In general, you get what you pay for. I’m a sucker for a bargain, but if you decide to buy off-brand, test your products. These tools are here to help you. You don’t need to be dealing with the distraction of markers not working or stickies falling off the wall. It’s worth the extra money for premium supplies.
The Grove Store carries wonderful, high-quality supplies. You can also find these supplies at Amazon.com and at art supply stories. I’ve supplied purchase links where appropriate.
Stickies
Every facilitator should have plenty of stickies of all shapes and sizes on-hand.
I’ve found that Post-It brand adhere best. Test your brands before you commit. Having stickies falling off the wall is disruptive, and it’s a headache you don’t need. Also, stickies — even the Post-It brands — lose their adhesiveness over time. Always test your stickies beforehand, including on the surfaces that you’ll actually be using.
My cornerstone sizes are 3×3 and 3×5.
- 3×3 assorted colors (red, blue, green, yellow) (18 pack)
- 3×3 canary yellow (12 pack)
- 3×5 assorted pastels (pink, blue, green, yellow) (1 pack)
- 3×5 canary yellow (12 pack)
Shapes. All of these are approximately 3×3.
- Arrows (orange, green)
- Daisies (orange, pink)
- Stars (yellow, orange)
- Scrolls (blue)
- Apples (red, green)
Markers
Charters Markers (sold by The Grove Consulting) are the markers of choice for many graphic recorders. They are scentless, they don’t bleed, and they have a versatile tip. They are also expensive, and they don’t last that long. They come in eight colors — black, blue, brown, green, orange, purple, red, and yellow.
A cheaper alternative are Mr. Scents markers, which you can find at both office supply and toy stores. They also do not bleed, and they’re considerably cheaper than the Charters. As the name indicates, they do smell. You may find that to be a problem or a feature!