45 Classroom Wish List Examples w/ Delightful Letter to Parents

In a perfect world, you wouldn’t need to search for classroom wish list examples or seek a sample classroom wish list letter to parents.

However, in order to carry out all of those wonderful classroom activities you’ve got planned for the year, you need “stuff”.

Work smarter by soliciting the contributions of students’ parents. 

In this post, find classroom wish list examples that provide you with ideas for compiling your own teacher dream wish list.

These ideas work best for first year teacher wish lists, preschool classrooms, and elementary teachers.

You may want to add these items to your Amazon teacher wish list.

Classroom Wish List Examples

Generally, parents are more generous when items requested directly connect to classroom tasks and activities.

Simply asking for random resources doesn’t resonate as well. 

In your letter to parents, be sure to address in some way how the supplies and materials requested will align with teaching/learning objectives. 

See a sample classroom wish list letter to parents further on in the post. 

Related: new teacher must-haves

Basic Items Examples

While many teachers possess basic teacher supplies, you may be one who lacks such items. 

If your school doesn’t provide the budget to purchase these essential materials, include them on your classroom wish list. 

Additionally, consider…

  • 1-year subscription to kids’ magazine (e.g. Highlights)
  • 3-Ring Hole Puncher
  • Cardstock (various colors)
  • Clipboards 
  • Colored pens (for grading/marking)
  • Construction paper (various colors)
  • Contact paper
  • Different-colored highlighters
  • Dry-erase markers
  • Electric pencil sharpener (heavy-duty)
  • Label maker
  • Mini paper cutter
  • Sentence strips (white and colored)
  • Sharpie® pens
  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Staple machine (heavy-duty)
  • Stapler remover
  • Sticky notes (various colors)
  • Tissue/Kleenex
  • Whistle

Math Examples

  • 12-inch rulers
  • Dry-erase markers
  • Mini dry-erase white boards

Literacy Examples

  • Grade-appropriate books for classroom library
  • Literacy pocket chart (for storing read aloud books or lesson materials)

Projects/Art Examples

  • Clothes pins (for hanging student work and projects)
  • Cotton balls
  • “Crazy”/decorative scissors 
  • Glue gun
  • Old magazines
  • Paper plates
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Plastic hangers (for mobiles)
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Small brown paper bags

Parent Volunteers Wish List

Include in your classroom wish list yearly events. Encourage parent volunteers to sign up to host or help with at least one. 

Your school may have its own unique special occasions, but a few classic events you might want to consider…

  • Fall Carnival
  • Holiday/Christmas Party
  • Mother’s Day
  • Reading Week
  • Thanksgiving
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Awards Day
  • End-of-Year Celebration

Classroom Wish List Letter to Parents (Template)

The following classroom wish list letter to parents is a sample.

Customize the messaging to fit your voice, seasonal timing, and the needs of your classroom.

Dear Parents of Room 2B,

Because of you, the school year has started smoothly. I can see that students are excited to be back, and they’re eagerly looking forward to all of the wonderful activities they’ll be experiencing. 

To maximize the teaching and learning process, I’m asking for your help in the form of a donation.

If you would be willing to donate towards our classroom wish list, your contribution will be very much appreciated. 

Within this letter, you’ll find a list of suggested items. Please note that your contribution towards the classroom wish list is optional.

If you prefer instead to give your time, see the list of tentative volunteer opportunities towards the end of this letter. 

Thanks in advance for your support and understanding!

Ms. Hummingbird

You can further customize the classroom wish list template by changing the font type, font size, and title. 

classroom wishlist example
classroom wish list examples

When to Send Wish List to Parents

It’s common to send out the classroom wish list letter to parents at the beginning of the school year, preferably the first or second week back or during Back-to-School night.

Other educators share a classroom wish list twice a year, once at the start of the school year and again in January (2nd semester). 

There are no hard rules. Do what works best for you. 

Alternatives to the Classroom Wish List Template to Parents

If you’d like to inject creativity into the process of collecting classroom wish list donations, consider the idea of a “Wish Bowl”, “Helping Hand”, or “Giving Tree”. 

Wish Bowl Idea

Take a bulletin board-sized piece of butcher paper. Draw a fish bowl on it. 

Create a number of fish cutouts that match the total quantity of items needed. 

Now, on each cutout, write the name of one (1) item. For example, for hangers, you’d write on a cutout, “1 set of hangers (12)”

Once a parent chooses that particular cutout, no one else will be able to choose that item.

Giving Tree Idea

To create the teacher wish list giving tree, the process follows the same sequence as the wish bowl idea.

However, instead of a bowl, you’ll sketch a tree and use apple cutouts. 

Helping Hand Idea

Each student traces his/her hand, and cuts out two copies. You’ll label each hand cutout with an item from your classroom wish list example ideas. 

Place the hands on a bulletin board.

Parents choose one hand cutout during Open House or as they pick up/drop off their child before/after school. 

Final Thoughts: Classroom Wish List Examples

There’s no need to go without essential classroom supplies and materials.

Rely on the kindness of parents to collect resources that help you teach students in a more engaged and interactive way. 

These classroom wish list examples plus customizable parent letter template jumpstarts the process.