My Teaching Trousseau

Hi friends!
Mama Mindy here borrowing the keyboard for some year-ending thoughts and considerations.

First off, a big happy birthday to my sister, Kaycee (Auntie Kaycee to the puggums).

Now...on  to the topic at hand.

As you all know by now, I am going to be an elementary school teacher.  I have completed my first semester as a "Junior"...starting January 22nd, I begin my "Block 1" courses.  Those of you who are teachers understand that Block 1 is a "commitment"...it is saying "You have not scared me off from this profession and I am signing on to finish my education in this profession..." Of which, the education is never finished...not if you are a good teacher. :)

I have begun accumulating, almost like a crazy lady, items for my classroom.

I believe I have every game that has been created...or enough to hold about 5 large tubs.  That should keep them entertained...right?? 

Literally, my basement is starting to look like a storage unit...

I am reading the latest literature on classroom management and stimulating young brains (sounds like I am literally massaging brains in a scientific experiment, doesn't it?)...

I have A LOT invested in this future career marriage...after all, I am fully committed to see it through its end...which will be my death...(hopefully not soon)...as I do not see myself retiring...although a year of sabbatical might be thought of...I doubt I would take it. :)

After all of my typing, I wanted to ask...for those of you that were/are teachers and those of you that were taught (I hope everyone has been accounted for?!? Yes?)....

For those of you who are teaching or have taught, is there anything in the classroom that you absolutely would consider a must-have for the first year of teaching? (Besides love of children...I know that is the main ingredient...but I'm building my trousseau here...yes...I'm talking materialistism...)

For those of you who were taught, what is something that you loved about school or an item in the classroom that you remember to this day stimulating your imagination and helping you have a break-through moment?

I want to be effective...To be effective, I need to have LOVE (which includes a knowledge of my students and their needs as well as an emotional affect) for my students, great CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT (which will take care of most, if not all, disciplinary issues), and in my opinion, a variety of TOOLS of all different disciplines.

Please provide any information that you think would be valuable to me as I appreciate your responses. 

Much Love,
Mindy :)