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About Us

  • Founded: 1977 as an educator-led publishing company
  • What We Do: Create Birth to PreK–12 educational resources, children's books, and professional development books and services.
  • Vision: To create a sorld in which children love to learn
  • Mission: Make teaching more effective and learning more fun
  • Reach: Materials used in classrooms, libraries, and homes across the U.S. and in 89+ countries
  • Known For: Literacy, science/STEAM, math, social-emotional learning (SEL), intervention programs, English language development, at-home learning skills, social studies
 

What is Teacher created Materials?

Teacher Created Materials (TCM) is a global educational publisher that produces supplemental resources, instructional materials, children's books, professional learning books and services for educators and learners from birth through grade 12.

We specialize in evidence-based print and digital products that support core academic subjects, English language development, social-emotional learning (SEL), parent engagement, and academic intervention.
What-Is-TCM

Our Brands

Teacher Created Materials Logo - Footer

Teacher Created Materials

Creates educational resources for learners from early childhood to grade 12. TCM is known for our outstanding work in at-home learning, intervention programs, summer learning, and family engagement, our curriculum covers subjects such as literacy, math, social studies, science, STEAM, English language development, and more.
Explore Teacher Created Materials
free-spirit-publishing

Free Spirit Publishing

Creates books for children, educators, and mental-health professionals to enrich early childhood learning and promote child and teen well-being. Free Spirit's Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) content is renowned for fostering independent thinking, aiding youth in overcoming challenges, and positively impacting their lives and the world we share.
Explore Free Spirit Publishing
Shell-Education_imprint-logo

Shell Education

Develops professional resources that build educator instructional capacity, content-area knowledge, and confidence. Shell Education also creates user-friendly student activity books for at-home learning which support family engagement and enhance academic success. These books help parents support their child's educational journey.
Explore Shell Education

Our Leadership

Our founder Rachelle Cracchiolo, along with her two daughters, Corinne Burton and Deanne Mendoza uphold the vision for the company’s overall mission to create a world in which children love to learn.
our-leadership

Rachelle Cracchiolo

Founder and CEO

Rachelle Cracchiolo

Founder and CEO

Rachelle Cracchiolo is the Founder and CEO of Teacher Created Materials (TCM), a pioneering force in the educational publishing industry. Since 1977, Rachelle has been at the forefront of providing high-quality, teacher-created resources that empower educators and inspire students around the world to become lifelong learners.

With over 45 years of experience, Rachelle’s vision has revolutionized the way teachers and families access and use educational resources. Under her leadership, Teacher Created Materials has grown from a small garage-based operation into a global leader, offering a diverse range of products that include print, digital, and interactive resources across all subject areas and grade levels.

Rachelle has also been instrumental in forming strategic partnerships with leading educational organizations such as Time for Kids magazine, The Smithsonian Institution, and iCivics and received numerous accolades, including being inducted into the Educational Publishing Hall of Fame and being honored at the White House by Michelle Obama for developing teaching resources that inspire healthy choices in food and activity. In addition Rachelle was recognized by California State University, Fullerton with their Vision & Visionaries distinguished alumni awards.

And as part of her ongoing relationship with CSUF, Rachelle endowed the Rachelle Cracchiolo Award for Exceptional Curriculum Development scholarship. Two students are awarded the scholarship each year.

Rachelle’s commitment to creating teacher-friendly, practical resources has resulted in the publication of thousands of titles that have become essential tools for educators. TCM’s resources are used in classrooms in all 50 states, in over 89 countries and are recognized for their alignment with educational standards, focus on diversity and inclusion, and promotion of hands-on, interactive learning.

Driven by a passion for empowering teachers and improving student outcomes, Rachelle believes that teachers are the most important resource in any classroom. Her philosophy that educational materials should be created by teachers for teachers and students has guided TCM’s development and success. Rachelle's dedication to providing affordable and accessible resources has ensured that TCM remains a trusted partner for educators and the school systems they work within, even as the educational landscape has evolved.

