Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

November 9, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Christmas, Elf on the Shelf Ideas, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media Leave a Comment

Are you a teacher that has an Elf on the Shelf at School? If so, you will love this list of creative Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas. They funny elf antics should help keep your students on the nice list! New creative, funny, and original Elf on the Shelf Ideas daily.

Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas

This year we are bringing you Elf on the Shelf Ideas in the form of themes. Don’t worry, we will have plenty of individual Elf ideas, you can view our Elf on the Shelf Master List , but for the first few days we want to stick with an Elf on the Shelf theme.

Elf on the Shelf Themes

For many of these Elf on the Shelf ideas, make sure you have an elf that can bend. You can do that easily with our Bendable Elf on the Shelf tutorial. You also can shop our collection of Elf Printables for ideas to cover the entire season!

Shop Elf Printables + Digital Downloads

Elf on the Shelf Ideas for the Classroom

First, if you are doing Elf on the Shelf this year with toddlers, take a look at these Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Preschoolers! Tehse ideas are fitting for School Elf on the Shelf Ideas.

Elf on the Shelf Classroom Supplies

Next, gather your supplies. Supplies will vary on what Elf on a Shelf ideas you decide you want to do. These Elf on the Shelf ideas for school will require at least one Elf Doll and miscellaneous times. Take a look at the Elf Ideas for school below to see what supplies you need to gather.

The Elf on the Shelf
Misc Items

Elf on the Shelf Ideas in the Classroom

Elf on the Shelf on Strike Be Good at School from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf Too Loud Note from Abigail Anne

Elf on the Shelf Solo Cup Ramp from Tracy Smyth

Funny Elf on the Shelf Selfie Photos rom Abigail Anne

Elf on the Shelf Bulletin Board Snowman from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf Help Me Note with Magnetic Letters from Simply Kinder

Elf on the Shelf I Made Your Lunch from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf on the Clock from Simply Kinder

Elf on the Shelf Objective: Fun! from Simply Kinder

Elf on the Shelf Climbs a Bookshelf from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf Computer Screens Elf Wallpaper from Helpful Homemade

Elf on the Shelf Earphones Zipline from Helpful Homemade

Elf on the Shelf Mousetrap Computer Mouse from Helpful Homemade

Elf on the Shelf Painting Self Portrait from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf Online Shopping from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on the Shelf Reading from Frugal Coupon Living

Elf on a Shelf Printables

Our most popular Elf on the Shelf printables can be found in our Elf Store. This includes something perfect for the classroom, an encouraging Elf on the Shelf Postcard for School.

In addition to Elf postcards, shop Elf costumes, our Elf Twister board, Jokes for Kids, our Magic Shrinking Machine and so much more!

Shop Elf Printables + Digital Downloads

Elf on the Shelf Free Printables

We also love sharing Elf on the Shelf free printables! Get all of our free Elf on the Shelf printables by entering your email address below. Look for an email to confirm you signed up. One you confirm, look for a second email in your inbox with a link and password!

Free Elf Printables Step by Step Directions

1.) Enter your email address here.

2.) Look for a confirmation email in your inbox and confirm you requested a sign up.

3.) We will send you a Free Printables Welcome Email with link and passcode to all of our free printables.

4.) Enter your passcode at the top of the page here and click “Access Printables”

5. Enjoy your Elf on the Shelf Printables for the classroom.

Elf on the Shelf on Social Media

Save these ideas because you will want to stay up to date on these ideas each Christmas season. We do our best to mix up easy and hard Elf on the Shelf Ideas.

Elf on the Shelf Facebook Page

Multiple ideas are added each day to our Elf on the Shelf Ideas Facebook page. This is a great way for you to share your own School Elf on the Shelf Ideas and share our ideas to your Facebook page. There are some good ones! Be sure to like the page!

Elf on the Shelf Pinterest Boards

We also are in charge of a Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest board. On this board, we have invited other bloggers to share their Classroom Elf on the Shelf Ideas ideas and free Elf on a Shelf Printables too! Be sure to follow the board!

Our goal, to make Elf easy for you!

What is Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas Tradition. The tradition has a book and a elf doll. The book is poetic and in rhyme sharing the purpose of the Elf’s visits. The Elf visits each Thanksgiving. He/She goes and returns from the North Pole each evening. Every morning he can be found in a new location in the house. The Elf has been found in the refrigerator, fishing in the toilet, writing messages on the mirror or hanging from the lights. It is VERY IMPORTANT, the Elf is not touch each evening or his Christmas magic will be lost! Each family is able to name their special elf. The elves return to their home (Santa’s North Pole Work shop) every Christmas Eve. An Elf’s Story can also be found on DVD.

Popular Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Don’t forget all of our daily Elf on the Shelf Ideas. Many of these Elf on a Shelf Ideas are perfect Elf Idea for School. Pin to Pinterest on your Christmas and Elf Boards.

We have been doing Elf on the Shelf forever. See our Elf on the Shelf Master List. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Sign up for the Elf on the Shelf 5-Day Email Series.

Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!

Stay in the know with daily deals, recipes, crafts, life hacks and seasonal content on Frugal Coupon Living. Receive this and more in your inbox.

STEM Projects for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

October 18, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 1 Comment

When incorporating science and math into the home, it doesn’t have to be boring, These engaging STEM Projects for Kids are perfect for a virtual learning, home school or for a school classroom. STEM activities for elementary, middle school and even younger!

