New Teacher Haul 2025 | Classroom Essentials for a Fresh Start

Summary of video (New Teacher Haul 2025)

A first-year teacher shares an essentials haul for a new school and new state after moving across the country and needing to replace classroom items they no longer had. The focus is on practical classroom setup, simple organization, and a few fun engagement ideas to encourage student reading and participation.

Classroom tools & organization essentials

• Big pen refills (144 count)

  • Chosen because they write well but aren’t as costly to lose as the speaker’s preferred premium pens.
  • Tip: if pens go missing, “check the floor”—then collect and return extras to students when needed.

• Zebra-style pens

  • A favorite that’s affordable to keep using, though the speaker notes they can be expensive to replace if lost.

• Microfiber towels for cleaning whiteboards

  • Made specifically for whiteboards and washable.
  • Preferred over some eraser-style cleaning because they perform better on hard-to-remove marker stains (especially after leaving writing up over the weekend).

• Expo markers (whiteboard markers with an eraser)

  • Still considered fine, but the speaker prefers microfiber towels for tougher cleanup.

• Amazon Basics rubber bands (size 64)

  • Used consistently to manage cords and small grouped items.
  • Size 64 is the “sweet spot” for wrapping chargers and keeping stickers/materials from getting scattered.

• Wall/desk organizing items

  • The speaker orders wall/organization hardware and trays/baskets (some items are described as “mystery” until assembled).
  • Core philosophy: “a place for everything and everything in its place” to reduce desk chaos.

• Scissors

  • Notes they previously kept having to walk to the office; now they have multiple.

Classroom aesthetics to boost student interest

• Thin LED lights for bookshelves
  • Adds illumination to make book displays more attractive.
  • Because students often “judge books by the cover,” lighting and display can help YA literature draw attention.
  • Plan: attach lights to shelves with sticky clips, connect wiring to one outlet, and avoid damaging the shelves.
  • Budget note: they spent more on lights than on some smaller consumables (like Post-its), intentionally prioritizing engagement.

Fun daily engagement: “Teacher Buckets” basketball challenge

• The speaker credits inspiration from a former student, Mr. Harrison, who does a daily basketball “bucket” routine at school.

• New classroom adaptation

  • Purchase and install a basketball hoop in the classroom.
  • Daily routine: one shot per day, posted to Instagram.
  • No cheating: students/participants are expected to take their shot honestly.
  • Challenge concept: whoever “wins” can challenge the other (eventually branching to students).

• The speaker mentions they’re not good at basketball and plans to compare their shots to Mr. Harrison’s daily results; Nate may not be the best shooter but could be involved for fun.

Notes on purchases and replacements

• Some items come from the school supply budget; others are teacher-paid.
• The speaker mentions possibly ordering bootleg/“not real Post-it notes” and expresses a strong opinion that non-genuine sticky notes aren’t worth it—and they may need to sort out what to do with them.

Notable locations / people / products mentioned

• Philadelphia (Philly) and New Mexico (move and teaching background)
• Mr. Harrison (former student; runs the “teacher buckets” daily basketball shot habit)
• Philadelphia 76ers (basketball net reference for hoop inspiration)
• Amazon Basics rubber bands (size 64)
• Zebra pens and Expo whiteboard markers
• LED/“thin light” strips for bookshelf displays
• Instagram and “doterbuckets” (where daily hoop shot posts/challenges may appear)