The provided source materials detail a collection of free educational resources developed by Tara West, accessible through the Little Minds at Work platform. These resources are primarily targeted at educators in Pre-K through first grade settings. The freebies cover a range of subjects, including literacy, phonics, mathematics, and seasonal activities. Specific offers include directed drawings, writing sheets, literacy and math center previews, and a flash freebie sampler. The materials are distributed via Teachers Pay Teachers and the Little Minds at Work blog. Some freebies serve as previews for larger, paid bundles, such as the VIP Bundle, which contains over 8,000 pages of curriculum materials. The resources are designed for classroom use, offering printable sheets, digital teaching slides, and hands-on activities.
Overview of Available Free Resources
Tara West, operating under the brand Little Minds at Work, provides a variety of free educational downloads. These resources are distributed through two primary channels: the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace and the Little Minds at Work blog. The content is tailored for early childhood educators, specifically those teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade.
The available freebies cover multiple educational domains: * Literacy and Phonics: Resources include phonics-based directed drawings, writing goal bookmarks, and a free week of "Science of Reading KNOWLEDGE In-a-Click" digital teaching slides. * Mathematics: Free offerings include a "More, Less, & the Same" matching activity and a free preview of a literacy and math centers binder. * Seasonal Activities: October-themed freebies feature a Halloween Pip Costume directed drawing and a flash freebie VIP sampler with fall-themed centers.
October and Fall-Themed Resources
The source materials highlight a specific set of freebies related to the October and fall season. These resources are designed to be used in the classroom for seasonal instruction and bulletin board displays.
October-Themed Free Downloads A collection of 25 October-themed freebies is available on the Little Minds at Work blog. Key components of this collection include: * Halloween Pip Costume Directed Drawing: A phonics-based directed drawing activity. The source notes that users have a variety of writing sheets and styles to choose from. This activity is suggested for use as an October bulletin board display. * General October Resources: The collection is described as bringing "seasonal excitement" to October activities.
Flash Freebie VIP Sampler A "Flash Freebie VIP Sampler" is available as a zipped file. This sampler is intended to showcase the contents of the larger VIP Bundle. It contains a "TON of material (sheets, centers, etc)" that is October/Fall themed. The source explicitly states that these freebies are "usable activities" that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. The sampler includes: * INSTANT Exploration Mats: A selection of open-ended explore mats is available in the sampler. * Alphabet and Number Centers: The sampler contains a subset of the centers available in the full "Alphabet Centers Through the Year" and "Number Centers Through the Year" packets. * Subitizing Activities: The sampler includes examples of the subitizing printables and centers.
Literacy and Phonics Resources
Several free resources focus on literacy development, ranging from writing support to comprehensive reading instruction slides.
Writing Resources * Writing Goals Hands-On Bookmarks: This free packet includes three mini writing goal bookmarks and writing paper. These are designed for use during small group instruction or whole-group activities. * Close Read Writing Freebie: A writing freebie is associated with the close read curriculum. It provides a quick rundown of writing ideas for each week, aligned with specific close read texts such as Little Smudge, Rainbow Fish, Three Little Pigs, Apples, and Fall. The freebie includes printables and writing templates. The source notes that this is intended as a guide and does not include a true mini-lesson for each day.
Phonics and Reading Instruction * Phonics-Based Directed Drawing: The Halloween Pip Costume drawing is described as "phonics-based if needed." * Science of Reading KNOWLEDGE "In-a-Click" Digital Teaching Slides: This is a free week-long sample of a year-long bundle. The resource is designed to tackle listening comprehension, vocabulary, and knowledge through oral read-alouds. To use the resource, teachers need access to the book Bees by Laura Marsh.
Mathematics Resources
Free math resources focus on foundational concepts such as number sense and comparison.
- More, Less, & the Same FREEBIE: This is a match-up activity that includes corresponding recording sheets. It uses picture and numeral cards. The activity is designed for use at the carpet (whole group) to practice comparing quantities.
- Literacy and Math Centers Binder: A free preview is available for a "NO PREP binder of literacy and math centers." This preview allows educators to see the format and content of the full binder bundle.
The VIP Bundle Context
Many of the freebies mentioned serve as samples for a larger paid product called the VIP Bundle.
- VIP Bundle Overview: The VIP Bundle is a growing bundle that grants access to 32 packets. The total content is estimated at over 8,000 pages. The majority of these packets are "through the year" packets, meaning they contain 12 months of material, despite some being labeled with seasonal terms like "fall."
- Relationship to Freebies: The Flash Freebie VIP Sampler is explicitly described as a way to "show you ALL that the VIP bundle has to offer." Specific freebies in the sampler correspond to paid packets in the bundle, such as:
- INSTANT Hands-On Explore Mats: Available as a free sample in the sampler; the full set of 50 mats is in the VIP bundle.
- Alphabet Centers Through the Year: A set of 120 themed centers. The sampler contains 10 free centers.
- Subitizing Through the Year: The sampler allows users to try out these activities.
- Number Centers Through the Year: A set of 120 themed centers. The sampler contains 10 free centers.
- Focus Wall: A 575-card set of "I can" statements.
- Pricing and Access: The VIP Bundle offers $400 worth of material for 50% off. It is available for purchase via a link on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Access and Distribution Methods
The free resources are distributed primarily through digital downloads.
- Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT): The Flash Freebie VIP Sampler and other individual freebies are posted on TPT. Users are encouraged to leave TPT feedback. The source mentions that the sampler is a zipped file, requiring a desktop or the free iZip app on a phone for extraction.
- Little Minds at Work Blog: The blog serves as a hub for October freebies and other announcements. Users are advised to bookmark the blog to catch monthly batches of themed freebies.
- Email Communication: The source provides an email address for questions: li*@gm**.com (partially redacted in source, but context suggests it is a Gmail address associated with Little Minds at Work).
- Facebook Group: A private Facebook group is available for teachers using Tara West's curriculum to collaborate and share ideas.
Eligibility and Usage
Based on the source materials, these resources are intended for educational use by teachers. There is no mention of consumer eligibility (e.g., parents seeking samples for home use) or mail-in programs. The resources are strictly digital downloads.
- Target Audience: Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade teachers.
- Curriculum Alignment: The resources are described as "researched-based explicit supplemental curriculum." The close reads are aligned with seasons, holidays, and special events.
- Usage Terms: The freebies are presented as "gifts" from the author to the teachers. There is no explicit restriction on the number of downloads, but the context implies they are for classroom implementation.
Conclusion
The provided documentation outlines a robust collection of free educational resources offered by Tara West via the Little Minds at Work platform. These freebies, ranging from seasonal directed drawings to comprehensive literacy and math center previews, serve as both standalone classroom tools and samples for the extensive VIP Bundle. Educators can access these materials through Teachers Pay Teachers and the Little Minds at Work blog. While the resources are free, they are specifically designed for use within an educational curriculum for young children.