STEM Projects for Kids

Whether you’re homeschooling your kids or simply looking for a fun and educational activity to pass an afternoon at home, a STEM project can be a fun experience for the whole family. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since those are some of the fastest-growing career fields, it’s a good idea to start early in cultivating an interest in the sciences and math. You’ll have no problem doing just that with the fun list of STEM projects for kids that we’ve compiled.

Most of these STEM projects use common household materials, so you can likely set up an experiment or project TODAY. Scan the list and get started! Don’t forget our five minute science experiements for kids before you go!

STEM Projects for Kids

Kids get a big kick out of making glow in the dark eggs. Although the process itself takes a few days, the experiment only requires a few minutes of prep. You’ll use vinegar to dissolve the egg’s shell plus an added ingredient to make it glow. The result is a rubbery, “naked” egg that’s lots of fun to examine. Use it to study the parts of an egg, to learn about osmosis, and to learn about simple chemical reactions. | Frugal Coupon Living

If you have Skittles and water in your home, you have everything you need to set up this quick Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment for the kids. Kids of all ages will enjoy watching the colors spread, even your toddlers and preschoolers. The warm water dissolves the sugary coating very quickly, releasing the colors into a beautiful rainbow. | Fun with Mama (See this same Skittles Rainbow Experiment with our Elf on the Shelf.)

The baking soda experiment is a classic; most everyone has done this experiment at home or school as a child. It’s easy to set up and is always a hit, though. The acid-base reaction creates lots of fizzy fun due to the carbon dioxide that’s released during the reaction. While you don’t have to dye your baking soda, we think it adds to the fun. Not only that, but it encourages kids to take note of the color mixing that occurs where the colors touch. | Frugal Coupon Living

Do you think a plastic bag poked with pencils will hold water? It will! This is a fascinating experiment. You’ll need really sharp pencils to push through the baggie full of water. What makes the water stay? Long-chain polymers from the bag seal around the smooth edge of the pencil to maintain the barrier. Isn’t that fun? | Hello, Wonderful

Our glowing volcano experiment can quickly be set up in just five minutes, and you probably have everything you need already. It’s your classic baking soda and vinegar reaction inside a playdough-shaped volcano with a secret ingredient to make it glow in the dark. | Frugal Coupon Living

Introduce your kids to color mixing with a super simple walking water experiment. You’ll need some small jars or bowls, paper towels, water, and food coloring. Pretty simple, right? As the paper towel soaks up the water, the color (and the water) start moving up and then down into the empty jars. Eventually, the colors from the two adjoining jars will mix in the empty jar, creating new colors. | Messy Little Monster

You’ve probably heard the expression, “oil and water don’t mix,” but have you ever studied why? Explore the concept behind this common colloquialism with our oil and water experiment. Oil is less dense than water, so the two cannot mix. Using food coloring makes this concept clearer! When the droplets of colored water are dropped into the oil, they sink to the bottom. | Frugal Coupon Living

Summer and fall are the seasons of S’mores, so of course, this experiment making solar oven S’mores is sure to be a huge hit. Using common household materials like a box, foil, and plastic wrap, you can have marshmallows plumping up and chocolate melting over your graham crackers in no time. | Desert Chica

Your kids will love these straw rockets. Use the free printable rocket template, straws, scissors, and glue to get started. Have a contest to see which child’s rocket goes the farthest! This project helps kids learn about physics, particularly acting forces that put objects in motion. Add weight by attaching paperclips to see how that affects the rocket’s flight. | Artsy Fartsy Mama

How do rain clouds work? Find out with a simple rain cloud science experiment using shaving cream, food coloring, and water. The heavy drops of food coloring break through the shaving foam cloud, just as rain clouds begin to break apart as they become too heavy with moisture. | Laughing Kids Learning

Each year, you buy loads of school supplies for your kids. Use some in your science explorations! This post on STEM activities with pencils demonstrates a couple of ways to use pencils in STEM activities, such as building a tower or building shapes. | JDaniel4’s Mom

Make an Art Bot with the kids! This fun project uses a small motor (which can be purchased on Amazon for just a couple dollars each), a battery, some wire, and some markers, along with a few other materials. Kids will love watching their art bots scribble designs all over the paper. | Science Sparks

Make a water compass! This is a simple STEM activity that takes just a few minutes. You’ll need a magnet, a paperclip, a leaf, and a pan of water. Once the paperclip is magnetized, inserted into the leaf, and placed in water, it will slowly align the earth’s magnetic field, pointing north. | The Gingerbread House

Do you have a little builder on your hands? Print this awesome Lego challenge game to kick things up a notch. Kids create a spinner and then use the printable and the spinner to select an activity. It’s great for those, “Mom, I’m bored!” days that we all have now and then. Each spin tasks the kids with something different, such as building a pyramid, a robot, a plane, or building with one color. | Artsy Fartsy Mama

Want to make a ball run or marble run without putting tape all over your walls? This magnetic ball run is a clever alternative using magnetic tape to put the cardboard tubes on the fridge instead. Encourage kids to design their own tube or tunnel system to see which way the marble gets to the bottom the fastest. | Taming Little Monsters

Design a pom-pom shooter (or several) and have a fun afternoon blasting each other with pom-poms. It’s a fun alternative to a NERF gun because, hello, pom-poms are soft! You’ll need to find something to do with those pool noodles after summer’s over, anyway. One pool noodle can make lots of shooters. You’ll just need some balloons, tape, and pom-poms to complete the project. Don’t forget to discuss the forces behind blasting the pom-pom out of the pool noodle. | Hello, Wonderful

