Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
My Bougie Classroom {Must haves I ACTUALLY use!}
30
items I work for the most innovative school in the world. Here's what works for me.
Pipe cleaners are one of those random supplies I keep finding new uses for. They’re cheap, colorful, reusable, and perfect when you need a quick hands on element without creating a whole craft project. I use them for STEM challenges, prototypes, buil...
1500PCS Thick Pipe Cleaners, 50 Colors
For younger students especially, clicking tiny buttons, dragging and dropping, highlighting text, navigating learning apps, and doing anything remotely precise is SO much easier with a mouse than a laptop trackpad.
I keep these around for independen...
Perixx Perimice-513L Wired Left-Handed Ergonomic Mouse
Simon is one of my favorite “this is secretly educational” classroom buys.
I use it for quick brain breaks, transitions, memory challenges, focus resets, and a little friendly competition. It’s especially good when everyone is getting chatty or squi...
Hasbro Simon Handheld Memory Game Ages 8+
If you know, you KNOW. Kids are obsessed with these little Taba squishies.
I keep a variety pack around for rewards, prizes, little surprises, and those moments when I need an incentive kids are actually excited to earn. They also work as quiet fidg...
25pcs Taba Squishies Kit - Multi Shapes Stress Toys
One of those boring teacher supplies that ends up being weirdly indispensable.
Peel. Stick. Now it’s magnetic.
I use these to turn signs, student work, directions, labels, visual reminders, schedules, challenge cards and basically anything I print ...
Sticky Flexible Adhesive Magnets 0.8x0.08in 120pcs
Anything we might grab on the way out the door gets labeled once and DONE. When we head off campus, I’m not sorting, passing things out, asking whose is whose, or trying to remember who grabbed what.
Everyone finds their name, grabs their stuff and ...
Sooez High Capacity 8.5x11 Clipboard with Storage
OBVI.
Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils, Pre-Sharpened, 72 Count
We use dry erase markers CONSTANTLY. Whiteboard work, quick challenges, brainstorming, voting, team activities, planning, games, you name it.
I especially like having a bunch of colors because anything written on a whiteboard is automatically 47% mo...
EXPO Dry Erase Markers, Low Odor, 36 Ct
Is a fully automatic pencil sharpener necessary? No.
Do I ever want to go back? Also no. 😂
You literally stick the pencil in and LET GO. It pulls it in, sharpens it and pops it back up when it’s done.
I love it because kids can handle sharpening ...
AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener for 7-11.5mm Pencils, Rechargeable, Blue
I order these with every student’s name and immediately start labeling EVERYTHING.
Water bottles, supplies, field trip stuff, anything we might need to grab on the way out the door.
My favorite use is pairing these with our off campus gear so when ...
Custom Waterproof Name Stickers for Bottles (6)
I use these for EVERYTHING.
Hang signs, headphones, bags, lanyards, supplies, cords, challenge materials, whatever needs to get up and off a table.
If there is a magnetic surface anywhere near me, I will find a reason to put a hook on it. 😂
My fa...
Grtard 20 Pack Black Magnetic Hooks 30LBS
A slightly random classroom staple, but hear me out.
Peppermint oil is my go to when the room starts smelling like 10 kids have been working, eating and existing in it all day. 😂
A few drops in a diffuser makes the whole space smell fresh and clea...
Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil 4oz
IT ACTUALLY SPINS.
This isn’t just a diffuser shaped like a disco ball. The disco ball ROTATES and throws moving little reflections around the room while it diffuses.
I use it to keep our space smelling fresh, but the spinning disco effect is obvi...
Mirror Ball Essential Oil Diffuser & Humidifier
This is basically my “we need a bunch of stuff but I refuse to carry 14 separate things” bin. 😂
It’s HUGE, folds down when you’re not using it AND opens up into a play mat.
I use big bins like this for activities, building supplies, games, challen...
SAM AND MABEL XXL Toy Storage Organizer Gray
STEM toys, but make them bougie. 😂
These little magnetic cubes are one of those things kids will voluntarily grab AND I can turn into a challenge in approximately 30 seconds.
Build the tallest tower. Recreate a structure. Build a bridge that holds...
200 PCS Magnetic Blocks Pink Castle Set
STEM toys, but make them bougie. 😂
These little magnetic cubes are one of those things kids will voluntarily grab AND I can turn into a challenge in approximately 30 seconds.
