PLOT TWIST. Teachers and students share SO much more than we often realize. Students, do you feel tired and wish you could escape for a rest or just want to enjoy a pretty spring day and get homework done? Guess what, as a teacher I feel tired, too! I wish I could quickly escape for some rest and would love to enjoy a pretty day while grading. Students, do you need a jolt of caffeine to get your day started, but don’t have a daily $5 to swing through a coffee joint? GUESS WHAT, neither do most of your teachers! With all of these things in common, below you will find a list of items for practical moments during your college experience! (Teachers and Students alike!)

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t add to the cost for you, but allows me to earn a small commission. I only share products I personally use and recommend to my friends. For example, all of these items are in my home, car, or office. I use them regularly (except for my Chacos…those I wear close to daily on warm days).

FUN

• ENO Hammock and Straps: Here is the deal. I love outside. On really gorgeous spring and summer days, I can feel my soul slowly die if I stay inside. I’m not a K12 teacher, but I grew up with some for parents and I get it – grading is overly abundant at all levels. It isn’t uncommon to find me literally hanging out on campus in my hammock while grading. Find a set of shady trees, put your laptop screen on bright and accomplish two things at once! Students, you came here wondering what to pack for college… get ya a hammock. Invest some of your graduation money or ask for one as a present. You can find yourself in the same set-up writing those English papers or studying some flashcards. Or you could simply hang out and laughing with friends… hammocks are great for that too. I do recommend the more “heavy duty” straps, not because of weight, because the straps are better constructed and more adjustable. The added loops and length allow you more freedom in finding the perfect set of hammocking trees. Find the hammock here and the straps here.

• Chacos: Sigh. I really tried to avoid jumping on the trend of Chacos. I typically find myself joining trends years after other people out of pure stubbornness; however, 3 years ago I caved on all sorts of trending items (see ENO Hammock above). Looking for running shoes, I saw a Chaco display and tried some on – whoa. My feet found a dear friend in Chacos. I wore my first pair for three years. My feet show what I assume is a permanent Chaco strap tan line, and just invested in my 2nd pair. I wear my Chacos on campus in the spring and summer, going hiking, and especially when around water (kayaking or floating in the local lakes). For standing all day teaching, I pick Chacos over everything else in my closet. These shoes aren’t for every foot type, but they very well could be for you. Find Chacos here.

• Apples to Apples: I know, this game has been around for ages, but I still love it! It is easy to explain, creates laughter, and builds understanding with those playing. I love this game for dorm living when homework is at a lull and rain is keeping people inside. If Apples to Apples isn’t your flavor of game, do some digging and find one for you to have on hand for creating fun in your dorm on rainy days! Teachers, Apples to Apples is a great icebreaker game for those reasons listed above. You can play several rounds of Apples to Apples in a short amount of time. It is a great activity to talk about the ambiguity of language and non-verbal communication. Find Apples to Apples here.

Rain Days

• Rain Gear: You will need rain gear. I don’t care how big or small your campus is – it will rain – you will want rain gear. Rain boots ( https://www.zappos.com/rain-boots ), umbrellas (be honest with yourself, get more than one because umbrellas run away), and a rain coat. I’ve linked to some examples of what I find to work best. For example, just below the knee rain boots for trekking across a campus and rain coats with hoods that zip (vs. a pullover). As for umbrella size, I would recommend a larger umbrella for the days it rains “big ol’ fat rain.” The smaller backpack friendly umbrella for steady all-day rains. This is really important if you pack a laptop with you – rain will soak through your backpack, you want to create as much safety for your laptop as you can!