Challenge the kids to build a bridge using Legos, wooden blocks, pencils, or anything else they want to use. The bridge needs to support the weight of a can of veggies or something of similar weight. You’ll be surprised at the ingenious bridges they come up with. | Mama Smiles

This balloon rocket science experiment is so fun! A straw is threaded through a string, and then the balloon gets blown up and taped to the straw. Let it go to see how far it travels. The more full the balloon is, the farther it will go. What other factors might affect how far the balloon travels? | Hands-On Teaching Ideas

Provide materials like a paper towel tube, playdough, pipe cleaners, and alphabet beads, and let the kids figure out how to construct a coconut tree for this cute STEAM Activity. It’s perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners and goes along brilliantly with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. | ABCs of Literacy

Build a tall tower using your child’s Lego Duplos or other similarly-sized blocks. Have the kids work together to see just how tall they can build it. How can the tower be supported to build it even higher? Against a wall? Can you build it to the second story? Have fun with it! | Mama Smiles

Pin this list of STEM projects for kids to have lots of fun and engaging activities at the ready!

Also take a look at our Five Minute Science Experiments. Pin to Pinterest.

Also get inspired by these Virtual Study Spaces & Kids Homework Corners. Pin to Pinterest.

Halloween Teacher Gift Ideas

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

September 6, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Facebook, Halloween, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media Leave a Comment

We believe in showing acts of appreciation year-round. Of course the creepiest season of all should be no less. These Spooktacular Halloween Teacher Gift Ideas will have a fa-BOO-lous teacher feeling the love. No tricks, just treats!

Halloween Teacher Gift Ideas

Fall is right around the corner and so is back to school! There are really fun ways to incorporate the holidays into any teacher gift, especially for Halloween! Teachers put so much time, energy, and love into their jobs, It’s important to show them how much we appreciate all that they do.

Since I am a big fan of teachers and teacher appreciation, I couldn’t forget them this Halloween! Halloween is such a fun time of the year. There are cool costumes, lots of candy, decorations, and haunted houses. Between this, and the fact that it takes place during the coziest time of the year, Halloween is one of the best holidays.

Today, I’m so excited to share a fun list of Halloween Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas that will make your child’s teacher feel loved and appreciated. So let’s talk about how we can celebrate teachers this year for Halloween.

This list includes some spooky Halloween gift ideas and some boo-ti-ful treats. I hope this post inspires you and helps you find a gift that is equally meaningful for the educators in your life.

Don’t forget to grab our 31 free Halloween Printables, perfect for Halloween gift ideas and teacher gift ideas. My favorites are the Treat Halloween Bingo Cards, Printable Zombie Brain Cupcake Box, and the Apothecary Labels.

Halloween Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

First up, print this fa-boo-lous Halloween gift tag for a teacher. Totally spook-tacular and themed fitting for the occasion. | Frugal Coupon Living.

Keep it trick free with this No Tricks, Just Treats Halloween Gift Tags. Using wrapped candy is perfect during a season full of germs!

What I love about this Halloween Teacher Gift Tag is it can be used for whatever! Pick up a candy bar in the check out aisle of your grocery store. Happy Halloween to a teacher who is so good, it’s scary. | Eighteen25

I mean, we all are going through hand sanitizer and soap pretty quickly! Teachers can always use an extra bottle of either, scare those germs away and bring a smile teacher. | I Should be Mopping the Floor on Eighteen25

Halloween Gift Ideas

This generic spook-tacular Halloween gift tag can be used for anyone and on any one, as well! Again, your gift of appreciation doesn’t have to be big! Grab a $5 gift card. | Simply Made Fun

Cheap teacher appreciation gifts can be simplistic and fun. Grab a Betty Crocker cookie mix bag and add the Halloween printable tag cook up someting scary! You can add a Halloween cookie cutter.| Sister’s Suitcase Blog

Fill a mason jar with cookies – no tricks, just treats. This candy corn gift tag is pretty open ended, though it goes best with candy corn, of course! | Mama Cheaps

Good to the last bite! Next time you make a batch of cookies, set aside some for a deserving teacher. This Halloween teacher appreciation gift printable can be used for friends and neighbors too! | Polka Dot Chair

Grab a $5 Starbucks Gift Card and add this Halloween Coffee Gift Tag – perfect for a caffeinated pick me up. | Lovely Planner

Who doesn’t love dessert in a jar? This Caramel Apple In A Jar makes a very cute gift for a sweet teacher. | The Gunny Sack

Find a skin beauty product you love and pair with this boo-tiful Halloween gift tag. | Fun Squared

Make these Halloween vampire donuts and add this amazing gift tag – Sink your teeth into these treats. | Eighteen25

By October (and in the year 2020) all your teacher wants is a drink – Candy is dandy, but wine is divine. Cheers to that! Download this free printable Halloween wine gift tag. | Oh My Creative

You know the Halloween saying, trick or treat, smell my feet. This Halloween craft would be perfect created on a glass candle jar. | Tried and True Blog

Chances are you already have Halloween candy, right? Add some of that candy to a mason jar and add this Halloween goodies – eat at your own risk gift tag. Watch those calories transfer form what would be your belly to anyone elses. Your’re welcome! | The Idea Room

I get the creepy crawlies looking at this Halloween treat bag and bag topper. Bugs and Hisses for you this Halloween. Buy bug and snake gummies. | Eighteen25

You could be sweet and replaces those hisses with kisses – bugs and kisses Halloween gift tag. | Pink Peppermint Designs

And we of course love this last Halloween teacher appreciation idea – no tricks, just treats. Bake some cookies! | Pizzazzerie

AMAZON

November is next! Take a look at these Thanksgiving Teacher Gift Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Save these Thankful Thursday Ideas for Teachers. Pin to Pinterest.

