About the store
Let's create experiences! I am a five year curriculum/instructional designer with 15 years of experience in the classroom. I bring interactive and hands-on experiences to you and your students in way they can enjoy and remember what they are learning. My time in the classroom ranges from 2nd grade to 6th grade, as well as music and a 3rd/4th split classroom - all with high ability/gifted and talented students in some capacity. Currently, I am an instructional designer for a higher ed institution. I create experiences for my students that are simulation and problem-based interactivities. In both scenarios, I use my elementary education background, as well as my degrees in Educational Psychology, Instructional Design, and my high ability certification to go beyond paper/pencil assessments and push for a learning experience that allows for deeper thinking and application.
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Fall Critical Thinking Task Cards Enrichment & Gifted Activities (Grades 3-6)
Challenge your students with these Fall Critical Thinking Task Cards — perfect for enrichment, gifted learners, fast finishers, or centers! Seasonal fun meets rigorous problem-solving, logic puzzles, and creative thinking for grades 3–6. Designed with gifted and advanced learners in mind, each card combines seasonal fun with higher-order thinking skills! What’s Included: 12 printable Fall Critical Thinking Task Cards Answer Key with solutions and discussion prompts Teacher Talk Page with ti
3rd - 5th
Classroom Community, Mental Math, Other (Science)
Also included in: Autumn Critical Thinking Task Cards (Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving)
Autumn Critical Thinking Task Cards (Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving)
Save time and money with this Autumn Critical Thinking Task Card Bundle! This set includes General Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving task card collections, giving you 36 seasonal, higher-order thinking challenges to use from September through November. Perfect for gifted learners, enrichment, early finishers, or whole-class holiday fun! What’s Included in the Bundle: Fall Critical Thinking Task Cards (12 cards + answer key + teacher guide) Halloween Critical Thinking Task Cards (12 cards + ans
3rd - 6th
Mental Math, Reading, Writing
Christmas Critical Thinking Task Cards Enrichment & Gifted Activities
Challenge your students this December with Christmas Critical Thinking Task Cards—holiday fun meets rigorous logic, problem-solving, and enrichment for grades 3–6! Make the holiday season rigorous and fun with these Christmas Critical Thinking Task Cards! Perfect for gifted learners, enrichment groups, or early finishers, these 12 activities challenge students with logic puzzles, math reasoning, and creative problem-solving — all with a Christmas twist. What’s Included: 12 Christmas-Themed C
3rd - 6th
Classroom Community, Mental Math, Other (Science)
Thanksgiving Critical Thinking Task Cards Enrichment & Gifted Activities
Keep rigor high this November with Thanksgiving Critical Thinking Task Cards—perfect for enrichment, gifted learners, or fast finishers who need engaging challenges. Each card is designed to spark higher-order thinking, logic, and creativity while connecting to the season of gratitude. What’s Included: 12 Thanksgiving-Themed Critical Thinking Task Cards Teacher Answer Key with sample solutions Teacher Talk Page with guidance and extension ideas Student Directions page for independent or small
4th - 6th
Classroom Community, Mental Math, Other (Science)
Also included in: Autumn Critical Thinking Task Cards (Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving)
Halloween Critical Thinking Task Cards Enrichment & Gifted Activities
Looking for a fun but rigorous Halloween activity? These Halloween Critical Thinking Task Cards combine spooky seasonal fun with higher-order thinking challenges! Perfect for gifted students, enrichment, or early finishers, each card encourages logic, problem-solving, and creative reasoning. What’s Included: 12 Halloween-Themed Critical Thinking Task Cards Teacher Answer Key with solutions and possible responses Teacher Talk Page with setup and differentiation tips Student Directions page fo
4th - 6th
Classroom Community, Mental Math, Other (Science)
Also included in: Autumn Critical Thinking Task Cards (Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving)
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About the store
Experience
Let's create experiences! I am a five year curriculum/instructional designer with 15 years of experience in the classroom. I bring interactive and hands-on experiences to you and your students in way they can enjoy and remember what they are learning. My time in the classroom ranges from 2nd grade to 6th grade, as well as music and a 3rd/4th split classroom - all with high ability/gifted and talented students in some capacity. Currently, I am an instructional designer for a higher ed institution. I create experiences for my students that are simulation and problem-based interactivities. In both scenarios, I use my elementary education background, as well as my degrees in Educational Psychology, Instructional Design, and my high ability certification to go beyond paper/pencil assessments and push for a learning experience that allows for deeper thinking and application.
Teaching style
My teaching style is hands on and inquiry based in each subject. Students are encouraged to develop their own questions and dig deeper, after general comprehension is mastered and formed. I encourage students to continue their pursuit of interest after a unit or lesson has been completed. Technology is continually a source that students will need to be familiar with (as well as their teachers) and I try to use various technologies in the classroom to expose my students in their research endeavors.
Much of my content can be used in a classroom or virtual setting. Adjusting assignments for LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, etc) use is something with which I will happily assist!
Awards & shining teacher moments
Teacher of the Year Nominee: 2017, 2018
Kid's Discover XCurricular Winner: 2021
"Shining Moments" occur each May, when I am invited to graduation open houses of my former students. To see how they have grown and strived to be the amazing people they are becoming is considered a great success for me. In those times, I also get to reunite with families that I created close connections to during the school year. "Once a Brownie, always a Brownie!"
My own education history
Indiana University (Bloomington) 2003 - Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (Technology Endorsement, Music Minor)
Ball State University (Muncie) 2011 - Master of Science in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Talented Endorsement)
Grand Canyon University (Phoenix) 2023 - Master of Arts in Instructional Design (Curriculum Creation)
Additional biographical information
Teaching has been my passion since I was in elementary school. I enjoyed the creativity and excitement that each of my teacher role models (including my own MOTHER!) brought to the classroom each day. Except for a short stint in which I was determined to be a ballerina, I came back to my senses in middle school, knowing that education was the way for me to go.
In 2019, I realized I enjoyed creating the student experiences (not assignments or tests) more than the physical teaching itself. As an instructional designer, I work with other instructors and teachers to make content meaningful and applicable to their students (both in the classroom setting and online).
My passions (other than education) include my husband (Tim), our daughter (Reese), and our fur baby (cat - Richie). I'm an avid reader (some have described me as a Book Dragon vs. book worm), as well as a Muggle Born Ravenclaw, Coffee Connoisseur, and Life-Long Learner.
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