Build the tallest tower. Recreate a structure. Build a bridge that holds...
300PCS 0.8" Magnetic Building Blocks
This thing is MESMERIZING.
It starts as one little cube, but the 12 magnetic pieces can be twisted, flipped and rearranged into an absurd number of shapes. It’s basically a fidget, puzzle and STEM toy all in one.
I love having things like this sitt...
TOSY Magnet Pyramid Stone - 12 Pieces, 243 Magnets
This is one of my favorite “I need an activity RIGHT NOW” games.
You lay out the string, take turns placing magnets inside and try NOT to let them snap together. Sounds ridiculously simple. It is also weirdly hard.
I love it for quick challenges, ...
Magnet Game String Chess Puzzle Strategy
I use these for SO many things.
Games. Challenge supplies. Art materials. Small STEM pieces. Cards. Cords. Random little things that otherwise end up floating around in a drawer.
They’re clear enough that I can see what’s inside, but the different ...
JARLINK A5 Mesh Zipper Pouches 6x9, 20 Pack
Okay, this is the SPLURGE.
A 3D printer opens up an entirely different level of making. Kids can go from “I have an idea” to actually designing, prototyping and HOLDING the thing they created.
We use 3D printing for prototypes, challenge pieces, cu...
Bambu Lab P1S Combo 3D Printer & AMS
This is SO good for quick challenges.
Everyone gets a set of blocks, flip a card and RACE to recreate the pattern. That’s it. Kids understand it immediately, but it gets surprisingly hard.
I love it for brain breaks, early finishers, partner challeng...
The Uzzle 3.0 Family Block Puzzle Game
I firmly believe a learning space should feel like somewhere kids actually WANT to hang out.
I keep cozy throw blankets around for comfy seating, reading, independent work or just making the space feel a little more like home and a lot less like a c...
Edenleaf Blue Checkered Fleece Throw Blanket
I firmly believe a learning space should feel like somewhere kids actually WANT to hang out.
I keep cozy throw blankets around for comfy seating, reading, independent work or just making the space feel a little more like home and a lot less like a c...
Edenleaf Khaki Checkered Fleece Throw Blanket
This might be the bougiest thing on my desk and I LOVE IT.
It has 32 customizable buttons that I can program with the things I use constantly. Open a website. Start a timer. Pull up music. Launch a presentation. Open frequently used files. Whatever ...
Elgato Stream Deck XL 32-Key Controller
Every student gets their own blanket because I am fully committed to cozy.
But 10+ blankets can go from “cozy learning space” to “laundry pile” REAL fast.
I keep all of ours rolled up in this giant basket so kids can grab one when they want to get...
Huddle XXXXL 125L Washable Blanket Basket
If you work with kids, SAVE YOUR VOICE.
This little wireless mic clips onto your shirt and connects to a portable speaker, so I can walk around, give directions and talk to the whole group without using my “I NEED EVERYONE TO HEAR ME” voice all day...
SHIDU 35W Voice Amplifier Bluetooth Mic
This is my “we’re not staying in the classroom today” speaker.
Outside? Grab it. Gym? Grab it. Off campus? Grab it. Random activity that desperately needs a soundtrack? GRAB IT.
It’s small enough to actually carry around, but loud enough to be use...
Turtlebox Ranger Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
THIS THING.
It’s basically a kid friendly power tool that lets them cut cardboard themselves.
Suddenly all those Amazon boxes aren’t trash. They’re building materials. 😂
Kids can actually design something, cut their own pieces, test it, realize i...
Chompshop ChompSaw Cardboard Cutter Kids 3+
One of my FAVORITE bougie purchases.
There is something about an actual Polaroid that makes kids lose their minds. 😂
I use it for celebrations, team challenges, project photos, special days, off campus adventures and random moments worth rememberi...
Polaroid Now 3rd Gen Pebble White + 16 Film
This is a marble run…FOR YOUR WALL. 🙌
The pieces are magnetic, so kids can build the entire thing vertically on a magnetic whiteboard instead of taking over every inch of floor space.
Build it. Test it. Watch the marble fail spectacularly. Figure ...
National Geographic Magnetic Marble Run 150-Piece Set