Must Have Assembly Tools for SLPs

Here are some of my favorite tools that I love to use to assemble therapy materials. It’s easy to spend a lot of money on these tools, and I hope to share some tools that might save you some time (and money)!

NOTE: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience, but I may receive compensation if you click through and purchase one of the products. *

Printer

I’m obsessed with my printer! It prints beautifully and has all the functions I need (and more). I chose an HP printer, because HP Instant Ink is amazing. I save so much money on ink now. When you buy a new printer, they often include three free months of ink. You can also get an additional free month if you sign up using this link!

Laminator

This is a must have! I love my Scotch laminators!

Laminating Sheets

I personally don’t see a big difference in the different laminating sheets, so I stick with these cheaper ones. I’ll buy the Scotch brand when they’re on sale. 🙂

Tac

A poor SLP’s velcro…! I love this stuff. I used it in a bind when I ran out of velcro, and now I use it all the time! (I usually buy this in the store, though. It’s a little pricier on Amazon!)

Velcro

I use Tac most of the time, but I sometimes still use Velcro. This brand seems to be the best deal. It’s not my favorite because the velcro is pretty thick, but the other options are a little too pricey for me.

Paper Cutter

This is such a time saver! It’s really lightweight and easy to move around. I’ve had mine for years, and it’s still going strong (even after multiple moves and A LOT of cutting).

Binder Rings

These are great for quickly putting materials together (interactive books, decks of card, visuals).

Hole Punch

I was tired of the hole punchers at school, and I splurged on a “fancy” hole puncher. This one has been going strong for a few years!

Mailing Labels

These are great for visuals, reinforcers, and my articulation stickers. Makes for easy add-ons to therapy materials, and kids love them!

Circle Punch

These circle punches are another splurge but a great time saver. I use them for my stickers, gift tags, and craft templates!

Binding Machine

This is a definite splurge, but I bought it at the beginning of the year. I decided to treat my friends to planners, and it was cheaper to buy this (versus paying to have them bound). I love this one because it’s easy to open the spine and add/remove pages!

If your school has a binding machine (but you don’t love the comb spines), you can use these spines instead. They’re just like the spines that come with the personal binding machine listed above, but you don’t have to invest in the machine. Pretty cool! (Thanks to an awesome SLP Now member for sharing this idea in our group!)

Now, don’t be like me and spend all your money on these tools! Districts are often willing to pay for some of these tools. (I’ve been pleasantly surprised with what my district was willing to pay for.) If that route doesn’t work for you, Donors Choose is another great resource.

Tell us in the comments below! What is your favorite tool?

* Marisha Mets is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.