10 ESL Classroom Favorites

ESL Classroom Favorites Let's Go!

If you are setting up an ESL classroom, it can be hard to decide what to get and what can wait. Different schools provide different materials, so be sure to see what you have there before spending your own money!

You will need a planner of course-paper or digital to plan your lessons. In addition to that, you will need the basics like pencils, and, if teaching elementary, crayons and glue sticks.

But what about those things you need to day to day in the ESL classroom to teach and stay organized? When I do purchase things for my classroom, I try to choose things that will save time, make life easier, or that I will use over and over again. Below are 10 ESL classroom favorites that fall into those categories. (You can click on any photo for a link.)

#1 - Dry Erase Pocket Sleeves

Why are these ESL classroom favorites? These dry erase pockets cut down on laminating and copying. Just wipe and they are ready for the next group!

#2 - Thin Dry Erase Markers

For student writing on these sleeves, I use dry erase markers. When students are writing letters and words, I love these thin ones. The tip is easier for primary students to use. I get a big box of thin black markers, and also have a few different colors when needed for games.

#3 - "Erasers"

I’ve tried a lot of dry erase marker erasers too-these are my favorites! They are actually makeup remover pads. You can keep one in each plastic pocket, or keep a stack nearby. They look clean, work great, and they come with a mesh bag when you want to wash them.

#4 - Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

This is an ESL classroom favorite on repeat year after year. I get tremendous satisfaction using these markers to make anchor charts. The colors are bright, and the scents make me happy.

#5 - Chart Paper

My favorite way to do sentence patterning charts or other anchor charts, especially when we are referencing a book online and I want to keep it up while we write, is on chart paper. The sticky part allows me to move it around as needed, making it another ESL classroom favorite.

#6 - Desktop File Holder

There is a lot of compliance paperwork related to the ESL classroom. This file folder holder below tames all of the papers. I do not have a file cabinet, and even if I did, I would want to have a few folders close by.

#7 - Colorful File Folders

Okay so they don’t have to be colorful, but it can help with color coding, and it just makes it happier to file paperwork.

#8 - Magnets

I mostly use two kinds of magnets: small circle ones with adhesive to keep small things on my white board all year, like borders and objective cards, as well as clips to hold heavier items like pocket charts, laminated phonics posters, and anchor charts.

#9 - Laminator

For visuals, especially vocabulary cards and small anchor charts, it helps to have them laminated to use again and again, saving time over the long run. If your school has one and it works, definitely use that. Ours is almost always out of laminating film, so I got this one. As a bonus, it uses slightly heavier laminating film, so vocabulary cards and games hold up well.

#10 - Plastic Two Pocket Folders

And finally, one of my most used ESL classroom favorites are plastic two pocket folders. These are long lasting and great for corralling student work. We regularly sort through them, complete any unfinished work, and then I clip papers together to send home with students. I also have students keep a notebook in here for writing.

I use different colors for different grade levels to help everyone stay organized but you could also color code by group if you have many different groups at one grade level. Furthermore, if you have many different grade levels you could use thinner bins or turn them sideways to take up less space.