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August 2026

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How to Make the Most of Classroom Essentials

By Cecilia Cabrera Martirena

Early childhood teachers and school leaders can work together to make sure each room has the most effective resources.

BULLETIN BOARDS
It’s a good idea to allow learners to have a say in what to post on the bulletin board and how to post it, but it’s important that teachers provide some guidelines. For example: The teacher can ask the children what they’d like to display on the bulletin boards to make their class more inviting and then let them discuss, share ideas, and make a decision with the guidance of the teacher.

Once they’ve reached an agreement, the teacher provides materials for the children to create the display. This is a positive way to help learners develop a sense of belonging and feel their work is good enough to be on the bulletin boards.

MANIPULATIVES
Teachers seem to collect anything and everything that might be useful in class – from pebbles to leaves, clothes pegs to seashells; you name it, we collect it. These manipulatives can be essential in developing things such as spatial notions, art and construction design, and math lessons.

Manipulatives help learners “touch” concepts and might help them understand those concepts more effectively and successfully – even using them to create a timeline of historical facts.

OTHER SUPPLIES
Writing, coloring, painting, construction, and crafting materials aren’t just for art class or for working on graphomotor skills; they help children communicate their feelings and emotions and can be helpful with spatial and math concepts and procedures they’ve learned.

Include these materials in the weekly plan, and assign enough time for the children to work with them. As with all other materials and resources, teach the learners how to take care of the materials, the classroom, and themselves – when using paint, for example.

BOOKS
Schools generally provide an updated selection of books, but it would be nice to have at least two different types in the classroom: books for the children to read or look at on their own and books to read or share with each other. These should be within the learners’ reach. Also include books that are a bit more difficult and complex that the teacher will read to the students. These should be on the upper shelves of the bookcase.

While teachers have the creativity to use these classroom essentials in new and imaginative ways, learners benefit the most when the school works with the teachers to provide the best resources possible.

*Excerpts taken from “How to Make the Most of Classroom Essentials” by Cecilia Cabrera Matirena
www.edutopia.org – Edutopia, George Lucas Learning Foundation.

Activity of the Month!

Apple Name Match

Materials Needed:

• Red, green, and yellow construction paper (or apple cutouts)
• Marker
• Scissors
• Tape or reusable adhesive

Write each child’s name on an apple cutout and create a matching set of apples with the same names. Place one set around the classroom and give each child an apple with their name. Children will search the room to find the matching apple, then compare the names letter by letter. This fun movement activity builds name recognition, letter awareness, matching skills, and confidence with early literacy.

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