How Did You Meet Us?
Posted by Hope Spencer on 02 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Intermediate, Kindergarten, Preschool, Teacher's Helper, The Mailbox, The Mailbox Books
| During my second year of teaching, I was across the hall from an incredible teacher named Ms. Dunn. Ms. Dunn shared so many wonderful teacher secrets with me! I couldn’t wait to see what she had planned each day. Her students were always engaged in the best learning games, and everything in her room was so organized. People stopped by to see her colorful wall displays, and she knew all kinds of tips and shortcuts. After several months of copying what she was doing, I was convinced that she was the smartest teacher ever! I was surprised when she handed me an issue of The Mailbox® magazine. “Take this,” she said. “The ideas are in here.” |  |
Well, I did take that issue and I read it from cover to cover. After I marked all of the ideas I wanted to use with sticky notes, I knew I had to get my own subscription. Later, I subscribed to Teacher’s Helper® magazine, too. I was really hooked! It wasn’t long before I was submitting my own ideas to the magazine and using the gift certificates to buy other Mailbox products. And, I was recommending the magazines to all the new teachers I worked with!
Hey, this makes me curious: how were you introduced to The Mailbox family? I’d love to know. Leave a comment and tell me your story—I’m eager to hear from you!
All the best,
Hope
1468 Best of The Mailbox Authors PreK-K
1459 Best of The Mailbox Language Arts Grs. 1-3
1485 Best of The Mailbox Writing Grs. 4-6
Comments for the drawing will be accepted until Sunday, July 5, at midnight.
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I first learned about The Mailbox Magazine when I started teaching in 1983. I remember getting so many good ideas for my Kindergarten class. I was the first teacher for our new Kindergarten, so I needed all the help I could get! Thanks for all the many years of help.
Ginger
I found your Mailbox magazine in a teacher store when I first started teaching in 1988. I have every edition since then! I have changed grades over the years and moved to 7 schools in 3 states, but I always keep them with me! Some are warn thin and falling apart, but the ideas are still great! I also get the Teachers Helper magazine (I started getting that when it first came out as Worksheet Magazine). I got my student teacher hooked this year and she got both magazines as a graduation present. I also got our school library to order subscriptions, but I still want to have my own copy.
I was struggling as a first year teacher to really come up with ideas for my Toddler Classroom. I had the room decorated and had some ideas, but I really needed those centers and projects that make a difference in a child’s life. I asked my director/ mentor if she could help with any really engaging and developmentally appropriate activities. She recommended The Mailbox for ideas. What an amazing magazine! What an amazing series of books! I feel so lucky I found this in my first year so that I will know I have someone to depend on for my entire teaching career.
I started as a preschool teacher 3 years ago after switching careers. Our preschool already subscribed, so I first saw the magazine there. I loved all the great ideas that I saw - and would frequently visit the library to find older issues to get more ideas. This magazine really helped me get up to speed on my new career in a short time!
I love The Mailbox but I couldn’t do without Teacher’s Helper. It is the BEST! Thank You!!!
When I got my job with a preschool the first phone call was to my best friend that had been my role model and mentor since we were in kindergarten. She teaches preschool and she told me all about mailbox and I cannot thank her enough.
Your website was mentioned on another teacher website, proteacher. I love your information!!!
i heard about mailbox from some old american co workers when i taught first grade in 1991 in greece.i subscribed for the next five years and have renenwed my subscription the last 2 now that i am teaching preschool in cyprus. love all the neat ideas in magazines and books…thanks a bunch!
I picked up my first copy in a “free” box at my town library. I proudly took it to school and shared it with another teacher who knew about The Mailbox and had some old copies. Next thing I knew I was on-line looking for Companion activities and then ordered my own subscription. I teach students with special needs and I can always adapt activities that meet their needs. Thanks!
I love the mailbox magazine. My mother in law used the magazine when she taught kindergarten for 22 years. Then I inherited the old magazines and added my own collection. I love using them in my resource room. As a special ed teacher I am always looking for new and fun ideas to teach new concepts. It’s hard to pick what grade to buy when you need them all!
I received my first subscription as Christmas gift from my mother when I was student teaching. After spending hours in the college library, Mailbox was always my fsvorite for helpful tips. I went on to teach as a high school teacher so I let my subscription slide. After 11 years as a high school teacher, I decided to come back to elementary. When I discovered I’d be teaching 3rd grade, the first thing I added to my Christmas list was a Mailbox subscription. My husband was the gift giver this time, but I found the subscription especially helpful wth the companion features available online. I have my issues catergorized by month and often refer to othem when I need a fresh idea!
I have been subscribing to The Mailbox since the early 80’s. At that time I was a new teacher and I received a copy from a fellow teacher. It is the best resource I have ever used. I love that it is grade specific now and the Mailbox Companion is a wonderful addition as well. I am sure I will continue to subscribe until I retire. I mentor new teachers and share my magazines with them–most end up getting a subscription. Keep up the good work, Mailbox!
