Written by TEFA parents for TEFA parents. Not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller or Odyssey.
Still waitlisted? Another Tier 3 award round is expected today, Sept. 24 — roughly 1,000–3,000 opportunities.
Private-school families: the second 25% of funding posts to your account on Oct. 1.
MARKETPLACE TIPS
When searching for a local class, tutor, therapy, or school, start with the TEFA public finder. Enter your city and choose local in the filter options so the map shows vendors near you.
Find the vendor or school name on the map.
Note the exact listing name.
Then open Odyssey and search that name to see packages you can actually buy. The finder is for discovery while purchases happen only in Odyssey.
MARKETPLACE FINDS
This week we combed through Odyssey in search of cool products. After pulling our hair out because of the infamous “back button” issues and Outschool spam, we eventually found some really interesting things. As always, we price-checked the items on each company’s website to make sure they aren’t charging a higher price to TEFA parents. This happens A LOT, so we encourage you to do the same before purchasing any product or service.
1. Digital Compound Microscope Bundle — $544.95
Ages 10+
2000x digital compound microscope with a 7-inch screen for shared viewing, photo/video capture, 100 prepared biological slides, 100 blank slides and coverslips, stains and tools, an experience pack, and The Complete Book of the Microscope.
In Odyssey, search Compound Microscope Bundle.
2. Genetics & DNA Lab — $34.95
Ages 10+
You can find at least 3 of these in the marketplace, the cheapest listing is the one from Amazon. Isolate plant DNA in a test tube, build a DNA model, and work through inheritance, cells, and chromosomes. 20 experiments and a 48-page manual.
In Odyssey, search Genetics DNA Lab.
3. S'mores Sandwich Cookies Kit — $36.99
Kid-friendly baking kit with pre-measured dry ingredients and a step-by-step recipe card. Yields 6–8 cookies. You add butter, milk, and an egg.
In Odyssey, search S'mores Sandwich Cookies.
4. Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Life: Elementary Paleontology Workbook — $9.99
Printable PDF (23 full-color pages) on fossils, paleontology, and the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Includes activities, a parent/teacher page, and a certificate. This is a digital download.
In Odyssey, search Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Life.
5. Mini Muffin Phonics Activity Set — $19.38
Ages 4+
70 pieces. Letter identification, beginning sounds, syllables, rhyming, and word families with a muffin tin, letter muffins, picture cards, and activity cards.
In Odyssey, search Mini Muffin Phonics.
6. TEN Live 60-minute online piano/voice lessons — $550
Beginner to late intermediate piano using their color-coded, Scripture-based curriculum. Piano from age 4 with a parent present; kids can take online lessons on their own around age 8. Voice from age 8. Also offering 30 and 45 minute sessions.
In Odyssey, search Piano Bible Songs in Color.
TEFA RULES
This week: Marketplace-only spending.
TEFA funds may only be used inside the Odyssey marketplace. Families cannot buy from a store, tutor, or vendor on their own and later request reimbursement. Vendors also cannot refund, rebate, or credit TEFA money back to a parent’s personal account. If a provider is not listed in Odyssey, TEFA funds cannot be used to pay them.
ODYSSEY SUPPORT
📞 Phone: 737-379-2362
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: support.withodyssey.com
🕐 Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–9pm; Sat–Sun 11am–5pm
See you next week.
Found a good Odyssey listing? Reply and share it with us.
— Alison & Ryan
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PK-5th grade tutoring — online or in-person