Are you reading to start teaching online and interested in knowing what resources I use and recommend? I have been teaching online for almost 4 years now, and I believe that less is more! You can have an engaging classroom for all levels of students with these resources. 

Here, I will cover teaching equipment, props, and rewards that I have found work best for the online classroom in my four years of teaching. These have allowed me to be successful, and I hope they are a great help to you as well.

Equipment:

Headset with Mic

The Mpow headset that I use is from Amazon, and I have had it for over a year now. It is good quality, inexpensive, and I also use it to do voice-overs for my YouTube channel. The quality is great, and I love that I can mute my mic with the click of a button! It is also noise-canceling, which is something I have always needed teaching and traveling. 

Webcam

I never used to use a webcam, as I have a MacBook with a decent camera. However, after having some IT issues, I bought a webcam and won’t go back! I found (and many other teachers have agreed) that using an external webcam helps keep your computer cool. When I used my Macbook camera, my computer would slow more quickly and heat up faster. Also, I can adjust the brightness and saturation with my Logitech Camera. There are two versions of this camera, the c920 and the c922. The difference between these two cameras is minimal, so I recommend going for the c290, as it is usually cheaper.

Background

For my background, I use my Office AnyChair! I am currently in the stages of redesigning, and so stay tuned for when our next model comes out! It is the perfect portable backdrop for your classroom! You can subscribe to the email list on the website to be the first to know when it relaunches! 

Before the Office AnyChair, I used a map from the dollar store. I didn’t like that it was not easy to travel with (as I’d always have to tape it to the wall and it crinkled), but it was inexpensive and great when I wasn’t on the go. Check your local dollar store teacher section for inexpensive posters for your background if you are on a tight budget. 

Reading Light to Illuminate Face

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

These glasses are a GAME CHANGER. Running my own business online and then teaching for 3 hours at night had my eyes hurting so bad. As soon as I started using these glasses, the strain and pain subsided! I really think these glasses are essential for teachers. This pack I recommend are the ones that I have–They are 5 star rated, inexpensive and come in a 3 pack (one for every room!).

Puppet

Computer

In order to teach online, you will need a computer or laptop. I think Macbooks are the best option, as they last a very long time. However, my friend used to teach on a Chromebook (which are usually under $300) and it worked great for her for several years! The one I linked below is the one she used and loved while we traveled together. She often got a stronger wifi connection with her Chromebook than I did with my Macbook, which I always thought was very telling of what a great bargain this laptop is!

Props

[Minimalism]

All of my props fit in one gallon-size ziplock bag. If you follow other ESL teachers on Instagram, you may have felt overwhelmed looking at some teachers’ classrooms. Don’t worry! You don’t need a whole section of cubbies in your home to be a great teacher. If you are like me and need something that is more minimalist and easy to pack, then look no further!

Make & Print Your Own Props

I make all of my printable props using Canva. Canva is one of the most wonderful tools for teachers and online business owners. It is totally free to use, however, you can also upgrade to their pro version for more features. I pay for the pro version, and I think it is SO worth it!

Here is a tutorial showing you how to easily make flashcards using Canva. You can do this with both the free and pro version!

I also always laminate my props. Here is a highly recommended (4.5/5 stars w/ over 6,000 reviews) laminator by Scotch that is on sale at the time I’m writing this for only $22. Printing out and laminating my own props allows me to save money in the long run and make my props exactly how I want them to be. If you like customization and DIY hacks, this is a great one! 

Rewards

Google Slides

Teachers are the best and have created free, earth-friendly digital rewards for your online classes with Google Slides! I use Google Slides for all my classes using my phone. If you aren’t sure what Google Slides rewards are, don’t worry, I didn’t know about it either for the longest time. I am so glad I learned about Google Slides because these rewards save me and will save you SO MUCH TIME. 

Essentially, Google Slides rewards are interactive rewards that you hold up on your phone or iPad to the camera and your student can pick numbers that have different pictures or pick between 1 or 2 options and slowly build something. 

Here is a picture of one of my students picking between options 1 and 2 in order to make a mermaid world for her reward. As you can see, I am holding up my phone. I have never had a parent complain about using my phone for the reward. The kids always love it, and it’s a great way to extend their vocabulary and conversational English. 

How do you use Google Slides? You must be a VIPKID or Gogokid teacher to use Google Slides. All you need to do is join the FB group for VIPKID or Gogokid and there you will find directions on how to download it onto your phone/iPad. You will need to make sure that you have the apps Google Slides and Slidekick. 

LINK TO VIPKID GOOGLE SLIDES PAGE

LINK TO GOGOKID GOOGLE SLIDES PAGE

Guess the Drawing

Before I knew about Google Slides, this was my go-to and favorite reward system. It is easy and all you need is a piece of paper and a marker! Every time I give a student a star, I will draw one piece of a picture. I usually draw animals or cartoon characters. Every star adds another piece of the drawing so that by the end, on his/her last star, the picture is complete. The student must guess every star what he/she thinks the picture is of. I always try to draw the picture in an odd order, so it is harder for the student to guess. It makes it more fun for the student once we get to the end! Students of all ages really love this reward. A lot of students will draw the reward out with me. Too fun!