I hope that even if you’re not a teacher, you share the information in this post with one you know!  I can’t think of a more intense profession – please take the time to thank the teachers in your life!

This post is chock full of deals, reward programs, and other incentives that teachers and educators might not have the time to find.  Check out these deals for back to school, a lot of which last all year long!  Most require sign up with proof of teaching license or school code but all programs are free with rewards offered to your school!

B&N Educator Program

• Educator Discount, Resources & More
• Save 20% off the publisher’s list price on all purchases for classroom use
• Get up to 25% off the publisher’s list price during Educator Appreciation Days
• Receive valuable email offers and information on special Educator events
• Listen to popular stories being read online
• Join by filling out this application and bringing it to any location! More FAQ
• Coupon code: B8X7U8U, Exp: 08/17/10 (save 30% off the Back to School Category)

Classroom Discount Card – savings for teachers

• Individual teachers, from preschool through high school, as well as school librarians and homeschool educators.
• Save 25% off the list price of books and music CDs
• Save 10% off the list price of DVDs for professional use.
• Applications are available at all Borders stores, and signing up is completely free.
• Follow on Facebook for more deals and events!

Half price Books – Educator Discount

• Half Price Books supports educators, school teachers and librarians in the community.
• Educator’s Discount Card saves 10% all year round!
• Just bring in valid ID and proof of current employment such as a pay stub or employee ID card.

Crayola – Gold Star Teacher Program

• Sign up
  for the program to get great deals, printables, and other online resources!
  
• Check out these resources, templates, and other freebies!
  
• FREE science lesson plan for teachers
  

Office Depot – Star Teacher Program

• Get 10% back in Rewards on ink, toner, and paper, plus 1% back on almost everything else.
• Get discounts with these “My Star Teacher” reward partners
• Find out more information about smart reward programs and going green!
• $10 off $50 (Coupon Code: 75009959)
• $15 off $75 (Coupon Code: 63427096)
• $20 off $100 (Coupon Code: 40124581)
• Expires 8/21

Adobe Software – Student/Teacher Discounts

• Get up to 80% off Adobe software products!
• FREE shipping!

ATT Wireless

• Teacher discounts, apply through email

Join PBS Teachers!

• Exclusive Content from PBS!
• Ability to Save, Rate and Comment on Classroom Resources (like their Activity Packs)
• Online Discussions on Media and Technology
• Just by signing up, you will receive a 10% discount on your next purchase at ShopPBS for Teachers.
• Follow on Twitter – @pbsteachers

• You must have a valid e-mail address at an educational institution ending with the domain suffix .EDU (i.e., leina@contoso.edu) OR have a valid email address at one of the educational institutions listed here.

• 20% Off All School and Office Supplies (In-Store Only)
• Valid 8/15/10–8/21/10

Michael’s has this program called “The Knack Faculty” which offers teachers and other educators tons of printable templates, ideas, and savings!

Make sure you take advantage of their teacher appreciation event:

What: The Knack Faculty Free Teacher Appreciation Crop Event

When: 8/27/2010 3:00 PM – 8:45 PM

“Create some fun for the classroom. Teachers and friends, join us for Teacher Appreciation Crop Event. Learn to create fun bulletin boards, bookmarks, signs and more. We provide the space and assortment of tools. Plus, we take care of the cleanup.”

HP – Teacher Experience Exchange

• Upload/browse through lesson plans on different subjects
• Checkout professional development resources

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There are tons of FREE and discounted things for your kids to do this summer! Take advantage and don’t pay retail! This blog post consists of all the fun activities we do during the week and on the weekends! Most of the programs we participated in last year. Also make sure to check out my blog post about 2010 Summer Reading Programs for Kids (to learn how to get free books, t-shirts, and gift certificates to reward your children for reading over the summer!) Some of the activities were mentioned in my blog post, 6 Kid Activities for the 6^th Day of the Week!

Bass Pro Shop

I hope you have one nearby, they offer great activities over the summer (and throughout the year!) They will be offering FREE/Fun activities and make your own crafts! EVERYTHING is FREE! Activities include crafts, shooting galleries, casting ponds, family workshops, making s’mores, photo opportunities (FUN!!), shooting range, merit badge workshops, and more!

When: June 5 – July 11

Time/Day of the Week(s): Tues/Thur (at noon) OR Sat/Sun (at noon) { Schedule }

Cost: FREE

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics

Make sure you check out my recent blog post about these quality activities that occur every other week! Your child will enjoy getting the free Lowe’s apron, goggles, and hammering away at the wood craft of the week!

When: Indefinitely, not just for the summer!

