With back-to-school season in full swing, you don’t have to break the bank to replenish your classroom supplies. Budget-friendly essentials will keep your classroom organized, give your students a welcoming space for learning, and stock your library with engaging books your students will love. 

From pocket charts to bulletin boards, these cost-effective tips and supplies will help you build your classroom from scratch — or give it a refresh for less.

This school year, consider setting up a ClassroomsCount™ campaign — a free and simple way to raise funds for your classroom. Whether you’re looking to refresh your library or stock up on classroom supplies throughout the year, it’s a great way to get your community involved and get the best books and resources in students’ hands.

1. Invest in Book Packs

Book packs and collections are a great way to replenish your library with titles your students will love for less. Our Super Saver collections allow you to buy age- and reading level-appropriate books in bulk. You can also get a variety of read-alouds and early chapter books under $5 and book collections under $25. 

With all of these budget-friendly options, exposing your students to different genres and reading formats is more accessible. 

2. Get Creative With Pocket Charts Under $20

Pocket charts have a variety of uses in the classroom, from organizing daily schedules to setting class jobs. And with each of coming in at under $20, they’re great for your wallet, too. 

Use them to give your students a snapshot of the class reading list by displaying what books they can look forward to reading in the coming days or months. Or, use an arts and crafts session to allow your students to decorate the slates for the charts. The sky’s the limit!

3. Build Your Bulletin Board — All Under $20!

Your classroom bulletin boards are not only a great way to keep your classroom organized, but they can also be used as an additional learning resource for your students. Whether your class is learning about STEM concepts like animal behavior or studying different book genres, you can use a bulletin board to highlight certain facts, provide examples of learning materials, and showcase your students’ work.

Check out all of our bulletin boards for less than $20 to get ideas on how to maximize them.

4. Get a Planner (Under $20!) That Does More

When you have the right planner, you can keep your days organized and structured. Some of them also have the bonus of providing stress-busting activities, like coloring, mindfulness exercises, and journaling. 

Perfect for storing ideas, seating charts, lesson plans, and reflections on what did and didn’t work, a good planner goes a long way for the school year. 

5. Grow Your Classroom Library With Books Under $5

Keeping your book shelves updated with relevant, high-interest titles is key to fostering a love of reading in your students. Refresh your classroom library with our wide assortment of books under $5 for all grades! 

Discover best-selling books under $5 and 50 read-alouds students love — all under $5!

You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.