Tag: school supplies

3 Ways to Upgrade your Classroom Teaching 2021

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We love helping students feel prepared and ready for school with high-quality school supplies. But maybe even more important is helping teachers. Teachers are the backbone of schools serving as mentors, disciplinarians, and encouraging cheerleaders for their students. Teachers have an incredibly difficult job ensuring that students feel safe and comfortable, making learning engaging and accessible, and maintaining good relationships with families and staff.

DollarDays is proud to help teachers with essential school supplies to upgrade their classrooms and teaching. We love being an affordable option with hundreds of choices for teachers across the country. When teachers are prepared, they can better help their students so that everyone is successful.

We’ve got three tips for teachers to upgrade their classrooms and set them up for their best year yet.

1. Make a plan and set some goals.

Make a plan for how you will start the year and set some goals to hold yourself (and your students) accountable. According to the National Education Association, setting classroom goals is just as important as your own individual goals. “Working together toward a goal — such as a holiday project to help a needy family, a class trip, or a class party at the end of the year — can help develop class spirit.” Goal setting is a great way to start the year on a positive note.

Remember, this should be unique to your new class. Even veteran teachers sometimes need a reminder that every class and every year is different. What worked last year (or for the last few years) may not necessarily work this year. Give yourself time to adjust to the new group of students in your class. This could take a couple of days or weeks as students get used to one another and the new teacher in charge.

2. Be prepared for your classes.

Classrooms packed with 20 to 30 students to demand organization. Knowing you are prepared for all those bodies with essential back-to-school supplies will have you feeling cool, calm, and confident when that first bell rings.

Having systems in place for collecting homework and making sure lessons plans run smoothly is easy with DollarDays. Ensure no papers get lost between school and home with these pocket folders in a rainbow of colors. Be sure to stock up on Expo markers and personal dry erase boards so everyone can get in on the learning action.

You’ll find everything from teaching tools like flashcards and workbooks to classroom decorations to rewards and incentives to classroom decorations — all at affordable wholesale prices in DollarDays’ Back-to-School shop.

3. Understand the value of rest.

One of the best teaching tips from veteran teachers is to be sure to get enough rest. Keeping up with a classroom of energetic kiddos is tough! Unwind from a long day on your feet with a relaxing bath bomb bubble bath. Or, Netflix and chill with an adult coloring book. Studies show they are excellent at reducing stress and anxiety, and they can improve sleep and focus. Stock up with our one-of-a-kind collection.

We also love these fun stress balls you can keep at your desk (and share with students who may grow tense in class). You and your students will also love our new poppers. They help relieve stress and make for great rewards for hard work.

Get back-to-school ready with all our bulk supplies aimed specifically at teachers. With a few key items, you’ll be all set to upgrade your classroom and start the year off right.

READ OUR STUDENT PPE BLOG HERE


3 Tips for a Successful Back-to-School Kitting Party

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Donating to schools is one of the best ways to give back to your community and our larger society. Investing in schools is an investment in our future. Without the proper education, we wouldn’t have effective leaders, entrepreneurs, a skilled workforce, or adequate social services.

Helping supply schools with everything they need to be successful is easy with DollarDays. We’ve got tons of items students don’t just need but will LOVE (and at great prices).

A back-to-school kitting party can be the perfect team-building event for your employees or members of your organization. Donating to schools can have tangible positive effects on your organization.

A Harvard Business Review study found “evidence shows that giving money to charity leads to similar brain activity in regions implicated in the experience of pleasure and reward…[the study] results suggest that giving (in the form of charitable donations) is inherently rewarding.”

We’ve got some tips to get started on a back-to-school kitting party that will encourage the spirit of giving within your organization.

Create a Wishlist

Most schools will have released their school supply lists for their students or perhaps have registered with charitable organizations with items they need. Use this list to browse DollarDays’ incredible inventory of school supply kits and individual items.

Then create a DollarDays Wishlist. (Our Wishlist Toolkit makes is super simple!) You can add all the items you hope to receive. The more items you include and more people you reach the better.

