Fabulous Friday Freebies for Teachers

The internet is teeming with teacher freebies, some more valuable than others.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Squidoo has a collection of free board game templates.  These include Monopoly, Shutes and Ladders, Candyland and Checkers.  They can be used to review content, entertain classes during indoor recess, etc.

Laura Candler digitalized her file cabinet and put them online for teachers to access and use.  She has a large collection of handouts in all the core classes, as well as activities for the holidays.

In case those don't give you exactly what you're looking for, here are 30+ past posts with freebies for a variety of occasions.  Each post has at least 3 links to freebies and/or collections of freebies.  This is definitely worth checking out as you begin the school year!

• Thanksgiving related freebies.
• Day of the Dead freebies.
• Freebies for teaching writing.
• Spanish Heritage Month freebies.
• Educational Halloween freebies part II.
• Educational Halloween freebies part I.
• Freebies for celebrating students' birthdays. 
• Free fall themed lessons.
• Freebies for teaching reading.
• Free educational games for your classroom.
• Classroom management freebies.
• Labor Day lesson freebies.
• Goal setting and communication freebies.
• Free kids' educational websites.
• Back to school lesson and activity freebies. Could also be used for a new semester.
• Free summer Olympic themed lessons & activities.
• Free website for teachers and students to interact online, post assignments, and more. 
• Free teaching strategies for across the curriculum.
• Free resource for writing and language arts teachers.
• Free team building and ice breaker activities.
• Free summer school & summer themed worksheets, bookmarks, and games.
• Places that you can get into for free with a teacher ID.
• Free summer learning printables and a travel game.
• Great free websites for teachers to bookmark part I.
• Great free websites for teachers to bookmark part II.
• End of the school year freebies.
• Memorial Day freebies.
• Mother's Day freebies.
• Free perspective drawing lesson.
• Free sub plans.
• Fun and free websites to use with students.
• Freebies for fast or early finishers.
• Free PowerPoint games, free art lesson, and free mandala PowerPoint.
• Free writing, arithmetic, and a Spanish lesson.
• Free zoo math game, graphic organizers, and comic pages.

Back to School Deals & Steals: 8/25/13 - 8/31/13

Most schools have started by now so the deals are starting to wind up! Here are this week's best back to school deals.

Walgreens

Deals using coupons from the weekly ad:
7/$1.00 - Wexford 2 pocket folder
$0.39 - Wexford ruler or protractor
$0.39 - Wexford compass
$0.39 - Wexford pencil sharpener
$0.79 - Pencil supply box

Deals no coupon required (but scan your Walgreen's card):
$0.29 - Paper Mate pens 10 pack
$0.49 - Wexford highlighter
$0.49 - Wexford 1 subject notebook 
$0.99 - Sharpie 4 pk. highlighters
$0.99 - Wexford 1" binder
$0.99 - Uni-ball gel pens 2 pk.
$0.99 - Elmer's jumbo glue or glue stick
$1.99 - Expo marker 4 pk. dry erase markers
$3.99 - Sharpie marker 8 pk.

Office Max

Deals for $1 and less:
$0.01 - Schoolio 2 pocket folder with $5 minimum purchase
$0.01 - Office Max multi-purpose paper after $6.99 easy rebate
$0.25 - Schoolio binders
$0.25 - Paper Mate pink pearl erasers
$0.25 - Westcott 5" scissors
$0.50 - Elmer's glue bottle
$0.75 - Bic highlighter 4 pk.
$1.00 - Zebra mechanical pencils
$1.00 - Poly folders & notebooks
$1.00 - Crayola colored pencils 12 pk.


