one step at a time...

"Just because you are not where they are does not mean you don't have what it takes."

Throughout my four years of college, I was very aware of the amazing teacher community that is extremely prevalent on social media sites. As I was so aware of them, I had always dreamed of being the same way. I, too, wanted to reach out to individuals via social media and share the fun my students and I had with the great products I created.

Well, the time has come that I am officially a teacher. And, even though I hadn't (and still haven't) even stepped foot in a classroom as THE classroom teacher, I was ready to post things to TeachersPayTeachers and Instagram and have comments and sales flooding in.

Well, I started brainstorming and posting things on social media and products on TeachersPayTeachers. I was brought back to reality really fast! It seemed no matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get anyone to really want to buy my products or leave feedback. It might be slightly pathetic, but I found myself getting extremely discouraged. It's so silly, isn't it?

Well, this week I had an epiphany of sorts. I haven't even spent a day in my classroom, let alone a day with students. There is still SO much I have yet to learn. I need to allow myself to be a first year teacher. I need to allow myself to accept help and advice from others. No where in the world does it say first year teachers have to make everything themselves.

Don't get me wrong - I love learning from others. I'm not the type to not accept any help, but I need to get out of this mindset of having to create EVERYTHING. I still have so very much to learn about being the best educator I can possibly be. If I keep up at this rate, I'm going to be way too discouraged before even stepping foot into the classroom in front of my students.

So - here's to truly being a first year teacher. Here's to creating things for fun, not because I feel the need to be 100% successful right this second. Here's to making use of all of the fantastic resources I've found from some of the greatest educators!


Here's to dreaming (because I still yearn to make an impact), but most importantly, here's to being the biggest information sponge I can possibly be! Here's to taking things one step at a time.

wait... i'm a teacher?!

Hey y'all!

My goodness, where does one even begin? I feel like I should talk about myself first, but, let's face it, I am not an exciting person. I suppose I could tell y'all how I got to where I am today...

Well, as many little girls, I always dreamed of growing up and becoming a teacher. (I've always been kind of cliche...) I went to a private four year college, earning a bachelor's degree and dual certification in elementary and special education - learning behavior disorders, to be exact.

I was able to complete my semester of student teaching in the fall semester of 2014. I student taught in a kindergarten, fifth grade, and a special education placement. It was the craziest whirlwind of a semester, but I was in hog heaven. I fell in love with the school, staff, and, of course, the students.

Well, around the time I graduated, I was stressin' hardcore about a job. I reached out to the school where I student taught and shared with the principal how much I truly loved my student teaching semester and how much I would love if that was that place I would start my teaching career. I usually am not one to do things like that, but boy am I glad I did, because THEY OFFERED ME A JOB. Being the pessimist I am, I just figured I would get a position I wasn't feeling too confident about, but luckily, they placed me exactly where I was hoping to be... in first grade! (To actually say I'm a first grade teacher is one of the most surreal feelings ever!)

There is so much in sore for this upcoming school year. I cannot wait to connect with other bloggers and  take in all I can in order to be the absolute best educator possible for my little kiddos!

(Thanks for reading, y'all. I promise I will try my best to make my upcoming blog posts much more interesting!)