Before founding TCM, Rachelle was an elementary school teacher who saw a gap in the resources available to her and fellow teachers and decided that she could create materials to fill the need. This experience has been the foundation of her lifelong commitment to supporting educators.

Rachelle Cracchiolo earned both her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and her Master’s of Science in Education-Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Fullerton. Rachelle currently serves on Cal State Fullerton’s Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and is past President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Education Publishers.

Today, Rachelle continues to serve as an “Idea Factory” at TCM where she is continually looking for new, innovative ways to expand learning opportunities for kids while ensuring that quality education is accessible to all.

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Corinne Burton

President

Corinne Burton

President

Corinne Burton is a recognized thought leader and strategic visionary in the educational publishing industry. As the President and Co-Owner of Teacher Created Materials (TCM), Corinne has been instrumental in guiding the company through significant growth and industry transformation. Having grown up in and around the family business, Corinne’s deep-rooted connection to TCM has shaped her passion for education and commitment to creating high-quality resources that empower educators and inspire students worldwide. 

Corinne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, a Multi-Subject Teaching Credential from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Science in Computing and Technology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.  

Under Corinne’s leadership as President, TCM has continued its legacy of producing resources that create a world in which children love to learn and remains at the forefront of innovative educational practices, impacting millions of educators and students across the United States and around the world.  

Corinne’s dedication to education extends beyond TCM’s products., She serves on the Board of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and was past-chair of the Association of American Publishers PreK-12 Learning Group where she won the Lamplighter Honor. Corinne began her career as an elementary school teacher where her passion for children and their education was born. Corinne’s dedication to children and their learning continues inside TCM, the educational publishing industry, and in her work with Girl Scouts or Orange County and Model United Nations ensuring that every child has a chance to grow and learn. 

A lifelong learner, Corinne is committed to continual growth and evolution. She reads extensively, drawing inspiration from history, biographies, and multifaceted lives to round out her strategic decisions. Her pragmatic, common-sense approach, and ability to stay calm under pressure make her a sought-after leader in any situation. 

Corinne’s ability to blend a variety of needs to identify emerging trends has kept TCM at the leading edge of the industry, ensuring the company remains a trusted resource for educators navigating modern challenges. 

Corinne’s vision for celebrating educators, giving learners a voice, and fostering a love of learning is at the heart of everything she does, making her a true leader in the field

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Deanne Mendoza

EVP of Strategic Development

Deanne Mendoza

EVP of Strategic Development

Deanne Mendoza is a respected executive and the visionary Executive Vice President of Strategic Development and Co-Owner at Teacher Created Materials (TCM), a second-generation global educational publishing company. With over two decades of experience in sales and leadership, Deanne is renowned for her ability to foster win-win relationships and create strategic alliances that drive mutual success. Her deep commitment to family, authenticity, and curiosity guides her leadership, as she connects people and organizations in ways that inspire collaboration, innovation, and positivity. 

Deanne earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master’s in Business from the University of Southern California. Deanne’s career journey began in the corporate world in sales at Coca-Cola North America, where she consistently exceeded sales goals and received numerous awards and recognitions. Her professional background laid the foundation for her exceptional skills in building strong relationships and developing high-performing teams.  Prior to joining Coca-Cola Deanne had the opportunity to work with the mayor of Los Angeles as part of the host committee for the Democratic National Committee’s Los Angeles convention in 2000. 

In addition to that work, Deanne taught Business Communication in USC’s Marshall School of Business.  And she has been a welcome guest speaker in a variety of college classes. 

Having grown up in and around the family business, Deanne has been a vital team member across a variety of departments. Today, Deanne leads Strategic Partnership and Community Engagement, which encompasses not only the local community, but the educational community in general, including connecting with authors and other experts that help TCM develop their resources.  In her role, Deanne has been instrumental in forming strategic partnerships with organizations including the Los Angeles Rams, local Boys and Girls Clubs, and Girls Inc., all of which align TCM’s mission with the evolving needs of learners. 

