Comprehensive Guide To Tara Wests December Educational Free Resources For Teachers

Tara West of Little Minds at Work provides an extensive collection of December-themed educational resources for teachers, particularly those working with kindergarten, preschool, and first grade students. These free materials cover multiple subject areas including math, phonics, reading, science, and fine motor skills. The resources are designed to engage students during the holiday season while reinforcing essential academic concepts. This guide explores the various categories of free resources available, specific featured materials, and how educators can access these valuable teaching tools.

Overview of Tara West and Little Minds at Work

Tara West operates the Little Minds at Work website and maintains a Pinterest board dedicated to kindergarten freebies for busy teachers. Her focus is on providing educational resources to educators with limited budgets, offering free printables, worksheets, and curriculum guides. West specializes in creating materials for reading and math lesson plans, with resources extending to preschool through first grade levels. Teachers interested in accessing these materials can visit the official website to discover approximately 500 free downloads spanning various subjects including math, writing, science, STEM, reading, and phonics.

Additionally, West maintains a Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/teachwithtarawest where educators can connect and share resources. This community aspect provides teachers with additional support and opportunities to exchange ideas about implementing the free materials in their classrooms.

Categories of December Free Resources

Math Resources

Tara West offers several math-themed December freebies designed to develop number sense and counting skills in young learners. These resources provide hands-on activities that make mathematical concepts engaging during the holiday season.

One popular offering includes math counting sequence puzzlers available in two difficulty levels. The first set covers numbers 1-10, while the second set addresses numbers 11-20, allowing teachers to differentiate instruction based on student needs. These puzzlers help students practice number recognition and sequencing in a game-like format.

Another valuable resource consists of two hands-on math centers focusing on numbers 0-10 and 11-20. The first center concentrates on number ordering and identifying missing numbers in a sequence, while the second center features an adorable "count the matching set" activity. Both centers include "I can" cards and response sheets to support independent student work and provide documentation of learning.

Number sense activities with a festive flair are also available, helping students build fundamental mathematical understanding through holiday-themed contexts. These resources align with kindergarten math standards while incorporating seasonal elements that maintain student interest during the busy December classroom environment.

Phonics and Reading Resources

The phonics and reading materials provided by Tara West focus on developing essential literacy skills through December-themed activities. These resources address multiple components of reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.

A featured resource offers beginning sound and CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) "scenes" for students to label. This activity has proven popular among both teachers and children, as it combines visual learning with letter-sound correspondence. Students identify objects in the scenes and label them with the corresponding beginning sound or CVC word, then engage in a "match it" activity alongside the main exercise. This multi-step approach reinforces vocabulary development, phonics skills, and reading comprehension.

West also provides phonics-based chip and swipe mats focusing on various sound positions. These mats target beginning sounds, middle sounds, ending sounds, and sounds in all positions combined. Accompanying recording sheets allow students to document their work, providing teachers with assessment opportunities. The mats offer a tactile approach to phonics instruction that appeals to different learning styles.

For developing reading fluency, West has created digital and printable slides featuring ABCs and high frequency words aligned with the Guided Phonics + Beyond scope. These materials can be mixed and matched based on instructional needs, making them versatile tools for differentiating reading practice. Additional fluency practice packets are available, particularly designed to be sent home over holiday breaks to maintain reading skills during school closures.

Fine Motor and Craft Activities

Fine motor skill development receives special attention in Tara West's December collection, with several craft activities designed to strengthen hand muscles while incorporating holiday themes. These projects provide creative outlets for students while addressing important developmental skills.

One featured craft involves creating a Christmas tree using dark and light green strips of paper mounted on a red construction paper backer. Students can further personalize their trees by adding a star to the top. This activity not only develops fine motor skills through cutting and gluing but also reinforces color identification and following multi-step directions.

Another engaging craft has students tear small pieces of red and green paper to create a Christmas wreath. The tearing motion provides excellent fine motor practice, while the addition of two paper strips to create a bow enhances scissor skills. This project results in a festive decoration that students can be proud to display or take home.

West also shares an idea for creating snowman ornaments as parent Christmas gifts, requiring wooden boards, socks, felt, paint, and ribbon. This collaborative craft between teachers and students produces meaningful keepsakes for families while developing various fine motor and artistic skills.

Seasonal and Themed Resources

December's holiday season provides rich thematic content for Tara West's educational resources. These materials help teachers incorporate cultural elements and seasonal celebrations into their instruction while maintaining academic rigor.

