Teachers have a tough job and even tougher salary to budget on. Luckily, there are a host of freebies and discounts available to educators and their students. May 7 is National Teacher’s Day, which makes it the perfect time to shop for your classroom.
Here’s a complete list of all the great deals for your students, school and most importantly, for you!
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1. Dry erase boards
Fill out an online form and EverWhite will send you a starter pack of white board samples.
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2. Decorations
Looking to enhance your classroom walls? Get a free poster and set a tone of community with this free “Everyone is Welcome Here” poster from We Are Teachers.
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3. Books …
Organizations like First Book and Kids Need to Read provide free books for classrooms in need.
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4. … & more books
The Barnes & Noble Educators program gets teachers 20% off purchases on anything used for the classroom. They also have appreciation days where they give an extra 5% off.
Here’s some tips on how you can save on school supplies.
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5. Coloring sheets
You can get free printouts for students (or yourself) to color, courtesy of places like Crayola.
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6. Bullying toolkits
The National Education Association offers toolkits and downloadable training modules to help educators identify and intervene bullying in the classroom.
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7. Meditation
Taking a few deep breaths can calm your nerves after a stressful day in class. If you need more help calming down, Headspace, a guided meditation app, offers an annual subscription to educators for just $1 a month. Calm, another meditation app, also provides a free subscription.
Here’s a list of other free apps that make your life easier.
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8. Supplies
Retail giant Walmart offers seasonal discounts to teachers, as well as $50 Teacher Rewards Cards to educators of participating schools. Teachers can also buy discounted gift cards online.
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9. Rulers
Get a set of six-inch rulers for your classroom by filling out an online form via Rent Calculators.org.
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10. Classroom pets
Petco teamed up with the Pet Care Trust to make Pets in the Classroom program, which makes it possible for teachers to bring pets into their classroom. You can read more about the program and grant application process here.
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11. Money tips
You can get tips, tricks and one easy money thing to do each week sent right to your inbox, thanks to the free Policygenius newsletter. Sign up here.
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12. Flu shot
Classrooms can be a breeding ground for germs. Protect yourself by getting a flu shot, which comes without a copay as long as you have health insurance. Learn where you can get a flu shot for free.
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13. Microsoft Office
Whether you need to create a document or a PowerPoint presentation, teachers and students can enjoy Office 365 Education for free. All you have to do is provide a valid school email address.
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14. Photoshop & more
Teachers can get over 60% off on a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. With access to over 20 apps, you’ll have all the creative tools you need for graphic design, photo editing, video production and more.
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15. Hot Wheels kit
You will be just about the coolest teacher ever with this free kit from Hot Wheels, which encourages problem-based learning through play. Just make sure you move it out of sight after recess.
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16. Cavity-free candies
Yes, you heard that right. Zollipops, a candy line that’s actually good for your teeth, is offering up free samples of candy to classrooms willing to participate in their One Million Smiles campaign to reduce tooth decay for children. Not only do you help a good cause, you and your students can enjoy free lollipops and taffy.
Want to learn more about Zollipops? Read this Q&A with 13-year-old CEO Aliana Morse.
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17. Toothpaste
Speaking of healthy teeth, Colgate is giving out free toothpaste and toothbrushes for up to 25 kindergarteners or first-grade students, to help teach them about oral hygiene and health. All you have to do is apply online to receive the kit.
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18. Insurance quotes
Living on a teacher’s budget isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you should forgo financial protection. Get free quotes for life, disability, home, or auto insurance — a policy is probably cheaper than you think. Learn more here.
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19. Credit reports
Americans can get their credit reports free every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com. Here’s why it’s just so important.
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20. Credit scores
Many personal finance sites, like Credit Sesame, will provide your credit score for free each month. So will some credit card issuers. Learn how to improve your credit in 30 days or less.
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21. Organizational help
Fill out an online form and The Container Store’s Organized Teacher program will send you discounts throughout the year to help keep your classroom tidy.
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22. Free lesson plans
Scholastic offers free classroom resources including lesson plans, interactive guides, educational games and e-books.
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23. Craft supplies …
You can find everything from seasonal decorations to craft ideas and even baking supplies at Michaels, where teachers get 15% off their entire purchase including sale items.
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24. … & more craft supplies
Enroll in the teacher rewards program at Jo-Ann for 15% off everything everyday in-stores and online.