Deals for $5 and less:
$2.00 - Dry erase board

Office Depot:

Deals for $1 and less:
$0.01 - Office Depot 2 pocket folders
$0.01 - Slider pencil case
$0.25 - 2 hole pencil sharpener
$0.25 - 1.8oz personal hand sanitizer
$0.25 - Office Depot 3 pk. pink erasers
$1.00 - Office Depot plastic ruler
$1.00 - Fiskars scissors
$1.00 - Foray 4 pk. retractable pens
$1.00 - Office Depot composition book
$1.00 - Office Depot 6 pk. highlighters


Deals for $5 and less:
$2.00 - Office Depot mini calculator
2 for 5.00 - Office Depot copy paper in white & varied colors
$3.00 - Office Depot clip board 3 pk.
$3.00 - Crayola 64 count crayons
$3.00 - Office Depot filler paper 500 sheets

Staples

Deals for $0.01 with a $5 minimum purchase:
- Staples white index cards 100 pk.
- Two pocket folder
- Staples #2 yellow pencils
- Staples 12 pk. eraser caps

Deals for $1 and less:
FREE - Bic ballpoint pens 12 pk. after easy rebate
$0.25 - Avery insert-able divider tabs
$0.50 - Staples perforated writing tab
$0.50 - Westcott 12" ruler
$0.50 - Bic mechanical pencil 5 pk.
$0.50 - Staples stickies 125 pk.
$0.75 - Crayola markers 10 pk.
$0.85 - Staples filler paper 120 sheets
$1.00 - Zebra retractable pens 7 pk.
$1.00 - Staples poly cover composition or 1 subject notebook
$1.00 - Staples 1 hole steel punch
$1.00 - Staples pencil box
$1.00 - 5"x8" writing pad
$1.00 - Staples wireless notebooks
$1.00 - Sharpie Accent highlighters 5 pk.
$1.00 - Sharpie markers 5 pk.
$1.00 - Bic eraser grips 4 pk.


Deals for $5 and less:
$1.99 - Webster's pocket dictionary
$2.00 -  Simply View 1" binder
$2.00 -  Avery glue sticks 3 pk.
$2.00 -  Xcellence 10 piece math kit
$2.00 -  Staples journal with pen

$3.00 - Hammermill ream copy paper after easy rebate
$3.00 - Staples photo plus paper 60 pk. after easy rebate
$3.00 - Pendaflex Write & Erase file folders 12 pk.
$3.00 - Staples pastel colored paper after easy rebate
$3.00 - Crayola crayons 64 pk.
$3.00 - Crayola colored pencils or Twistables 24 pk.
$3.00 - Crayola dry erase crayons 8 pk.
$3.00 - Crayola watercolor set
$3.00 - Expo markers 4 pk.
$5.00 - Sharpie markers 12 pk.

Fabulous Friday Freebies: Ice Breakers

This week's Friday Freebies post is all about ice breakers.  Whether you've started back to school already or are about to, the following links should come in useful for a variety of ages.  They can be used to build community, address teamwork, and much more.  Check them out!

The first is 40 icebreakers for small group.  It is an online pdf with directions for 40 different ice breakers.  The purpose of each ice breaker is given along with an explanation for how it works.

The next is icebreakers.  This site has ideas for groups of all sizes.  It also categorizes them by

type (active, team building, getting to know you).  

The third is teampedia which is one of the best websites for ice breakers.  The activities are broken down into about 35 categories.  These categories include sizes of groups.  

KSDE is a fourth site for ice breakers.  It is an online pdf with a plethora of ice breakers.  Each one comes with a brief lesson plan that explains what to do, how long it will take, what materials you will need, etc.  There is a good variety here.

Salt and Light is the last website I'm sharing with you.  If you are looking for ice breakers with a religious bend, you should look here.  Even if you're not, though, there are several ice breakers that can work for any situation.

Best wishes as you begin another school year.

Back to School Deals & Steals: 8/18/13 - 8/24/13

Here are the best back to school deals for this week.

