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Summer Kickoff (LAMINATOR + PRINTER GIVEAWAY)

 

 

 

Hey all!!!   Now I do know that a few of you are still in the classroom and summer vacation hasn’t quite welcomed you with open arms.  However, we are going to welcome you with open arms in this blog post we are going to assume that we are ALL enjoying our summer vacation… you know those initial first few days were you have first turned off those pesky alarms and are realizing what it’s like to be a normal human again AKA (not eating lunch in 10 minutes flat, using the restroom more than once a day and having some form of sanity left at the end of the day).  Today I would like to kick off the ‘unofficial’ first weekend of summer, Memorial Day Weekend with a super fun giveaway that only teachers could drool over!  This giveaway is all about getting prepped over summer!  No, no!  I am not saying I want you to prep all summer!  Who are we kidding though?  I know you probably already thought about cutting or laminating something.  Now if your instant ink just came back in then I know you’ve already been at your computer printing up a storm all morning HA!

 **I would like to say also that I am not being paid by HP,  XYRON,  Amazon or any other company.  I also do not have any affiliate links for these two products on my page!  These are just products I personally have at my house and use!  I like to try and GIVE BACK to teachers and thought this would be a fun way to do so! ** 

  Let’s get started!  Now teachers unfortunately are always “prepping”.  What are we prepping?  Well, we preparing for our academic days!  You see even if we work for awesome districts and they us these million dollar curriculum programs from these fancy smancy companies… they still don’t have everything our kiddos need!  Something these programs lack is centers!  Centers are way for students to work independent.  Why must kiddos work independently you ask?  Students work independently for a variety of reasons but the majority of the time it is so the teacher can work with students in small groups at their own instructional level.   Today I would like to talk more about centers!

Last year I found myself scrambling for centers each week!  Well… let me put it this way…. quick!  What can I print, laminate, cut and throw into a basket without staying here until midnight!? HA!  A little dramatic… but pretty much!  Another biggie was my kiddos’ OBSESSION with our weekly KinderLiteracy themes!  They ate it up and wanted more, more, more!  We couldn’t read enough books or watch enough YouTube clips for our theme!

The first time I showed them our new themed centers….well they flipped out! What does that mean in teacher lingo?  Happy kids equals ENGAGED kids!  I’m sure you’ve ran across many center packets on TpT and I have several in my shop as well.  They are all fantastic… but I still wanted more for my kiddos!  They loved their skill focus centers for alphabet, sounds, rhyming, etc…. However, I wanted centers that would match up to our class themes and centers that would be so fun… they’d forget they were learning!

 

When I mapped out my list of themes and started creating the centers I knew I wanted something different from these centers.  I wanted them to take on more of a “real-life” look as I knew this would be even more exciting for the kids!  You’ll notice in the pictures below that there are very few “cut on the straight line” centers.  These are hands-on and require the kids to really manipulate the pieces!  Up first I will share my Kindergarten themed centers!  Even if you don’t teach KinderLiteracy…you’ll notice that they are all very common themes covered in kindergarten!  There are 25 themes and you can see the full list below:

School
Apples
Transportation
Seasons
Pumpkins
Three Pigs
Three Goats
Three Bears
Little Red Hen
Bats
Scarecrows
Reindeer
Snow
Penguins
Snakes
Dinosaurs
Moon
Weather
Ponies
Rabbits
Frogs
Butterflies
Flowers
Community Helpers
Ocean

Below is an up close look of the center packets found in the kindergarten centers bundle!

After many requests for additional Kinder themes, I then created a second set of Kinder centers!  This set is all NEW themes for Kinder!  This is Kinder Themed Centers Set Two!

Fire Safety
Space
Patriotic
Volcanoes
Owls
Spiders
Thanksgiving
Gingerbread Boy
Christmas
Mitten
Bears
Valentine’s Day
Dental
Friendship
St. Patrick’s Day
Farm
Chickens
Tigers
Koalas
Pirates

 This of course isn’t all of the centers but gives you a great look!  Up next I’ll share about the 1st grade themed centers set 1!  I get a lot of questions about if they two bundles are the same!  The answer to that is yes and no!  No being that there are no duplicating centers… all the centers are unique in their skill!  Yes, because you’ll notice that some of the clip art is the same!  After many requests for 1st grade centers (from kindergarten teachers), I created a set that would be close for visual purposes!  Kindergarten really wanted to use the centers for their higher kiddos without drawing a lot of attention…as the centers would visually look similar!
Below is an overview of the 1st grade themed centers!School

Apples
Transportation
Seasons
Pumpkins
Fire Safety
Space
Patriotic
Volcanoes
Bats
Scarecrows
Reindeer
Snow
Penguins
Snakes
Dinosaurs
Moon
Weather
Ponies
Rabbits
Frogs
Butterflies
Flowers
Community
Helpers
OceanBelow is a closer look at a few of the first grade centers!

