Frequently Asked Questions

All physical product orders are shipped with an estimated delivery time of 7-14 business days. Orders are dispatched from our warehouse in Southern California. Please note: Orders placed after 12:00 PM PST will be processed and shipped the following business day.

Yes, we offer overnight or second-day delivery for an additional charge. Please note that these services are available only from Monday to Friday. Please allow 1-3 business days for order processing, in addition to the expedited shipping method you selected.

For the Contiguous United States (Lower 48 states & DC):

• Second-Day Air: Add 14-25% of the subtotal (with a minimum shipping charge of $19.99 per order).

• Next-Day Air: Add 20-37% of the subtotal (with a minimum shipping charge of $29.99 per order).

Unfortunately, we do not deliver to P.O. Boxes.

Shipping costs for physical products to a domestic address are as follows:

• Contiguous United States (Lower 48 states & DC): Standard Shipping adds 10% of the subtotal, with a minimum shipping fee of $7.99 per order.

• U.S. Territories (Other U.S. regions): Standard Shipping adds 25% of the subtotal, with a minimum shipping fee of $19.99 per order.

Please note: Orders placed after 12:00 PM PST will be shipped the following business day.

For regular shipping to a Canadian address, the cost is 15% of the subtotal for all orders, with a minimum shipping fee of $11.99 per order. If you would like to explore expedited shipping options, please contact Customer Service at (800) 858-7339 for a quote.

For regular shipping to an international address (excluding Canada), the shipping cost is 30% of the subtotal for all orders, with a minimum shipping fee of $24.99 per order. If you prefer expedited shipping, please contact Customer Service at (714) 891-2273 for an estimate.

Please e-mail Customer Service at customerservice@tcmpub.com or call us toll-free at (800) 858-7339.

We take pride in creating quality products for your classroom. If you are not satisfied with any of our products, please return the item(s) along with a copy of your invoice within 90 days of purchase. Upon receipt and inspection of the returned merchandise, we will issue a credit or a full refund depending on your preference.

All items returned must be in saleable condition. Please note that shipping and handling charges will not be refunded. Customized items that are made to order are final sale and are not eligible for return or exchange.

If you have any questions or concerns about a return, please e-mail Customer Service at customerservice@teachercreatedmaterials.com or call us toll-free at (800) 858-7339.

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Teacher Created Materials, Inc., including its imprints, affiliated entities—Shell Educational Publishing, Inc. and Free Spirit Publishing— and its partners (collectively referred to as “TCM”), protects its content—such as text, illustrations, and promotional materials (“Content”)—under U.S. Copyright Law. TCM strictly prohibits the use of any of its Content for training or developing generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems, including, but not limited to, any use of the Content for training, fine tuning, or grounding the machine learning or AI system or as part of retrieval-augmented generation, without prior written authorization. For purposes of this policy, “AI” refers broadly to machine-based systems capable of performing tasks or making decisions. Examples include, but are not limited to, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Co-Pilot.

Unauthorized use of TCM’s intellectual property for AI training or development may constitute a violation of copyright law. TCM reserves the right to seek legal remedies, including injunctive relief and financial damages, for any infringement.

Additionally, TCM discourages the uploading of copyrighted TCM materials into AI tools to generate lesson plans or activities. Instead, TCM provides a robust collection of free and paid educator resources, complete with age-appropriate activities and differentiation suggestions to support classroom instruction, available at: https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com.

For questions about fair use in educational settings, or to report potential misuse of TCM content, please contact us at TCMLegal@tcmpub.com.

Teacher Created Materials offers several resources that help schools and educators incorporate family involvement into the learning process for elementary students.

Many TCM classroom solutions and children's books include take-home components, parent letters, and extension activities that encourage continued learning outside the classroom. These materials are designed to make it easy for families to reinforce key skills in literacy, math, science, and social studies through guided practice and discussion.

In addition, TCM provides:

• Grade-level appropriate fiction and non-fiction readers and take-home book collections that promote shared reading and at-home literacy practice
• Hands-on games and activity-based resources that parents can use to reinforce math and foundational skills
• Professional Learning Services that help schools build strong school-to-home connections and family engagement strategies

Educators can explore TCM’s subject-based resource pages (such as Literacy, Mathematics, and At-Home Learning) to find classroom materials that naturally extend learning into the home and support meaningful family involvement.

Teacher Created Materials offers a variety of resources that help keep elementary students engaged in learning over the summer months.

Many of TCM’s activity-based books, readers, and cross-curricular series are well suited for summer learning because they combine skill practice with high-interest topics. Families and educators can use these resources to reinforce literacy, math, science, and social studies skills in short, manageable sessions throughout the break.