Walgreens

Deals using in coupon from the weekly ad:
$0.19 - Penway wooden ruler
$0.19 - Wexford plastic protractor
$0.19 - Wexford mini highlighters
$0.20 - Wexford paper folders
$0.20 - Wexford mini memo book
$0.33 - Wexford erasers
$0.39 - Posterboard
$0.39 - Wexford sticky notes
$0.39 - Wexford glue bottle
$0.39 - Wexford invisible tape
$0.39 - Wexford jumbo glue stick
$0.39 - Wexford index card case
$0.39 - Acco paper clips
$0.49 - Wexford poly portfolio with 2 pockets
$0.79 - Wexford filler paper
$0.79 - 5 pack Paper Mate mechanical pencils
$0.79 - 10 pack Paper Mate stick pens
$0.79 - 5 pack Bic highlighters
$0.99 - Wexford legal pads
$0.99 - Wexford composition book
$0.99 - 24 pack Crayola crayons

 Deals no coupon required (scan your Walgreen's card):
$0.39 - Sharpie permanent marker
$0.39 - Wexford index cards
$0.39 - 8 pack number 2 pencils
$0.49 - Paper Mate grip mechanical pencil 5 pack
$0.49 - Wexford sheet protectors
$0.49 - 5 tab dividers
$0.99 - 48 or 96 sheets Wexford construction paper
$0.99 - Fiskars 5" scissors
$0.99 - Wexford index tab dividers with pockets
$1.99 - Crayola 10 pack markers
$1.99 - Crayola 12 pack colored pencils
$3.99 - Adventure Trails backpack or drawstring bag

Office Depot

Deals for $1 and less:
$0.01 - Office Depot Spiral 1-Subject Notebooks (limit 3)
$0.01 - Office Depot Acrylic Rules 12″(limit 3)
$1.00 - Wilson Jones 1″ Binder — $1 (limit 3)
$1.00 - Office Depot Comfort Grip Mechanical Pencils 12 pk.(limit 3)
$1.00 - Office Depot Reinforcement Labels 200 ct.(limit 3)
$1.00 - 12 pk. Office Depot Wooden Pencils
$1.00 - Oxford 3×5″ Pastel Ruled Index Cards 100 pk.
$1.00 - Office Depot Magnetic Dry-Erase Eraser
$1.00 - Foray Erasable Highlighters with Chisel Tips 3 pk.
$1.00 - Zipper Seal Sandwich or Snack Bags 50 ct.
$1.00 - Office Depot 8″ Scissors
$1.00 - Office Depot Fashion Composition Notebooks

Deals for $5 and less:
$2.00 - Elmer's Washable Glue 4 pk.
$2.00 - Office Depot Dry Erase Marker 4 pk.
$2.00 - Color Trim and Flip Cover Calculator
$2.00 - Scotch Color Masking Tape
$2.00 - Office Depot Correction Tape 2 pk.
$2.00 - Norcom Reinforced Filler Paper
$3.00 - Foray Dry Erase Board
$3.00 - X-Cool Gamer Display or Desktop Calculator
$5.00 - Foray Battery Operated Pencil Sharpener

Staples

Deals for $1 and less:
FREE - 12 pk. Staples mechanical pencils after $4.29 easy rebate
$0.10 - Staples composition book with $5 minimum purchase
$0.50 - Westcott 7" scissors
$0.50 - 2 pk. Bic gel pens
$0.50 - Paper Mate 3 pk. magic erasers
$1.00 - Staples 3 hole paper punch
$1.00 - RoseArt 12 pk. colored pencils
$1.00 - Compass or protractor
$1.00 - Staples wireless notebook
$1.00 - Duck poster putty
$1.00 - Staples graph ruled notebook


Deals for $5 and less:
$2.00 - Staples 100 sheet one subject notebook
$2.00 - Staples notepad with pen
$2.00 - Staples portfolio
$2.00 - Bic Wite Out 2 pk.
$2.00 - Staples fashion clip board
$2.00 - Paper Mate Erasermate 5 pk. pens
$2.00 - 1" Simply View binders
$2.00 - 12 pk. Ticonderoga pencils
$2.00 - 12 pk. Paper Mate mechanical pencils
$2.00 - Staples pen style highlighters 6 pk.
$2.00 - Quartet 4 pk. dry erase markers
$2.00 - Staples 1 hole punch
$2.00 - Clorox disinfectant wipes
$2.00 - Purell hand sanitizer 8 oz.
$2.00 - Staples graph rule filler paper
$2.00 - Staples graph rule notebooks

$3.00 - Hammermill copy paper after easy rebate of $6.99
$4.99 - Staples 5 ream copy paper case after easy rebate
$5.00 - Staples monthly desk pad

