Gobs, yep, gobs of resources await you as you start thinking of back-to-school. Writing? Got you covered. Math and reading? Sure thing! Tips and art? Read on for all this and chances to win books, prize packs, and cold hard cash for your classroom!
To start off, submit a comment to the blog by 11:59 pm EDT Sunday, August 16, 2015, to tell me which of the contests and freebies below are your favorites. One lucky teacher will win two books and two journals from Astute Hoot, a standards-aligned program to supplement and enhance district curriculum so even reluctant grades K–3 students blossom into motivated learners.
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In Hazel Meets the Reading Strategy Animals, ten woodland animals use research-based strategies to guide Hazel to become a proficient reader. The book is supplemented by Hazel’s Reading Comprehension Strategies Journal. Then Hazel learns problem-solving strategies in Hazel meets the Math Strategy Animals, supplemented by the Math Problem-Solving Journal. Whether or not you win the books and journals, you can still get Astute Hoot freebies for back-to-school. Click here!
(Update: congratulations to Ruth, who is the winner of our prize.)
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Have you swung by your local Office Depot OfficeMax store yet for the Teacher Appreciation event? If not, you have today and tomorrow to get there and take advantage of 25% off qualifying purchases. Make sure you pick up a free school year calendar while you’re there. It’s a handy reference for dates to know and fun facts to get you through the school year. Plus it has savings of up to 50%! (For August, check out the adorable apple note dispenser to take back to school. It’s only $5!) If you can’t make it this week, not to worry. There will be another chance to enjoy the appreciation from August 29–September 1. Plus you can earn free supplies for your school or rewards for you too!
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Here’s another way to start your school year on the “write” foot. You have a chance to win cash and X-ACTO prize packs while getting free resources to keep students’ writing on point! First, here’s what you can win: one lucky teacher will win $500 in classroom cash and an X-ACTO prize pack, and three runners-up will each win $250 and an X-ACTO prize pack. Then get free writing ideas and organizers for grades K–2 and 3–5 plus at-home writing practice for grades K–5. Find out more here.
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Promote healthy lunch options with your class. Get free resources—activities for preschool–grade 1 and grades 2–5, a family newsletter, and more—and take the Power Your Lunchbox Pledge to eat fresh fruits in a rainbow of colors and to explore new fruits and 
veggies. For each pledge, Produce for Kids and its partners will donate $1 to Feeding America children’s programs. Click here!
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Need help in finding ways to use visual art standards in professional development and with students? It’s out there for you. Or are you looking for lesson plans that integrate art but also meet standards? My guess is more than 1,200 ideas will do the trick. You’ll find this and more at Crayola.com/educator. Here’s the best part: it’s all free!
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Don’t forget to tell me which of these contests and freebies are your favorites for a chance to win the Astute Hoot books and journals. Make sure you check the blog throughout August for more freebies, resources, and chances to win to make this the best back-to-school ever!
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| Karen |
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PS: This is big news. You have a chance to win a $2,500 Office Depot OfficeMax gift card for your school or a $500 gift card for you! Go to TheMailbox.com/gearupforschool to enter and to download free tips and activities to gear up for great school year.
I am hitting up Office Max today and cant wait. The books look wonderful would love to win.
Hi! This is the first time I’ve read your Blog and it is awesome to have all of these resources and many FREE things for my bclassroom. I run a small home daycare but in the summer I have school age children from grade One to Six. My favorites on this blog are the Reading/Math Strategy animals and X-acto offers. I love X-acto products as my former career was as a graphic artist/art director where I used their products for over 20 years.
Welcome to the blog, Donna. So glad you’re here! Be sure to subscribe so you stay up-to-date on all of the freebies and contests.
Oh I love the Office Max events! There are so kind to teachers!
Thank you so much for the freebies. I would love the X-acto products. However, all the offers are fanastic!
Wonderful freebies (especially the Office Depot/Office Max information).
Wow! Thank you for the information on Office Max! Great stuff.
It was nice to meet Hazel. I hope she is correlated to the Common Core. It sounds like she might be an exciting introduction to the skills and strategies for language and math. I see that it is never too early to promote healthy lunches (and snacks).
Thank you for sharing your blog. There are so many opportunities for educators. I will be looking into all of them to help out our students at school! Thanks again!
I am new to the blog. I’m so glad I found it!
I love the Hazel books.
Thank you so much for the free classroom links/items. 🙂
Love reading your post and always try to enter a contest once a month. I have won several times usually something like a book or a coupon. It makes stopping to check my mail fun- great to find a surprise in your mailbox after a long day teaching.
I love the X-Acto pencil sharpener!
Hazel looks very interesting. We are studying owls and my children like anything to do with owls.
Spent some time looking at the Astute Hoot freebies great site I love their products and downloaded enough material to last till Christmas. So I have to say Astute Hoot was my favorite. LOve it
I give a hoot about this:)
I love the strategy animal books. Every class always loves anything to do with animals.
I love the Exacto giveaway. Where would we be without great pencil sharpeners!!
I love the Crayola stuff! Having moved from 3rd grade to 10th, I’m really interested in giving students more access to arts education- they may have forgotten how much they like crayons!
The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge seems wonderful!
Great prizes! The reading and math animal strategy books look amazing and I would love to win the Exacto pencil sharpener!
Kids love anything to do with animals! Teaching reading and math with them is an awesome idea! Astute Hoot for sure!
I love the Exacto giveaway and Astute hoot.