A back-to-school survival kit is one of the best ways to ensure students get everything they need. Try this 45-piece school supply kit with pens, rulers, notebooks, folders and more. Then grab some Forward backpacks in a variety of colors to stuff at your kitting party.

Don’t forget items for teachers too! PPE supplies like hand sanitizer, tissues, and masks will be a welcomed addition to any classroom.

Promote Your School Supply Drive

Choose a day (or days) and time(s) to get together and organize your supplies so you can be sure everyone gets exactly what they need.

Share your school kit donation drive details and wishlist with employees, friends, neighbors, and anyone else who would be willing to give. We’ve got templates to create press releases, flyers, and social media posts so you can run a successful campaign. Give people enough time to donate supplies and remind them early and often to contribute to your drive.

Get Everyone Involved

The age-old saying that more hands make light work couldn’t be truer with a school kit donation drive. Encourage not just members of your organization to join but also their friends. Make an assembly line to create kits with a variety of supplies for each student and teacher. (Those backpacks are particularly useful here.)

Kids helping kids can be an incredibly powerful way to teach about the importance of giving what you can. (Just be careful, they might spot some trendy supplies they want for themselves in the process!) Our school supplies aren’t just great quality, but they also look great so no student will feel less than.

The earlier you get started, the greater impact you can have. Buying items in bulk with DollarDays is one of the best ways to get the most out of your drive. Our affordable prices make it easy to stock up, so no student is left behind. We’re here to help so why not get started today!

Read our next blog here.


5 Games That Every Student Can Enjoy

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One of the best ways to keep kids interested in school and engaged in lessons is through fun, educational games. Teachers across all disciplines use games in a variety of ways to reach all kinds of learners.

In an Education Week article titled “Ways to Use Games Effectively in the Classroom,” authors and teachers Susan Lafond, Eric Schildge, and Michael Fisher talk about the value of games in the classroom. They note that games should be thoughtfully designed to be inclusive and meaningful and emphasize participation more than winning or losing. “The real value of using games in education is the balance they offer between problem solving and engagement.”

As teachers prepare for the upcoming school year, why not consider a donation to your local school or a school in need. DollarDays has some classic games and tons of prizes any teacher would love to have on hand.

Here are 5 games and prizes every student will love.

Classic card and dice games for learning math.
A simple deck of cards and dice can be used for all kinds of games in classrooms from grades 1-12. Both cards and dice can be used to reinforce multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction facts. They also lend well to “math races.” They can be used to create equations (or try this Math Smart game).

Playing cards make great high school games that can reinforce good numbers sense and can help create an inclusive classroom. They can foster creativity as older students can even develop their own games.

Board Games for all subjects.
Board games are another tool teachers can use to promote learning in a fun and interactive way. At DollarDays, we have plenty of games to play at school. Fraction City is perfect for math. Fifth Gear is an excellent STEM game that can work with a wide range of ages. Older students will love Sum Word Game and teachers will love it for the speaking, sketching, and acting options that appeal to all learning styles. For early learners, Spelling Beez is a great tool to teach spelling.

Crossword Puzzle and Word Search Races for ELA.
We’ve got tons of fun crossword puzzle and word search books that are perfect for storing in the classroom for early finishers or for a fun Friday afternoon game. Older students can team up and challenge one another to crossword puzzles while younger learners will be challenged with word searches. These are great for supporting vocabulary and spelling.

Chess to enhance good habits.
Okay, technically chess is a board game, but the benefits of chess are so vast we’re giving it its own shout-out. According to Brainscape, chess can increase your IQ and creativity as well as improve memory, reading skills, concentration and problem-solving skills. This game is a classic for a reason. While it does require some instruction, it’s best learned by playing. Help stock a teacher’s classroom with chess sets from DollarDays, available at wholesale prices.