Office Max

Deals for $1 and less:
$0.01 - Schoolio composition books with $5 minimum purchase
$0.25 - Sharpie markers
$0.25 - Schoolio poly folders
$0.25 - Schoolio 12 pk. colored pencils
$0.25 - Just Basics 12 pk. wooden pencils
$1.00 - Office Max one subject notebooks or poly notebook
$1.00 - Post-It Ultra Cube
$1.00 - Scotch Expressions single roll
$1.00 - Really Useful storage box

Deals for $5 and less:
$1.50 - Scotch 5" kids scissors
$2.00 - Elmer's purple glue sticks 6 pk.
$2.00 - Office Max 3 subject notebook
$2.00 - Office Max plastic clipboard
$3.00 - Schoolio 10 pocket organizer
$3.00 - Office Max five subject notebook or one subject poly notebook

Save Up to 28% on Teachers Pay Teachers Back to School Sale! - EXPIRED

If you are looking for more good deals, check out Teachers Pay Teachers Back to School Sale! The sale will take place on August 18-19th and most sellers, including myself and Etc. will offer 28% off on their products! TPT does not have sales that frequently so this is a great deal. Enter code BTS13 to participate.

Check out my lessons here and also visit Etc.'s store!

Fabulous Friday Freebies: Setting Up Your Classroom

Setting up my classroom is not my strong suite.  So, it helps to mine the internet for ideas.  This week's freebie post has a bunch of ideas for decorating your classroom cheaply.  Here are some of the top finds...

1) Looking to cover your bulletin board, but your school doesn't have paper?  I've covered my boards very inexpensively in a couple different ways that last longer and are more durable than paper.  The first thing I've done is use an old sheet/fabric.  Darker colors work better because they don't show all the dirt.  But, they are easy to take down, throw in the wash and reuse.  The other thing I've done is to paint the board.  Have any extra paint lying around?  Paint the cork and you'll never have to cover it with paper again to bring splash of color to the board's backdrop.

2) Download this free reading strategies poster.  It can be blown up and laminated for use year after year.  This is great for any classroom since all teachers are teachers of reading!

3) This behavior management poster is a great way to explicitly teach students what they should do when you call them to attention.  As a poster it would be a good visual reminder to students as they are settling into the new year and new routines.

4) Check out this interest board with all sorts of creative bulletin board ideas.  There are boards for multiple seasons, holidays, themes and subjects.  It is definitely worth taking a quick look at!

Best Back to School Deals & Steals: 8/11/13 - 8/17/13

There are still plenty of hot deals out there for school supplies! Check it out!

Walgreens

Deals using in coupon from the weekly ad:
$0.79 - Elmer's glue bottle or glue stick two pack
$0.79 - Two pack Sharpie highlighters or Bic profile pens
$0.99 - Neon sharpie marker
$1.49 - Wexford pocket calculator
$1.49 - 10 pack yellow wooden pencils

Deals no coupon required: (must scan your Walgreen's card)
7 for $1.00 - Wexford two pocket folders
$0.49 - Paper Mate mechanical pencils 10 pack
$0.49 - Wexford 5" scissors
$0.49 - Highlighters
$0.49 - 60-70 sheet one subject notebooks
$2.99 - Wexford multipurpose paper, 400 sheets
$2..99 - 50 pack Wexford sheet protectors
$2..99 - 48 pack Oxford file folders
$4.99 - Expo markers 8 pack
$4.99 - Sharpie marker assorted 12 pack
Buy 1 get 1 free - Mead notebooks, composition books and portfolios

Office Depot

Deals for $1 and less:
$0.01 - Office Depot two pocket folders - limit 5
$0.50 - Office Depot three pack highlighters
$0.50 - Wilson Jones 1" poly binder
$0.50 - Office Depot compass
$0.50 - two pack Office Depot dry erase markers
$0.50 - 4 pack Scholastic glue sticks
$1.00 - Fiskars scissors for kids
$1.00 - Space Saver pencil case
$1.00 - Elmer's glue bottle
$1.00 - 4 pack Foray retractable pens
$1.00 - Post It dye cut sticky notes
$1.00 - 72 pack Office Depot eraser caps
$1.00 - 50 pack sandwich bags
$1.00 - 6 pack Office Depot mechanical pencils

