ABC and 123: A Learning Collaborative: Giveaway: Teena's Teacher Tidbits, 2 Winners!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Giveaway: Teena's Teacher Tidbits, 2 Winners!

Welcome! New to ABC and 123? Please check out our FAQ in the sidebar.

This giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to #15 The R Crew and #22 Sarah!
Today we are featuring a great teacher turned entrepreneur, Teena from Teena's Teacher Tidbits! Teena is a former first grade teacher, turned stay at home mom to two adorable little girls. She knows first hand that, "Learning needs to be engaging and fun. My students loved hands on experiences and games to learn. I'm using my experience from the classroom and home to bring you fun, engaging, and eductional resources to use with your students and children."

Teena can be found at three places online, not all the same things are found at each one, so it's worth a visit to each store! She specializes in downloadable learning games and also finished games, that don't require assembly and are big time savers.
{For the purposes of this review we'll be linking to her website, as that is what I used when searching for and downloading the activities I used.}

While I got all preschool level activities, I was very happy to see skill areas ranging from contractions and short vowel word families to antonymns represented in the literacy games section. There is also a wide variety in the math games and Teena is currently working on making harder games suitable for fourth and fifth graders. If you aren't able to find exactly what you need, she also welcomes requests at no extra charge to her customers.

I had not problem browsing around and finding exactly what I needed. The activities were all easy to assemble, although some of the intricate cutting did take time. The graphics are colorful and engaging and it was great getting instant access to my downloads. For the price point, this is an excellent resource and time saver! I could see how her activities would make great centers.
The Carrot Count Math Center, was just perfect for us. In my PDF were fifteen counting boards, fifteen numbered carrots, and a set of directions. I started ER with numbers 1-5, to check for mastery. I've noticed in preschool that she doesn't always get the right answer during circle time because other kids often shout out the answer. It was great to see that working at her own pace she easily got the first five right.

We then moved onto 1-10, so she could work on some of the numbers she doesn't always correctly identify. When she is ready I can make it more challenging by adding the teen numbers. I was glad to see that the tricky teens 11, 12, 13, and 15 were included. I know from teaching kindergarten that these are usually the hardest numbers for kids to master as they don't follow the pattern, after all it isn't five-teen. Nice to know we'll have an activity ready and waiting for when we're ready to work on them.

The carrots are small and cutting around the carrot tops took some time. Their small size means that laminating them is a must. I would've preferred to see the carrots in a little grid so assembly would be quicker. It wouldn't have been as cute as each carrot would then be on a little square, but the time saved would be worth the trade off for me. It would also be nice to have a self correcting key included, for the kids to refer to if this game were part of a center.
We also picked out the Springtime Ginger Clips, which caught my eye because it works on alphabet identification with a little spin on it. The clips give ER a little challenge and work on finger strength and fine motor skills.

She really liked this one, and I was so happy to she her engaged in it, because teaching letter recognition has been a slow going process in our household. This is one activity she's eager to work on. Right now I've got her mainly working on "matching" uppercase and lowercase letters like /C/ and/c/ so she has success, with a few more difficult letters to match up like /R/ and /r/ thrown in. This keeps her happy and less frustrated while we work on mastery of a few letter pairs at a time.

I also chose the Mouse Fairy Memory, even though ER isn't quite ready for it. I knew the graphics would be of high interest to her, and that alone would make her want to play it over and over. Right now we play it face up and have her choose a picture card. We say the word and then I tell her the corresponding letter to look for. I can't wait to play it as a Memory Game.
Teena also offers several freebies on her website so you can try them out, isn't that nice☺ She recently changed them but you used to be able to get the Auto ABC Tracing, which are great and well worth the low $1.50 price tag. I printed them out and then printed the Auto ABC Tracing Lowercase, also now $1.50, on the backside. Then I laminated them so we can use them over and over.

What I really liked, was the size. I punched a hole in one corner and put them all on a binder ring. They, along with a dry erase marker, are now in a pencil case that we can throw in a bag and take out and about with us. It's a great little learning on the go activity. I would really like to see a more girly themed set, because ER doesn't really love the car theme.
Coupon Code:
All readers can use the code ABC123LEARN25 to take 25 % off an order of $7.00 or more

Giveaway!

Teena is pleased to offer two of our readers a giveaway!

  • The First Winner, will get a $12 gift certificate and a finished game of their choice
  • The Second Winner, will get a $6.00 gift certificate and a finished game of their choice.

Fine Print: If either winner is outside of the US and Canada, then instead of a finished game they will recieve and extra $8 gift certificate. A winner within the US and Canada may also choose an extra $8 gift certificate in lieu of a finished game.

To Enter:
Just leave us a comment telling us you'd love to try out Teena's activities.

Extra Entries:
While there is no purchase necessary, or special requirements, to enter this giveaway we would love if you would also consider the following options.

This helps us as we continue to spread the word about great educational sites and resources, as well as connect with amazing teachers and parents like you!

