Introductions!

Hello!  It's nice to be back on Blogger!  I said I would return soon to share who I am and how I got here, so here is my story!

Who Am I?  

I'm a wife, mother, teacher, blogger and a teacher-entrepreneur!   

I've been married for 28 years!  It doesn't seem possible to me - the time has flown by quickly!  Maybe my husband has a different point of view though!  Ha Ha!

I have 3 wonderful young adult children...ages 24, 22, and 20.  My oldest has graduated from college, my daughter in the middle is due to graduate this year, and my youngest is a Marine!  I'm so proud of all of them!

Here's a picture from this winter - one of the few times that all 3 were home:

My Teaching Experience:

I have been teaching for 29 years, but I still have passion for the profession!  I have seen so many changes over the course of my career and there are definitely new challenges all the time, but I can't imagine doing anything else!

I currently teach 3rd grade but have also taught 1st, 2nd, a multi-age 2/3 classroom and I worked part time as a part time speech therapy assistant for several years when my kids were younger.

I have been at 3rd grade for a while now and I really do like that age level.  They are more independent than the younger ones, but not too independent or tall either!  I'm only 5'2" and some of my third graders love to remind me about that by the end of the year!  I would have to look up to most 4th -5th graders - that would just be too funny!

I have an MAT degree in Curriculum & Instruction and I love to design and create learning materials, games and units.  Some people ask why I am still teaching with a masters in Curriculum and Instruction...my response is that I got my masters to be a better teacher not to leave the classroom.  

To be honest, I just don't see myself as taking on any administrative type of position - especially with the current educational environment that we have today.  I don't know how any administrators deal with the issues that they do today.  The same could be said about teaching too, but I feel called to teach.

Why Do I Want to Blog?

My colleagues say that I'm very organized, pay attention to details, have good classroom management and am up to date with current educational topics.  I have always desired to be in a leadership role in teaching and have served as committee chair on various committees, was president of my local Union group and am currently a team leader.  I feel that all of the above has led me here to share what I've learned, experienced and created with others... to blogging!

Teacher Entrepreneur Bug:

I believe I decided to become a TPT seller when I was feeling the most stifled in my teaching.  At the time, there was little or no creativity allowed.  I had to use the textbooks verbatim and with fidelity.  Crafts with the students could only be done if it directly tied into the curriculum and even then it had to be something that took very little class time.  Is this familiar sounding to any of you?  (I hope not, but sadly expect it was the same elsewhere.)  My daily schedule was dictated to the minute and walk-throughs were held to be sure everyone was in step.  If there was a time that I thought teaching was not for me anymore, this was it.  I felt so stifled and had to have an outlet for creating materials for fun and learning!  Then I found TPT!!!

I have been a "teacherpreneur"* for about 4 years.  I opened a Teachers Pay Teachers store in the spring of 2012 and then a Teachers Notebook shop in 2013.   I've been creating ever since!

* I guess this is not not sure a legit word, but I've heard it so often....it's going to have to be added to the dictionaries soon!

Well, that was a longer introduction than I originally thought it would be!  If you're still reading at this point, THANK YOU!!!   What is your experience...do we have anything in common?  I'd love to hear from you by commenting below!