I learned about Mailbox while in college and have been hooked ever since! One year I moved into a retired teacher’s room. She left me all her old mailboxes. OMGOSH….I think she had every issue ever printed(the ones with actual drawings in them). I was in Mailbox heaven. I still use those issues as well as the current ones. Thanks for a great magazine and resource books too!
I just found out about mailbox a year ago. Another school teacher subcribed to it and yet I did not get to see the magazine. My first encounter was when I found a book published by the Mailbox for Learning Centres for Kindergarten. WOW, I was trying out so many of the activities that went along with my program. I esp. liked the sandpaper, children sanded wood pieces. The boys thought this was awesome. I plan to buy a vise for the wood pieces in the pretend centre, so they can really enjoy this activity. I just signed up for a years subscription and since our school is not funded, I have to watch every dollar I spend, I do hope that I will enjoy and put to practice the activities in this book.
I have been using Mailbox since I was in college. I worked at a daycare that had a subscription. I have been able to have a subscription some years, and some years not. I really look forward to those years when I am able to spare the money.
I, like some above, was introduced to Mailbox while earning my teaching degree in the ’80s. I have subscribed to it ever since, except when I worked at a school that subscribed to the magazine for the teacher resource room. I love the tried-and-true ideas from veteran teachers, and am excited to see one of my ideas in print in the coming months! In fact, my brother is jealous; he’s a writer, and I got “published” before he did!
Like many of you I was first introduced to The Mailbox while I was student teaching. It was a resource that my cooperating teacher used often to gather ideas for crafts as well as center activities. When she offered to let me look through her collection for a unit I was planning I was amazed by how many great ideas there were. When I began teaching one of the first things I did was subscribe to the Mailbox. I have also found over the years that some of the most helpful books that I have are from the mailbox. As a relatively new teacher I dont know what I would do without it sometimes. Thank you.
I was just introduced to Mailbox books in 2008 when i started my first teaching job. The books are full of wonderful and colorful ideas that bring smiles to my kids when we do one of your activities. It is the perfect thing for a preschool teacher who needs lots of ideas to keep the little hands busy. You are doing a great job with these books. Keep up the good work
My husband and I went to a teacher supply store when I was hired for my first preschool teaching position and he wandered around while I tried to figure out how to stretch my budget! He walked up to me with the Mailbox and said, “Hey, this magazine has a little bit of everything you said you need.” I looked through it and said, “Yup, you’re right!” I bought that copy and went home to order my own subscription! I now have 3 ring binders full of each month’s magazine from 1992 to now!
I got my first copy of Mailbox my first year teaching school. My mentoring teacher pulled out several dog eared copies and told me that I could have them. I called all the local teacher stores and no one had them. I went to the school library and flipped when I saw them there! I took one of the cards and have been a subscriber ever since. This year I submitted my first idea and I am excited to see it in print. Thank you for the great job you do, it makes mine easier!
As a new teacher, I scrounged for anything that would enhance my bare-bones classroom and entice my high-needs population to look forward to stepping into the class environment. One Saturday, as I followed signs to a yard sale that promised KIDS BOOKS, it started to drizzle. By the time I found the location, the seller was frantic to get her inventory in our of the gathering storm. She was glad to push piles of books and old teacher magazines into a giant box, which she then gave me for $1! I spend the summer reading Mailbox and Worksheet Magazine (I think that’s what it was called - it’s now Teacher’s Helper). Even somewhat soggy, the treasures brought sunshine into my classroom for years!
I was introduced to the Mailbox magazine when my sister Sakina sent me an issue as I am associated with a school in India. my staff and I were amazed at the beautifully presented ideas. As we at present are unable to subsribe we wait for the sale if backdated issues i.e. the mailbox year books.
hope we shall one day be able to subscribe the current issues.
I was introduced to The Mailbox while working on my teaching degree. I used it during my student teaching and my first long term sub job. I have been a subscriber ever since and can’t wait for each new issue. It’s like opening a gift with so many wonderful new ideas to go along with the previous ones. Thanks for such a wonderful resource!!
I went back to work as a preschool director after taking about eight years off to raise my three girls. The former director had subscribed to The Mailbox for her staff and after viewing a few issues I was convinced that this was one of the best resources I could offer my teachers. Now I am back in my own instructional support classroom and am using many Mailbox resources every day.
I got my subscription of Mailbox while in college getting my degree. It was a Christmas gift from my mother. Each year under the tree is an envelope with a note saying I get another year.
It has become the first thing I grab for when I need a new idea. In fact most months there aren’t enough days for all the ideas I want to try!