Time/Day of the Week(s): Every other Saturday, next event is 6/12/2010, after that is 6/26/2010 – starts at 10am and supplies go FAST! { Schedule }

Cost: FREE!!

Home Depot’s Kids Workshops

Another fun, FREE activity, Home Depot activities are very similar to Lowe’s. Really quality crafts! Have made a wooden airplane, treasure box, pirate ship, and more!

When: Indefinitely, not just a summer thing!

Time/Day of the Week(s): First Saturday of EVERY month, starts at 9am – get there EARLY! { Schedule }

Cost: FREE!!

Lakeshore Learning Store

Another really quality craft activity, this one is fun and can kill a couple hours! After making the craft, walk around the store and play with all the displays set out on Saturday for kids to experiment with. A fully stocked kitchen, put on a puppet show, go fish, and much more!

Also, on special holidays they sometimes offer multiple crafts! Great gifts for grandparents! They also encourage parents to participate if you’re feeling particularly crafty.

When: Indefinitely, not just summer!

Time/Day of the Week(s): Every Saturday from 11-3pm…try to not just show up at 2:45pm when they’re trying to clean up. The San Antonio location brings out supplies as long as there are kids which I’ve always appreciated. { Schedule }

Cost: FREE!!

Target Arts + Cultures

Target is supporting the Arts by offering over 2,200 FREE and reduced-price events sponsored by Target! Click on the link to find events near you!

Pottery Barn Kids Book Club

When: Indefinitely, not just for the summer

Time/Day of the Week(s): Tuesdays at 11am-1130am { Schedule }

Cost: FREE, after 5 visits get a FREE gift!

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This summer when your kids start to get bored, remind them that they can make money and get lots of fun free stuff, simply by reading a couple minutes each day!  We participated in a lot of these programs last year and had an incredible time!

Across the nation, Half Price Books is offering their “Feed Your Brain” summer reading program from June 1,
2010 through July 31, 2010! This is a GREAT deal! If your child reads 15 minutes each day a week, you can pick up a $3 gift card! We made this a Saturday tradition, turning in our reading log and picking out a new book or two (from the children’s clearance section!)

• Information for parents/teachers here
• Feed Your Brain reading log (printed copies also available in-store!)
• Official flyer to help spread the word at work!

Scholastic Summer Challenge

• Official website
• Word Girl is the Ambassador of Summer Reading

Barnes and Noble is also offering a FREE book for every 8 books you read this summer!

• Download their passport and choose from a list of books for each reading level!
• Here is a list of all the books your child can choose from
• Educators download this reading kit
• Parents can get additional information from this parent kit

Children can return their completed kits from May 25 through September 7^th!

Borders Summer Reading program double-dog dares you to read 10 books, record the names, and bring the printed form to any Borders store for a FREE book!

*For kids 12 and under, starts 5/4/2010 and lasts through 8/26/2010!

Pottery Barn Kids Book Club is every Tuesday from 1100am to 1130am. Visit 5 times and your children will receive a free gift!

Bookworm Wednesdays from National Amusements is offering FREE admission to select children’s film after presenting a book report to participating Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas, or Cinema De Lux box offices! Checkout their locations. Print this form to complete the book report with your child.

HEB Buddy is also offering a summer reading program! Read 10 books and return this form by October 1^st for cool prizes from HEB Buddy!

San Antonio Public Library wants you to join the Mayor’s Summer Reading Club! From June 15^th through August 31^st, you’ll get a certificate and FREE book for every 15 books you read!

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Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics are offered every other Saturdays at 10am. Kids get to build a FREE wooden project.

After going to the website you’ll get to see the next two upcoming projects and reserve a space online! You don’t have to sign up before attending but you have to get there early because once all the projects have been handed out they’re done! I normally try to go to a Lowe’s that’s more out of the way so that there’s less competition in case we’re running late.

My 6 year old daughter and I have been going for a couple of years and have made some incredible projects! You can buy any project that you missed online but it’s DEFINITELY worth it to attend when the crafts are FREE!

Participants receive:

• Free apron
• Goggles
• Project themed patch (for their apron)
• Certification of merit

Don’t forget to become a Fan of Lowe’s on Facebook and follow their tweets, @lowes.

Lowe’s Build and Grow Apron, Goggles, Hammer (child-sized)

Valentine’s Day Jewelry Box Craft

Birdhouse Building Kit

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Last summer, while visiting my sister in Houston, I vividly remember reading a front-page story that made me so excited!  It was about Lemonade Day, sponsored by Prepared4Life.org (P4L), a program the entire city of Houston supports that encourages kids to become young entrepreneurs, from kindergarten through the 12th grade, by teaching the fundamentals of business and financial planning.