Hydration and Caffeine are Critical

• Water Bottle: I’m not big on the expensive water bottles out on the market. Mostly because on a college campus, you won’t find yourself too far off the beaten path (aka: water fountains are abundant). I love having a water bottle handy so I can refill it and not drink directly out of the fountain and to sip during classes I struggle to focus in! A drink of water can wake up my brain to stay engaged (in class or a meeting). Also, it’s just healthy for you. College can create unhealthy habits with stress and time management, drinking water can help you keep (or create) a healthy rhythm! I prefer bottles with twist tops connected to the bottle. Find my water bottle here

• Coffee Maker: If you drink coffee, student or teacher alike, you need your own coffee maker. Friends, I’m going to say it – you’ve heard it before but, I’ll say it again – it is not financially friendly to purchase coffee shop coffee every day. I KNOW, what a buzzkill. SO many teachers and college students will complain about a lack of money for travel or bills while holding a $5 coffee. If coffee shop coffee is your jam, you can pay your bills, can save money, all the things – you do you friend. For most, we have tricked our minds to believe the $5 is worth the efficiency of not making it ourselves… For $8 I can buy a large enough jar of coffee grounds to caffeinate our household of 2 for 2 months – we drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day. We use a single-cup coffee maker with a refillable k-cup (so no extra trash) with washable coffee mugs. Find a single-cup coffee maker here

Practical Things

• Power Strips & Batteries: When I moved to college, these two items were cause for a last minute trip to the store. These are logistical items easy to forget when setting up a dorm room or a classroom. Unpacking a gifted TV for your dorm… then there is a remote sans batteries. Plugging up your lights, laptop, phone charger, and coffee maker (reinforcing all the things) takes plug ins! Make sure your power strips have a surge protector for added protection.

• Hooks and Strips: Decorating your room often comes with restrictions on how to adhere items to the wall. Nails are typically a no go, but wall art is SO important to the vibe! Use 3m hooks and strips to create your ultimate space if nails are forbidden! Make sure to get hooks and strips rated for the weight. I usually go overboard just in case. Find hooks here & strips here

• First Aid Kit: A simple first aid kit really helps a potentially stressful situation be manageable. One stubbed toe and no available band-aid can be a real bummer. Some first aid kits have A LOT of stuff… if you don’t know what the stuff is for, it’s not helpful. I love a simple kit with band-aids, gauze, tape, and antibiotic creams. I take this kit with my when I go on trips with students, otherwise it is in my office. As a college professor, being able to offer something as simple as a band-aid to a paper cut allows for some intentional care. Find the kit I use here.

Be nice.

• Thank You cards: You need Thank You cards handy. People are going to go out of their way to help you in education – it’s the nature of the field. While not everyone will be superstars, some will shine in how they spend extra time to explain a project, maintenance crews repairing your classroom/dorm room, cafe staff who make your favorite meal from home, employers who work around your school needs, etc. We may have the thought to send a card, but if they aren’t handy, we forget. Grab some cards and be ready to show gratitude to those on your campus – it will make an impact. Find my favorite set here (masculine and feminine options, which is why I love this set!)

Here are some things not to bring:

• Candles: If you are in a dorm particularly, don’t bring candles. Teachers, we most likely can’t have them either. Fire marshals do NOT like candles. I got a write-up in college for having a candle with a burnt wick (even though it was burnt at my house and we had it in the window during hot days for aroma – they did not care.)
• Pets: I know people who have handled taking pets to college really well. I know people who have handled taking pets to college really poorly. Remember the responsibility which comes with pet-parenting and don’t be sneaky about having pets. Let your landlord know if you are renting and have the proper paper work if your animal is a medical partner.
• Large furniture: Most dorms, apartments, and classrooms are already limited on square footage. Think minimalist until proven otherwise!
• Items a roommate would share – the traditional dorm-style room doesn’t have space for 2 of everything. Coordinate in advance! I worked a college move-in day where the roommates did not measure or coordinate and both brought full-sized futons from out of state. Yikes. I don’t know what happened, other than I know 1 had to concede their futon because those rooms already came with 2 beds, 2 desks, and 2 dressers… Yikes, again!

Bonus! Room Set-Up Tip!

If you have a microwave, don’t set your microwave under a smoke detector. The same thing for a mirror! Unfortunate popcorn incidents or overzealous hairspray-ing may have you meeting with your dorm mates on the lawn at all hours of the evening… it’s fun the first time, but not so fun the 32nd time.

Isn’t it wild how much we have in common? There are so many places where teachers and students can meet at a crossroads in experiences, even if used slightly differently. Teachers, we may need that cup of joe for grading 100 papers and students, you may need that caffeine for all-night homework completion, but we both still want that coffee! Find those shared things and create opportunities to build community!