While leading and championing philanthropy and community engagement at TCM, Deanne introduced the TCM Cares Initiative and continually drives significant fundraising and volunteer activities, reflecting TCM’s compassionate spirit and dedication to social responsibility. Based on the powerful work she is leading in the community, TCM has been recognized as one of the top 50 most community-minded companies in Orange County, CA (where TCM is headquartered).  

Deanne’s role as a community leader is integral to TCM’s success. She is the voice of TCM in the community and to various stakeholders including employees and governmental agencies, bringing insights and opportunities that ensure the company is always meeting the needs of educators, students, and families. Her ability to connect with people at all levels, combined with her strategic thinking and emotional intelligence, enables her to create partnerships that benefit businesses, the public sector, and nonprofits alike.  

That leadership is especially important to two very special community partnerships, Caterina’s Club and Read Across America.  The former is a local nonprofit whose mission is to feed hungry kids in the community.  Under Deanne’s stewardship, TCM has donated tens of thousands of pounds of pasta and sauce to the organization and encouraged others in the local area to donate as well.  Read Across America, celebrated on the birthday of Theodor Geisel or “Dr. Seuss” involves adopting a local school and bringing TCM employees to the school site for a day of service that includes school beautification projects as well as in-class reading and activities.  Deanne has managed to expand this beyond Southern California into multiple states nationwide thereby serving thousands of teachers and students every year. 

Deanne’s leadership extends beyond the company; she is actively involved in community initiatives serving on Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Leadership’s Board of Directors and Loyola Marymount University’s Family Business Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. Deanne has also been recognized for her contributions with awards and accolades such as being named “Women of the Year” for the 72nd Assembly District in California.  

And Deanne finds time to volunteer with her own three children, acting as a Girl Scout Troop Leaders, and Sunday school teacher, not to mention PTSA. 

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Our Mission & Vision

Mission

To make teaching more effective and learning more fun by creating engaging, user-friendly educational resources for children wherever they are learning.

Vision

A world in which children love to learn and teachers are empowered to help every learner succeed.

  • Our History

    Our History

    Since 1977

    Teacher Created Materials was established in 1977 when Founder and CEO Rachelle Cracchiolo, a popular and effective elementary teacher, authored and published her first book, Quick Fun Art, in collaboration with a fellow teacher. Later, Shell Education was founded to focus on professional development titles aimed at enhancing educator skills and helping teachers refine their expertise. In 2021, Teacher Created Materials acquired Free Spirit Publishing. An imprint of TCM, Free Spirit publishes award-winning trade books for children and professionals.

    As TCM has grown, one constant remains - educators worldwide rely on us to deliver high-quality, user-friendly, and educationally robust materials.

    Today, Teacher Created Materials stands as a leading educational publisher, with products utilized in classrooms, school and public libraries, and sold into bookstores, online retailers, and homes across all 50 states and in 89 countries. Everything we publish is crafted by educators and experts for teachers and children and students, as we believe that those who work directly with children best understand their needs. Our core vision is to Create a World in which Children Love to Learn! This dedication to lifelong learning embodies our mission, vision, and values, and is the foundation of all our endeavors.
    TCM-History

  • Who We Serve

    Who We Serve

    Educators & Schools

    We develop educational resources  and professional books that help teachers deliver standards-aligned instruction and support differentiated learning.

    Students & Families

    Our learner resources, from engaging trade books to at-home learning tools, help students thrive academically and build confidence.

    Libraries & Educational Partners

    Books and instructional resources designed for classroom, library, and community learning environments.

    Businesses That Support Parents, Educators, and Children

    We adapt and customize resources to give organizations that support educators, parents, and children. A broad spectrum of products in multiple formats. Our content expertise helps the customers ensure the best possible outcomes for the markets they serve.
    TCM-Who-We-Serve

  • Our Partnerships

    Our Partnerships

    Our content partnerships with prestigious institutions and organizations add immeasurable informational depth and value to our resources, whether used in classrooms, libraries, or at home. Students and educators alike benefit from the knowledge and understanding these materials unlock.

