Educational freebies and classroom resources are valuable tools for teachers, parents, and homeschool educators seeking cost-effective materials to support student learning. Among the most recognized providers of such materials is Laura Candler, an educator who has developed a wide array of printables and activities for upper elementary classrooms. Her offerings focus primarily on mathematics and literacy, providing accessible resources that can be downloaded without direct purchase. This article details how consumers can access these free educational materials, the types of resources available, and the necessary steps to maintain access to updated content.
Understanding the Free Resources Library
Laura Candler’s educational materials have been consolidated into a centralized "Free Resources Library." This library serves as the primary repository for her free printables, which were previously scattered across various pages. According to the source material, this private page contains over 75 freebies available exclusively to email subscribers.
Subscription and Access Requirements
Access to the Free Resources Library is gated behind an email subscription process. The mechanism for access is as follows:
- New Subscribers: Individuals interested in accessing the library must sign up for "Candler’s Classroom Connections." Upon successful registration, a welcome message is sent to the subscriber's inbox. This welcome message contains the specific link required to access the private Free Resources Library.
- Current Subscribers: Existing subscribers are instructed to look for the link to the library in recent emails. If the link cannot be located in previous correspondence, the source advises signing up again to receive the welcome message.
- Technical Issues: If a user signs up but does not receive the welcome message, the documentation directs them to use the "Contact" link found at the bottom of the relevant webpage to request assistance.
This subscription model ensures that users receive notifications when new freebies are added to the file cabinet, maintaining a direct line of communication between the resource provider and the consumer.
Categories of Available Freebies
The free materials provided by Laura Candler are categorized by subject matter, with a significant emphasis on upper elementary math and seasonal activities. The source data identifies specific examples of these resources, offering insight into the scope of the library.
Mathematics Resources
The "Miscellaneous Math File Cabinet" is a specific collection highlighted in the source data. It contains free printables designed for the upper elementary math classroom. These activities were developed and tested in the provider's own classroom. It is noted that because these items are provided free of charge, they generally do not come with directions or answer keys, though complete math lessons are available for purchase.
Specific examples of math freebies mentioned in the source data include:
- Input/Output Tables: Resources covering both introductory lessons and practice quizzes regarding function tables.
- Word Problems: Materials designed to assist students in writing equations based on word problems.
- Number Sense: Activities such as "Number Words to Spell" and "50 Numbers for Sorting."
- Geometry and Measurement: While the math file cabinet focuses on general math, the Pinterest data suggests a broader interest in geometry resources, including worksheets on parallelogram area and perimeter, quadrilateral angles, and coordinate geometry.
- Decimal Concepts: There is a noted interest in decimal resources, including place value powerpoints, task cards, and interactive games.
Literacy and Seasonal Activities
The source data also highlights freebies related to literacy and seasonal events, specifically Valentine’s Day. These resources integrate math and reading concepts with holiday themes to engage students.
- Valentine’s Day Math: Specific examples include "Valentine Fraction Riddles," "Sweetheart Fractions" (covering equivalent and simplifying concepts), and "Candy Heart Math."
- Literacy Lessons: The data references "Valentine's Day Cause And Effect Activities" and general "February Lessons."
Science Demonstrations
Beyond math and literacy, the source data identifies a specific science freebie: the "Cloud in a Jar" demonstration. This resource is designed to introduce the water cycle or weather concepts. It is described as easy, safe, and suitable for science grade levels ranging from early elementary to introductory high school.
The Role of Pinterest in Resource Discovery
The source data indicates that Pinterest is a significant platform for discovering Laura Candler’s materials. A Pinterest profile titled "Best of Laura Candler" serves as a curated collection of her most popular freebies and blog posts. This profile categorizes resources under themes such as Cooperative Learning, Teacher Hacks, Math Classroom, and Reading Workshop. While the Pinterest pages provide visual discovery and interest categorization, the actual access to the files requires the email subscription detailed previously.
Reliability and Source Verification
When seeking free samples or educational resources, it is critical to evaluate the reliability of the source. In this specific case, the primary sources are the official website pages associated with Laura Candler (lauracandler.com) and the Teach With Fergy review. These sources provide direct instructions on how to access the materials and describe the content accurately.
The source data does not indicate that these freebies are related to consumer product samples (such as beauty or baby care) but are strictly educational printables. Therefore, the "eligibility" is generally open to any educator or parent willing to provide an email address, rather than being restricted by demographic criteria often found in consumer product trials.
Conclusion
Laura Candler’s freebies offer a substantial collection of educational materials for upper elementary levels, accessible primarily through the email subscription "Candler’s Classroom Connections." The resources cover a range of subjects including math, literacy, and science demonstrations. To access the over 75 available printables, users must sign up via the official website to receive a welcome email containing the library link. While Pinterest offers a visual index of these materials, the official subscription remains the gatekeeper for file access.