Staples, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

I hadn't planned to post until this weekend, but an email has me so annoyed I had to share.

Remember when Staples was my new BFF?
It's been a great relationship.
I would like to say we even went beyond being BFFs this year and gotten as close as an office supply store and an elementary teacher can get.

When I needed 25 notebooks, Staples was there for me.
When I needed four new staplers because my friends pounded our old ones into oblivion, Staples was there for me.
When the power went out, my Promethean board died, and I had to kick it old school with chart paper and Mr. Sketch markers?  Staples was there for me.

So, I have to ask my BFF Staples. . .

Why have you forsaken me?

It was with a heavy heart that I opened my email to find a Dear John letter from my former BFF.  It seems that they have changed their Teacher Rewards program. It used to be that when they had Extreme Deals during July and August for the back to school season, you could buy an additional 25 of any extreme deal product at the same price.  In fact, last July I did an entire post about this deal.  I got index cards, highlighters, and pencils for just ten cents each! 

Remember these reading response notebooks?

Yup, purchased at Staples for just ten cents each!

So, what is the new program?  It seems you can buy the limited quantities of the Extreme Deal, which is usually about two, at the super inexpensive price.  Now, any extras you buy will be the regular price.  I KNOW!!!!  Here's how they think they are being a good guy, they will give you the full price of the other purchases on your teacher rewards to be used later.  Ahhhh, thanks Staples but really?  Not much of a perk!

Here's the email I received:

For questions, call the Staples Rewards® contact center at 1-800-793-3320. Email us > Find a store near you Request a catalog > Get the Staples Mobile app.

*Get 100% back in Staples Rewards when you buy any Extreme Deals during Back to School (July/August) 2012. Valid for Teacher Rewards members only. In store only. While supplies last. Maximum quantity eligible for Rewards is 25 including items purchased as part of the Extreme Deal. Items purchased over Extreme Deal limit will be charged at reg. retail price. Price eligible for Rewards is the amount paid at checkout after application of all promotions, coupons, instant savings, and Rewards redemptions. Purchaser is responsible for paying applicable sales tax. No cash/credit back. Limit one Staples Rewards account per person or at any mailing address. Staples Rewards are issued online monthly when the value of the Reward is at least $10. Rewards expire no less than 60 days after issuance. Monthly balances of less than $10 will roll over each month until the minimum is met for that calendar quarter. If the $10 minimum for the quarter has not been met, the balance will expire at the end of the quarter. For full program details, visit staplesrewards.com. This email is intended to communicate important program information to Rewards members. The receipt of this email will not change your promotional email preferences. Make sure this email doesn't end up in your junk folder. Add staples@e.staples.com to your address book. Update your email preferences here. Privacy Policy. Staples Contract & Commercial, Inc., 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702.

So, let me tell you why this makes me so sad:

• I spend a lot of money purchasing supplies for my friends whose families simply do not have the means to buy them.
• I don't get paid in the summer!  Being able to buy these items at extreme deal prices makes it affordable for me.  It's not so helpful to get the money back in rewards after school starts.
• Being able to make sure  my friends have what they need to learn allows them to LEARN! Learning is the priority, not worrying that they don't have pencils or notebooks.

I understand that Staples is a business and like any business their goal is to make money.  However, I have to wonder.  Were teachers across the United States on the verge of putting them out of business with their crazy notebook buying every August?  What prompted this change of policy?  It just makes me so irritated.  I feel as teachers, our job is hard enough.  When you find something like the old Staples Rewards program that actually helps you do your job, you totally appreciate it.

I honestly used to think of Staples as a teacher friendly store, and it really did make me loyal to their company all throughout the year.  However, no more.  I simply don't have the funds to purchase 25 notebooks at regular price for my friends.  I can't afford to buy the extra supplies that I don't want to burden parents with.  And, if they aren't going to be so teacher friendly, I don't feel the need to be either when buying printer ink, paper, folders, and the multitude of other supplies I purchase at regular prices for school and home all year long.

It's time to end the love affair. 
Staples and I are no longer BFFs. 
As with any traumatic break-up, I'm off to drown my sorrows in pint of Hagen Daz now.