Then of course to follow suit with Kindergarten, I made a second set of first grade centers!  Let’s take a look at the First Grade Centers Set Two!

Spiders
Owls
Red Riding Hood
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Gingerbread Boy
Mitten
Bears
Valentine’s Day
Friendship
Dental
St. Patrick’s Day
Farm
Insects
Chickens
Tigers
Cows
Fish
Koalas
Pirates


Up next was of course second grade themed centers!Halloween
Bats
Patriotic
Thanksgiving
Reindeer
Christmas
Snow
Penguins
Valentine’s Day
Dinosaurs
St. Patrick’s Day
Weather
Farm
Butterflies
Frogs
Flowers
Ocean
Pirates
Apples
Back to School

I really thought I had MASTERED and CONQUERED every last wish for centers in all of center land HAHA! However, I had a lot of teachers really stressed the need for differentiated centers.  They had a class of kiddos that VARIED greatly on their skills but we know at this age kiddos are super observant… why does Johnny get to do cool dinosaur  centers and I’m over here with magnet letters?  I set out on a mission to create truly differentiated centers!  What does that mean?  You could use a set of centers simultaneously with two levels of kiddos and their centers would look the same but the skills would be completely different!  Let’s take a closer look!

Below you can see the example of the “Kinder” version!  In this center the students are working on CVC words.


In an almost identical center, the students are working on CVCe words!  So you have increased the rigor greatly with a very similar center!
Here is another example!  Below is a look at the Kinder CVC short vowel sort center.
In the first grade version, the students are sorting vowel teams!  Again you can see that the center looks almost identical yet the skill is completely different!
One last example!  Below is the CVC kinder onset and rime center!
Using the very similar clip art, the differentiated version the students are working on soft/hard sounds!

This bundle offers 5 kindergarten literacy centers, 5 first grade literacy centers, 2 kindergarten math centers and 2 first grade math centers per theme!  This is my Kinder and First Grade Themed Center Set!  You can see a full list of the themes below!   These are completely new themes from the previous sets!  This set also has the “I can” cards!

Groundhogs
Pets
Construction
Read Day
Earth Day
Western
Bugs
Rainforest
Zoo
Summer
Baseball
Nursery Rhymes
Food
Magic
Around the School
Monsters
Science
Maps/Land forms
Forest Animals
Celebrations Around the World

To celebrate our SUMMER KICK-OFF party here I have just now reinstated the special “buy in price” for ALL of the kindergarten and first grade center packets! You can snag all 250 kindergarten centers for $25 and the same sweet deal for first grade! 🙂 That’s $0.10 a center! OY!  You can snag the HUGE bundles at a crazy price below!

 

All of my themed center bundles are currently on sale for $25 …an absolute STEAL!  You can view more of them directly below!

Kinder / First Set 1

Kinder Set 1

Kinder Set 2

First Grade Set 1

First Grade Set 2

Second Grade Set 1

 


 

I also wanted to share with you about FREEBIE these skill focus sheets!  They contain the skills covered in each of the center packets!  They are great to reference for a quick way to see what skills are covered in both the kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and K/1 themed centers packets!  You use the quick access guise to click and go directly to the grade level you need!

Once you have clicked on the grade level you want, you’ll then hit the landing page like this!  You’ll want to click on the theme you’re accessing!

You will then be able to visually see what centers are included in that packet and read to see what skills are covered!


You can download these FREEBIE center skill maps for all of my center packets HERE or clicking the image below!


When it comes to my themed literacy center packets, I am often times asked these three questions!

QUESTION #1: HOW DO YOU STORE ALL THE CENTERS?

This is a common question I get and it truly depends on you and your style!  I am still a huge binder hoarder when it comes to storing centers.  I like placing each center into a sheet protector, tabbing the first center under each theme, and then quickly flipping to it!  However, YOU guys quickly changed my thinking this past summer!  I just love how the centers below have been easily stored in cheap , yellow, mailing envelopes!



I am also totally guilty of the IRIS container love!  They are super sturdy and great for storing multiple centers as well!

Another AWESOME idea is to store the centers in containers!  Below, Courtney has stored her centers in Rubbermaid containers!  You can snag these labels for free HERE.  If you would like to edit them yourself then you can download an editable format HERE.


QUESTION #2: HOW IN THE WORLD DO I PRINT ALL OF THESE COLORED CENTERS?

Well, this question is kind of two-fold!  I have included ALL centers in a color and black/white version!  However, most of us still prefer to print in color… so how in the world do we do that on a budget?  You most likely have heard about instant ink… and if not well then, Lauren explains all about it here!