Deals for $6 and less:
$3 - 20 pack Crayola markers
$3 - 24 pack Bic Cristal pens
$3 - Office Depot copy paper reams, available in varied colors
$4 - Crayola Twistables 24 pack crayons
$4 - 12 pack Foray highlighters
$4 - Ativa desktop calculator
$5 - 12 pack Sharpie permanent markers
$6 - Foray 20 pack gel ink roller pens

Staples

Deals for $1 and less:
FREE - Pilot 5 pack pens after easy rebate
$0.01 - Staples 1 subject notebooks with $5 minimum purchase
$0.01 - Home Select pocket tissues with $5 minimum purchase
$0.50 - Two pack Sharpie markers
$0.50 - 3 pack Pentel erasers
$0.50 - Staples pencil box
$1.00 - 4 pack Staples glue sticks
$1.00 - 5 pack Bic grip highlighters
$1.00 - Staples fat book with 200 pages
$1.00 - Hammermill copy paper ream after easy rebate
$1.00 - Staples clipboard


Deals for $6 and less:
$2 - Staples mini stapler
$2 - Ticonderoga 15 pack erasers
$2 - Simply View 1" binder
$2 - Staples one subject notebook
$2 - Westcott 7" scissors
$2 - Staples binder clips 75 pack
$3 - 4 pack fine point Expo markers
$3 - Expo dry erase board and marker
$3 - Staples 60 pack photo paper after easy rebate
$3 - Staples pastel paper after easy rebate
$3 - Duracell battery 4 pack
$4 - Ticonderoga 24 pack black pencils
$5 - 18 pack Bic pens
$5 - 28 pack Zebra mechanical pencils
$5 - Italian leather journal
$6 - 12 pack Sharpie markers

Target

$0.50 - Mead four pocket folders - use $1/2 Target coupon for $25 each
$1.00 - Up & Up three ring binders
$1.00 - Up & Up 24 count wooden pencils
$1.00 - Up & Up 6 count erasers
$1.50 - Mead one subject notebook - use $1/2 Target coupon for $1 each
$1.50 - Up & Up filler paper
$2.50 - Crayola 24 count colored pencils
$3.00 - Up & Up printer paper 400 sheets

Fabulous Friday Freebies: Back to School Goodies

For some of you, school is already back in session.  For the rest of us, it will be shortly.  So, here are a few freebies to check out...

The first one is a packet with useful back to school printables.  It includes gift tags, sign-in sheets for back to school nights, posters, etc.  

The next one is a cool game to teach students the importance of rules and working together.  Students play a game without any rules.  After they do this the class holds a conversation about why rules are useful, why some groups made up their own rules, what problems groups had playing a game without rules, etc.  It encourages critical thinking skills and sounds like a good way to have a bit of fun in the beginning of the year.

   



Finally, check out this Back to School pinterest board.  It has over 50 pins with activities, decorations, articles, teacher gifts, student gifts, jokes and more that are all back-to-school themed.  Quickly peruse this and you're sure to find something you can use, no matter what age you teach!

Back to School Deals! 8/4/13 - 8/10/13

Here are this week's best back to school deals!

Walgreens

Deals using a coupon from the weekly ad:
$0.19 - Penway wooden ruler or Wexford protractor
$0.25 - Wexford erasers
$0.39 - Wexford compass or pencil sharpener
$0.69 - Wexford filler paper or plastic supply box
$0.79 - Sharpie marker two pack
$0.99 - Fiskars scissors
$0.99 - Crayola 24 pack crayons
$0.99 - Elmer's glue stick 2 pack
$0.99 - Wexford 1 inch color binder
$0.99 - Wexford pens 20 pack or retractable 4 pack
$0.99 - Wexford legal pads or correction fluid 2 pack
$0.99 - Wexford dry erase marker 4 pack
$0.99 - Wexford construction paper 48 sheet pad
$0.99 - Wexford composition book

