$23 for a behavior pocket chart? Seriously? I am trying to get stuff for my empty classroom. I found some deals online, but shhipping is crazy. Either way, any suggestions for teaching supply sites? I tried Learning Resources, Oriental Trading, Educators Outlet.
Dollar Tree...I have found some of my best buys at Tuesday Morning...get online, try freecycle. Wait until the end of July, most teacher stores host a discount night--call and ask. Also ask the school for money. Some have money set aside for new teachers, but they don't always offer.
Usually when it comes to expensive items purchased through teacher magazines, I would talk to my grade-level colleagues and make a large purchase together to negate some of the shipping costs. It's either that or the brick and mortar store, I'm afraid. Or you could lucky if you knew any retiring teachers or teachers with too much stuff that they don't use!
Also Target dollar section sometimes has pocket charts. Also, if you wait until teachers are getting their rooms ready, some will place things in the hallway for others. Don't buy to much yet. I promise you will have stuff given to you.
Also, I had the welding class make me a big book holder out of pipe scraps. They built me a stand for $25 that sold for $300 in the teacher supply book. I know you want to get everything ready, but don't get in a hurry.
If you're okay with shopping online, a member here, Jem, has a site of used teacher things. Google Sprout classrooms. Have you tried Amazon and Ebay?
Hi, I know what you mean. Here in Utah, we don't get reimbursed for anything we buy until October, and even then it's not much. I love pocket charts too, but they can get expensive. I always think if there is some way I CAN MAKE what they're selling. Because if you can make it, it will always be cheaper. If you're talking about the pocket chart where they turn a card...here's a simple solution that will only cost a couple bucks. Buy a piece of poster board. Glue on the library pockets (one for each kid). I bought plain ones (they were cheaper) but then I also bought little die cuts of monkeys to put on them (our room is jungle theme). Then I laminted it and used a razor to cut open the tops. Then I used the school's paper to cut out the right size pieces of red yellow and blue cardstock that fit in their pocket. Hope this helps =) Cari
Have you tried Oriental Trading? I just received their teacher catalog in the mail. Reallly Good Stuff is good as well. They are also offering the three payments to pay plan for teachers again this year.
I switched to a clip chart, laminiated, made for a few bucks. All kids start on ready to learn: Outstanding Fantastic Great Job Ready to Learn Warning - no spot for this, the kids move their clip to the board ledge Teacher's Choice Parent Contact Choices (kinda like ISS)
Wal-mart sometimes has pockets charts much less than school supply store. Also look at shoe bags, jewlry, cosmetic, and travel organizers (those that fold for easy packing but can hang as well).
I second the Target pocket charts. They are only ONE DOLLAR and they hold up pretty well. Even if you needed 3 of them for all of your students, $3 is a great deal!
http://tiny.cc/yezbl That will take you to Jem's website for Sprout. I know she had pocket charts a short while ago. Send her a private message and she'll direct you to them.
Amazon has some good deals on them now. The Standard Pocket Chart (with 10 rows) used to be $19.99 and now is $13.59. They also have a mini pocket chart (with 6 rows) that used to be $18.99 and is now $4.37. You just have to shop around!
Thanks for the shout-outs, guys!! I do have many pocket charts right now-I price them at LEAST 50% off, most of the time more. Sometimes I even have things that are 90% off. Sometimes the shipping can add up, as I'm still trying to figure out how the larger sites can offer such low shipping. If the shipping price is really high, shoot me a note and I'll refund the difference between what you paid and what it really cost. I'm back to work today uploading items (parents just left after a week), so join the Facebook group for updates or keep your eyes peeled on here!
I second the poster board and pocket chart combo. If you go to dollar tree, you could make the entire thing for a couple of dollars (maybe less if you have colored paper). Then you can laminate it at your school, or perhaps at a local teacher store... Good luck!
I've bought a lot of things from classroomdirect.com. They usually have pretty good deals-and free shipping if you spend over a certain amount of money.
I made my own behavior chart using the $1 pocket chart from Target. I simply sewed the lines on the pocket chart...pretty easy.
I recently ordered some stuff from this site: http://www.american-classroom-supply.com/ It still not super cheap but all of the things I ordered were slightly less than some of the other websites/catalogs.
