How to Get Free Stuff as a Teacher

Teachers can often find free supplies to stock their classrooms.

On top of managing behavior and ensuring academic gains, many teachers also have to deal with the added structure of running a class on a shoestring. This can present a challenge to teachers who want to integrate creative activities into their classes but lack the resources to do so. There are an assortment of ways that teachers can overcome this struggle and obtain free materials for teaching and planning. By seeking and obtaining free products, teachers can stock their classroom with the supplies they need and make their job easier.

Instructions

1. Participate in corporate-sponsored collection programs. A number of programs, including Boxtops for Education and Campbell's soup labels for education offer educators the opportunity to receive free school materials through the collection of food packaging. Send flyers home to parents, telling them of your participation in these programs and asking them to save their packaging and send it to school with their students.

2. Explore websites of large organizations. Many contain information about community give-back programs. Consider which large corporations may have a vested interest in your subject. Proctor and Gamble, for example, commonly gives free health teaching packs containing samples of their products to schools. If no information is present on the website, contact the company via email to inquire about the existence of any programs.

3. Subscribe to magazines that offer free teacher subscriptions. Magazines like "Teaching Tolerance" and "Yes!" provide free magazine subscriptions to working teachers. These magazines, and others like them, contain information that teachers can use in their classes.

4. Seek donations from local vendors. Many companies will donate goods or services to schools if approached. If you need something for your classroom or a school event, contact an area company that specializes in that item and inquire about their willingness to contribute.

5. Consult sites that specialize in keeping an up-to-date catalog of free teacher product programs. Programs come and go regularly. To ensure that you don't miss any free product opportunities, consult a website that specializes in monitoring programs such as TeacherFreebies.com. By checking these types of sites regularly, you can stay up to date on the free product options available to you.

References

• Freaky Freddies: Teacher Freebies

Resources

• Boxtops for Education
• Campbell's Labels for Education