DIY Teacher Lanyard with Beads & Lanyard Visuals (Free) + Tabbed Lanyard Visuals
Hey there 🤗
Are you looking for a DIY teacher lanyard with beads?
How about lanyard visuals for your preschool, kindergarten, special education or autism classroom? Well, I’ve got you!
I'm going to show you how you can make a DIY teacher lanyard with beads using a few things from the dollar store (Dollar Tree).
It’s super quick and easy to make, and I’ve got printable lanyard visuals with Boardmaker icons for you too!
Keep reading 📓📓📓
Materials Needed To Make Your Own Teacher Lanyard with Beads
1. Beads
Any type of beads will work. I found a set of wooden beads in pink hues for $1.25 at Dollar Tree. You might also be able to find silicone beads or you could even go for plastic beads that are trending right now. I mean you ARE in your teaching era! 😉🌸
2. String
Again, almost any string will work. Look for something comfortable, long enough, and strong enough (in case a student pulls on it). I bought a product called eyeglass cord from Dollar Tree for $1.25. It’s a soft suede and the pink matched my beads! 💖
3. Retractable Badge Clip
This is totally optional, but I like being able to pull on my classroom key to open the door without having to take off my lanyard or bend down. Again, it was the perfect pink shade so I couldn’t resist it.
4. Breakaway Closure / Clasp
This is also optional but IMO I think it’s really nice to have. We often work with students who have a hard time regulating their emotions, and nobody wants to get choked by their lanyard. It makes it easy to take on and off too, so that’s a bonus.
I found these in a set of badge holders at Dollar Tree for $1.25. I just took off the clasps and I’ll reuse this string in a fine motor activity BUT you could totally use this string for your lanyard if you like the color it comes with.
5. Binding Ring
They sell these at Dollar Tree (A whole pack for $1.25) but I already had some so you might not need to buy this if you already have it in your classroom.
6. Add Alllll The Things (…including the lanyard visuals)
Add your classroom key, fob, teacher ID, photocopy card, and anything else you might want. You can get cute charms to add, or even a small clip on sanitizer if you want. I keep mine pretty basic but you do you boo. 💁♀️ I won’t judge.
Just a heads up though, if you have a whistle on there, your kids will 1000% try to blow it. So tell them early it’s off limits. Put those stop sign and hands to self visuals to good use. 😏
If you want to add my printable lanyard visuals, I have two sets I’ll link below!
Both sets of lanyard visuals are made using Boardmaker picture symbols. They’re amazing for autism or other special education classrooms, but they’re perfect to use with PreK, Kindie and ESL / ELL students too!
I have a set of free printable lanyard visuals, but I also made a set of tabbed lanyard visuals that are color coded because I use these visuals allllll day long. I love that these are pretty, but also help me to find the visual I need FAST!
No more trying to find the stop visual as you chase your eloping student down the hall. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
These easy to find visuals can help you stop behaviors before they even happen, at least those times we can predict what’s going to happen.
How to Make Your Printable Lanyard Visuals to Add to Your Beaded Teaching Lanyard
Step 1: Print off my printable lanyard visuals (free basic set, or my color coded tabbed lanyard visuals).
Step 2: Laminate.
Step 3: Cut the picture cards out.
Step 4: Hole punch (in the center or corner).
Step 5: Add to a binding ring and attach to your lanyard.
You’re done! ✅ Easy-peasy right?
But before you RUN to Dollar Tree, grab the printable HERE.
Oh, and thanks for spending a few minutes with me.
I think it’s awesome you’re spending your time finding a tool that will support your learners. They’re lucky to have you in their corner!
Want to see more? Check out this reel I made when I prepped mine.
Until next time!
