Down a small alley in Pasadena, California, almost hidden from the road, was a small shop called The Teacher’s Supply Store. I don’t know how my mom found it when I was a kid, but it was like hitting the jackpot. The little shop was packed with my (then) teacher’s big book of quizzes, class activities, and syllabi, and all sorts of stickers and stamps. It was like getting an inside look into my teacher’s brain, and my overachieving elementary school heart wanted everything in the store!
Fast forward to 2023. Tiny little brick-and-mortar stores selling just teachers’ supplies probably don’t exist anymore, but there’s definitely a digital version of it somewhere online.
A WeChat mini program called Teacher’s House Shop is filled with everything a teacher or parent could want in terms of educational toys and books – and they’re super organized. Started by an American ESL teacher who came to China in 2006 and saw a need for quality teaching resources, Teacher’s House grew as a network of resources and services for educators in China. Essentially, it’s a platform that’s founded by teachers, for teachers (and parents).
You can search by grade, arts and crafts activities, books, toys, games, and even by month – in case you want to do some holiday-specific lessons. I love it!
Even if you’re not a teacher, it’s a great resource to use to stock up on after-school activities for your own kid.
Scan the QR code below to check out their store on WeChat.
Images: Mina Yan, Pexels