    Our iCivics Readers leverage the innovative civics education program founded by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. Inside our Smithsonian STEAM Readers, students engage with resources curated by The Smithsonian and its team of professionals. Students using our Time for Kids® Nonfiction Readers are engaged with fascinating topics and high-impact visuals to build skills with informational texts and critical vocabulary.
    About-TCM-Partnerships

  • What We Publish

    What We Publish

    TCM's educational products include:

    Learn more about our subjects and series on our Subjects page and Series page.
    What-We-Publish

Our History

Since 1977

Teacher Created Materials was established in 1977 when Founder and CEO Rachelle Cracchiolo, a popular and effective elementary teacher, authored and published her first book, Quick Fun Art, in collaboration with a fellow teacher. Later, Shell Education was founded to focus on professional development titles aimed at enhancing educator skills and helping teachers refine their expertise. In 2021, Teacher Created Materials acquired Free Spirit Publishing. An imprint of TCM, Free Spirit publishes award-winning trade books for children and professionals.

As TCM has grown, one constant remains - educators worldwide rely on us to deliver high-quality, user-friendly, and educationally robust materials.

Today, Teacher Created Materials stands as a leading educational publisher, with products utilized in classrooms, school and public libraries, and sold into bookstores, online retailers, and homes across all 50 states and in 89 countries. Everything we publish is crafted by educators and experts for teachers and children and students, as we believe that those who work directly with children best understand their needs. Our core vision is to Create a World in which Children Love to Learn! This dedication to lifelong learning embodies our mission, vision, and values, and is the foundation of all our endeavors.
TCM-History

Who We Serve

Educators & Schools

We develop educational resources  and professional books that help teachers deliver standards-aligned instruction and support differentiated learning.

Students & Families

Our learner resources, from engaging trade books to at-home learning tools, help students thrive academically and build confidence.

Libraries & Educational Partners

Books and instructional resources designed for classroom, library, and community learning environments.

Businesses That Support Parents, Educators, and Children

We adapt and customize resources to give organizations that support educators, parents, and children. A broad spectrum of products in multiple formats. Our content expertise helps the customers ensure the best possible outcomes for the markets they serve.
TCM-Who-We-Serve

Our Partnerships

Our content partnerships with prestigious institutions and organizations add immeasurable informational depth and value to our resources, whether used in classrooms, libraries, or at home. Students and educators alike benefit from the knowledge and understanding these materials unlock.

Our iCivics Readers leverage the innovative civics education program founded by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. Inside our Smithsonian STEAM Readers, students engage with resources curated by The Smithsonian and its team of professionals. Students using our Time for Kids® Nonfiction Readers are engaged with fascinating topics and high-impact visuals to build skills with informational texts and critical vocabulary.
About-TCM-Partnerships

What We Publish

TCM's educational products include:

Learn more about our subjects and series on our Subjects page and Series page.
What-We-Publish

Our Core Values

Love of Learning

We inspire a love of learning in others.

Hard Working

We work harder to make a difference.

Pride

We only produce educational products that make us proud.

Collaboration

We accomplish more by working together.

Fun and Celebration

We celebrate creativity and playfulness, which makes our products better and work more fun.

Careers

Join Our Team

Learn More

Community Involvement

Proudly supporting education initiatives

Learn More

News & Events

Updates from TCM

Learn More

Why TCM Matters

For context on the educational publishing industry and the global K-12 curriculum market, see UNESCO’s overview of global education publishing and The Business Research Company’s K-12 textbook market forecast.

Created by educators

Resources developed by teachers and subject matter experts.

Research-aligned

Designed to reflect current evidence-based instructional practices.