Lemonade Day is a citywide program designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own lemonade business.

My daughter, imaginative and resourceful, has always wanted her own lemonade stand.  This program not only gives kids (many from high-risk neighborhoods) the opportunity to have a stand of their own, but empowers them with important planning information to maximize their potential for success.

It provides an opportunity for families, businesses, faith-based community organizations and schools to come together for a common purpose – to train the next generation of entrepreneurs through a free, fun, engaging, experiential activity.

When:  May 2, 2010 | First Sunday in May

Background Information

Originally started in Houston by Michael Holthouse (the founder of P4L) a master entrepreneur himself.  After creating a company that surpassed the $100 million mark, 6 years after starting it from scratch (Paranet),  Holthouse created:

He created the Holthouse Foundation for Kids to help at-risk children acquire the skills and habits they need to become successful adults…He and his wife, Lisa, later founded Prepared 4 Life, a non-profit organization that started by offering after-school programs for at-risk middle-school children in Houston.

He got the idea from his daughter who woke up early in the morning, excited to start her own lemonade stand.  Together they put together a business plan taking into consideration marketing, location, and paying back her investors and from the ashes Lemonade Day was born:

The ideas was to give kids an engaging workbook that would guide them through the process of setting up a stand.  An adult member would help walk each child through the process, but would be asked to leave most of the problem-solving to the kids…It would teach young kids the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurial startups: setting goals, planning for success, securing a loan, choosing locations, procuring supplies, making their product, and turning a profit.

Every Lemonade Day participant picks up a bag at a local station that includes a workbook for the kids and another one for the parents.

Although the kids are allowed to keep all of their profits, their encouraged to not only pay back their investors, they also are encouraged to donate a portion of their profits to a charity of their choice.

Exponential Success Over the Past 3 Years

Lemonade Day 2007 - 2600 Participants

Lemonade Day 2008 - 11,232 Participants

Lemonade Day 2009 - 27,389 Participants

Lemonade Day San Antonio

Check out San Antonio’s local website: http://sanantonio.lemonadeday.org/home

Contact information (local & national):  http://sanantonio.lemonadeday.org/contact-us.aspx

*I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sara from the CE group who is San Antonio’s project manager for this HUGE undertaking!  By using the link above you can also contact her for more information on sponsoring, volunteering, etc.

**Local Restaurants - our volunteers will need refreshments!  Join the movement by donating meals/snacks for volunteers, your location could become a Lemonade Day backpack pickup location!

Sign Up Here!

I’ll be updating with more information as I get it as well!

- 2010 Lemonade Day | Informational Video -

- 3rd Annual Lemonade Day | Houston, TX -

Listen to why all the kids LOVED Lemonade Day in Houston, TX last year!

I Love Lemonade Day from Geekette Bits on Vimeo.

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While I was finishing my last post on Valentine’s Day sales and promotions I was already mentally writing this one.  With Valentine’s Day only slightly more than two weeks away, I figured I better hurry up and find some great children activities for the holiday we love to love.

I assumed my favorite children’s websites for printable activities would have special crafts online, available to download.  I was right! In no particular order here are some fun activities for children and other thoughtful resources for parents.

PBS Parents offer lots of ideas to get you in the holiday spirit.  For parents are several links to various articles and resources about feelings, diversity, and other characteristics that are perfect to teach around this time through books and games, as well as recipes to share with your family.

PBS Kids includes printable activities, coloring pages, and e-cards of all your favorite, educational friends.  It also lists information about special programming on February 13^th with the heart-filled theme.

Depending on how ambitious you’re feeling, check out Martha Stewart’s website for kids activities.  (Here for more adult sized activities…not that adult… ;-P)  Includes everything from cards, cute packaging, candies, and soap!  Very cute and surprisingly easy to put together.  Be prepared for printing the templates…I made several of them successfully. Some I gave up.

Here are four of the 27 Valentine’s Day crafts

Index for all Martha Stewart activities online for Valentine’s.

Nick Jr’s Valentine’s also jumped on the Valentine’s Day bandwagon with their dedicated site too.  The front page is an advent calendar that your child can return each day to click different dates for a fun surprise to open.  Grouped by week, view previous weeks and come back each week to unlock more.  My daughter’s favorite, Olivia, remains to be unlocked!

Check out the resources for parents here too.  Or let Max and Ruby help you plan a classroom party or soiree for friends.