Modeling Clay for art education.
Modeling clay and play dough are highly versatile, relatively neat tools essential to any art curriculum. It’s a great medium for supporting creativity – and kids love it! It lends itself to countless art projects but could be used for other educational purposes as well. In science, it can be used to create models. In math, it can be used to illustrate whole numbers and fractions. In ELA, modeling clay can be used to recreate a scene from a book or a favorite character.

Fun school games are essential to any classroom. At DollarDays, we’ve got a huge selection to choose from no matter the subject or grade range you’re looking for. Let us help you make this a successful year for all students, in all communities with our games available in bulk quantities and at competitive prices.

Why Your School Needs These Back-to-School Essentials

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School supplies aren’t what they used to be. We can remember a time when the only thing that differentiated you from the student next to you was the image on your Trapper Keeper. Times have changed. Now students have access to hundreds of supplies with various images, colors, and designs.

Whether you’re preparing to donate to a school in need, buy supplies for your own school, or looking to make a wish list for organizations looking to help your school, DollarDays has everything you need. We can help you find all the school essentials with our back-to-school favorites.

Forward Backpacks
No back-to-school supplies list is complete without a backpack. We love the Forward backpacks because they are available in a variety of sizes to match the needs of students in all grades. The designers at Forward understand that bigger kids need bigger bags. Similarly, kids in lower grades won’t get weighed down by backpacks twice their size.

You can find these backpacks in a variety of bright colors to suit any taste. We also offer some that include basic supplies like notebooks and writing utensils. These backpack kits are available at unbeatable wholesale prices.

Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning Supplies are now a must for every classroom. Help maintain a safe environment with a supply of wipes, disinfectants, masks, and other items to keep classes tidy and sanitized. With so many students, desks, and shared spaces, wipes and disinfectants are used often and in abundance. We’ve got quality wipes, sprays, and cleaning solutions in a variety of quantities to stock any class.

We’ve also got plenty of cloth and disposable mask to choose from. Keeping masks handy is a great way to stop the spread of germs. Stocking individual students with hand sanitizer is easy with our bulk hand sanitizers in a variety of fragrances (like these in adorable containers).

Crayola Products
No matter the grade or subject, all students need basic Crayola supplies like markers and colored pencils. They are perfect for all their arts and crafts projects but also help shade fractions, color maps, and are helpful in science labs. Ensure they don’t run out mid-year and buy in bulk to save money.

And don’t forget Crayola’s line of unique classroom items like calendars and even decorate-your-own desk shield and face shield kits.

Toys and Games

School doesn’t have to be all worksheets and long division. Give your favorite school a supply of fun coloring and activity books. Teachers love having these supplies on hand for kids who finish early or need occasional breaks.

We also love the power of “boring” supplies turned exciting with fun designs and features. Kids love these animal-shaped erasers and scratch-and-sniff pencils.

Yoobi

Yoobi is one of our favorite brands not just because of their trendy DIY school supplies, but also because they are committed to giving. With every purchase made, Yoobi gives back to a community in need.

But sure, we also really love the trendy supplies that will make every kid feel like they have the coolest, most popular supplies. Check out this constellation spiral notebook and these adorable Macaron Charm Mini Markers. All kids will fit right in with Yoobi’s funky school supplies.

Donating school supplies no longer means outfitting a needy district with flimsy products and generic designs. With DollarDays, you can give students not just what they really need, but what they really want: cool supplies at even cooler prices.

For more back-to-school blogs click here:

4 Tips to Ease the Transition to In-School Learning

Brands We Love: Carolina Pad

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If the pandemic taught us anything about education, it’s that there are huge discrepancies between schools and districts across the United States. Schools with less money have fewer resources and supplies for students who continue to struggle with virtual learning. The achievement gap between rich and poor schools is only widening further.

Therefore, now is the perfect time to donate to schools and kids in need. Donating to schools can be an especially powerful and meaningful way to give back. When kids are prepared for school, they participate more, complete more work, and can have a profound impact on their future trajectory.

According to the Kids in Need Foundation, “over 10 million American children are living in poverty.” Families who struggle to put food on the table, certainly don’t have money to spend on less essential school supplies. Organizations and businesses can make a significant impact with donations to schools in need.