Simple Lunch Ideas for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 30, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Recipe, Social Media Leave a Comment

Quick and easy. That’s my motto. Follow these Simple Lunch Ideas for Kids at school, at work, or at home. Many on the go lunch ideas including wraps, pinwheels, sandwich sushi, corn dogs, pigs in a blanket, quesadillas, and other kid favorites, you can’t miss!

Simple Lunch Ideas for Kids

Whether you’re homeschooling or sending your kids to school this year, one thing rings true. Busy moms need simple lunch ideas for kids that keep kids well-fed and happy without taking up too much time in the kitchen. We’ve got you covered with lots of great ideas that go beyond basic sandwiches with deli meat or PB&J (though you’ll still find some yummy sandwiches in the mix).

Our School Lunch Planner can help you keep track of which recipes you want to make. It includes a spot to keep a running shopping list and pantry inventory, so you’ll be able to make your grocery list fast every week.

Don’t miss our School Lunch Hacks for tips and tricks on making your kids’ school lunches AMAZING.

With wraps, pinwheels, sandwich sushi, corn dogs, pigs in a blanket, quesadillas, and other kid favorites, you can’t miss! Let’s dive into the list of 22 simple lunch ideas for kids. Hope you’re hungry!

Simple Lunch Ideas for Kids

This sandwhich has all the healthy ingredients. Make our easy peasy Peanut Butter, Banana, Apple, Cinnamon, & Raisin Face Sandwich. With our without the face, it is sure to be a hit!

Take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level by making Pizza Grilled Cheese. It’s a little more fun and convenient than baking a pizza from scratch, but you still get all those pizza flavors you love. You could even sneak in some peppers and tomatoes if your kiddo likes them. | Easy Budget Recipes

Walking Tacos aren’t just for enjoying around a campfire or at a party. Kids will get a kick out of having these on a normal weekday. Just brown and season your taco meat, provide individual bags of chips and your favorite taco toppings, and you’re all set. | Frugal Coupon Living

If your kid loves PB&J, you need to stock your freezer with these DIY Uncrustables. They’re a fraction of the price of the store-bought version, and they’re just as delicious. | Princess Pinky Girl

Stop right there, we have another homemade DIY Uncrustables Recipe on Frugal Coupon Living. This one square and with Grape Jelly!

These colorful Veggie Pinwheels are sure to delight your hungry family at lunchtime. They’re stuffed with crisp veggies and ranch-flavored cream cheese; all rolled up in a spinach wrap. Substitute regular or wheat tortillas if your kids aren’t into the spinach ones. | Dinner at the Zoo

Visit Frugal Coupon Living’s Hidden Veggie Recipes for Kids & Picky Eaters too!

Ditch the breading, and make Grilled Chicken Tenders instead. Aside from the time the chicken tenders need to marinade, these tenders can be made quickly and easy. Serve with grilled veggies, pasta salad, or fresh veggies. | Nourish Plate

Mini Broccoli Quesadillas are just the right size for little ones’ hands. They’re easy to make, but you can feel good that they’re really nutritious, too. Any food that encourages kids to eat more veggies is a win! | High Chair Chronicles

Pigs in a Blanket are a classic and simple appetizer, but they make great lunches for kids, too. You can make them super simple and serve with ketchup, as they are in this recipe, or add herbs, poppy seeds, etc., and serve with different sauces. | Damn Delicious

You can make English Muffin Pizzas in under 20 minutes. They’ll quickly become a lunchtime favorite, and they’re easy on the budget, too. Add olives, peppers, or mushrooms for children who like them. | The Best Ideas for Kids

Encourage the kids to get in the kitchen to help you make these Mini Chicken Quesadillas. They’re delicious, easy, and kid-friendly. To make this even easier, pick up a rotisserie chicken rather than cooking one yourself when you’re in a time crunch. | High Chair Chronicles

Make Homemade Spaghettio’s instead of serving the canned stuff. It only takes about 10 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook, so it’s pretty easy, and you can feel good knowing all the ingredients that have gone into it. | Strength and Sunshine

Mac and Cheese Bites are a fun, portable way to enjoy mac and cheese. They’re perfect for your kids’ lunchboxes if they’re going to school this year, but they’re just as yummy eaten in the comfort of your home. | The Best Ideas for Kids

Looking for more easy air fryer recipes? These Air Fryer Pizza Rolls are just the ticket. They’re tasty, wholesome, and super kid-friendly. The pizza rolls are made with sauce, pepperoni, and cheese, but feel free to customize them with your favorite pizza toppings. They’re ready in about 25 minutes, including prep and cook time. | Recipes from a Pantry

See also Frugal Coupon Living’s Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners and Air Fryer Cheat Sheet.

