotting quick feedback.

7. Index Cards

Never underestimate a stack of index cards.

They are inexpensive and can be used for dozens of classroom activities.

Try using them for:

• Vocabulary cards
• Exit tickets
• Discussion questions
• Character cards
• Story sequencing
• Review games
• Writing prompts
• Task cards
• Group assignments

You can even have students write questions on index cards and use them to create an instant test-review activity.

8. Chart Paper

Anchor charts can be extremely helpful in an ELA classroom.

Instead of constantly repeating instructions or definitions, students have a visual reference available throughout the lesson.

Useful ELA anchor charts might include:

• Types of conflict
• Figurative language
• Theme
• Characterization
• Text evidence sentence stems
• Essay structure
• Parts of an argument
• Revision strategies
• Grammar rules
• Types of context clues

You do not have to create elaborate Pinterest-worthy anchor charts. A simple chart that students actually use is much more valuable than one that simply looks good.

9. File Folders

ELA teachers deal with a lot of paper.

Between writing assignments, reading passages, assessments, graphic organizers, sub plans, and student work, papers can quickly take over your classroom.

File folders make it easier to organize materials by:

• Unit
• Standard
• Class period
• Student
• Skill
• Assessment
• Small group

Color coding folders can make the system even easier to manage.

10. Plastic Bins or Baskets

A few sturdy bins can dramatically improve classroom organization.

Use them for:

• Turning in assignments
• Returning graded work
• Absent student work
• Independent reading books
• Small-group materials
• Extra copies
• Writing supplies
• Classroom library organization

Label everything clearly.

If students know exactly where something belongs, they are much more likely to put it there without asking you.

11. A Reliable Stapler

You will probably use your stapler more than you expect.

ELA teachers regularly create packets, essays, worksheets, novel guides, and assessments.

A heavy-duty stapler can be especially helpful when you are putting together larger student packets.

And if possible, keep an extra box of staples nearby. Running out halfway through assembling 100 packets is never fun.

12. Binder Clips and Paper Clips

Binder clips are perfect for keeping sets of papers together without stapling them.

I especially like them for:

• Class sets
• Writing assignments
• Student groups
• Assessments
• Graphic organizers
• Copies for different class periods

You can even assign each class period a different color.

13. A Good Paper Cutter

If you frequently create task cards, interactive notebook activities, bulletin board materials, or classroom games, a paper cutter can save a tremendous amount of time.

Scissors work, but cutting 30 sheets of paper individually gets old very quickly.

A sturdy paper cutter makes preparing classroom materials much faster.

14. Page Protectors

Page protectors are another surprisingly useful ELA classroom supply.

Place frequently used materials inside them and students can write on them with dry-erase markers.

This works well for:

• Reading passages
• Editing practice
• Graphic organizers
• Grammar practice
• Writing checklists
• Rubrics
• Small-group activities

Instead of printing a new copy for every student, you can reuse the same materials multiple times.

15. A Classroom Timer

Middle school students often work better when they know exactly how much time they have.

A visible timer can help with:

• Independent reading
• Bell ringers
• Writing sprints
• Group work
• Stations
• Discussions
• Test review
• Clean-up time

Instead of repeatedly saying, “You have five minutes left,” students can monitor the time themselves.

16. Classroom Library Labels

If you keep books in your classroom, a simple labeling system can save you a lot of frustration.

You might organize books by:

• Genre
• Author
• Series
• Reading interest
• Fiction and nonfiction
• Topic

The goal is not to create a complicated library system. It is simply to make it easy for students to find books—and hopefully return them to the correct place.

17. Headphones

If your school allows digital assignments, keeping a few inexpensive headphones available can be extremely helpful.

Students may need them for:

• Audiobooks
• Video lessons
• Digital assessments
• Text-to-speech
• Online reading programs

You do not necessarily need a class set. Even having a few backups can help students who forget theirs.

18. A Teacher Clipboard

A clipboard lets you move around the classroom while still keeping important information with you.

Use it during:

• Small groups
• Writing conferences
• Independent work
• Classroom discussions
• Observations
• Reading conferences

You can keep seating charts, student notes, checklists, or participation records attached to it.

19. Extra Copies Folder

Every ELA teacher needs a system for absent students.

An extra copies folder, tray, or wall organizer can save you from constantly hearing:

“What did I miss?”

Place extra worksheets and handouts in the designated location and teach students to check there when they return.

A simple routine can prevent dozens of interruptions throughout the year.

20. Your Own Teacher Survival Kit

Finally, keep a few supplies for yourself.

Consider keeping:

• Water
• Snacks
• Hand lotion
• Tissues
• Bandages
• Stain remover
• Mints
• Pain reliever if permitted by your school
• An extra phone charger
• A spare pair of comfortable shoes

Teaching requires a surprising amount of physical and mental energy. Having a few essentials nearby can make a long school day much easier.

You Don’t Need Everything at Once

It is easy to look at beautiful classroom photos online and feel like you need to purchase hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies before school begins.

You don’t.

Start with the basics.

Pencils, paper, highlighters, sticky notes, notebooks, folders, and a few organizational bins can take you a long way.

Then pay attention to what you actually use.

Every teacher develops different routines, and your must-have supplies will eventually reflect the way you teach.

The best classroom supplies aren’t necessarily the cutest or most expensive ones.

They’re the supplies that save you time, help students stay organized, and make teaching a little easier.

And in a busy middle school ELA classroom, anything that makes the day run more smoothly earns a permanent spot on the supply list.