There have been numerous studies that have assessed the importance of school supplies on education. These “studies have proven that when students have their own school supplies, their grades and classroom behavior improve and they become more excited about school and learning.”

DollarDays makes it easy for your business to donate school supplies at great prices and in bulk quantities. We’ve got everything they’ll need off their school supply list (and more!). We have several quality brands from which to choose, but we especially love Carolina Pad.

Carolina Pad has cheery designs kids love on all their products. Sometimes kids can be reluctant to use donated items but with Carolina Pad products, kids will feel more comfortable – not like they got the cheapest, dullest supplies. They will fit right in with anything from our Carolina Pad line but we especially love the Happy Go Lucky notebooks. This trio of note pads has covers with an adorable llama, an inspiring quote, and a cool stripy design.

When you donate with DollarDays and Carolina Pad, you not only supply them with what you need, you’ll also give them a sense of dignity. These are well-made products kids will want to use. From simple spiral notebooks to pocket folders to composition books, kids will be excited for school and ready to focus on learning. Our school supplies ensure that kids will fit right in, so they don’t have to be self-conscious about where their supplies are from.

Because DollarDays has one of the best collections of school supplies online, we make stocking teachers’ classrooms a breeze. Donating to the entire classroom ensures that no student will feel singled out because of a lack of supplies or supplies that aren’t “cool.”

According to a recent teacher survey conducted by Adopt a Classroom, teachers spent an average of $745 on school supplies in the 2019-2020 school year. “45% of teachers said their spending has increased since distance learning began.” Teachers will definitely appreciate any help you can offer to supply their students so they can get the most from their education.

Carolina Pad is one of our favorite brands because we know how much students and teachers love it. We are proud to offer their products at great wholesale prices so you can make a big difference in the lives of students and their beloved teachers.

For more information on back-to-school brands we love check out another blog here:

Back to School Brands We Love

Arizona Sees Increase in Classroom Spending for Second Year in a Row

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For the second year in a row, Arizona saw an increase in classroom spending, according to the Arizona Auditor General’s annual audit.

Arizona school districts spent 54% of their available operating dollars on classroom instruction, making 2018 the second consecutive year to increase classroom spending. Since monitoring began in 2001, the highest level spent on instructional spending was in 2004 at 58.6%. Since this peak, classroom spending has declined by 4.6%.

From 2017 to 2018, Arizona school districts increased their operational spending by $119 million, with $82 million of the increase spent on classroom instruction. The state’s average teacher salary also increased from $48,372 to $48,951.

[D]despite the progress, Arizona school districts still fall behind the national average. Schools statewide spent about $3,500 less per student than the national average. Arizona school districts also received a greater percentage of revenue from federal sources and a smaller percentage from state and local sources when compared to national averages.

Original article here: https://www.azfamily.com/news/arizona-sees-increase-in-classroom-spending-for-second-year-in/article_17686812-4b75-11e9-b1de-67a0b7eb8a19.html

Youth Programs Give Children Hope Through Art

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Youth Development and Capacity Building, Inc., located in Atlanta, Ga., serves the disadvantaged youth and communities through education and development. We host numerous youth educational initiatives throughout the year to develop positive minds and a clear future for our youth and community. By consistently adding programs, initiatives and projects that focus on our youth’s education and literary development, we help them strive for a better future. We also balance their health and nutritional values with an educational guide on healthy eating and portion control. We partner with state and local government agencies, community-based organizations, civic groups, higher learning institutions, and more to achieve our goals.

Thanks to DollarDays, we received school supplies, art supplies, office supplies and more. Some of the items helped the survivors of the tornado that hit Louisville, Miss., and the floods in the Georgia district. The school supplies and other items helped to tackle the sadness experienced by these children after the disaster by shifting the focus from the tragedy to a hopeful path forward.

