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Tips and Tricks
Dear Parents and Teachers, welcome to Earth's Kids! If you're looking for supplies for your preschool classroom, homeschooling environment, or playroom, you've come to the right place. While we don't offer a print catalog at this time (many thanks to those of you who've suggested this option), we do offer you an online index of some of the top manufacturers of toys, school supplies, and children's furnishings. Below you will find a listing of online supply sources that we and other teachers have found to contain the best bargains and materials for an enriching and well organized educational environment. You will need to surf this collection of links to view each manufacturer/retailer's particular collection of goods. Each link comes with a brief review to help steer you toward the suppliers that most meet your current needs. You can also surf through our recommendations for National Chain Stores and Local Supply Sources (sorry only the greater San Jose/Silicon Valley area at this time) for ideas of great places to shop for great educational toys and other classroom supplies-- even snack supplies. We also offer a great deal of other resources sprinkled around this site. We suggest you check out our Book Shop for great books for kids of every age. We are especially proud of our selection of science books, most of which were specifically selected by the National Science Teachers Association. Our Making It Yourself page is an index that will connect you with instructions for lots of do it yourself craft activities and recipes for materials -- including a wide variety of play dough and other modeling compounds. A number of seasonal craft activities and materials can be found on the E.K. Kids Art Ideas Page. Be sure also to surf our Science pages for links, books, activity ideas, and more. And of course, browsing any page in our EK Kids section will help you locate tons of great resources about health, computer science, math, songs and fingerplays, and lots more. Check it out! If you need more help... don't hesitate to send us some mail.
Plus...
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Adirondack Direct -- Furniture for Schools and more
This is a great resource for those teachers and caregivers who just don't have time to to hit the stores. Sure your local supermarket may carry a few items (outlet plugs, etc.), but what about those knob covers for the stove, safety gates for the stairs, an alarm for the pool cover, or that protective cover for your computer's power strip? This site allows you to shop by room, product, or brand -- all without leaving your home. It's also a nice way to shop for great gifts for parents to be.
Discount
School Supply
To request a free Discount
School Supply catalog,
Visit their home page at
Discount School Supply Comments: Discount School Supply is my favorite school supply catalog. Lower prices than most school supply catalogs, great selection of items, great quality. Best of all, if you order by 2 p.m., you will receive 2 day delivery -- at no extra cost. Catalog contains tempra and biocolor paints in every size, lots of arts and crafts equipment (parents may be in for some fun surprises), sand and water play equipment, blocks (including Legos & Duplos), plus every kind of manipulative you've heard of (toobers and zots, lacing beads, peg boards, etc.) and many more you may never even have thought of ! Also contains dramatic play, puzzles, music, books, and supplies for teaching math and science. It even has furniture, circle time carpets (will somebody just send me the one with the duck pond and bridge please), sleeping mats, and storage equipment. Equipment for infants and toddlers. Teacher's resource books. All this at discounted prices. A real treasure. Great links too!
Parents love this handy online resource that lets your browse and search for toys based on the child's age, the type of toy, and/or the cost of toy ("under $20", etc.). Some great sale bargains have been found here as well. They will even gift wrap! I have found some great classroom items here as well.
eToys: Favorite Games for all ages!
Family Pass Educational & Family DVDs (formerly Mentura) Even as the market for renting your DVDs online is expanding rapidly, few online DVD rental services can really supply an adequate selection of education films. When we were homeschooling three kids (ages 2 to 13) we absolutely loved Family Pass. We could rent science and history documentaries for the older guys, great preschool educational programs for the little one, plus smash hit family movies that we could all enjoy. Their free trial membership lets you try the service on to see if it works for you.
This is a nice resource for ordering felt or "flannel" board sets! Reasonable prices, large-sized pieces, beautiful details. Also features materials for bible lessons.
Lakeshore
To order this teacher's school supply &
book catalog, call the 800 number or simply order it online. (catalog) Comments:
I especially love their juicy dramatic play
section, their big selection of circle time rugs, and their large
outdoor (and indoor) play structures, and their exceptional dolls and puppets.
