Mailbox Makeover


In the early spring, I found Pinterest, which has easily come to be one of my biggest obsessions. I've been pinning like a madwoman. Now that I have been offered and accepted a position in a new district, I feel like a whole new teacher. Of course, in the past seven years I have spent lots of money on this and that's that just had to be a part of my classroom. This time, though, I am trying to be a bit more savvy. So when I saw an idea for rehabbing my mailboxes, I couldn't wait to get a roll of duct tape and some binder tabs and get to work! 

I bought these mailbox sorters from Office Depot my third year of teaching. Here's what they looked like after five years of use: 



I went to Target, bought blue and white polka dotted duct tape and hot pink duct tape. I wrapped the tape on the ends of each row, and then added a light blue binder clip, which I would use for their names, much easier than ripping the labels off. 


For whatever reason, after three days, the pink began to peel. I noticed that the two tapes didn't feel the same, even though they were both Duct brand, so I wasn't completely surprised, but it was a quick fix. Since I'm going with a theme in blue this year, and the polka dotted tape wasn't doing any peeling,  I figured I'd just pull the pink off and calm it down. To be honest, I'm happy with the calmer outcome. 






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12 comments

  1. Love this idea, as I am always looking for ways to be savvy, too :)

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    1. I'm hoping to post some more savvy ideas this summer during my time "off", though I never really hit the switch! I'm already planning out my theme for next year and I've only been on summer vacation for a week! Keep checking back for more savvy ideas!

      Smiles,
      Rachel

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  2. I love the tip for using the binder clip. I spent a lot of time peeling off last year's names. thanks.

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    1. You're very welcome! It's a lot less time consuming to replace a binder clip each year! Glad I could be helpful!

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  3. I know this might be a dumb question, but what do you use the mailboxes for in an intermediate grade? I taught second grade last year and am moving to third next year. I used book covers as chair pockets and a friend will be giving me her mailboxes to use next year. Is it for extra storage, or papers to take home? Thanks for your help. I love your blog!

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    1. That's a great question! I do use the mailboxes for papers to take home. I will put their graded papers in there myself, since I don't want anyone else to see their grades but then I have mailboxes as a classroom job. Those students get to stuff the mailboxes with the many papers that the office gives us to send home. I also have my less organized students place their homework in their mailbox throughout the day as they receive it to increase the chances of it making it home with them at the end of the day. I have my mailboxes placed by my door so that each student grabs their mail each day on their way out. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I taught third grade during my first year of teaching, so I am happy to help in any way!

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  4. I love the blue polka dots but can't find the duct brand in this pattern anywhere. Was it recent that you bought it at Target? Thanks for the great idea!

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    1. I bought it last summer and I do know it went on clearance at one point because I bought all of the rolls when it did! I just did a little research and found it on Amazon at

      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HJKB5I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=coolamazdisc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HJKB5I

      Hope that helps!

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  5. Just found this on Pinterest. I am trying to redo my mailboxes this weekend. I have the same one, but it's in a lot worse shape! I'm thinking of spraypainting it and putting scrapbook paper on the shelves. Looks good!

    Jessica
    Literacy Spark

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    1. I will probably need to spraypaint mine in a year or so, but I'm wondering if I will have trouble getting the paint to stick to it since it has a coating that feels more like plastic. Let me know how it goes for you!

      Smiles,
      Mrs. O

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  6. Hi, just found your blog today. Great idea with the mailboxes! I wanted to ask you though where you got the small mailbox? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Irene,
      I got it from Office Max when I first started teaching. I think they still carry them, though.

      Smiles,
      Rachel

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