From Scribbles to Scholars

Luckily, I almost always end up with a few Amazon giftcards from students’ families. While Amazon is an amazing resource, it can be difficult to find quality products when there are so many options. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite products. These are products that I have used in the classroom and can attest to the quality and functionality. Plus- my students LOVE these products! Consider adding these to your wishlist or to your cart.

You will absolutely love these trays. The colors are beautiful. There is no texture to them. This small detail makes a big difference! We mainly use these for playdough or slime. Giving each child a tray defines their area, plus it makes clean up super easy. We also use these as art trays when painting or using glitter. The students can easily pick up their tray. They can place the entire thing on the drying rack without trailing paint all over the floor!

These are the #1 most used item in my classroom! They are practically indestructible- I think my students have broken only one piece over the past five years. Plus, they are SUPER easy to clean! Just spray and wipe them down. We use them for free play as well as for instruction. One of my favorite activities is “rainbow writing.” Draw on the Magnatiles with a dry erase marker and have students erase the letters you call out.

My students are OBSESSED with CD players! I think it is so funny. I used these all the time when I was little, but kids these days almost never have access to CDs! They think it is so cool to load up a CD into their player and attach their own headphones. My students listen to audiobooks or kids music CDs. I particularly like this player because it plays with headphones or out loud. You can easily use it for group time activities as well. It also hooks up to your phone, which is a bonus if you don’t have many CDs in your collection!

These are useful in so many different centers- especially sensory and art! I put these in the sensory table for students to explore on their own. Another great way to use them is to pick up diluted liquid watercolor and squirt it onto paper. This creates a beautiful tie-dye effect. My students beg to use these, and they don’t even know they are strengthening their fine motor skills!

These high quality fruits and vegetables are a must. They are super durable and easy to clean. My students use these freely in the dramatic play center. Sometimes I put them in the water table with brushes so students can “clean” their fruits and veggies. Other times I use them to practice sorting skills! They are so versatile and I can attest to the amazon, rubbery quality of them.