The Teacher Arsenal
I am always on the lookout for teacher tips and tools that help to make a challenging job a little easier. Sometimes these are somewhat unconventional things that even make me chuckle a little at the fact that I use them. But if my odd collection of classroom tools can be helpful to you, I am happy to share. Here is a list of some of the lesser-known things I like to keep in my classroom, even if they are available in the supply closet.
WD-40: People may make jokes about WD-40 being the magic cure-all, but it really does make life easier. Those annoying desk lids that are always squeaking? Fixed in moments. One day when I opened a drawer in my file cabinet during class, and it complained loudly, one of my boys said, “That thing needs some WD-40!” He was quite right, even though it had not occurred to me that the problem had an easy solution. Now those ancient drawers open and close like a charm. Sometimes the outside entrance door near my classroom used to be difficult to unlock, but I discovered that a bit of WD-40 now and then rids it of its stubbornness. Also, WD-40 helps to remove the sticky residue left behind by stickers and tape. Spray it on a surface, let it soak for a bit, and the stickiness wipes right off.
Hairspray: This easily removes ink stains from fabric and hard surfaces. When pens are in the hands of youngsters, somehow blobs of ink occasionally end up in places where ink should not be. Hairspray to the rescue! It comes in a handy spray bottle, and for the boys who are likely to say, “Eww! Hairspray!” it may act as a mild deterrent to remind them to use their pens more responsibly next time.
Baking Soda: I really hope for your sake that you do not need to use this, but unfortunately the job of a teacher can sometimes include cleaning up puke. If you end up with a mess on your classroom floor, dumping baking soda on it immediately helps to neutralize the smell. I can handle the cleanup much more readily if the stench is removed.
Safety Pins: I keep a small box of these in my desk drawer. Though I do not use them often, they come in handy for various purposes. Several times they have saved the day for a child who encountered an embarrassing tear in their clothing during recess.
Hatpin: Mechanical pencils are great, but my third graders usually need some help in learning to use them well. Somehow the pencils often get clogged with bits of broken lead, and a long pin is the best tool for correcting the problem. I probably use the hatpin in my desk to do this at least several times a week. Believe me—after years of teaching, I am a mechanical pencil unclogging expert.
Screwdriver: Sometimes I need to take the pencil sharpener apart to dislodge broken pencil pieces. Sometimes I need to tighten the hands on the demonstration clock we use in math class. It seems there are often things in a classroom that can benefit from a screw being tightened or loosened a bit, and I enjoy the convenience of always having a screwdriver close at hand.
Lost and Found Box: If your classroom floor does not collect miscellaneous objects, please tell me your secret. Mine tends to amass an assortment of pencils, erasers, crayons, etc. I try to teach my students not to interrupt class time to say, “I found this marker on the floor, and it’s not mine!” Instead, they should wait until our next break and put the object in our classroom lost and found box. Then too, if someone says, “I can’t find my pencil!” the first step is always to check the lost and found box.
What tools do you have in your collection? I hope that at some time during the school year, you will find yourself smiling over the use of something that is the perfect solution for the moment.