Grilled Chicken Wraps are sure to satisfy any chicken fanatic. They’re the perfect summer lunch, but you can make them all year long, too. If you don’t have time to grill or cook your own chicken breasts, sub rotisserie chicken, or pre-grilled strips. Easy peasy! | Little Sunny Kitchen

Regular sandwiches are BORING, but sandwiches served differently are fun and exciting! Enter these Sandwich Sushi Rolls—your favorite deli meat + cheese + veggies for a bit of crunch. Don’t they look delicious? | Eating Richly

These Corn Dog Mini Muffins (as seen in our Winner Super Bowl Snack Recipes) are basically corn dogs without the fuss. You’ll get more of that delicious yellow cornbread, which has to be my favorite part. And if you don’t want to make cornbread mix from scratch for these, you could always pop the hot dogs in some Jiffy mix to speed things up. | Damn Delicious

These Pizza Pancakes are a little bit of breakfast and a little bit of dinner all in one fun dish. They’re gooey and cheesy when you pull them apart, and they’re just perfect for dipping in marinara sauce. | Happiness is Homemade

Everyone needs to know how to make an Easy Pasta Salad. This recipe is simple and versatile. Make the recipe as is, or substitute whatever leftover meats and veggies you have on hand. To save time, you can use your favorite packaged Italian dressing instead of making your own. Make a big batch, though, because it’s irresistible, and you want enough to last a few days! | Savory Tooth

It may sound like an odd combination, but if your kids like to experiment in the kitchen, they may be right on board with these PB Apple Chicken Salad Wraps. Cooked chicken is combined with chopped apple, grapes, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt for a whole new take on chicken salad. | Love Bakes Good Cakes

With pre-cooked meatballs, crescent roll dough, marinara sauce, cheese, and herbs, you can have a batch of Meatball Cheese Bombs ready in under 15 minutes. How good do those sound? Serve them with a salad, and you have a simple no-fuss lunch everyone will love. | Sizzling Eats

Pizza Sliders are a great dish for potlucks, but you can make a couple of batches and refrigerate or freeze them for quick lunches during the week, too. Standard pepperoni and cheese sliders will work best for most kids, but feel free to sneak some veggies in there, like peppers, onions, mushrooms, or even olives. | Sugar Spice and Glitter

Hummus, spinach, deli turkey, and cherry tomatoes (with a couple more ingredients) come together to make this Healthy Spinach Turkey Wrap that you can make in about two minutes. It can easily be a gluten-free meal by using gluten-free tortillas. | Living Well Mom

If all else fails, you simply can’t go wrong with delicious and simple Cheese Quesadillas. Use one type of cheese or a combination of cheeses to switch things up. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, or salsa. | Isabel Eats

Pin to Pinterest this list of simple lunch ideas for kids so you’ll have a meal idea ready the next time you need a quick meal that can’t miss.

Get organized! Our School Lunch Planner can help you keep track of your kids lunch ideas. It includes a spot to keep a running shopping list and pantry inventory, so you’ll be able to make your grocery list fast every week. Comes with free lunchbox notes too! Pin to Pinterest.

Also visit our Hidden Veggie Recipes for Picky Eaters. Pin to Pinterest.

Thankful Thursday – Thank You, Teacher!

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

July 19, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 4 Comments

Thankful Thursday – Thank You, Teacher! Teacher appreciation ideas for year round. It doesn’t have to be teacher appreciation week to show your love and support. Low cost random acts of kindness and small teacher gift ideas including free printables!

Thankful Thursday

As a former teacher (and survivor of a Virtual Teacher Appreciation Week in Quarantine), I have always instilled showing thanks for teachers. Often this comes with me picking up a candy bar at the checkout line or grabbing an extra cup of coffee “thanks a latte” before dropping my kids off at school. These are just because occasions.

There are many ways to show Teachers Appreciation without waiting until teacher appreciation week. One way to is adopt a Thankful Thursday. This does not have to be every Thursday, just choose a Thursday one a month or twice a year in send in something small.

Alternatively, the homeroom parent can create a classroom SignUpGenius. Easily organize a weekly Thankful Thursday with classroom signups for schools and classrooms. Promote a spirit of gratitude by gifting something small every Thursday.

How to Write a Thank You Note To Your Teacher

With electronics taking over, hand written notes are a thing of the past. Because of that, a handwritten note is more meaningful than an email or text. To show your upmost appreciation, use a pen or pencil to write your thank you note to your teacher.

First, start with blank canvas and outline positive words or phrases that come to mind when you think about this teacher. These are words you will want to put inside your letter.

Second, begin your letter with a salutation. This should be like with a “Dear _____,”

In your paragraph(s), give a reason your teacher has helped you or describe what they have done for you. Provide an example. Express the positive impact these words or actions had on you. How did this change you? Don’t forget your thanks.

End with a Closing. Choose a “Sincerely”, “All the best”, “Warm wishes”, “Deepest thanks” and/or “thank you again!”

Teacher Appreciation Thank You Messages

Thank you notes can be brief. They can short little messages with quick line of thanks. Consider some of these Thankful Thursday Quotes for Teachers when adding messages to your appreciation notes.

Thank you for believing in me.

You showed me how capable I am of achieving great things.

I don’t think you realize it, but you were such a huge influence on me this year.

I wanted to let you know how much of an impact you’ve made.

You are, hands down, the best teacher I’ve ever had.

Teacher Appreciation Quotes

This printable teacher quote can be found on Etsy at Soul Printables, “a truly amazing teacher is hard to find and impossible to forget.”