All Valentine’s Day printable activities for many different ages…I have always been very impressed with Nick Jr.’s printable activities…they’re definitely a step higher than most.  I hate the ones that only offer coloring pages, my daughter doesn’t stay entertained with coloring but crafts will keep her busy for hours!

Kid Coupons

Chuck E Cheese is offering this FREE printable Valentine card w/ a coupon for 5 FREE tokens.  Your child can give all of their friends 5 tokens while saying Happy Valentine’s Day!  Expires 3/2.

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As a geeky mommy, my daughter has safely been playing on the computer since she was two.  She has great fine-motor skills, able to open Windows, and typing her name.  (I even taught her select all because she wanted to delete quickly.)

She also spends a lot of time (healthy amounts of time, of course) play on different online games.  She was an excellent critic as I was refining this list…as there were several sites we’re not mentioning for a reason.  These sites were fun, educational, and most important easy for her to use.  She had no problems navigating around the site and finding activities she was interested in doing.  They were challenging and age appropriate.  Some of the sites below are also for kids through middle school.  Take advantage of all the free websites out there for our children.

1. National Geographic for Kids – “A Parents’ Choice Recommended Winner” in 2008, this site has games, videos, interactive activities, printable suggestions and crafts.

• My Page – personalize your child’s page, easily find favorite activities,
• Get the full list of activities here.  (It goes on for FOREVER!)

2. PBS KIds - One of my daughter’s favorite sites, these site has tons of resources for parents and resources.  (Almost all these sites have resources for parents too.)

• Games – games that corresponds with all the kid’s favorites.
• Music – get up and dance with your child!
• Coloring – print out the pages and take them with you in the car to entertain them on errands.
• PBS Go! – watch different clips from shows, shows not shown on TV and also create an account and save scores as your child plays!

3. Nick –The main Nickelodeon site, not only does it link you to the other sites it provides games, videos, events, deals, and tons of other activities!

• Sign up for the newsletter.
• Games – all the regular Nickelodeon shows for the slightly older aged crowd.
• Neopets – Quickly create an account for your child and let them pick a Neopet to play, choosing colors, names, and powers.  An online, reality village for kids.  The pre-WoW game, earn points, buy things for your pet.  Feed and dress your Neopet too.  18 different lands for your child to explore!

Nick Jr. – There are tons of games and activities that can be played WITHOUT playing.  Shows are targeted from young preschool through 6 year olds.  Another Nick site for preschool shows, Noggin offers even more games and activities.

• Sign up for the newsletter.
• Videos unseen on TV.

4. Kids.gov – Two different age groups (K-5 and 6-8), the website includes government links and external sites.

• Sections include: Arts, Careers, Computer and Technology, Fun Stuff, Government, Health/Fitness/Safety, Math, Money, Science, Social Studies, and State websites
• Check out everything here.

5. Disney – Tons of different activities, printables, games, videos, and clips from preschool through tween shows.  Find out information about visiting Disney, upcoming local events,

• Text MOBILE to DISNEY (347639) to get new text alerts and other alerts from Disney.
• My Page – personalize your child’s page so they see the same activities each time.

6. Discovery Kids – Fun and games, videos to watch, upcoming TV shows, and regularly syndicated shows.

• Ready, Set, Learn – A lot of activities younger kids, games include Magic School Bus and other popular shows.
• Educational activities, learn about mummies, and other age appropriate, scientific activities!
• Beyond – Education videos that will take your child all over the world.
• Games – games for younger and older kids, everything from the mindless to the mindful.  Lots of challenging quizzes.

7. Character Sites – Through the years my daughters tastes in shows has matures from Thomas the Train to Olivia the Pig.  A lot of times shows will have games and printables on the TV website it’s currently playing on…but the author/creator will often have their own website as well.  Don’t just stop at the normal channels, make use of Google and make sure you’ve found all the time consuming activities available. 

8. Scholastic Kids – Offers spotlights on different authors for school aged kids.

• Videos with clips of special events, meet the authors/celebrities, and information on your favorite series.
• Their blog includes random book recommendations, unknown facts, and contests.
• Games include online, puzzle, and downloadable games.
• You can also send out cute e-cards.
• Play different writing games.
• Choose your own adventures fun for you AND your child

I didn’t go into a lot of detail of any of these sites.  I wanted to point out a couple unknown sites and if they were already popular I hoped to point activities that have been well broadcasted yet.

Please help your children explore these sites safely and enjoy the time you’re given back while they’re lost in the other kind of online entertainment.

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NOTE:  Educator Appreciation Week

Twice a year, teaching and retired educators and instructors will get 30% off including everything (even the Seattle’s Best Coffee!) for professional OR personal use.

