Classroom Freebies Too represents a collaborative platform dedicated to providing educators with no-cost instructional materials. The site emerged as a continuation of the original Classroom Freebies blog, founded by Charity Preston. Within its first four months, the platform achieved over 1,000,000 page views. It operates as a hub where approximately 100 educators from grades PreK through 12 post links to free printable activities on a daily basis. A second group of 100 educators, including the author of the source text, contributes to the site, expanding the repository of available resources. Teachers can follow updates from both Classroom Freebies and Classroom Freebies Too through social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
The materials shared on these platforms are described as high-quality activities that rival or exceed the quality of products sold commercially by education publishers. The author notes that thousands of teachers create and share these resources online, offering them at no cost to other educators. To facilitate access, the author plans to feature a selection of the best teacher freebies on the first day of each month on The Cornerstone blog. These features highlight no-cost activities and printables that teachers can implement immediately in their classrooms.
Classroom Management and Student Incentives
Among the specific freebies highlighted is a Classroom Management FREEBIE designed for the month of February. This resource allows educators to download and trace materials, with the option to modify the wording to suit specific classroom needs. The resource is attributed to The Eppich Classroom.
Another resource focuses on student incentives and rewards systems. The source describes a method where students earn "money" or coins for positive behaviors. These coins are saved in an empty film canister kept in the student's desk. Students have the option to spend their earnings on privileges, such as using the bathroom during class immediately after recess, or they may choose to save their money to purchase a reward. The author emphasizes that these rewards cost nothing, contrasting them with typical treasure box items. The system is noted to motivate students to work harder to earn these privileges, creating a "win-win" situation.
The author also mentions a "Money Poem Poster Freebie" and a "Treasure Box Alternative" available via email subscription. Other free resources listed in the source data include a "ULTIMATE Parent Info Card Freebie," which is completely editable using the Chalkboard font. These cards are printed on bright green cardstock and carried in a school bag, described as invaluable over the years. Additional resources mentioned include "Work and Mingle Night" tips and "The First Minutes and Day of School" guides.
Classroom Decor and Organization
A significant portion of the available freebies relates to classroom aesthetics and organization. One freebie offers a "Classroom Decor Sample Pack" in the form of printable binder covers. This sample pack serves as a sneak peek at various decor themes available in the author's shop. It is designed to help teachers visualize different styles before committing to a full decor bundle.
The sample pack includes designs ranging from bright and cheerful to modern minimalist. It also features editable templates for personalization and professional, cohesive layouts for classroom organization. Teachers can print and use the binder covers immediately or browse them for inspiration. The covers are intended for organizing lesson plans, student data, and IEP binders. The author describes this freebie as a "mini lookbook" for the classroom, helping teachers find a style that fits their "classroom vibe."
Another source details a reading center transformation. The author replaced an old, bulky couch and bookshelf with a more open and relaxed setup. The focal point of this new reading center features decorative letters purchased from Hobby Lobby, modified with Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, white paint, or tin. The area includes a purple runner from Overstock to define the space without closing it off. Two-sided shelving units on wheels serve as low barriers and provide dual storage for books and supplies. These units allow students to "run the room" and access materials easily. The reading center includes a quote from Neil Gaimon's "Caroline." Additionally, the author utilized IKEA Kallax bookshelves turned on their side and labeled containers from the same retailer, using labels from the "Classroom Essentials – Vanilla Sherbet" line.
Other free decor and organizational resources mentioned include: * Daily Schema Review: A board located in front of the "rug" area for daily discussion components. * Calendar Components: Calendar pieces featuring cut business card magnets for easy changing. These are part of the "Vanilla Sherbet" line, which also includes other classroom essentials color combinations. * Posters: Bright and simple posters, including "Inspirational Posters FREEBIE," to bring positivity to the room. * Class Rules: Listed under "Classroom Essentials Vanilla Sherbet."
Classroom Transformations
For teachers interested in immersive learning environments, there are freebies available for "Classroom Transformations." Specific resources listed include "Coffee shop room transformation slides" and "Coffee shop room transformation decor." These materials likely assist educators in converting their classrooms into thematic settings, such as a coffee shop, to engage students in specific learning activities.
Themes and Styles
The available freebies cover a wide range of aesthetic preferences and functional needs. The "Classroom Essentials Vanilla Sherbet" line appears frequently, providing a cohesive color palette and design language for various classroom elements, including calendar components, posters, and organization labels. Other themes mentioned include "Bright & cheerful designs" and "Modern minimalist looks."
The resources are designed to be practical. For example, the binder covers are not just decorative but serve to organize essential teaching documents. The calendar pieces utilize magnets for efficiency. The reading center design prioritizes student access and movement. The incentive systems focus on behavioral management without financial cost to the teacher or parents.
Accessibility and Community
The primary mechanism for accessing these freebies is through direct downloads from blog posts or educational marketplaces like Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT). Many of the freebies are described as "editable," allowing teachers to customize the content to fit their specific classroom context. The "ULTIMATE Parent Info Card Freebie," for instance, allows for tweaking the wording. The "Classroom Management FREEBIE" for February also notes that wording can be changed.
The community aspect is emphasized through the collaborative nature of Classroom Freebies Too. By aggregating links from 100 educators daily, the platform creates a centralized location for discovering new resources. The monthly feature on The Cornerstone blog further curates these discoveries, presenting the "best" options to a broader audience.
Conclusion
The landscape of classroom resources is vast, but platforms like Classroom Freebies Too provide a curated, cost-free avenue for educators to access high-quality materials. From behavioral management tools and student incentive systems to comprehensive decor packs and classroom transformation guides, the available freebies address a multitude of instructional and organizational needs. By leveraging these resources, teachers can enhance their classroom environments and instructional strategies without incurring personal expenses. The emphasis on editable and printable formats ensures that these materials can be adapted to suit diverse educational settings and student populations.