This is me with my very first yard sale purchase! It was during my second year of teaching when a colleague, who was a yard sale fanatic, convinced me to go “yard salin’” with her. I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the notion of getting up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday, but I agreed nonetheless. (I’ll get to the hammer purchase in a minute. And just in case you’re wondering, it was for home use!) It was a morning I’ll always remember. I was a yard sale novice and I had no idea what I was in for. I remember clutching the armrest as my friend zipped and zagged through neighborhoods at lightning speeds. This woman was serious, and she had a plan. Stop one was at the corner of Oak Street and Hunter Place. Stop two was in the 500 block of First Avenue. And so we went. My head was spinning so fast I could barely focus on the merchandise. The morning ended at 9:00 a.m. sharp. She had a car full of classroom treasures; I had a hammer. (I was recently divorced. I’m not sure whether I bought the hammer because I wanted to hang pictures in my tiny apartment or wanted to knock some sense into a certain someone.) I still use the hammer today, in safe and productive ways. More importantly, this memorable adventure opened my eyes to a unique source of inexpensive classroom treasures!
Happy shopping (and please drive carefully)!
Diane
I’m like you–a little intimidated by the thought of going to yard sales, but I know a LOT of teachers who swear by it! They have all kinds of fun games and resources they buy at yard sales!! I may have to get my courage up and try it myself! 🙂
I, too, a confessed yard salin’ fool, have so many treasures, games, therapy tools (I’m speech therapist)! Wait till you add Thrift Shops to your repertoire, they’re open all week! argh! Sometimes saving so much money can break the bank!
I love Yard Sales!! I haven’t been to one in years but it is the perfect and cheapest way to stock your classroom library!! I have also found many other useful things at yard sales, such as stuffed animals, board games, videos, etc. Since I have returned to the classroom I think I might start getting back to my yard sale adventuring! Thanks for the great reminder, Diane!! PS Great hammer! Hope you got it for a good price! 🙂
I love garage sales (& thrift shops)! I am a pre-k teacher, and some of my best classroom activities have come from garage sales. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, trying to find a new learning activity to go with a classroom theme. It’s a blast. I highly recommend it to all teachers!
I am trying to build a classroom library and have been going to yard sales to get my books and other items. I tell them I am going to be a teacher and they are eager to give a good deal on books. Lots of great treasures can be found out there!! Happy yard salin’
I’m with Linda, my hubby insists I need a 12 step program for my yard/garage/rummage sale obsession. I have purchased SO many things for my classroom from books, to games, to art ‘tools’. Of my 500 plus preschool books I think less than 100 were purchased new and then never at full price. I confess I also hit thrift stores when I can. Saving money can break the bank, like she said, but my room is so much better for it.
I love random finds from yard sales. Last summer I found a 1983 Education Center book entitled Blueprints for Bulletin Boards. It’s a classic! My classroom closet is filled with educational games all from yard sales–most costing under $1. Pretty soon I’ll need to borrow your hammer to nail the packed closet shut! :0
Wow I love garage saling for classroom treasures. I was thrilled last summer to hit 3 sales of retiring teachers. I was lucky to get their books, toys and maps.
I am also lucky to belong to a teachers association that allows retiring teachers to have a table at trainings to sell off their teaching treasures. I was so lucky when I got 3 Folkmanis puppets this year.
I like Yard Sales because you can usually talk the price down, I just had a baby, and have been able to find some good quality baby stuff at amazing prices!
To Linda Branaman, I was thinking of becoming a Speech Therapist too, how did you get started?
I have always been a yard sale addict. I like to recycle objects (read: save as much money as possible). I have 8 kids of my own and 20 grandchildren. Recycling at home and at school is a way of life for me. Most of my classroom library came from garage/yard sale or thrift stores/library book sales.
I really love yard sales. It is a great place to find gently used puzzles and books. As well as dress up clothes and toys for little classrooms. THey make for great resources if you are on a budget!