9/29/2009 thru 10/7/2009 – Tell a teacher and make a difference in their classroom!  During this time, 10/10 at 6pm at Borders locations will be a Where the Wild Things Are rumpus!  Come for activities, crafts, and other giveaways, this Friday!

Website of the Week (WoW): BORDERS Teaching Zone

Quick Bit: I was very impressed with Borders Book Store’s thoughtful, one stop shop for back to school teachers (preschool through high school, librarians, and homeschool educators.) Check out their list of why to join
with information about fundraising for your school, getting required reading lists out there, to events your students can enjoy throughout the year.

They also offer different media teaching resources online with suggested books, online videos from other educators. I’ll do a longer post high lighting other awesome offers from Borders online…I really wanted to spread the word on opportunities that educators may not have known about. Please let your child’s teacher know about this incredible savings opportunity.

$$$-Saver(s):

• 25% off Classroom Discount Card – save 25% off list prices of books and CDs, 10% off
  DVDs, sign up, in-store with proof of teacher card, not just once but EVERY purchase!
• Educator Appreciation Week
  – twice a year, teaching and retired educators and instructors will get 30% off including everything (even the Seattle’s Best Coffee!) for professional OR personal use.
• FREE E-cards
  – send one to a fellow co-worker or a teacher that’s made a difference in your life! Parents, sit down with your children and send one to your child’s teacher…start the school year off right! No gift could be more meaningful or encouraging!
• 20% off Toy Coupon
  – look at age appropriate gift and classroom toys, use their coupon!
• Used Textbooks
  – search through Borders Used Books catalog to save up to 90%!

Time-Saver(s):

• Favorite Books for Educators
  – don’t waste your time searching for the next book to read, check out what Borders recommends.
• Early Childhood/Education
  – Check out what they recommend for your classroom and then suggest your own on their discussion board.
• Middle/High School Education
  – suggestions for middle school through high school. Includes test prep books, social issues, and popular reads!
• Special Education
  – check out their suggestions for parents, teachers, and also read some memoirs.
• Teachers
  – more categories involving curriculum development, classroom management, gifts for teachers, and top picks!
• Homeschooling Information
  – Homeschooling curriculums and philosophies.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Borders-Teaching-Zone/119980846515

Twitter: www.twitter.com/bordersmedia

E-mail Group: Signup now to receive awesome email alerts!

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Northside school district (NISD) offers Adult and Community a diverse range of classes including the following categories:

• Profit & IT – computers, business solutions, minding money
• The Arts - dance, fine arts, jewelry making, make-it-yourself, music, languages
• Mind & Body - Body/Mind/Health, defensive driving, leisure, personal growth, study skills, etc.
• Fun & Play - kid summer camps, animals, clowning, D-I-Y, home/garden, sports, travel, etc.
• Online Computers - basics, networking, programming, web design, etc.
• Online Mind-Body - accounting, cert preps,
• Online Personal Interest - everything under the sun…

I have enjoyed taking several different classes through NISD including a sushi class, advanced French class, a first-time homebuyers  session, and a financial planning class for women.  Although my daughter will be out of town during the week they’re offering this awesome class  - Robotics using Legos – I contacted the coordinators and they graciously setup another class for a different time (the response was QUICK!)

Some classes I haven’t tried yet but want to include:

• Auto repair
• Step by Step to a User-friendly Closet

Get the FREE course catalog by mail if you don’t already – if you do stop throwing it away and check out the awesome offers!

Have a workshop in mind?  Teach it!  They’re always looking!

Some other cool links on the NISD website:

• Raise Your Hand Texas - “a non-profit, bi-partisan advocacy organization made up of business and community leaders, parents, taxpayers and concerned citizens, all with a single focus: supporting the more than 4.5 million students in the Texas public education system.” Support them on Facebook too!
• Volunteers/Mentors - everything you need to know and fill out in order to volunteer in the NISD. (Parents – fill this out before you try to help out in the classroom – go to your child’s school prepared!) Opportunities for parents and friends in the community – be a positive role-model for a child today!
• NISD Weekly Newsletter - find out where your taxes are going and how NISD is contributing to the community! (Signup for e-mail or txt alerts here – get alerted with emergency notices, academic notices, and event reminders!)
• NISD News - NISD details making the news…voting, information about new schools and the school boards…anything and everything else you wanted to know about the Northside school district.
• Facility Rentals – Hosting an event like an HOA meeting? Rent the neighborhood school in the evening instead of inviting strangers into your home…
• Reunion Announcements - did you graduate from a NISD high school? Have a reunion coming up?
• School Menus - if you can’t remember what’s for lunch check out this site.

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