Broad impact

Utilized in thousands of classrooms, libraries, and homes globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies offer summer activity kits that support learning in science for elementary students?

Teacher Created Materials (TCM) is a leading educational publisher that offers hands-on STEAM resources specifically designed to support science and STEAM learning for elementary students. TCM’s 180 Days: Hands-On STEAM provide hands-on, standards-aligned activities that help students improve their critical-thinking skills with hands-on lab activities that integrate STEAM concepts.

TCM’s STEAM resources are developed by educators and include engaging experiments, activities, and age-appropriate challenges that reinforce core science concepts in a fun, accessible way. These books are designed for use at home or in summer programs and align with best practices for preventing summer learning loss.

What resources are available for elementary teachers to improve their teaching methods continually?

Elementary teachers can continually improve their teaching methods by using professional development, curriculum-aligned instructional resources, and research-based teaching tools from trusted education publishers like Teacher Created Materials (TCM).

TCM offers a wide range of resources designed to support ongoing teacher growth and instructional effectiveness, including professional development workshops, instructional guides, and classroom-ready curriculum materials. These resources help educators stay current with best practices in english language arts/literacy, STEAM, social-emotional learning (SEL), and differentiated instruction.

Key resources available to elementary teachers include:

Professional Development Services – Workshops and learning opportunities that focus on instructional strategies, curriculum implementation, and classroom engagement.

Teacher Guides & Instructional Support Materials – Standards-aligned guides that provide practical strategies, lesson ideas, and scaffolding techniques.

Supplemental Classroom Resources – Research-based materials that allow teachers to immediately apply new methods in real classroom settings.

Free Teaching Resources – Downloadable lesson plans, activities, and classroom tools to support continuous learning and experimentation.

Educators can explore TCM’s professional learning resources here.

What are some effective tools for involving families in elementary education, especially in subjects like reading and math?

Effective tools include at-home learning backpacks filled with family engagement guides and hands-on reading and math activities that help families reinforce classroom learning. Teacher Created Materials (TCM) offers at-home learning resources designed to support literacy and math practice with clear instructions and age-appropriate activities.

Explore TCM’s family engagement and at-home learning resources here.

What educational materials help involve families in their child's learning process?

Educational materials that support family involvement include take-home backpacks which include family engagement guides, grade-level appropriate fiction and non-fiction readers, and hands-on activities that reinforce classroom instruction. Teacher Created Materials (TCM) offers family-friendly resources designed to help caregivers support reading, math, and foundational skills at home.

Learn more on our page dedicated to parent engagement.

Can you suggest any family involvement programs that enhance student learning in primary education?

Family involvement programs that enhance learning in primary education include at-home learning programs, family engagement initiatives, and guided practice resources that help families support instruction beyond the classroom. Family involvement programs from Teacher Created Materials (TCM) help strengthen school-to-home connections and improve student learning outcomes in primary education. TCM offers family engagement and at-home learning programs designed to reinforce reading, math, and foundational skills in a supportive, easy-to-use format.

Learn more on our page dedicated to at-home learning.

Can you recommend teacher training programs that help improve language development teaching methods for young students?

Yes. Teacher Created Materials offers professional learning programs designed to help educators strengthen language development instruction for young students.

TCM’s Professional Learning Services provide research-based, actionable training focused on early literacy, oral language development, foundational reading skills, and support for multilingual learners. Through workshops, coaching, and job-embedded support, teachers learn practical strategies they can immediately apply in the classroom.

Training topics may include:

  • Building oral language and academic vocabulary
  • Strengthening phonological awareness and foundational literacy skills
  • Supporting English language development for multilingual learners
  • Implementing culturally responsive teaching practices
  • Differentiating instruction for diverse early learners

These programs are available in both in-person and virtual formats, making it easy for schools and districts to customize professional development based on their specific goals and student needs.

Educators and school leaders can explore TCM’s Professional Learning Services to find teacher training solutions that improve language development instruction and drive stronger student outcomes.