Sign off your letter with teacher appreciation quotes. Below are some inspirational quotes about teachers to share at the bottom of your message or on your gift tag. Sometimes no additional words are needed.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Brooks Adams

“When the teacher is ready, the student will disappear. When the student is truly ready… the teacher will disappear.” – Lao Tzu

“Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives.” – Andy Rooney

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

“A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.” – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Thankful Thursday Small Teacher Gift Ideas

These thankful Thursday ideas come with instant downloads and some free printables. Show your teacher love and support with small teacher appreciation gift ideas year round or 52 weeks a year. It doesn’t have to be teacher appreciation week.

…and you know I am a sucker for a teacher appreciation printable. See how to take these instant downloads and Print Your Documents at Staples.

Pull through that coffee run drive through, and pick up an additional gift card. Pair with our “thanks a latte” teacher appreciation gift tag.

Thank them for helping you grow with our succulent gift tags . Perfect for succa good teacher.

Did you find a good educator? Pair a sweet treat with this s’more teachers like you gift tag.

You are appreciated teacher gift tag. Pair with a small token of your choice from Frog Prince Paperie.

Personalize your thank you teacher gift with this “thanks for helping me grow” teacher appreciation plant gift tag on Etsy.

C is for caffeine gift tag. Remind your teacher with a cup of morning joe!

Pick up an extra candy bar at checkout and add these candy bar gift tags for teachers from Fun Squared.

It doesn’t have to cost money. Print this thank you note for teacher printable from Frugal Novice and have your child personalize it to his/her teacher.

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” Turn this Malala Quote into a printable teacher gift from Amy Latta.

Use this free SVG file to turn teacher quotes into teacher gifts with this clip board idea from Happiness is Homemade.

Have a Cricut Maker? Grab this free SVG file from Happy Go Lucky Blog; “I teach, what’s your super power?”

Do your kids need direction with their thanks? This teacher thank you card allows you to fill in the blank.

Alternatively, download these free thank you notes for teachers from Pickle Bums. Color the card, make a cute hand print craft or fill in the blank.

Don’t forget to leave with a high five. This hand print art certificate allows you to award your teacher a huge high five for a great year!

Many of our Thanksgiving Gift Ideas for Teachers (with Printables) can be used year around. Pin to Pinterest.

In a season of thanksgiving (which can be any time of the year), don’t forget this Gratitude Challenge. Pin to Pinterest.

School Lunch Planner with Printable Lunch Notes

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

July 18, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Do you find yourself in a school year rut? Have a great start to the back to school season with these lunch and snack prep essentials. Download a weekly school lunch planner, printable lunch notes, and a list of healthy lunchbox ideas for kids. Enjoy!

School Lunch Planner

If the end of last school year taught me anything, I taught me to plan our meals. Meats were out of stock, I was ordering groceries online and in order to not waste food or to have enough of what we like, I had to plan our meals. It is not that I didn’t plan before, but I was able to spread our food out and use it for the best purpose. I felt like a pioneer woman on a home school prairie.

I am taking that meal planning a step further as we head back to school with a weekly lunchbox planner. This will allow me to assign food to days before it goes bad, for me to pack non perishable food ahead and for me to use all the foods we have before opening something new.

School Meal Planning List

Included in our School Lunch Planner are…

Pantry Inventory List
Shopping List
Prepping List
Notes List

Each day is also listed Monday to Friday and includes what to pack for snacks and lunch.

Lunch Box Ideas for Kids

I wanted to supply you with a list of healthy lunch box kids idea. As the year goes on, creativity goes out the door. Below are ideas you can add inside your child’s lunch.

Drinks

Water
Milk
Juice
Sports Drink

Protein

Pepperoni
Turkey
Ham
Hard Boiled Egg
Tuna/Chicken Salad
Hummus
Nuts
Peanut Butter

Fruit

Banana
Strawberry
Berries
Orange
Avocados
Apple
Pear
Mango
Kiwi
Cheeries

Veggie

Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Carrots
Broccoli
Edamame

Dairy

Yogurt
Cheese Stick
Cottage Cheese
Drinkable Yougurt

Grain

Crackers
Bread
Pasta
Rice Cakes

Snacks

Graham Crackers
Vegetable Chips
Fruit Leather
Granola Bar
Goldfish
Trail Mix
Pretzels
Raisins

Note: Some schools only allow peanut free lunches. This would eliminate some weekly lunchbox ideas.

Printable Lunch Notes

We have been sharing free lunch notes for a long time. In fact, you can still print these —> lunch notes printables.

In addition to our original free lunch notes, we include six adorable lunchbox notes with our school lunchbox planner.

How to Access Your Back to School Printables

—> Get all of our free printables including our free lunchbox notes and weekly lunch meal planner. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print School Documents at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples. Sign in or create a Staples account and either pick up in your store or have your printables mailed to your home.

How to Store Lunch Box Notes

I have collected lunch box notes for years. With five kids, I hate reprinting new notes every year. To preserve these notes, I laminate my printables.

I have owned Scotch™ Thermal Laminator for ten years and it is still going strong.

I store both my lunch box notes and lunch box labels in a gallon sized Ziploc bag. This bag is stored by our lunchbox supplies including thermos, bento boxes and sandwich bags and more.

We know you are a busy mom. We get it, we are too. That is why we put together these —> Everyday Busy Mom Hacks and Tips.

We also created a Busy Mom Binder. In this family command center resource, we offer many home organization printables including a new and improved Weekly Lunchbox Planner!

Babysitter Notes
Notes for School & Teachers
Daily & Weekly Chores Checklist
How to Clean My Room Checklist for Kids
Stay-at-Home Schedule for Mom, Baby & Toddler
Family Bucket list (blank)

View the Busy Mom Binder & Home Organizer

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your weekly school lunch planner and printable lunch notes. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Back to School Printables

Save these Back to School printables. Pin to Pinterest.

