What a Kindergarten Teacher Does in the Summer part 2 GARAGE SALES

Dog purse for my Dog themed classroom.  What should it hold? Name sticks? Magnet clips, pets for recess, Dinosaur Dominoes, veggies for Imagination Stations, fence pieces for block play, and a CD player for the reading corner.

I love to go to Garage Sales!  Not only can I buy stuff CHEAP - and who doesn't love that? - but I get my creative juices flowing.  "What could I do with a bag of starfish?"

I use the Polly Pockets items for ABC sort/write activity, the wooden acorns will be perfect for when the Oak falls on the Goat (Jolly Phonics /oa/), and I know those starfish will come in handy during the Ocean Unit.

Here's my basic plan.

*Pick a day to go. In my area sales usually start on Thursday or Friday or Saturday.  Whatever day I go I start with the sales that start on the day I go. Huh?  Say I'm going to sales on Friday, I make a list of sales that start Friday. There is always more (and better?) stuff on the first day. I am not an early bird.

Puzzles are easy to find. I got these for $2

Great way to pick up non-fiction books to meet CCS.

*I mostly check the newspaper listings. I don't pay much attention to the description of the sales - you never know what you might find! I've tried Craigslist, but in my area it is not very helpful.  One town next to where I live requires permits and I check those on the town's website. Google can work too.

One of my favorite finds. These are light up magnifiers. Won't the FDKers love reading tiny little sight words with these?

 *Here's where I get a little umm involved? I put the listings onto Driving Route Planner    This puts the sales in the best driving order. How cool is that?  It gives directions too. If my husband goes along he puts them into the GPS but that is not necessary.

A nice BIG basket for $2.  Hmm, think it's big enough for headphones.

*I wear something with pockets for change and small bills (I got 100 singles from my class this year - perfect for garage sales). I get a big McD unsweet iced tea with extra ice and I'm ready to shop!

Native American blanket? Safety pins. Paper sized basket. Egg beaters are perfect for water exploration!

*Yes, I might mention that I'm a teacher as I shop - people do wonder at my shopping choices. Once in a while (not very often) I'll get a deal or even a freebie. My granddaughter tends to get the freebies and deals - she's way cuter than me. (By the way, kids can get a whole lotta stuff for very little money. If they leave it outside and it gets ruined - oh, well- it was a quarter.) If I buy a number of things from one person I will say "Will you take ? for all of this?" If I think something is over-priced I will ask for a lower price. If I think it is a fair price I just pay it. I make little rules for myself. I won't spend over $2 for a basket, $1 for a hard cover book. I'm a sucker for kids selling lemonade or their own belongings.

That hat was too good to pass up.

Play fruit, need I say more.

*I try to take the haul to school as soon as possible. I wash stuffed toys - right in the machine. I have gotten some fabulous stuff over the years and going to garage sales keeps me out of Nordstroms (for a while anyway).

Barely used and Brand New Lakeshore games (even dog themed) $5 total.  SCORE!!