 

 That also leads us to our first GIVEAWAY! WOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So yes the whole “instant ink crazy”.  That is what I used to think when I heard people talk about it!  But I’ll admit that I took forever to get a smartphone, too lol!  With Instant Ink you do want to make sure that you have purchased a compatible printer or it won’t work (booo!!!)  So this printer is on the approved list (YAY!)  The giveaway is for the printer and the initial Instant Ink card they offer on Amazon with it!  I will also ask the winner if they want Black or White/Purple as it’s currently offered in both colors!  You can read up on this exact giveaway printer HERE.   (**No, I do not have have an affiliate link!)

Keep reading below for the Rafflecopter in order to enter for the giveaway!


QUESTION #3: HOW CAN I POSSIBLY LAMINATE ALL OF THESE?

I get asked about what kind of laminator I have quite often!  After your many questions I really got to thinking about my current laminator and decided it was time to part ways!  Please don’t think I’m lazy when I typed in, “easy and fast laminator” to Google!  Ha… sad but true!  I mean it’s not that laminators are ‘hard’….but ya gotta admit that waiting on them to creep through can drive you nuts!  It never fails that I think, “Oh I have 5 seconds before the next sheet can go in… them bam 10 seconds later you realize you just wasted 5 seconds LOL!  So, ramble done…  I came across the ezLaminator!  Sounds ‘easy’ right? LOL!

Well I fell hook, line, and sinker…. but so happy I did!  It’s a cold laminator!  If you haven’t tried one before well they are like a dream in a few cranks!  Check it out below as I put it to the 5 year old kindergartner test!

I am giving away one printer to a lucky teacher and one laminator to another lucky teacher!  It’s easy peasy to sign up below!  I’ll choose winners on Sunday 5/28 !  Choose any of the ways to enter below or all for more chances!

 

Enter below on the Rafflecopter.  If you do not see the Rafflecopter pop-up, please try to enter on a different device, my apologies in advance for any inconveniences!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well… that’s all I have for you!  I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!

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Comments

  1. Nancy heffley says

    May 24, 2017 at 7:18 am

    This is amazing! Thank you for such a comprehensive post!

    Reply
  2. Beverly says

    May 24, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Still have another full week before Summer vacation starts, but I’m excited about prepping for next year!!! Thanks again, for creating the BEST products!!!!

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Enjoy it with the kiddos! XO!

      Reply
  3. Amber Prince says

    May 24, 2017 at 9:39 am

    I’ve never seen a cold laminator! Amazing!

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:35 am

      My first time with one was a HUGE one at the school and then I knew I had to have one too haha!!!

      Reply
  4. Sue says

    May 24, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Thank you for a chance to win!

    Reply
  5. Mollie says

    May 24, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    What a great giveaway! Your centers are the best. Actually everything you do is AMAZING! Thank you! PS…the link for the kinder/firstie fb page did not work for me. Can you send me the link? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:33 am

      Of course! So sorry! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1626842277561543/

      Reply
  6. Kim says

    May 24, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    I love the I Can cards. I have all the other centers. Do you think you will add I Can cards to each of them?

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:33 am

      I hope to after all the other sets are complete!

      Reply
  7. mary says

    May 24, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    hi tara! i heard rumors you are creating prekinder materials!!!! so excited! im not on fb so will we see it on a blog post?
    thanks mary

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:33 am

      Yes! I’ll post about here on my blog as well : )

      Tara

      Reply
  8. Barb says

    May 24, 2017 at 6:11 pm

    So excited!

    Reply
  9. Julia Ziegler says

    May 25, 2017 at 12:15 am

    What is the name of the Kinder/ First Facebook group? I’d love to join!

    Reply
    • Tara says

      May 25, 2017 at 8:32 am

      Of course! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1626842277561543/

      Reply

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  • Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
    Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
  • Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
    Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
  • Searching for CVC word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVC word activities, including some freebies too!
    Searching for CVC word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVC word activities, including some freebies too!
  • Searching for CVC word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVC word activities, including some freebies too!
    Searching for CVC word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVC word activities, including some freebies too!
  • Searching for CVCE word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVCE word activities, including some freebies too!
    Searching for CVCE word activities for kindergarten? These hands on activities are highly engaging and simple to prepare. Click the pin to check out a huge variety of CVCE word activities, including some freebies too!
  • Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
    Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
  • Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
    Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
  • Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
    Completely transform your teaching with these FUN & engaging, yet still rigorous, lessons and activities! These INSTANT Theme packets are perfect preschool and kindergarten offer engaging, hands-on material for each themed set. The INSTANT Themes packets are completely comprehensive...toss in a few hands-on manipulatives and let the learning begin. Click the pin to see all the themes included in the money-saving bundle!
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