Lunch Box Mom Hacks

You know I love a good mom hack! Follow these Lunch Hacks and Tips throughout the school year. Pin to Pinterest.

Memorable First Day of School Ideas

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

July 5, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 2 Comments

What didn’t I think of that?! Create memories they will cherish with these First Day of School Ideas. Back to school printables, first day of school photo ideas, activities for kids and new family traditions you will repeat yearly.

Memorable First Day of School Ideas

Do I address what a crazy year 2020 has been or move on and act like all of us didn’t experience a terrible end of the year? While going back to school is always a milestone, this year is especially special. Celebrate the start of a new school year with these memorable First Day of School Ideas. We bet many of back to school ideas will become annual family traditions!

First Day of School Traditions

Back to School traditions are are first day of school ideas you want to continue and keep consistent every year. Some of our birthday family traditions can be easily transferred into back to school ideas for the first day.

Make their first bite special with a First Day of School bento lunch box. Add a sweet Back to School Lunch Note. | Must Have Mom

This is one of those first day of school and birthday traditions you can use either way. We always keep balloons and streamers in our gift supply area. Whip it together when the kids go to bed and they will wake up to a pleasant first day surprise. | Side Tracked Mom (no longer active)

Have a nervous Nancy? This first day jitter glitter can go to school with your child on a necklace or can be sprinkled on them the night before school. | The DIY Mommy

Adopt a First Day of School German Tradition. Make these adorable DIY Schultüte, or school cones. Fill your homemade Schultute with treats and school supplies to make the start of school sweet for little ones. | Frog Prince Paperie

Have a huge first day of school bus greeting. Host a water balloon or a silly string fight! Have a barrel of silly string and silly string guns. Gather the neighbors at the bus stop. | Source – Bower Power Blog

First Day of School Photo Ideas

There are so many first day of school photo ideas and we share many that have free downloads in our Back to School Printables post. For this list of First Day of School Photo Ideas, we are taking them outside the box. Instead of First Day of School Signs you can download, we are finding items you have to craft and create.

Spell it out on the driveway. This first day of school sidewalk chalk art is easy and adorable. Think you can continue it through 12th grade? | Blue Cricket Design (no longer active)

Create a reoccurring DIY Photo in Photo first day of school idea. Starting kindergarten year your child will hold no photo. Each consecutive year, your child will hold the previous years first day of school photo and you can watch your child grow. This will take planning ahead as you need to order the print. We recommend ordering from CanvasHQ. | She’s Making Cards (no longer active)

This is an extra special idea your child will grow into. This DIY Back-to-School Shirt with Handprints for Every Grade! You can make your own first day of school shirt (with a silhouette cameo and iron) or you can pick up a handprint first day of school shirt on Etsy. | Where the Smiles Have Been

Announce a new school year with a colorful DIY First Day of School Banner. | Make it My Own

Using a white balloon. colorful stickers, and balloon sticks, write the school grade and year on a balloon! | Design Improvised

First Day of School Printables

These First Day of School free printables are helpful in creating memorable family traditions.

Conduct a first day of school interview. Mark the start and end of each school year with these fun first day & last of school interview printables fitting for kids from pre-school through high school. Add them all to a notebook or scrapbook for a printable time capsule! | Mortiz Fine Designs

Celebrate the first day a back to school breakfast with this free printable school table place setting. | The Real Housewife of Fresno (first day of school breakfast) & A Girl and a Glue Gun (table printables)

Get the kids excited and have little fun collecting school supplies with a Back to School Scavenger hunt! | The Dating Divas

Make a printable Back to School Time Capsule. This adorable pencil time capsule is made with a Pringles can. | Aimee Ferre

Host a family game night with a Minute To Win It Back To School Edition Printable. You can also take a look at our list of Minute to Win It Game Night Ideas. | My Digital Creations.

First Day of School Activities

Make going back to school to school exciting with memorable first day activities for kids.

Get everyone together with a Back to School Party. So many beautiful tablescape ideas and goodies to welcome the first day of school. | The Sits Girls

When the school bell rings, bring the kids to get ice cream. This has been a tradition we have continued for years.

Begin a tradition of kindness and start the first day off right by hanging a positive affirmation sticky note each day. Add these messages as the days go on until they fill your child’s mirror. | Source

Have a visit from the backpack fairy. Leave your backpack in a designated spot the night before school and in the morning the back to school fairy will leave a special gift! | Blissful Roots

And before the first bell rings, start a countdown. Perhaps build each day with a special bucket list on the calendar. Make a paper chain with a different activity for each day until the night before school. | Brassy Apple

Take a look at these Back to School Printables – our favorite is “If you give a teacher a cookie” as a sweet treat on the first day of school. Pin to Pinterest.

Save for later these End of the Year Activities and Ideas. Pin to Pinterest on your School Board!

College Dorm Decor Ideas

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

June 28, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Facebook, Home Improvement, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 2 Comments

Inspiring College Dorm Decor Ideas including storage, organization, decorations, and hacks. Dorm room essentials, where to buy dorm room decor and cheap and affordable college living spaces you will want to copy.

College Dorm Decor Ideas

If this post has desire anything, I have a huge craving to use my wallet size of today and go back to college to decorate my dorm! You jaw will hit the floor with these college dorm room ideas. Find the best places to buy dorm room decor and get inspired by all the budget-friendly options! Happy Decorating.