One of our high school students in Louisville, Miss., received some of the items and explained that they helped expand her reading abilities. Also, our Volunteer Youth Director, Jean Harper, visibly displayed the art and school supplies in order to help with reading and learning strategies for the students. After we distributed the goods to students in need, we used the rest of the items for youth camps like the one in Brandywine, Md., (Zou Camp) that really needed new school and art supplies over the years for their programs.

Thank you, Good360 and DollarDays, for helping us improve the future of children throughout the nation.

Original article here: https://good360.org/impact-stories/youth-programs-give-children-hope-through-art/

DollarDays’ School Supplies Donation is a Huge Hit for Students in Miami

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Young Dreams Community Outreach was established in December 2009. The nonprofit organization focuses on children in our communities and their futures. We provide children with educational supplies, books, hands-on activities and positive interactions that will impact their lives. Our mission is to reach out to communities in the City of Miami and help homeless families, abused women, children, and the elderly. We provide clothing, food, hygiene products, school supplies, and toys in hopes to help reduce the effects of poverty.

Thanks to DollarDays, we were able to provide 1,300 children in the City of Miami with book bags and supply packets for their return to school. Many children were referred by local outreach agency, the Children’s Trust, which helps families in dire need. Our organization helps children experience and envision their dreams for the future. We provide children the opportunity to experience different careers during our back-to-school event while also providing them with educational supplies, fun activities and a great time. With charity and grants we are making a difference for the children’s futures. We hosted an annual free event for the public in need, providing book bags, supplies, career stations, introductions to local attractions, photos with Toy Story characters and so much more. Thank you Good360 and DollarDays for helping us provide a better future for the children in our community.

Original article here: https://good360.org/impact-stories/school-supplies-donation-is-a-huge-hit-for-backtoschoolstudentsin-miami

Back-to-School 2018: Here’s Where Teachers Can Get Discounts on Supplies

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They could be the three words that parents most love to hear: back to school.

For many, August will see children heading back to classrooms for the start of a new school year. For teachers, it means getting a classroom stocked and ready as their students return. It can also mean a hit to a teacher’s wallet. A growing list of retailers are offering teachers some relief in the form of discounts and special offers. Below is a list of some deals from online and brick-and-mortar retailers:

  • Academic Superstore: With some exceptions, part- or full-time students, teachers, or faculty members attending or employed by an accredited, degree-granting institution (K-12 or higher-ed) are eligible for a discount on school supplies.
  • A.C. Moore: Get 15% off your purchase with a valid teacher ID.
  • Barnes & Noble: Get 20% off the publishers’ prices for books purchased for the classroom. 
  • Bookmans: Get 20% off purchases when you sign up for Project Educate.
  • Costco: Teachers who sign up for a new membership can get over $60 in savings with a valid teacher ID.
  • Container Store: Sign up for the Organized Teacher Discount Program through Dec. 31, 2018, and get email notice of sales and discounts.
  • DickBlick Art Supplies: Get school supply discounts and free lesson plans.
  • Discount School Supply: Get discounts on school supplies to U.S. educators.
  • DollarDays: Get wholesale prices on school supplies. For information on additional discounts, call 877-837-9569 or email sales@dollardays.com.
  • First Book: Get 50% to 90% off retail book prices if you are in one of these groups.
  • GelPro: Get 25% off your online purchases with a verified teacher ID.
  • Half Price Books: Teachers get a 10% discount when they sign up for an Educator Discount Card.
  • Hobby Lobby: Get a 10% discount on in-store purchases. You must pay with a check or bank card provided by your school.
  • Home Depot: Teachers in public schools can apply for a tax-free exemption on classroom purchases.
  • JoAnn Fabric: Get 15% off both in-store and online with valid teacher ID.
  • K12 School Supplies: Get a 30% to 80% discount on closeout and clearance school supplies.
  • Kennelly Keys Music: Get a 20% discount on orders of books and sheet music made through the phone or in-store only. Call 425-771-7020 or email websales@kennellykeysmusic.com for more information. 
  • Kiwi Crate: Get discounts on bulk classroom orders.
  • LakeShore Learning: Join the Lakeshore Learning Teacher’s Club and get 15% off in-store purchases.
  • Michaels: Get a 15% discount on in-store purchases.
  • Naked Binder: Get special discounts on nontoxic, environmentally safe and 100%-recyclable school products. Email info@nakedbinder.com or call 877-446-2533.
  • Oriental Trading: Get discounted teaching supplies. 
  • PBS: PB Learning Media offers teachers free access to digital curriculum-based resources.
  • Pencils.com: Get 10% off all orders with a valid teacher ID. 
  • Quail Ridge Books: K-12 teachers can get a complimentary membership to the Readers’ Club, which includes a 30% discount on The New York Times hardcover bestsellers and a 10% discount on most items for personal purchase. You can also get a 215 discount on books for classroom use. 
  • Raymond Geddes School Supplies: Sign up for a Raymond Geddes School Supplies account and get 10% off your next order. 
  • Scholastic Teacher Store: Get special discounts and sales on books, software, curriculum programs and teaching resources. 
  • Silhouette: Silhouette offers a discount to U.S. and Canadian teachers. Send your account address, school name and location, and teaching certificate to education@silhouetteamerica.com.
  • Timesavers for Teachers: Get 20% off purchases when you use the code “timesavers.”
  • Yoobi: Elementary schools that have more than 70% of students enrolled in the free or reduced-price lunch program can get free classroom packs.

