I Want to be a Super Teacher

I help straight-talking teachers 🍎 with a flair for fun 🎉 engage every 2-3 learner💡with challenges, menus & games 📚 so you can stay SUPER & sane! If you’re all about implementing super (practical!) teaching practices while keeping your sanity, come stay awhile. I have fourteen years of classroom teaching experience in three states, and am passionate about helping teachers refine their practice & meet the needs of every learner.

I love a good workshop! Conferring with readers, writers, and mathematicians is one of my favorite parts of the school day. I am passionate about knowing students as individuals, personalizing learning as much as possible, and making sure every student is challenged at an appropriate level. Differentiated third grade homework menus and math challenges & brainteasers are some of my favorite products that were originally created as I attempted to meet the needs of advanced students in my own classrooms.

As a last day gift I received a framed artwork from a student which reads: SMITH POWER 100% smarts 100% kindness 1,000,000% FUN That counts as an award in my book!

Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, Brigham Young University 2001 ESL Endorsement, Brigham Young University & Southern Utah University 2006 Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Reading, Grand Canyon University 2010 Classroom Teaching: Fifth Grade Teacher, Westside Elementary, Springville, Utah Third Grade Teacher, Westside Elementary, Springville, Utah Third Grade Teacher, Aspen Creek K-8, Broomfield, Colorado Second Grade Teacher, Oakland Academy, Portage, Michigan Third Grade Teacher, Green Meadow Elementary, Kalamazoo, Michigan Second Grade Teacher, Oakland Academy, Portage, Michigan

I have fourteen years of classroom teaching experience in grades 2-3 (+ one in fifth) and am passionate about helping teachers refine their practice & meet the needs of every learner. Be Super, Stay Sane! Don’t let the “Super Teacher” title scare you. You don’t have to be perfect to be super! In fact, the name of this site stemmed less from wanting to be a Super Teacher, and more from one of my favorite team Halloween costumes. There’s a reason this blog is called I Want to be a Super Teacher (not I’m a Super Teacher, or Be a Super Teacher). After 14 years working my tail off in the classroom, I still don’t feel like a “Super” Teacher. Teaching is hard! There’s always someone with a more Pinterest-worthy room, or an expert on some educational research you’re just starting to look into, or some darling teacher making Boomerang videos of her smiling throwing confetti. In my opinion, Super Teachers are those who recognize we have more to learn, but are refining our practice, and doing our best to balance doing great work in the classroom with staying afloat in everyday life. You don’t have to be perfect to be super. Still reading? Impressive! Here’s a little bit about more about the person referring to you as Super Teacher: *I’m Katie and when I'm not thinking about teaching 2nd and 3rd grade I'm thinking about all things travel hacking. It's my newest obsession. *My minpin Lily was my bestest doggie pal and even finagled her way into the I Want to be a Super Teacher logo (see iwanttobeasuperteacher.com). Look for a dog in a cape up top. She was anxious, and nervous, and crazy, and I loved her. She was basically me in dog form with better clothes and more naptime. She lived to the ripe old age of 17, but will live forever at iwanttobeasuperteacher.com. *I have a secret talent of being able to link 2 celebrities through people they’ve dated or starred in movies with. My mom brain has recently impacted the speed with which I can perform this talent, but I’m pretty sure I still have it. Try me! *Although I live in Michigan, I’ll always be a Coloradan at heart. The Boulder effect is real! However, Michigan is beautiful and despite the grossly inadequate internet access, living in the Michigan farmland has its benefits. I post pretty Michigan pics on IG to remind me that I should be a little more grateful about my beautiful lakeside surroundings instead of chomping at the bit to get back to the Flatirons. *I am a Halloween fiend! Planning grade level Halloween costumes consumes my back to school thoughts. *If you ever want to reminisce about Anne of Green Gables (Jonathan Crombie style), I’m your gal! I don’t want sunbursts, or marble halls, I just . . . want . . . you! (insert swoon) I hope you can find some Super Teaching resources here at TpT! If you're a straight-talking teacher with a flair for fun in grades 2-3 come get more ideas at my website: iwanttobeasuperteacher.com.