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by Molly Maloy

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Numbering Student Mailboxes

December 1, 2014

I have had student mailboxes ever since I started teaching and I can’t imagine not having them! They make passing out papers and other notes from the office so easy! The last 4 years I would write student names on labels at the beginning of each year to put on the mailboxes. The labels never really stuck very well though, and it took a lot of time away from classroom prep at the beginning of the year to get them ready! Plus, I’d always wait until last minute in case I had any new students enroll! 
I number a lot of things in my classroom, and decided to try numbering my mailboxes as well! That way my mailboxes are set and I don’t have to redo them every year! This summer I posted a picture on Instagram of the numbers I was working on for mailbox clips, and I am finally getting around to sharing them with all of you!
After printing out the labels, I cut them out, making sure not to leave any white space around the edges.
Then I put a layer of Mod Podge on the clip with a foam brush and affixed the number label.
I added another layer of Mod Podge on top to make sure the number label was secure. I knew there would be a lot of little hands reaching in and out of the mailboxes and I want these clips to last!
After I finished each clip I laid it around the outside edge of a paper plate to dry. They dried surprisingly quick!
I’ve learned over the years to always make extras of EVERYTHING because it seems like I always get a couple new students throughout the year. Even though I only have 22 students this year, I made extra clips so I have them just in case!
I am lucky to have gotten my student mailboxes from another teacher who didn’t need them anymore because they are pretty expensive. If you are looking for something similar, you can find one (here) or (here). Mine is old and well loved. There were old labels that have been stuck on their for years. I tried to peal off as much as I could, but there was still label parts remaining. To cover them up, I took a black sharpie and drew over the white (off-white) labels. From the pictures, you can tell where the sharpie was drawn on, but in person you can hardly tell! The binder clips went on easily after that!
If you are in need of an update for your student mailboxes, you can pick these up in my TPT store by clicking the image below!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I am looking forward to seeing my students tomorrow after a week off! I miss their sweet little faces!

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Filed Under: Classroom, Management, Organization 21 Comments

Comments

  1. Kathie @Tried and True Teaching Tools says

    December 1, 2014 at 5:27 am

    These are perfect!! I love organizing everything by number and these clips are a brilliant idea!! Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:42 am

      Thanks so much, Kathie!

      Reply
  2. Diane R says

    December 2, 2014 at 3:20 am

    LOVE. IT. Do you find that the papers get under the clips? I might take off the silver metal part when I do mine…

    Reply
    • Molly says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:43 am

      Thanks Diane!! That hasn't been a problem, but that would be a good idea to take off the mental parts! Is it easy to take them off after they are attached? I never even thought of that!

      Reply
  3. Teaching with Smiles says

    December 4, 2014 at 3:39 am

    Molly! These are perfect! :) Love the idea, and I am definitely going to be doing this before winter break! :)

    Reply
    • Molly says

      December 10, 2014 at 3:43 am

      Thanks Kari!! So glad you can use these!!

      Reply
  4. Mark says

    December 4, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    I was going to save myself a little time and trouble by making the seasonal book basket labels from http://monthbymonth.scholastic.com/organize.html and just glue them to my baskets. However, my baskets would take your clips just fine, so I am going to make my labels, put them on thin board, hot glue them to the clips, and attach them to my baskets. Now they will be stronger and retain their beauty longer.

    Reply
  5. Kristen says

    December 5, 2014 at 11:42 pm

    Oh my goodness, I LOVE these Molly!! How smart and beautifull!!!! Thank you so much for sharing, I am pinning this gorgeousness right now :)

    Reply
    • Molly says

      December 10, 2014 at 3:40 am

      Thank you so much, Kristen!!

      Reply
  6. katie w says

    January 2, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Wow!!! Love this, I'm off to renumber my mailboxes.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 5, 2015 at 12:07 am

      Thanks so much, Katie!! I'm sure yours are going to turn out great!!

      Reply
  7. kai lindstrom says

    June 8, 2015 at 5:36 am

    Hi Molly,
    How do the children know which number is their number?
    K

    Reply
    • Molly says

      June 13, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      Hi Kai!
      They are each assigned a number that they keep all year! The numbers are alphabetical by last name and they help keep everything organized! They turn in their homework by number which makes recording grades quick and easy (I use the document sorter I blogged about here: http://www.lessonswithlaughter.com/2012/09/what-im-lovin.html), their mailboxes are in number order, and so are their book baskets!
      Molly

      Reply
  8. Carrie Stencel says

    July 12, 2015 at 12:01 am

    Hi! I just discovered your blog and love it! Are your mailbox numbers available in your shop? If not, would you be willing to share? They are just too cute!

    Thanks,
    Carrie

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 12, 2015 at 12:11 am

      Hi Carrie! Thank you so much! Yes they are!! You can get them for free here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Numbers-for-Mailbox-Clips-1586008

      Thanks again and I hope you enjoy using them in your classroom!!!

      Molly

      Reply
  9. Nikki Culbertson says

    July 22, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    I did this last year and absolutely loved it! You could also put washi tape over the black area where you had to use the Sharpie. I used a long strip of washi all the way across each row and it turned out so cute!! :)
    Nikki
    Faith Family and 5th

    Reply
  10. Teaching with Smiles says

    August 13, 2015 at 2:06 am

    What size binder clips did you use? Small or medium? I am noticing the numbers are a little large for the small binder clips… :) Thank you!!
    Kari :)

    Reply
  11. Carol says

    November 25, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    With a small amount of Wesson oil and baking soda you can rub the sticky right off.

    Reply
  12. Carol says

    November 26, 2015 at 12:06 am

    You can use a small amount of Wesson oil and baking soda and rub onto the sticky area. In about 5 minutes it should just rub right off.

    Reply
  13. Cierra says

    July 1, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    HI Molly,

    What size binder clips did you use? Also, did you print the numbers on regular paper, card stock, or sticker labels?

    Thanks so much!
    Cierra

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 5, 2016 at 9:23 pm

      Hi Cierra! I can’t remember exactly, but I want to say that they clips were about 1 inch. The numbers fit them perfectly with just a tiny sliver of clip on either side. I printed them numbers on regular paper and then used modge podge to adhere them!

      Reply

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