Teacher Appreciation Events

Many book and office supply stores have teacher appreciation events, often including special discounts, raffles, giveaways, and receptions. Below is a list of some of the most popular. Since the dates typically vary by location, visit the links below to verify the event dates for your area. Each store has different requirements for homeschoolers to qualify for teacher discounts/events. If your state requires a Notice of Intent to Homeschool or an Application to Homeschool, you can often use these as adequate proof of homeschooling. For stores that require something different, the reply from your school district, letterhead from your umbrella school, or an identification card from a homeschooling support group are other options. For specific requirements, please ask the individual retailers what they require.*

• Office Depot Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
  All week, Star Teachers get:

  • 10% off1 instantly on qualifying in-store purchases with your Member Card
  • 50% back3 in Rewards on products from our sponsors
  • $25 off any Lexmark™ printer regularly priced $199 or above
  Join us for your special Teacher Appreciation Breakfast on the Saturday of your week. Enjoy FREE breakfast, exclusive BONUS rewards, and special giveaways including a Star Teacher Planner. (Usually August)
  
  
• Staples Teacher Appreciation Day - Free goodies for the first 100 teachers (Usually August)
  
  
• Big Lots Teacher Appreciation Day - 10% off purchases. August 14th, 2010
  
  
• Borders Educator Appreciation Weekend - Receptions with extra discount, prizes, food, and gifts (Usually Spring)
  
  
• JoAnn Fabrics - Receive 20% off purchases and a free tote bag. Sign up in-store for a teacher discount card. Aug. 14 & 15, 2010
  
  
• OfficeMax - Free reusable shopping bag and 15% off everything you can fit in it. Believed to be August 8, 2010 but check your local store for exact date.
  
  

*If you wish to know whether a store offers a discount, one way to approach the subject is to ask if that store offers a discount to educators. If the answer is yes, you could pursue whether the discount is extended to homeschoolers as well. If it is not, it is always a good idea to ask in a friendly manner if they have considered extending their educator discount to homeschoolers and give them some stats on the large numbers of local homeschoolers in your area. Often a retailer may not have considered the idea. If one of their competitors does offer such a discount, few retailers want to watch business walk away because they will not meet a competitor's offer.