What's your take on this?

Comment Round Up

I LOVE COMMENTS FROM YOU. 

Love like big, pink, glittery heart love! 

But, recently I haven't been so good at keeping up with them all.  I just went in and commented in some of the comment sections of a few posts. However, I thought I would take some time to comment en masse to some of your comments to a few particular posts.  Gee, I used the word comments a lot here!  Anyway, I love to hear what you have to say, and I really appreciate that you take the time to post some words. 

Here are some thoughts on your comments.

Crafting Power Sentences
I'm so glad so many of you liked this lesson.  It has really gone over well with my students.  Kim from Finding JOY in 6th Grade made me laugh out loud when she wrote that she would fall over dead if her friends used more than 5 words in a sentence.  I feel ya, Kim!  That's one of the reasons I created this review lesson! 

Some of you noted that I tend to post in detail.  Often I think I'm just rambling, but I like to give as much information as I can.  Sometimes I've seen something on other blogs and think I would like to use it.  I like to know how the teacher implemented it and then make changes I need to to make it work for me.  That's what I always encourage you guys to do.  Take what I post and run with it!  Only you know your friends and what will work best for them.

Use Your Writing VOICES!
VOICES for You & Great Clip Art
The VOICES posts are some of my favorites.  What I like about the VOICES board is that it works across any grade level.  Mrs. Brown, who teachers 10th and 11th grade, and Mrs. S at Stapler's Strategies for Sizzlin' Second Graders! both commented that they plan to use the VOICES board in their classes.  And, I know it will work in both!  Some of you asked for copies of the words, and I'm happy I was able to figure out how to do it.  I'm not always as techy as you may think!

Important Questions
These really were important questions for me, and I was so curious to hear what you had to say.  I asked about two things; your Reader's Workshop and Words Their Way. 

I first asked about how reader's workshop was implemented in your district because it is currently being implemented in mine.  I'm not loving exactly how it's being implemented, but I do love a workshop approach.  Debi2610 asked if I had anything I could share.  To be honest, my district is implementing a new part of the workshop each month this year, so much of what they give us is being tweaked and changed often.  I am familiar with the method and have been using it prior to this year, so I've been able to work with it.  But Debi, a lot of what I post is all part of my reading and writing workshop lessons.

Some of you mentioned programs or models like CScope, GRR (Gradual Release of Responsibility) Model, Dorn model, and Faye Brownlie model of student choice.  Hopefully, my links are all correct.  I was familiar with some of them, but a couple were new to me.  It's amazing how instruction across the country differs so!

As for Words Their Way, all I can say is LOVE IT!  My friends love it, and it seems to be working well.  I'm planning to post more about it when I have had more time to work with it.  But, thanks to everyone for the comments.  They were helpful.

Planning The Impossible
Loved the comments on this one! It seems that asking teachers to cram more and more in the teaching day is a universal teacher frustration.  I've been working within the constraints of my literacy block, and it's sort of, kinda, maybe working a bit.  I'm still not satisfied with my reading time, but I don't see anything changing in the near future.  I had to laugh at the one anonymous response that basically told me to shut up, close my door, and just do my own thing.  Let me tell you, the idea has crossed my mind!   The only problem with that idea is that our district is big on walk throughs.  This is where administrators do random walks through your room to see what you are up to.  They stay no longer than ten minutes and it is not considered an observation, but they may come and go as often as they please.  I also have to have my plan book available at all times.  Under these conditions, there's no closing the door and doing your own thing!  But, as I said, I'm slowly making it work.  But then, don't we always do that as teachers?  We just make it work!

You're a Heart Breaker!
You know I love your comments.  I especially love when you come back and tell me how you used an idea I posted.  Megafizz tried the Heart Breakers game with her 5th graders, and they loved it.  That made me happy!

So, that's kind of it for today.  Lots of words and not a lot of pictures on this one.  But, there is a lot of thought about your words and a lot of thanks.  To you!  Thanks for posting comments, and thanks for taking the time to read my little blog.  See you soon. :-)