Original article here: https://www.wftv.com/news/trending-now/back-to-school-2018-here-is-where-teachers-can-get-discounts-on-supplies/792804121

Private-label Products: Bringing Value to Our Nonprofit Partners

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Private-label offerings are playing an increasingly critical role in some of the country’s largest online marketplaces, with house brands now accounting for as much as 30% of all sales. This trend not only indicates changes in the way consumers shop, especially when searching by brand and price, but also presents a new challenge for online retailers seeking to remain competitive.

For DollarDays, developing affordable, private-label brands as a means to better serve its large nonprofit customer base was a no-brainer. The company launched its Big Box™ bulk school supplies line in spring of 2017, contributing to a reported sale of more than 11 million units of school supplies annually. Big Box™ encompasses a full line of high-quality, low-cost school supplies, pre-filled backpacks and pencil pouches, and flip-flops, all of which has been hand-picked by DollarDays’ in-house merchandising team. The company plans to expand the line to include additional school essentials through the end of 2018.

“We understood private labels had to become part of our go-to-market strategy,” explains Shelly Chaney, Vice President and General Manager of DollarDays. “Online shopping means our customers have the ability to compare products and have better visibility on quality and price points. With private-label lines, we can better hit these targets, giving even more value to our nonprofit partners.”

Encouraged by the success of their Big Box™ line, DollarDays next pursued the opportunity to create a backpack label that met their nonprofit partners’ needs for premium bags at an entry-level price for backpack drives and other back-to-school initiatives. The resulting Forward™ backpack line, rolled out in early 2018, features a more spacious front pocket, reinforced strap-to-bag seams and contoured, fully adjustable shoulder straps with mesh. This attention to detail helps ensure Forward™ backpacks can compete against more expensive brand-name lines.

“With our private-label brands, we’re able to customize every aspect to the needs of our very niche consumers, like nonprofits,” says Melissa Castelo, Senior Product Manager at DollarDays. “It enables us to control not only the brand positioning but the distribution and activation, as well.”

By building out its own labels, DollarDays has found new ways to differentiate itself during the search process and drive destination shopping. Additionally, the company can continue to offer national brands and remain competitive in a “good, better, best” scenario while still capturing market share with an aggressively low price point. Through the remainder of 2018, DollarDays will continue to explore other product categories that may help them increase their presence outside of school essentials.

“Consumers today expect exceptional products at a price point that is cost effective,” stated Chaney. “We’re working on cultivating other private-label lines that focus on helping our nonprofit partners meet the fundamental needs of communities around the world.”