Here is my current everyday carry setup, shuffled between home and the classroom.

Wallet and Keys

Naturally, I have my wallet and keys. My keys are just the essentials. I used to carry my classroom whistle on my keychain, but I found it too cumbersome. So I now have a separate keychain with my school ID, whistle, and a pocket watch to keep track of time.

Years ago, probably over a decade back when I was in high school, my brother gifted me a full-grain leather wallet. I tried switching to slimmer wallets, but each alternative wore out or broke down quickly, leading me back to my original wallet. My brother had bought a set of three, and he gave me one of his extras. Eventually, I realized, if I keep reverting to this wallet, I must be a leather wallet kind of person. Last year, though, the wallet became so loose that my cards kept slipping out. So, I invested in a slightly higher-quality leather wallet. I still have the old one in a cupboard at home; I plan to use the leather for a watch strap. I like the durability of full-grain leather and prefer brown over other stains, trying to match all my leather goods, like watch straps, to that color.

Bluetooth Keyboard

I'm still on a never-ending search for a reliable writer’s deck. So far, the best option for portability is my pocket Bluetooth keyboard. While I have other keyboards for my desktop use, this particular Bluetooth keyboard is practical for travel. It has chiclet keys, which are comfortable—though not as much as mechanical switches—and comes with a wrap-around case that includes an articulating stand for my phone. I’ve used it so much that I can now type intuitively, despite the odd key layout.

Smartphone

My current phone, which I primarily use for writing, is the Samsung XCover 6 Pro. I’ve mentioned this in detail before, but it’s my favorite phone to date. It does everything I need and supports Samsung DeX, allowing me to use it as a makeshift desktop. However, it is lacking in performing more complex tasks.

I used to carry a pocket New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, but lately, I’ve opted for my phone instead. Even with large pockets, adding much more than what I’ve described feels cumbersome.

Pen and Journal

The wooden spalding maple pen with a brass tip was purchased from Etsy. I like it a lot. I have a container full of Bic refills that I need to use up. The spalding maple smells flowery like roses.

I use a Field Notes pocket journal with a leather cover. I have several other Field Notes on standby—the full National Parks collection, in fact—but I’m still figuring out a good system for storing them.

What about you?

What do you carry every day?

I’m especially interested in learning about other male elementary school teachers’ everyday carries. I don’t typically bring a backpack or briefcase, so I aim to fit everything into my pockets.