Introducing....The SLANT Box Exchange

Do you Birchbox, Ipsy, Julep, Umba, Love With Food, For The Makers, Kiwi Krate, Or BarkBox?

I do. 


Introducing.....

SLANT

Sending Love Across the Nation to Teachers

SLANT : Verb - Reach out and be rewarded!

Click Here To Sign Up

**** UPDATE**** International friends, there is plenty of interest to send abroad!  Please do not hesitate to join...We got no post code hate!!!

I really love getting mail; especially mail that does not involve me paying a bill.  I love the smell of ink on paper that someone spent time writing (really writing) a letter on.  Sometimes I can even get a whiff of that person who sent it to me.  

I also love presents.  So much so that I regularly get myself presents in the form of Birchbox, Ipsy and Julep (There are more that I am probably going to get, it's a sick habit.)  I used to do a fabric scrap swap and it was always so fun to see what the other person found for me every month.

I recently found a program similar to the monthly boxes but it is for women, you send a box to a woman, and she to you.  I is called the Cara Box.  You can find it at Wifessionals.  The button is to the left of this post.  You get to know her through her blog, or social media, or just email.  Then there is a theme, you pack a box up that that woman will love related to that theme and wait for for yours! \\\

Then I had an idea.  What an amazing idea for educators!  I GLOW every time I get any of the above boxes.  And while the women do a fantastic job choosing items I might like, I sometimes think that they just do not get it. I love jewelry, but I do not often wear it as it snags on my id badge, or kids rip it out.  I love coffee, but I do not have time to make a whole pot of coffee - nor can I afford to drink it for lack of bathroom time.  Non-educators do not know the glory that a fresh pack of post-its can have on a bad day, or the power of a Flair Marker.  

I have absolutely enjoyed meeting tons of new educators since the start of LessonsWithCoffee.  I started this blog as a global networking forum, a way to meet people that have the passion that I do for children and their future, it is quite literally a Professional Learning Committee.  I am floored by the creativity, energy, and commitment I see from you all on a daily basis.  I especially appreciate the kind emails and words of encouragement that we share with each other on a day-to-day basis, and appreciate the advice I have gotten from many of you - you encourage me to be a more reflective teacher not only in my classroom but in my personal life as well. 

So because I teach math:

1/3 Super fun things in the mail + 1/3 Meeting new educators + 1/3 Encouragement and Support = The SLANT BOX

We all know what SLANT means in the education world, but I have changed it to Sending Love Across the Nation to Teachers.

I'm starting a monthly box swap with the help from Mrs Price at Mrs Prices KinderGators and Miss Kelly at First Grade Fairytails. While this was my initial idea, I could not have done it had Mrs. Price and Miss Kelly have not agreed to help with the advertisement and organization and Miss Kelly created that super sweet little flyer up above!  We are very excited to roll out these boxes and all think that it is going to be so much fun! Each month there will be a different theme. Anything from a season, to a color, to a topic (like school lunch, or School Pride), to a book.

You must sign up by the 11:59 pm on the 3rd of the month (Central Standard Time.).  We will pair you with two other Educators; one you send to one sends to you, by the 5th of the month.  YOU MUST CONTACT BOTH OF YOUR MATCHES WITH IN 48 HOURS.  If you do not hear from one of your partners please let me know and I will make other arrangements.  You will email back and forth to get to know each other, totally creep read (and hopefully follow) their blogs and slightly stalk other social networks they may have. 

By the 25th of the month you will create a box, for the educator you were paired to send to, and ship it off, your other partner will return the favor. Who likes having a birthday?  I DO, I DO!  This is totally like having a birthday every month!  The best part is you can drop in and out whenever you want.  No yearly commitments.  You just make a one-month at a time decision.  Do you need some encouragement this month? Join us! Spent too much your Halloween costume? Come back next month!  You are re-paired each month with a new person so you can feel free to join, or skip whenever you please!  Listen we get it.  Conferences are coming up, you're a student teacher and have finals, your in your masters class and have to finish your theses.  No questions come back when you want!

BECAUSE EVEN THE BEST CLASS NEEDS THEM:

RULES

1) Packages must have a $10 value. This does not mean you NEED to spend 10$,  It just needs to value this. Use your judgment, but if you want to spend more, feel free!

2) Please do not stray from the theme of the month. Get creative! I know you have a Pinterest, get on it and use it!

3) Include a letter to say "hi!"  This letter could include support, encouragement or congratulations!  This is why you need to get to know your partners! Make an effort to know them through their blogs and social media.  THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL!  It is awesome-sauce getting gifts, but that letter will last forever!

4) Your box must include one item that is handmade, this could be the card you write rule 3 on.  It must also include 5+ items per box. Who wants a boring box? Again, we are educators; we are creative and inspired and can turn a toilet paper tube into something awesome.  Do it!

5) Your box may not include TPT gift certificates or access to any items from your store that count towards your 10$ value.  Not to be ugly on the topic but this is not an advertisement arena for your businesses...just a way to get to know other educators in a positive supportive way with out the guilt of having to purchase something.  That being said, you can create an item that you feel your partner might like- the time and effort putting it together for them would count towards your 10$ value. 

6) Once you received your box you will post (link up on blogs) or # on social media. 

Preferably the more the better.  We will use the # SLANTBOXES.

7) US residents you are totally in.  International friends, I will do my best.  I cannot make promises that there will be enough interest from your country.  (Therefore you might want to tell others!!!!!)  Just fill out the form like everyone else and I will try to get you matched up.

8) If you do not have a blog that is ok.  Hey I just got one.  But I do ask that you post on FaceBook or Instagram

9)  I tell my students all the time I am not their mothers.  Therefore, where I hope that no one flakes, and packages do not get lost in the mail, but I am not going to be responsible for "issues" after I send out the names of the senders/sendees. I highly recommend tracking your packages and sending your partner the tracking number. Along with package tracking I as cute as some of those bubble wraps are, get a "if it fits it ships" flat rate box.  You will thank me when your package only costs 5$ to ship rather than 15$ due to weight.  On that note, if you do not send a box, you will no longer be invited to participate, and if you feel as though your partner is being a flake please let me know ASAP!  I will try to work something out.  Bottom line, if I do not know about a flaker, I can not kick them out.  We tell our kids not to tattle, but I am saying tattle. 

10) Give yourself a hug and have some fun!

So that is the gist of the SLANT box.  If you are interested (and I hope you are) please click the link below or above to fill out a Google form and we will get your partners to you by the 5^th of the month.

Past Themes:
A Few of My Favorite Things (August '13)

Click Here To Sign Up

 

THE FIRST THEME WILL BE:

 “A few of my favorite things”

To start the school year off, get to know your partner, see if you have any similarities with them, ask them what they like, think about what you like.  Perhaps you find out that you both cannot start the day with out a cup of coffee – you might make them a coffee mug.  Perhaps you find out that you both think Justin Timberlake should have married you – you might find a JT poster.  ***(HINT HINT HINT)*** Be creative.  Think about what you LOVE and what someone else might LOVE, but most of all have fun!

Cheers!

Jameson 

Grab the button and spread the word! This is going to be awesome!

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