I nannied for a family during college, and my employer was a former teacher. As a graduation gift, she hand me a current copy of The Mailbox and a certificate of subscription to the magazine. She told me it was a great classroom tool that she wanted to share with me. Very sweet!
I graduated in 1989 with my teaching degree and asked for a subscription to “The Mailbox” magazine as one of my gifts. I have been hooked ever since and still get excited when it comes in the mail! I have seen many changes with the magazine and have saved them all. However, last year I did go through all of them and decided to “downsize”. I decided to save the issues from the last five years. I did not throw the older ones away, I just looked through them and cut out the ideas I liked. I have submitted ideas and have read some really great ones from others. Keep up the SUPER job! The magazine is fun, colorful, gives many ideas, covers all subjects and is always willing to get ideas and make changes. I wish it was a monthly magazine instead for bi-monthly. I would love to get an issue each month.
I started reading The Mailbox when I was teaching at Head`Start. I loved the ideas, so I bought th yearbook. I now own a childcare center and when a new teacher starts, the first book I hand her is The Mailbox.
Like many of your readers I got a subscription to the Mailbox when I was in college. The magazines helped me plan extraordinary lessons. I am currently a (low paid) substitute and cannot afford a subscription, but I do look back on many years of mags that I saved.
I was first introduced to the Mailbox in 2003 when I was a substitute teacher. Of course the coming year when I went into the classroom I knew I needed to have the subscription for my classroom. I used it 4 years when I taught Pre-K and now I use it for 1st grade. I love it! And I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t heard of the Mailbox.
I first discovered Mailbox magazine when I was in college training to become a teacher. One of my professors came in one day with sample that she passed around the room and then told us that the library carried back issues that we could search through for ideas. Oh my gosh! I remember sitting for HOURS and HOURS going through those stacks and writing down ideas and tips in my notebook to use one day in my classroom. I also put MANY dimes in the copier to make copies of the pages to add to my “curriculum boxes” that we had to make. I even told my Mom that year that for Christmas I wanted a subscription to Mailbox Intermediate since I planned on teaching grades 4-6. What a joy it was to get my first issue! I still have all of my issues and have my subscription paid for the next 3 years! I have submitted a lot of ideas to Mailbox and love using the gift certificates to buy MORE Mailbox products. You guys are a teacher’s best friend!!!!
I worked our YMCA School Age Child Care program, and I found your Arts and Crafts for grades K-6 back in 1991! I was hooked! I started out with a subscription to The Mailbox for the Primary grades, and then when I got a job as a preschool teacher, I switched to the Kindergarten (they didn’t have preschool issues back then!).
I can pretty much plan my entire preschool year with your books. And the new Day-by-Day series is AMAZING!!! Thank you for ALWAYS being on the cutting edge and giving us so many fabulous ideas!!!
You rock!
The school librarian kept copies of The Mailbox for the faculty to use. Every time I borrowed the issue I never wanted to return it since it had so many ideas that I wanted to refer back to. Therefore, I ordered my own subscription. After I had a collection I stopped subscribing. Then every time I went to a teacher store they had the Mailbox by the register. I couldn’t keep my hands off them just like a child at the checkout with candy. Eventually I started subscribing and love them even more now that there is Mailbox Companion.
I found Mailbox way back in 1993 while doing my student teaching. Each month that I received the magazine it was just this rush of excitement to try all the great ideas. I love how this magazine helps me keep my creativity, while also addressing the all important state standards. Another huge thrill in my life was seeing MY ideas published for other teachers to use. That was just a HUGE validation for me. I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINES and LOVE BEING PART OF THEM!
I have been using Mailbox Magazine since the early 80’s. I taught 5th grade for 18 years then I was moved from grade to grade. I couldn’t have done it without all the wonderful ideas for each grade. I have used both Mailbox and Teacher’s Helper. Now I am teaching 2nd grade and my children love all the wonderful activities they get to do.
I took over a long established preschool as my first teaching job. When going through all the “school-owned” curriculum books, I came across a mailbox yearbook. I couldn’t believe how easy and fun the ideas were. I am hooked!
When I was in college, I was given a subscription to the Mailbox Magazine as a gift from my mother. She told me she knew I could do a lot with it. As I read it, I found myself incorporating a lot of the ideas in my homework and internships. When I graduated, I continued using the ideas in my classroom. The preschool I worked at started getting a subscription to the magazine. They saw so many of the ideas that I did as I started to use it. Now, I am getting ready to go into the Elementary field and the Mailbox magazine will be coming with me. I couldn’t imagine teaching without it!
My cooperating teacher would give me lots of ideas from The Mailbox when I was just getting my feet wet with teaching. When I finally was given a classroom of my own, the teacher that had been there before me left many of The Mailbox magazines for me to be able to reference as I began my new experiences. The ideas have always appealed to me. I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally give myself the gift of The Mailbox and enjoy the ideas as they were being published!