15 Back to School Essentials for 2020
If you’ve been following me over here on the blog for a while now, you have read about my fluctuating anxiety over the return to school this year. With a pandemic, and a city that has not addressed the needs of their communities in a way that feels safe for myself or for the families we serve, it’s a very confusing and stressful moment as an educator. In addition to this hyper-awareness of constantly feeling like we, as teachers, are unappreciated and often utilized for the wrong reasons, it’s an emotional roller coaster right now, as we prepare to re-enter the buildings.
Truthfully, we are days away, and we have no idea what this year will look like. We could go in, we could be home; it’s all so uncertain. And this is deeply concerning. I couldn’t write this post without acknowledging the feeling that has kept me awake the past few nights. So here we are.
But on a smaller level, I’m also sad because this is supposed to be one of the best times of year for teachers, those of us who love creating beautiful classrooms for our students, with organization systems galore. We buy new planners and pens, new books for our classrooms, and maybe even a great outfit for the first day of school. But this year, all of that back to school shopping must also include some very real safety essentials.
In light of that, I wanted to put together a list of some back-to-school essentials for this year. And yes, it might look a bit different than what I would create in another year, which feels like another world altogether at this point in the pandemic. So here are my 15 back to school essentials for this year, many of which are products I have and love, or are on their way to me as we speak.
01 ⋆ I love this planner; my friend has ordered from them for years, and I jumped on board this year, as did my mom. I ordered mine a few weeks ago, and went with a seashell print and turquoise green vibes for my own. Erin Condren planners are amazing, but these planners from Plum Paper are the same quality for half of the price, and have better options for my needs. I customized mine with a weekly to-do list and notes section alongside my daily dates for meetings and reminders. I will never go to digital with my planning.
02 ⋆ If you’re a teacher, then you just know that once you find your pen match, then you’re a forever match. For me, I love a fine-tipped marker pen, and these from LePens will be my tried and true pens forever. Nothing else compares to these, for me, and I love having a variety of colors. Yes, they are pricey, but for me, they are very worth the spend. I don’t lend them out to students or colleagues, so I keep a jar of basic pens on my desk for others to grab to avoid losing these throughout the year.
03 ⋆ This might seem like a random pick, but truthfully, right now, I’m thinking a lot about how I am going to look put together, while likely sweating copious amounts in my building with windows open and hallways without A/C, while also not wearing a full face of makeup under a mask. This is quite the tricky situation to navigate, and my solution is this multi-purpose concealer from Glossier. I plan to use this as more of a foundation on the top half of my face, which will give me light coverage, with a dewy finish so that it doesn’t matter if I’m sweating it out through the day. A little goes a long way with this product, and it’s a long-time favorite in my own makeup collection. I know it’s going to be my go-to for this year.
04 ⋆ A pretty obvious pick for me- this 100% silk mask is hands-down my favorite of the bunch. I’ve ordered three colors at this point (emerald, gunmetal and blush), because they are the most comfortable, provide an incredible amount of coverage, and really prevent irritation on the skin. I’ve talked about these before, but they are very worth the money in my opinion. Some reviews say that are difficult to breathe in- personally speaking, I have not found that at all in comparison to some of the other masks I have. I also like that this has enough fabric to fit my next item, while still looking stylish.
05 ⋆ My cousin (also a teacher- there’s a lot of us in my family) sent me a colleague’s rave review of these silicone brackets to put under your mask. They pull your mask away from your face to allow for more air flow under the mask, while also allowing you to speak without being muffled, which feels pretty critical when you’re wearing a mask to work with kids. I ordered these from Amazon, and they have great reviews. Hot tip- I’ve also read that using mouthwash regularly can help prevent acne, because it treats the bacteria that comes from your mouth which is now getting onto your face. It’s also going to prevent any bad breath from developing under your mask. Classy.
06 ⋆ You know me- I am not going to miss an opportunity to accessorize safety. So I ordered this mask chain from Etsy last week, and it arrived in the city yesterday, so I can’t wait to try it out next week. I think this is an essential so you can avoid placing your masks on any surfaces that might be contaminated throughout the day, especially since you are going to put it back on your face. I’m thinking I can use this when I am alone in my office, or driving to and from work. If this one isn’t your style, there are tons of options on Etsy. And if you’re looking to DIY, check out my friend and former colleague, Amanda’s post on making your own.
07 ⋆ Perhaps another unusual choice, but if you know the heat of a NYC DOE school building in summer, or the realities of chub rub, then you need to get these. These slip-shorts are perfect for wearing under your dresses or skirts. They prevent chafing, and have a cooling effect, which prevents you from a seriously sweaty situation down there. Personally, I wear them as my underwear, which also makes them perfect for smoothing and under any sheerer dresses.
08 ⋆ Let’s talk about this all-star purchase from Amazon that I made last year and have never looked back. While it may seem like a simple concept, these key rings are amazing if you’re a teacher that has to carry around keys throughout the day. Your keys won’t whack against your chest on a lanyard (which collects so much gross bacteria and germs throughout the day), and you can use a wipe to clean it regularly. Just pop it on like a bracelet and never forget your keys around the building again (speaking from personal experience here). Best $10 I spent last year.
09 ⋆ Probably one of my most talked about products, I will never not recommend is this Hydroflask water bottle as one of my essential anythings, anywhere. Right now, it’s so important to stay hydrated throughout the day, and this water bottle keeps your water cool for hours, so you can fill it up at home before the day. It’s an expensive water bottle, but it’s also the best water bottle, and anyone who has one will tell you the same.
10 ⋆ As a dean, I’m often roaming around the building throughout the day, and that means I’m always carrying loads of stuff around, or losing things. I’m positive I won’t be sitting on my office during the day, and I don’t want to be carrying things in my hands, which easily spread bacteria as they touch hundreds of surfaces and then your face. So I decided to go in on the fanny-pack trend for this year, where I am going to keep my keys, my phone, mints, hand sanitizer/cream, and any other essentials I might need throughout the school day. I love this choice from lululemon for the price and the amount of storage. So many color options- and you can just wipe it down at the end of the day, or leave it in your bag. This is also great for carrying your phone/wallet hands-free on a weekend walk.
11/12 ⋆ I feel like these two go hand-in-hand, but I want to carry around my own hand sanitizer and lotion, as hands get dried out so easily with all the washing. These are both perfect, pocket-sized options to keep your hands clean and hydrated throughout the day. I plan to pop them right into my fanny-pack.
13/14 ⋆ Whether you’re going into the building or not, you’re going to be spending so much time in front of a screen. I cannot recommend getting a pair of blue light glasses enough, as they have really prevented a lot of headaches for me throughout the day. I love both of these pairs from the brand that I think is the best quality with great style options- Book Club. I have both of these pairs, and I love this trendy aviator style and these large-frame acrylic frames that go with pretty much everything. Pop a pair in your pack, and have one at home.
15 ⋆ In my opinion, the most essential teacher purchase ever, and really just an essential wardrobe item- a classic and refined white sneaker. You can wear these with literally anything, and still look put together, all while saving your feet. These are polished enough for work, and casual enough for shorts, so I don’t think you can go wrong with this white leather pair from Cole Haan. They are a great price for a sneaker that I reach for on the regular.
That’s a wrap on my list. I am wishing every educator, parent and student a safe and happy start of the school year. While this might be the craziest start of the school year I have ever experienced, heightened with a lot of unknowns, I hope everyone takes time to reflect on what they love most about the start of another year. For me, it’s seeing my students, welcoming new faces into our community, and sharing in the excitement of what’s to come. I don’t want to lose that this year, and putting together this list brought some of that back for me. I hope you enjoy!
