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8/19/09 7:24 p.m.
Jennifer Stewart

Hi Justin,
I have tried to work with the mailbox system but I have over 140 students that pass through my class within a day. Any suggestions as to how I can implement the mailbox idea without the high cost?
Thanks

Hi Jennifer,

I know a teacher who stacked up old dairy crates and inserted cardboard dividers. You can buy them online for relatively cheap. Eventually, she found literature sorters that another teacher was no longer using. She also talked to her resource administrator and had the school buy two literature sorters with 72 slots each.

I also know an English teacher who made a deal with the Woodshop teacher to have some mailboxes built.

You can also try www.donorschoose.org, which is a site where people offer to donate items that you need for your class. I know quite a few teachers who have received entire book sets from this site.

Lastly, if you do end up buying literature sorters, reinforce anything that is cardboard before you assemble them. The first few that I bought started falling apart after a few years. Now, I put duct tape along any edges that books might rub against and use extra glue along all of the joints.

Jennifer, I feel your pain. I think that I've spent about $200 over the years just for literature organizers. In the end though, the headache that it saved me in class has been worth it.

Warmest regards,

Justin

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