Christmas Freebie Fun

If your to-do list is anything like mine you probably don't even have time to read this post!

But I am hoping that it will help you cross a few things off!

Here is a list of 9 Christmas freebies you can find in my TPT store!

First one up is my first Christmas freebie I ever posted!  I was SO excited to hit 100 TPT followers, I posted this to celebrate!

Students listen for numbers you call out.  They color that number and once all numbers are called, a holiday image appears!

Need a quick Christmas craft?  Check this one out!

It comes with a cute poem too, so you'll be all set to wrap it up as a parent gift too!

The next one was inspired by a free set of gingerbread clip art I downloaded from Pink Cat Studios!  As a 'pay it forward' I made this set: 

Students order gingerbread men from 1-10.  It comes in both color and blacklines and makes a really fun math center activity!  Glue it to a sentence strip and you have a festive holiday hat to display number learning!

This one is simply one of my favorites- it was inspired by my son!  He was watching me make a Christmas Alphabet train for my class and wanted one too!  At the time he wasn't quite ready for ABC matching, so I made him a color matching set...and here it is:

Students match colored objects to the train that has that color/color word on it.  I also have an add-on pack for additional colors!

Last year was the first year I submitted to the Holiday eBook and this was my highlighted freebie:

You can find the 2013 Holiday eBook here- it is filled with fun freebies and tips!  Head to page 26 to find my tips!

Last year I was in search of readers my kinders could read independently during Readers Workshop but found it very hard to find, so I started creating them on my own.  Once the holidays rolled around, I knew I needed to create some holiday versions too!  Here is a sample that contains one the books from my pack with 15 readers! 

No year is complete without some elf fun!  I have a bundle with a bunch of my elf fun and this is a sampler of what is included! 

Speaking of elves...my students always get SUPER SAD when it is time to say goodbye to the elf, so this year we will make an elf to take home!  This could also work well if you don't have an elf- OR if a child hears all the other kids talking about their home elf, but that student doesn't have one! 

You can find my entire 'how to' by going to this post on The Primary Pack!

I was thrilled to be selected for the 2014 Holiday eBook this year!  My featured freebie is this: 

I have my set all prepped for one of my math centers next week!  Be sure to look for me on page 27!

And if you are planning ahead and are in search of some winter treasures, find my winter freebies here!

Hopefully this helps you cross a few things off your list so that you can focus on what's really important...getting those cookies ready for Santa!!!

Until next post,

Introducing...The Primary Pack!

I am so excited to have the opportunity to work behind the scenes with the fabulous bloggers of The Primary Pack!  We are collaborating to bring you a 'rainbow of ideas!'  Make sure you follow along to grab a bunch of 'colorful freebies,' as well as enter our giveaway with $300 worth of prizes!

Hi! I'm Jennifer blogging from Crayons & Cuties In Kindergarten! I am a Long Island (NY) kindergarten teacher who loves kids, giggles, family and fun!

It's really hard for me to pick a favorite color- I truly believe they all work together to make our world the wonderful and colorful place that it is!

 I originally went to school to be an Art Therapist!  I really wanted to be an Art Teacher but was told I would never find a job because they are so limited.  I  found a college that let me do a major in Art Therapy and a minor in Special Ed.  The Art Therapy became too clinical for my liking, so I decided to pursue the Special Education side.  I was awarded a Graduate Assistantship and completed my Masters in Education in a year!  Upon graduating I took a position as a teaching assistant to get my 'foot in the door!'  The following year I was hired as a K-1 Self-Contained Special Education teacher!  I taught in that class for 3 years and then asked for a transfer to regular education.

14 years later and I am still in the kindergarten classroom I got transferred to!
Come on in and take a look at my 'home away from home':

This was before my room was graced with 20 wonderful 4 & 5 year olds!

And my favorite part of the room...many years in the making...the 'book nook':

This 'storage bench' is actual 2 vertical bookshelves that I laid on their sides!  It frames my book nook, holds my manipulative bins and serves as a bench for reading!

This summer I made storage benches for my guided reading table.  I use them to store my centers and sensory tub contents- it also makes my room looks so cute and inviting! 

Now a bit more about me...

I have been married to my fabulous hubby for almost 6 years (our anniversary is on 10/11!). We met on a beach- on a day neither of us were 'looking for love' more than 12 years ago...and now live with our 2 sons in our 'beach park house' that is just a 7 min walk from a beach that has a playground on it!  It is the perfect place to raise our boys- we are on a cul-de-sac so the boys can ride bikes, write with chalk and play ball right in the front yard!

We spend our summers walking to the beach in the morning and end many a night running in the sand before bed!

This summer we surprised them with a trip to Disney World!  We woke them and told them they were going on a plane to see Mickey!  There are no words to describe seeing the 'Disney Magic' through a child's eyes...I will cherish those memories forever!

Those that really know me know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake & decorate my boys fun and festive birthday cakes!  I am in the process of getting a very special doggie cake all set for my little one's 4th birthday party on Sunday!  Here are a few of my creations:

I have always created for my classroom but did not know about Teachers Pay Teachers, or the 'teaching blogging world,' until I was in a frantic search to find information about Readers Workshop back in August 2012.  My district was adopting it, but we were given little to no information.  Through Google and Pinterest searches I discovered TpT!  A few weeks later I started uploading my own creations!  Last November I finally joined the blogging world thanks to A LOT of help from Kourtney Payton of Mrs. Payton's Precious Kindergarteners!  Although we have never met in person we would chat via Facebook and she stayed up with me for HOURS last November to get me up and running!

My favorite thing to make are fun and engaging centers!  I want my kids to feel like they are playing, having fun and enjoying their time in my classroom- yet I know they are learning more and more with each passing day!
I can't wait to share all that I do, learn and explore with my kinders with your via The Primary Pack!

To celebrate our new collaborative adventure, The Primary Pack is hosting a giveaway with tons of fabulous prizes!

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND here's my "colorful" freebie!  Just click on this image:

It will open up as a free download from my TPT store!

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

It is only free for a limited time to celebrate the launch of The Primary Pack, so be sure to head there now!

Now don't forget to hop along to meet the other bright bloggers and to grab a 'rainbow of freebies!'

An InLinkz Link-up

Until next post,