The collection includes 50 engaging "Holidays Around the World" sheets, exposing students to diverse cultural traditions celebrated during December. These resources promote global awareness and cultural appreciation while addressing reading, writing, and social studies standards.

A unique writing activity invites students to compose "Who would we melt for stories" inspired by Olaf from Frozen. The lesson begins by showing a clip where Olaf states, "Some people are worth melting for," followed by a class discussion about special people in students' lives. Children then write about who they would "melt for" and why, developing both writing skills and emotional intelligence. This activity can be paired with Olaf craft projects using printables available through West's resources.

Directed drawing activities featuring gingerbread and reindeer provide opportunities for students to follow visual instructions while creating seasonal artwork. These activities develop listening skills, attention to detail, and artistic expression.

Digital Resources

Recognizing the increasing need for digital learning materials, Tara West has adapted many of her December freebies for use on tablets, computers, and interactive whiteboards. These digital resources provide flexibility for teachers implementing technology in their classrooms.

The digital offerings include interactive slides for alphabet and high frequency word practice, which can be customized to meet specific instructional needs. These materials maintain the engaging, seasonal themes found in the printable versions while taking advantage of digital capabilities such as drag-and-drop features and immediate feedback.

Magnetic letter mats in both color and black and white versions allow students to build words, map words, or practice letter recognition using digital manipulatives. These resources support phonics instruction while accommodating different classroom technology setups.

Specific Featured Freebies

Tara West's December collection includes numerous specific resources that have proven particularly valuable for teachers during the holiday season:

• Pip the Pup coloring sheets featuring the classroom favorite character in seasonal settings
• Tree fine motor mats with both directed and open-ended options, compatible with various manipulatives like pom-poms
• Magnetic letter mats for word building and letter recognition
• "GINGERBREAD PHONICS PARTNER PLAY" activities for collaborative learning
• Handwriting practice sheets for both letters and numbers with December themes
• Fluency practice packets designed specifically for holiday breaks
• Olaf-themed writing prompts and crafts
• Reindeer directed drawing activities with harness-themed hand motions
• Gingerbread directed drawing lessons
• CVC word mapping exercises using holiday-themed mats
• Science of Reading aligned phonics centers for digraphs, blends, and CVCE words

How to Access These Resources

Educators can access Tara West's December free resources primarily through the Little Minds at Work website. Each resource is accompanied by a direct "DOWNLOAD HERE" or "Access the free download HERE" link, allowing for straightforward access to the materials. The website organizes resources by subject area and theme, making it easy for teachers to locate specific materials for their instructional needs.

The Pinterest board dedicated to kindergarten freebies provides another avenue for discovering these resources, with West sharing her best free downloads for busy teachers on a budget. Teachers interested in regular updates on new free materials can join West's Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/teachwithtarawest, where additional resources and teaching ideas are shared.

For educators seeking to maximize their access to free materials, West's website offers approximately 500 free downloads across various subjects and grade levels. These resources span math, writing, science, STEM, reading, and phonics, providing comprehensive materials for classroom instruction.

Additional Benefits for Educators

Beyond the immediate value of free instructional materials, Tara West's resources offer several additional benefits for educators:

1. Time-saving: The ready-to-use materials reduce preparation time for teachers, allowing them to focus on instruction rather than resource creation.
2. Differentiated instruction: Many resources are available in multiple difficulty levels or formats, enabling teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students.
3. Seasonal engagement: December-themed materials maintain student interest during a time when classroom focus can be challenging.
4. Research-based alignment: Many resources, particularly those related to phonics and reading, are aligned with established instructional approaches like the Science of Reading.
5. Community support: The associated Facebook group provides a network of educators who can share implementation ideas and additional resources.

Conclusion

Tara West's December free resources represent a valuable collection of educational materials for teachers working with young learners. The comprehensive coverage of subject areas, emphasis on hands-on learning, and integration of seasonal themes make these resources particularly useful during the busy holiday season. By providing these materials at no cost, West supports educators with limited budgets while maintaining high instructional quality. Teachers interested in accessing these resources can visit the Little Minds at Work website or join the associated Facebook group for ongoing support and additional materials. The combination of academic rigor, engaging content, and accessibility makes these free resources an excellent addition to any early childhood or elementary classroom during December.

Sources

1. Little Minds at Work - December Free Downloads
2. Pinterest - Kindergarten Freebies for Busy Teachers
3. Little Minds at Work - December Step by Step Close Reads Freebies