Best Places to Buy Dorm Room Decor

You cannot decorate a dorm room without knowing the best places to buy dorm room decor. While it has been almost 20 years since I have been in college, my my pre-teens are not yet at this stage, I found (through this posts ) there are so many awesome places to buy college dorm decor. Many of these purchases can be used for apartment living, small homes, or even carried over into a starter home. Some of the ideas (like rugs) you might want to toss at the end of the school year. other items, you will find yourself carrying to your fist home. (Three kids later, my college roommate still has the bookshelf we used in our first college room! I actually still sleep with the same blanket!)

Shop Dorm Room Decor

Best College Dorm Ideas

Follow Neelam, an interior designer who turned a cold college dorm into a warm home away from home. Details about dorm room storage, laying textures, and adding little touches to define your personality through your college room decor – five stars and two thumbs up! | Patterns and Prosecco

Inspire your welcome with a temporary polka dot door. Using white vinyl, a cutting machine or a circle cutter this dorm room decor craft can be done in under 30 minutes. Make sure you are using Removable Vinyl! | Sarah Hearts

Use command strips and decorative clipboards. Easily change out art or calendars using clipboards. Download our free Dorm Sweet Dorm printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

By downloading you are accepting the FCL printable terms that free download is for non-commercial use. Please contact Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

This dorm storage ideas acts as both a Collapsible storage ottoman and a bench with seat back. Comes in white, gray and black. Get this dorm storage ottoman here.

Display all your feelings on a rotating mood board. You can use anything from magazines, articles, sticky notes, and other materials to put together your board and of course turn to inspiration of Pinterest. | Just Josie

Layer textiles. Cover your standard title floor with the largest rug you can to fit your room. Even if you don’t like this larger rug, you can add smaller rugs on top to define your space and style. | Dormify

Instead of using the overhead florescent lighting, adding your own lighting will warm up the room and make such a mood difference. Head to Home Goods (Marshalls, TJMaxx, etc) and find affordable table lamps. Jump on Amazon for hanging string lights. We used these Command light hooks to hang my daughters. I highly recommend adding Powered Bed Risers. | Source

Smile. Place your favorite memories when you these this Dry Erase Polaroid Frame Decal Set. This allows you to easily rotate photos plus it it’s safe for walls and won’t leave a sticky residue.

Talk about a dorm room makeover. These college roommates took a scary 50 year old residence into a place to relax and rest with custom drapes, two loft beds, white dressers, monogrammed chairs, and more. | Today.com

White brick wall paper will change the entire feel of an ugly cinder block wall! Bring a charming vibe within a matter of minutes. The best part about it is, if you mess up, it’s repositionable and removeable! Get your white brick removeable wall paper here.

Create perfect under bed storage as well has hide an ugly wall with a tapestry. You can get this pull out storage here, tapestry clips here and black/white tapestry here. | Driven by Decor (Take a second and look at this entire blog – so much inspiration for mom’s home too!)

This dorm decor is doing so many things right. A perfect mix of textures, prints, pom-pom garland duvet cover, and a dorm room gallery wall add serious personality to this space. And of course for the ultimate small dorm room hack, a table beside the bed triples as a besdie nightstand, a vanity, and a desk. | René Quickle’s Freshman Dorm on Pinterest

Tip: Everyone needs a fur chair cover to hide basic dorm room chairs.

Easy to maintain pants will create some responsibility as well as provide some fresh air. Succulents, cacti, and aloe plants are super easy to take care of. Not to mention, those leafy greens can help purify the air quality in your dorm. If you’re too intimidated by becoming a plant mother, then just buy fake ones. | Room 264

Create your own mini kitchen with this Mini Fridge Organizer. This freestanding organizer fits over a compact mini fridge to provide organized storage in the available space above your fridge. Will also fit a microwave. Get your mini refrigerator storage cabinet here.

There higher you go with the bed, the more storage you are given below. Make sure to invest in a step stool. You can also use it as an end table, as storage, or even as a place to sit. Shop Blush Pink Storage Ottoman

Also consider getting these powered bed risers for bed height and extra long dorm bed skirt for covering unsightly storage.

Use a dorm room utility rolling cart for practical things like pantry items and kitchen supplies. Easy to pull out, easy to push back. | Jessica Slaughter

These gold polka dot wall decals create a mural on a wall with little time and effort. | Preptista

Head to thrift stores, search Facebook market place, look high and low for recycled furniture. Distress your own dorm room coffee station for late night studying. | Source Unknown.

Change messages and inspirational quotes in your room with a letter board. Hang with command strips for easily going on and coming off!

Do yourself a favor and make sure you do this – take a dorm room before and after photo. It will be so exciting to see your artistic side and personality show when decorating a dorm room. Can’t wait to see what you do! | Cosmopolitan.

Dorm Room Cleaning Checklist

We provided a free dorm room cleaning checklist printable. Included in our dorm cleaning checklist is a list of daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. Give each roommate their own copy or share the chores.

Daily

Make Your Bed
Pick Up Clutter
Wash Dishes

Weekly

Clean Out Refrigerator
Vacuum and Take Out Trash
Laundry

Monthly

Declutter Rooms
Wipe Windows and Mirrors
Dust

Grab dorm room checklist and our “Dorm Sweet Dorm” college decor printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

Save these Small Apartment and Dorm Room Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Also save these Dorm Room Recipes – Snacks, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. No Bake Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.