10 Best Supplies For Teachers 2026 in the United States

The Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches are a solid choice for teachers looking to protect and preserve important documents. They are designed for use with thermal laminators and can accommodate letter-sized sheets up to 8.5 x 11 inches. With 100 pouches per package, these laminating pouches are ideal for frequent use in a classroom setting.

They can be used to laminate children's artwork, signs, flyers, schedules, certificates, and other frequently handled documents, adding a professional and durable finish that is both clear and photo-safe. The pouches are also resistant to tears, spills, and markers, making them a practical solution for preserving important papers. Additionally, the pouches are safe to use with most household cleaners, ensuring that laminated items can be easily sanitized, which is particularly beneficial in a classroom environment where cleanliness is crucial.

It is important to note that these pouches are best used with Scotch Thermal Laminators, which might be an additional cost if you do not already own one. The product is lightweight at 3.06 pounds, making it easy to handle and store. The Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches are an excellent tool for teachers who need to protect and professionally finish a variety of classroom materials, though the necessity of using a compatible laminator could be a minor inconvenience for some.

Sharpie Tank Highlighters are a valuable addition to any teacher's supply kit, offering 36 highlighters in a variety of fluorescent and pastel colors. The wide barrel design is comfortable to hold, and the large ink supply ensures long-lasting use. These highlighters are particularly notable for their bright ink, which stands out well on the page, making them excellent for marking important notes, highlighting text, and underlining key information.

The chisel tip is versatile, allowing for both broad highlighting and more precise underlining or writing notes. One of the standout features is their resistance to smearing, provided the ink is allowed to dry properly before highlighting over it. This is especially useful for teachers who are often working with printed materials or student papers. However, it's important to note that while they are excellent for writing and highlighting, they may not be as useful for other classroom decoration tasks or technology-related needs.

Their primary strength lies in their role as a writing instrument and organizational tool, making them highly effective for keeping lesson plans and student work clearly marked and organized. With a high customer satisfaction rating (4.8 out of 5 stars from over 6,300 reviews), these highlighters are a trusted choice in the category of office and school supplies. Despite their effectiveness, they are limited to highlighting and writing tasks, so teachers may need additional supplies for other classroom needs like decorations and storage solutions.

The Stress Less Teacher Planner is a thoughtfully designed organizational tool aimed at teachers from preschool to sixth grade. Its colorful and engaging layout stands out from typical planners, making it more enjoyable to use throughout the school year. A key strength is its focus on mindfulness and stress relief, with monthly activities built in to help teachers manage their workload and stay calm during busy times. This makes it more than just a scheduling tool—it supports teachers' mental well-being, which is often overlooked in classroom supplies.

The planner is reasonably sized and lightweight, making it easy to carry in a teacher's bag or keep on the desk. With 140 pages, it provides ample space for lesson planning, tracking important dates, and jotting down notes. However, this planner is less about traditional classroom organization like storing papers or decorative elements, so if you're looking for notebooks, writing instruments, or storage solutions, you will need to complement it with other supplies.

This planner is well suited for teachers who prioritize mindfulness alongside planning and who appreciate a product designed specifically with educators' mental health in mind. If your main focus is purely on practical scheduling without the wellness aspect, this may feel a bit of an extra. But if managing stress is important to you, this planner offers a unique and helpful approach.