Do you play the teacher card?
You know what I'm talking about, it's the one that gets people talking and often gets us FREEBIES! When I first started teaching, I didn't realize how powerful this card could be. Quickly, this began to change.
At first, I would happen to mention at retail places that I was a teacher that's why I buy things in quantities of 25. What I noticed was many people would immediately loosen up and start talking to me. Let me stop here and explain something...
I am from up north (Ohio). I have lived in NC now for almost 8 years. Let me just say, my personality, can be somewhat too much for people. I move fast, I talk fast and I'm always in a rush to move on to my next task. This I feel is an admirable trait. I also happen to get through life on sarcasm which may or may not be an admirable trait...moving on...
I've found though, that sometimes I just end up confusing people. So, after 8 years, I think I've found a small talk happy medium. The teacher card though can get anyone talking. There are a few things that people say that come up again and again
- People tell me they could never do what I do
- People tell me horror stories about current teachers of their children and how wrong that teacher is and what do I think? Um...awkward
- Of course I get the "you have 3 months off so whatever your worried about now doesn't matter" ~ that usually ends that conversation :)
- The best reaction though is people who will go out of their way to help simply because I teach
I have received free carpets, limitless paint stir sticks from paint counters, free recyclable bags, free glue, free paper, crayons, countless "extra" discounts, free painting services and so much more over the years.
It always warms my heart to see how my profession touches not only children, but adults as well. To me, it means that at some time, somewhere a teacher made a difference to them. I hope I can be that teacher to some of my students.
So, thank you for all of you who go out of your way to help a teacher out!
Now teachers, when and where do you play the teacher card?
I use the teacher card with
ReplyDelete-Michaels Arts and Crafts, they have a discount card.
-the grocery stores for paper sacks
-IKEA donated 25 of their ginormous blue bags for my recycling club last year
-and with friends and family (they collect things that I can use for organization or crafts- crystal lite containers, toilet paper tubes, creamer bottles)... my mom forwarded my DonorsChoose email to her book club, and a friend of hers completely funded a project for me!
you just never know who can help you out!
oh and check this link, it has a TON of discounts for teachers that I didn't know about before finding it...http://www.bradsdeals.com/blog/2010/08/10/71-stores-offering-discounts-to-teachers/
:) Lauren
Notes From Miss Dennis
Hey! Love your blog :) Thanks for finding mine!! I play the teacher card too - especially at Hobby Lobby & Michael's!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
Learn, Laugh, Grow
I don't usually play the card...unless I have a major reason. I also am very sarcastic, and it confuses people ALL the time! =)
ReplyDeleteJennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Love this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I'm from Ohio too. :)
ReplyDeleteI use the teacher card mostly at Michaels and anywhere else that will take it. My favorite was my apartment lease, we got a huge discount on our security deposit just because I'm a teacher!
Lisa
Stories From Second
I use the teacher card anywhere I think I can get away with it :) I teach at a school with students that come from a very low economic household. So supplies are not brought in, and parents can't afford much. So the "Teacher Card" comes in handy!!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com
I use the teacher card where ever I can. Where are you from in Ohio? I'm originally from just north of Cincinnati.
ReplyDeleteTeachin' First
I love that everyone just knew what I meant~ Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKristy I'm from a small town called Ashtabula. Up on the lake near the PA line :)
My friend from college and I used the "teacher card" to get to meet Corey Smith (you may not have heard of him but he's a singer). He used to teach high school so as soon as we pulled the elementary teacher card, he came right off the tour bus :) While others were back behind the rope, he was asking us how our parent communication was. No other profession can pull that card and get so many great perks!
ReplyDeleteMy local Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control store donates paper sandwich bags (aka, liquor bottle bags) to my kindergarten class.
ReplyDelete