Things Every Teacher Needs in Their Desk

This isn't about teaching strategies or anything like that - this is way more practical. It's the type of thing you usually learn after years of experience, but it's something everyone needs to consider whenever they get a new classroom: what do you need to keep in your desk?

Obviously there are school supplies like pens, pencils, post-its, and all that. That's a completely different thing from what I'm talking about right now. I mean things that you personally might need during the school year for surprise or emergency situations.

So in no particular order, here are things I try to keep in my desk:

• Deodorant
• Brush/Comb
• Mirror
• Change of Clothes (I have spilled coffee on myself twice this year...)
• Cell Phone Charger
• Box of Bandaids (I have also cut my hand open twice from paper clips this year...)
• Non-perishable snack items (instant soup, chips, cliff bars, candy, etc)
• Water Bottles
• Gum/Breath mints
• Blanket/Sweater
• Advil (or equivalent)
• Cough Drops
• Chapstick
• Hair Ties
• Pads/Tampons
• Thumb Drive (kind of work related, but sometimes you need a way to transfer files/print things/whatever)

Are there any items you keep on hand just in case?

- Frau Leonard