Cheap Chair Pockets!

I am so, so excited about this project--it was cheap and easy (my two favorite words in teacher-language!!). I'm linking it up with the lovely and extremely creative Tara, over at...

So...I've been wanting chair pockets for a zillion years (or so it seems). Especially since I've gone to tables in the past year--I really want my students to have instant access to a book they are reading. 

But the store-bought ones are pretty costly and I am not too handy with the needle and thread...so sewing my own wasn't really a consideration. 

But...

this week I happened upon a wonderful post over at Miss Third Grade (check out her information about the chair pockets by clicking on the green link--she has some really cool ideas about them!). Courtney had found these oh-so-cheap nail aprons from Home Depot. The original idea came from this really cool blog that I'm loving: Confessions of a Nerdy Teacher (I love finding new blogs to read!).

So. These pockets are actually called nail aprons and they are (you will love this!) only $0.77 each!! The minute I hear something is less than a dollar, I'm sold! 

Here's some other really cool things about them:

• They're pretty tough, for such an inexpensive little item.
• Their long strings can be tied tightly around the chair.
• The pockets can easily hold chapter books.
• The pockets can also hold picture books (as long as they aren't too large).
• The pockets (ok now I'm getting redundant) can also hold multiple copies of books and other small items (I'm thinking maybe even individual whiteboards, dry erase markers, pencils, etc).

I guess the only downside for me was the orange logo. Don't get me wrong, I love Home Depot and I am very grateful for all of the cheap teacherly items I get from there. But that shade of orange isn't quite the hue I'm using this year (I'm joking...well kind of). 

And I actually wanted the pockets to have numbers on them, because I am all about numbering my students this year (more to come on that later this week). 

But, again, I'm not crafty with painting or sewing, so I had to resort to computer-made labels...

...and some strategically-placed Velcro:

I placed the nail apron flat on the table without the books first, then applied the label with the Velcro pieces on it, so the label was lined up over the logo...

 

(You'll notice that the middle Velcro piece is coming up...I think I'm going to use slightly larger strips for the rest of the pockets instead, so they're a bit more secure).

The Velcro was my darling sister's idea and it's perfect, because it moves with the fabric and has some give as books are being taken in and out of the pockets.

I haven't had the chance to test these out on my chairs in school (I'm not in a rush to go back in this week!) but I will be tying them either to the chair backs, or possibly the top parts of the chair legs...I will be sure to share pictures of that soon.

What are some of your favorite ways to store books in your class? Would you try these chair pockets?

This post has been updated: Cheap Chair Pockets Take Two!!