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25. Pearls
You can get five free pearls if you apply to PearlsOnly’s school program that teaches kids about pearl culturing and the oyster life cycle. This program is available to elementary, middle and high school teachers, but your kids will benefit from the lessons, too.
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26. Stylish furniture
West Elm offers 15% off to teachers. Score a new space-saving chair or statement rug to deck out your classroom.
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27. Speakers
Bose offers special prices for U.S.-based educators, so teachers may be able to snag a deal on speakers or sound systems for their classrooms.
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28. Clothing …
Clothing store J. Crew offers a 15% discount to all teachers with valid ID.
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29. … more clothing …
Teachers get a 15% discount at clothing retailer Ann Taylor Loft if they show a valid teacher ID in store. And this deal is valid all year round.
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30 … & even more clothing
Clothing retailer Madewell offers teachers a 15% discount in store. All you have to do is show a valid school ID at the register and you’ll be able to save.
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31. News subscription
Teachers can enjoy the first four weeks of their New York Times membership for just a dollar and 50% off their subscription after that introductory period. You may also want to check out this list of best news websites for more deals.
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32. Podcasts
No matter what you teach, a free podcast covering the topic probably exists. Assigning your students to listen to a podcast for homework could be a cool change of pace for your class. Here’s a list of 17 podcasts to get you started.
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33. Apple products
Techies rejoice! All year round, teachers and faculty can save with discounted prices on Apple products like MacBooks, iMacs and iPads.
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34. … & Apple skills
Use Macbooks or iPads in the classroom? Apple Teacher offers free courses to help you make sure you’re getting the most out of your tools.
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35. Coding lessons
Learn to code for free — so you can teach your new skills to students! — at freecodecamp.com. (To learn more about the non-profit, check out this interview with founder Quincy Larson.)
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36. Costco coupons
Get exclusive Costco coupons (worth $60 in savings) when you sign up for a Costco membership through its partnership with the NEA.
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37. Tax-free shopping
Many states offer sales tax holidays during the summer, perfect for teachers looking for school supplies. Check to see if your state offers tax-free shopping. Here’s a list.
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38. An online library of resources
Teachers who sign up for Epic! have free and immediate access to over 35,000 eBooks, videos, quizzes, and other educational resources for K-5 students.
Looking for even more freebies? Here are some back-to-school freebies for teachers and students.
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39. Hotel discount
If you’re a public school teacher, you may be eligible for a discounted stays at Marriott hotels. Just make sure to select the ‘Government and Military’ option under the Special Rates section at the beginning of your hotel search.
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40. Car rental
Hit the road! Teachers can save on a car rental through Alamo if they’re a member of the American Federation of Teachers.
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41. Cruise vacation
Thirty teachers will receive a free cruise for two if they win the Norwegian Cruise Line “Giving Joy” contest — only available to educators.
Here’s how to save on cruises.
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42. Legoland ticket
Legoland California offers free admission for California teachers throughout the year and Florida teachers can get a free teacher pass to Legoland Florida by bringing their most recent pay stub to the ticket window. Check with your local theme park for more information.
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43. Admission to the aquarium …
Aquariums throughout the country offer free admission to teachers, like the Teacher Pass Program at the New England Aquarium in Boston that also includes free access to the teacher resource center.
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44. … & SeaWorld
SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego offer teachers free admission when they register online, plus teaching tools and even special trainings.
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45. A trip to the zoo …
The Philadelphia Zoo invites teachers to visit the zoo for free — so you can plan future field trips for you and your kids.
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46. … & the Country Music Hall of Fame …
Tennessee teachers are also invited to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville for free, to prep for future field trips.
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47. … Children’s Museum …
New England kindergarten teachers can get free admission to the Boston museum. Don’t live in Boston? Check out these free museums for families.
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48. … Natural History Museum …
All California K-12 teachers get free admission to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles with a school ID or a current pay stub, and educators can see new exhibits early on special Teacher Preview Days.
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49. … & Orlando Science Center
Florida teachers get free entry to the Orlando Science Center if they show their current teaching certificate, school ID or most recent pay stub. Don’t live near one of these museums? You still may get …
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50. Free museum entry
Teachers with a Bank of America credit card can get free admission to participating cultural institutions across the country on the first full weekend of every month through its Museum on Us program.
Freebies can be seasonal — check out all the free things you can get this spring.
This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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