Options that work well for summer engagement include:

• Grade-level appropriate readers and informational text series that encourage independent reading and vocabulary growth
• Hands-on math and literacy games that make practice interactive and low-pressure
• STEAM-focused books and inquiry-based activities that spark curiosity and real-world exploration
• Early childhood activity resources that build foundational skills for younger learners

By incorporating just 15–20 minutes of reading or hands-on practice each day, parents can help students maintain academic progress and return to school confident and prepared. Educators can explore TCM’s subject and series pages to identify summer-friendly resources aligned to their students’ needs.

Teacher Created Materials offers a range of tools that support learning at home while reinforcing elementary school curriculum goals.

Many TCM programs are designed to extend beyond the classroom, providing materials families can use to support grade-level standards in literacy, math, science, and social studies. These resources are aligned to academic expectations and help students practice key skills in meaningful, engaging ways.

Helpful at-home learning tools include:

• Fiction and informational text series that strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary
• Standards-aligned math programs and hands-on games that reinforce problem-solving and number sense
• STEAM and science readers that build content knowledge and critical thinking
• Take-home activity books and practice resources that provide structured skill reinforcement

By using curriculum-aligned books and activity resources at home, parents can support classroom instruction, reinforce foundational skills, and help students stay on track with grade-level learning goals.

Teacher Created Materials offers several research-based resources that can help your PreK child build foundational reading skills at home.

1. Explore & Learn (PreK)

Explore & Learn is a comprehensive early childhood program designed to build school readiness through oral language development, vocabulary building, phonological awareness, and early literacy activities. The program features hands-on, language-rich lessons that families can reinforce at home through conversation, read-alouds, and guided practice.

2. Building Connections: A Book Collection Curated by Free Spirit Publishing (PreK)

This thoughtfully curated PreK book collection supports early literacy, oral language development, and social-emotional growth through engaging read-aloud experiences. It encourages discussion, vocabulary development, and comprehension skills that are critical for beginning readers.

Using interactive read-alouds, hands-on activities, and structured conversations with these resources can help your PreK child strengthen the building blocks of reading in a fun, supportive home environment.

Teacher Created Materials offers engaging resources that can help PreK children build foundational math skills over the summer in fun, hands-on ways.

1. Learn-at-Home: Explore Math Bundle Grade PK: 4-Book Set

Ideal for home or school use, learn basic math skills through daily practice worksheets and fun books.

2. 180 Days™: Math for Prekindergarten

Introduce prekindergarten math skills with fun and effective daily practice activities.

3. Counting Flash Cards: Numbers 0—20

These Counting Flash Cards are a fun way for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early learners to memorize, practice, and review numbers 0 through 20, forming a foundation for future math education.

Teacher Created Materials offers several early childhood resources that make it easy for families to explore science concepts together in playful, age-appropriate ways.

1. Explore & Learn: Prekindergarten

This comprehensive early learning program includes hands-on, thematic investigations that introduce young children to basic science concepts through observation, exploration, and discussion. Families can extend activities at home by exploring nature, experimenting with simple materials, and encouraging curiosity-driven questions.

2. Smithsonian® STEAM Readers

While written for elementary students, many titles feature engaging, real-world science topics that can be adapted for family read-alouds with preschoolers. These books spark curiosity and can lead to simple follow-up activities, such as observing weather, exploring plants, or building basic structures together.

At the preschool level, science learning is most effective when it’s hands-on and conversation-based. Simple activities like sorting natural objects, experimenting with water (sink or float), observing weather patterns, or growing a small plant can help build early science skills while encouraging family engagement and exploration.

3. 180 Days™: Science for Prekindergarten

Boost prekindergarten science knowledge with 180 days of effective daily practice! Students explore life, physical, and earth and space science.

Families looking for STEAM resources designed for young children to use at home can explore Teacher Created Materials’ early childhood and STEAM offerings.

1. In a Jar® Series

Transform learning into a fun and spontaneous adventure. The sets of cards within this series of 9 jars make for activities and games at home and at school.

2. 180 Days™: Hands-On STEAM for Grade K

Help kindergarten students improve their critical-thinking skills with hands-on lab activities that integrate STEAM concepts using the inquiry process.

Teacher Created Materials offers several grade-level aligned resources that make it easy to support learning at home for a first grader.

1. Kids Learn! Getting Ready for 1st Grade

First grade preparation and learning loss prevention is easy as one, two, three with our Kids Learn!

2. Let's Learn More! Activities for Grade 1

Keep first graders learning in any environment with 18 weeks of flexible, project-based activities covering a variety of subjects. For Grade 1.

3. Learn-at-Home: Summer Reading Bundle Grade 1: 5-Book Set

Prepare kids for First Grade with this fun summer bundle! Engaging books and a workbook build essential reading, writing, and math skills.

Teacher Created Materials offers several curriculum-aligned resources that schools and families can use to help prevent the “summer slide” and keep students academically engaged during the break.

For Schools and Teachers:

• Summer Scholars (Summer School)
• Take Home Backpacks (Parent Led Summer/School Break Learning)

For Parents:

• Summer Blast (At-Home Learning)
• Kids Learn (gets kids ready for the next grade)