Dubbed as "The World's Biggest Toybox", OTC is a great source for bulk stickers, novelty pencils, googly eyes and several other craft items, and inexpensive bulk holiday toys and party goodies. Comments:
"Everything you need (or nearly so) to put
on a carnival, a birthday theme party, plus things for the holidays.
AND, there's an excellent assortment of great arts and crafts
materials at discount prices. This is a great catalog to browse with
your kids, snuggled on the couch, eyes glued to every wacky wild
page! If you need to buy decorations, party favors -- or just want
those fun gadgets and toys you thought you could only buy at
carnivals, then this is the catalog for you. Many items are
less expensive than
buying at the local party supply store (especially when you need to
order in bulk). Besides, if you have small children of your
own, shopping by catalog is more relaxing than dragging your herd
through the party store.
As a teacher I especially love shopping for stickers in bulk! (Note that the catalog has a much broader selection than does their website.) One word of warning however -- watch out for those shipping and handling charges! There is a minimum charge of several dollars. So make it count! Also, if you haven't been to a party supply store in a while, you might want to check it out before you order with OTC. Many stores have really expanded their inventory, and if you only want 3 of something (rather than 144), you will be better off shopping the conventional way.
This is a great resource for books, classroom decoratives (like the borders and decorations for your bulletin board), teaching reproducibles, and much more. Best of all, you don't have to wait all year for that Scholastic Book Faire at your local public school! Be sure to shop their sales for some great deals.
 Here's a great resource for parents and teachers of visually impaired children or children with learning disabilities (LDs) centered on visual processing. It's also great for anyone who would like to empower kids to enjoy literature that is above their current reading level. In fact, the applications of this services are limited only by your imagination. Let the whole family listen to a Harry Potter novel on that long car trip, or set up an audiobook as part of a independent learning work center.
Check here to find teacher resource books, student text books, reproducible masters for lesson units, maps, posters, films, and more! Everything for the social studies curriculum -- art history, ancient civilizations, geography, U.S. history & government, etc. Also contains book and software reviews.
Toys R Us -- Toy Guide for Differently-abled Kids
National Chains
For locations of local stores in Santa Clara County
Costco / Price Club A favorite place to buy bulk goods (foods, paper products, cleaning supplies) at lowered prices. Check here also for toys and books at discount prices. Can be a nice place to pick up a whole variety pack of books for the classroom (supplies vary). Find a location near you.
Carries large size packages of snacks, cereal, napkins, etc. Also carries frozen foods, dairy, and some produce. Smart & Final is also a good source for industrial strength cleaning products, food service equipment, and some party supplies. I always find some great specials there -- for my home or for my preschool classes. And without all the waiting in long lines that so often comes with Costco & Price Club. Visit their website to find one near you. Great educational toys -- for toddlers up through early school age! Store is divided into sections devoted to Math, Science, Dramatic Play, Arts & Crafts, Literature/Writing, etc. Also features a good selection of bilingual materials and seasonal/holiday items (Martin Luther King Day, Easter, etc.) for use in the classroom. Nice selection of charts and teacher supplies. With walk-in and shop convenience, this is the place to get your supplies and art materials right away!
I love to window shop at Learning Express shops. I always find at least one or two children's books that I can't turn down, and great educational toys, games, puzzles and more that my kids and I drool over. It is, however, a bit pricey. To visit Learning Express on-line, check out www.learningexpress.com While you're there, check their listing for the nearest store near you. You cannot yet shop Learning Express on-line, but you can call your nearest store to place orders by phone. They will ship it to you, or to a person of your choosing. Also, they do put out a mini catalog, featuring sale items and new selections.
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The classic teacher's supply catalog. Block
play, puzzles, dramatic play, furniture, active play (equipment for
outside -- including climbing structures), sand and water, arts and
crafts, music, manipulatives, children's books, math and science,
health, social studies, and more. Equipment for infants and toddlers.
Teacher's resource books. Take home learning packs. Lakeshore theme
boxes. Everything great quality.