Deals no coupon required:
6 for $1 - Wexford two pocket folder with prongs or memo book
$0.29 - 10 pack Paper Mate pens or pencils (with card)
$3.99 - Adventure Trails backpack or bags
$3.99 - Sharpie marker assorted 8 pack

Staples

Free & Almost Free
$0.01 - Staples filler paper with $5 minimum purchase
Free after rebate of $3.49 - Pentel ballpoint pens

$1 and Under
$0.25 - Bic mechanical pencil 5 pack
$0.75 - Staples composition book or one subject notebook
$0.99 - Bounty paper towel roll
$1.00 after easy rebate - Hammermill ream of copy paper
$1.00 - Expo four pack dry erase markers
$1.00 - Westcott two pack scissors
$1.00 - Staples index card case
$1.00 - Staples fashion composition books and notebooks
$1.00 - Three pack Staples pink erasers
$1.00 - Crayola coloring book
$1.00 - Really Useful storage bin

$5 and Under
$1.49 - Staples fashion reusable bags
$2 - Rose Art 10 pack markers
$2 - Five pack Sharpie markers
$2 - Bic white out correction pens
$2 - 5 pack Sharpie highlighters
$2 - Three pack Scotch transparent tape
$2 - 12 pack Staples mechanical pencils
$2 - Staples graph ruled filler paper
$2 - 1" Simple View binder
$2 - Staples one subject notebook

$2 - Staples index cards on rings
$2 - Staples stickies pack
$3 - Staples reinforced filler paper 
$5 - 48 pack Staples pencils

Office Max

$1 and Under
$0.01 with $5 minimum purchase - Office Max filler paper
$0.05 - Plastic protractor and compass
$0.50 - School ID markers
$0.50 - School ID composition books
$0.50 - Bic pen 10 packs
$0.50 - Paper Mate mechanical pencil pack
$0.50 - Office Max two pack glue sticks
$0.50 - 3 pack Paper Mate white pearl erasers *
$1.00 - Office max poly notebook and two pocket folders
$1.00 - 10 pack Paper Mate Ink Joy pens
$1.00 - Select clips and fasteners
$1.00 - 5 pack Sharpie highlighter *

$1.00 - 4 pack Expo dry erase markers *

$5 and Under
$2 - Office Max wireless notebooks
$2 - Two pack Scotch magic tape
$2 - Duct tape mini roll
$2 - 72 pack Just Basic yellow pencils *
$2 -   Dry Erase board
$5 - 5 pack Post It notes
2 for $5 - Prang metallic markers or watercolor paint set

Office Depot

Office Depot Best Deals
$0.01 - Vinyl storage pouch
$0.25 - Scholastic 24 pack crayons
$0.25 -8 pack Office Depot pencils
$0.25 - 10 pack Office Depot pens
$0.25 - Scholastic bottled glue
$0.25 - Oxford index cards
$0.25 - Office Depot poly 2 pocket folder
$0.50 - Office Depot 12" ruler
$0.99 - Office Depot two hole hand sharpener
$0.99 - Office Depot filler paper
$1 - School Works 2 pack scissors
$1 - Office Depot 3 pack pink eraser
$1 - Office Depot composition book

$3 - Five Star poly 1" binders

Fabulous Freebies! Freebies for Traveling Kids

This week for our Friday Freebies edition are some fun freebies that have to do with travel that are perfect for kids on the road, on vacation, or just a fun summer school activity!

Minitime has a great selection of travel activities. You can preview each activity before printing it which makes it handy. There are word searches, scavenger hunts, fun facts and more. It looked like these activities could be used for a variety of age groups.

TLC Parentables has links to 36 printable travel games for kids. Some of these games are educational as well and could be used in a classroom setting. There is a great selection of games with links to many good sites.

The games and puzzles at Free-Puzzles.net are definitely geared primarily to travel There are mazes, bingo and a scavenger hunt.

Get a free travel journal printable at the Travel Turtle blog. This could be a handy assignment for students going on vacation or just a good summer learning activity.