Teacher Tote-All Review and Giveaway

Ask any teacher, and they will tell you it is a necessary part of the job to bring work home and tote around books and supplies. So, every teacher needs something to carry all that stuff between home and school. Many days, a simple bag of some sort will do, but when the items you need to tote are big, bulky, or plentiful, you need what I have always called a "roly cart." 


Even subs can use one. When I do a long-term job, it always feels intrusive to set up my own things in the classroom since it's only mine on loan. The cart becomes my mobile classroom, helping me keep from getting my things mixed up in things that belong to the teacher or to the school.


I have had a very inexpensive cart from an office supply store for several years, and it has done its job. But it's nothing fancy, and although it hasn't broken, it is certainly very flimsy.

The Teacher Tote-All, manufactured by Educational Insights and found on Homeroom Teacher, is similar but different in a few important ways. First of all, it is a good size... not too big and not to small and holds up to 75 pounds, although I personally would not put that much weight in it just because I wouldn't be able to lift it into my car. It collapses down to store easily when not in use and assembles very quickly. I did learn the hard way that you really should keep your fingers away from where it snaps together. It's quite a tight snap. Ouch!


Different from the inexpensive version, the Teacher Tote-All comes with side rails that snap on the top of the collapsing walls, making them much more sturdy. And the color is a happy blue and yellow, which makes me happy.
My two "complaints" are minor but worth noting: 1) The handle telescopes up and down, but it does so sticking just about every time. It gets there, it just takes a bit of shaking and shimmying; and 2) The wheels are a little small making it slightly difficult to take up and down curbs and steps.


Here's the really exciting part of this post. Together with Homeroom Teacher, I have one Teacher Tote-All to give away to a lucky fan. To thank Homeroom Teacher for their generosity, please be sure to visit them at their website and on Facebook. And, of course, if you absolutely can't wait to see if you've won and want one right away, you can order a Teacher Tote-All directly from Homeroom Teacher.


To enter the giveaway, simply follow the steps and fill out the form below. A winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, May 1 at 5 p.m. CST.