Let us know by leaving a seperate comment for each additional thing you do!

  • Check out one of Teena's stores and tell us which game is your favorite.
  • Tell us what skill area or subject you would like to see Teena create a game for.
  • Share this giveaway via blog post, text link, tweet, Facebook status etc.
  • Add Teena's Facebook Fan Page to your "Likes"
  • Follow and/or Subscribe to Teena's Blog: The Fisher Four
  • Subcribe to Teena's newsletter.
  • Follow and/or Subscribe to ABC & 123
  • Join us on the ABC & 123 Community on Blog Frog, our Facebook Fan Page, and/or on Twitter!

This giveaway is open to our readers WORLDWIDE (please see fine print under Enter) until June 16th at midnight EST. Please make sure we have a way of contacting you, should you win☺

Disclaimer: This post relates our own personal and unbiased opinions and experience with Teena's Teacher Tidbits and your may differ. Thank you to Teena for providing the reviewers material and for sponsoring the giveaway, this in no way influenced our post.

72 comments:

  1. I would love to try one of Teena's activities!!!

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  2. I would love the "Math Center FIRE TRUCK COUNTING POCKET CHART" for my son!

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  3. I would love to see games for bilingual children.

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  4. As a Europe-based mum this is a great resource for me, everything printed off directly from my home printer, instead of weeks waiting on shipping! Thanks for the great tip!

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  5. I've tried some of her free stuff and love it! Definitely a great source of fun and learning...

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

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  6. I have one of her games. It's really neat. Please enter me.

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  7. I'd love to try one of her activities. Now to go check out which one.

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  8. I love her Jungle Party Place Value.

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  9. I would love some more science or history games.

    Especially science.

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  10. Of courese I'd love to try Teena's teacher's tidbits!

    rachelspreschool at yahoo dot com

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  11. I'm a fb fan!

    rachelspreschool at yahoo dot com

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  12. Dedicated follower of ABC & 123!

    rachelspreschool at yahoo dot com

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  13. I would love the "Fly Froggie Fly Fact Families (sums and differences to/from 18)."

    rachelspreschool at yahoo dot com

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  14. A suggestion...I would love to see one of Teena's Tidbits sponsors featured on your blog. "MYC Designs {Handmade Felt Board Sets.}" They have wonderful products!

    rachelspreschool at yahoo dot com

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  15. I would love to try something out.

    thesavasukfamily at comcast dot net

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  16. I'd love to try out Teena's activities

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  17. I am a fan (like) of ABC on facebook

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  18. I'm always looking for fun games for my kiddos. Teena has some great activities!

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  19. The Auto ABC tracing would be perfect for my three little boys! I also liked the buggy patterns game.

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  20. I'd love to try out Teena's activities with my 2½ year old. If anything, they will be great for when she gets older. The activities are super cute.

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  21. It is really hard to pick a favourite activity, they are all fantastic. If I had to choose, I'd probably choose the Alligator Alphabet Envelope Game. My daughter would love that. It's a puzzle and the alphabet all-in-one

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  22. She has a lot of great activities but I don't really see any that work with shapes. I think it would be great if she made some shape activities.

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  23. I would love to try her activities w/my son!

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  24. I'd love to try some of these activities with my preschoolers!

    kateh12783@hotmail.com

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  25. And I'm a follower in Google Reader!

    kateh12783@hotmail.com

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  26. We are always looking for great printable activities and games, thanks for a chance to try something new.

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  27. I would LOVE to try out Teena's activities!

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  28. My favorite from her Etsy is the Firemen Friends File Folder Game. My son would love that.

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  29. I would love these because I am always looking for new ideas not only for my daughter, but for my classes (I am a teacher).

    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  30. I subscribe to your blog.

    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  31. I already am a follower at your place :)

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  32. And I just 'liked' Teena's page.

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  33. One thing I am looking for is a range of different activities to encourage my little one to use the proper tripod grip on the pencil. Would love to see them here.

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  34. I liked the number word game. I had been looking for something like this..

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  35. I would love to try out Teena's activities!

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  36. I would love to see more literature based activities

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  37. I would get Mouse Fairy Memory since I am working on beginning sounds with my daughter.

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  38. I liked Teena's Teacher Tidbits on FB

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  39. I would love to try out Teena's activities!

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  41. I have subscribed to Teena's Newsletter.

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  42. I would love to try one of Teena's activities!

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  43. I would love to try out the Jack and Jill Ryme game. It would be perfect to use with my daughter right now!

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  45. I have subscribed to Teena's Newsletter.

    crafts(dot)petersen(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I would LOVE, love to try these activities!

    twcctw@gmail.com

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  47. What a great resource- Thanks! I just downloaded some of the free games and am excited to put them together. I would love to win a gift certificate!!

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  48. I would love to see more pattern activities.

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  49. I'd LOVE to try her activities! I've heard about her stuff in various groups but haven't actually tried any yet.

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  50. I follow abc & 123 on twitter!

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