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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Tutoring Tips and Organization
Are you thinking about starting a tutoring side gig? Tutoring organization can make or break your (and your students'!) experience during this extra time teaching. I have found that the financial benefits are worth my extra time at school - as long as they're planned well and executed properly. I've put together directions, tips, forms, samples, and documents that I have created to make sure that my summer or school year goes well with each individual student I tutor. Included in this product:A
Not Specific
For All Subjects
Tiered Assignment Quick Start Guide for Busy Teachers eBook
Quick-Start Guide to Tiered Assignments: Easy Differentiation Strategies for Busy TeachersAre you struggling to meet the needs of all your students—especially when your classroom includes a wide range of readiness levels, gifted learners, and students who need more support? Quick-Start Guide to Tiered Assigments is your go-to guide for differentiating instruction without doubling your workload. This 35+ page eBook + editable PowerPoint was created specifically for gifted and talented teachers
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Not Subject Specific
Gifted and Talented High Ability Parent Communication Handouts Neutral Version
Support families of gifted and talented students with this ready-to-use bundle of parent handouts, designed to build understanding, strengthen home-school partnerships, and provide meaningful resources for parent engagement. These black-and-white friendly handouts cover the most important topics in high ability education and are perfect for use during parent-teacher conferences, family nights, open houses, or parent workshops. Gifted children often present unique strengths and challenges tha
Not Specific
For All Subjects, School Counseling, Social Emotional Learning
Kindness and Empathy Challenge - Kindness and Empathy Activity - SEL
Perfect for revitalizing classroom relationships after winter break, the Top Secret: Mission Possible Kindness and Empathy Challenge encourages students to practice empathy, build social-emotional skills, and foster a supportive classroom environment through fun and meaningful activities. Why You Need This Resource:Designed for January and February, this kindness and empathy challenge is perfect for reviewing classroom expectations, teaching positive interactions, and helping students act with
3rd - 6th
For All Subjects
Gifted and Talented High Ability Parent Communication Handouts Faith Based
Equip families of gifted and talented students with faith-centered encouragement and strategies through this bundle of parent handouts, designed especially for Christian parents raising high ability learners. These black-and-white friendly resources integrate both practical strategies and biblical wisdom, making them perfect for parent-teacher conferences, family nights, church-based parent groups, or gifted program workshops. Gifted children often display asynchronous development, emotion
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Religion, School Counseling
Rigby Spelling - 4th Grade Year List
With everyone updating their beginning of the year items, I organized my spelling lists into one document. Each list includes the expected words, no excuse words, and challenge words, which make differentiation in your classroom easier. The phonetic skill that is listed in the Rigby curriculum is also on the list, so it can be addressed in your reading groups or in word work.
4th
Grammar, Phonics & Phonological Awareness, Spelling
Rigby Spelling - 3rd Grade Year List
As everyone updates their beginning of the year items, I have organized and adapted all of my spelling lists into one file. On one list, there are the expected words, no excuse word, and challenge words, which make differentiation in the classroom easier. The phonetic skill that Rigby includes for the themed lists are also included on the list, so you can address practice during reading groups or during word work.
3rd
Grammar, Phonics & Phonological Awareness, Spelling
4th Grade Common Core Checklist (Language Arts)
As we all strive to find ways to collect data and document our use of the Common Core Standards, I developed a checklist to help me keep track of what I have taught, when I taught it, and concerns for specific students that I have. This will also help me discuss with parents the need to go over specific skills at home.
4th
English Language Arts
5th Grade Common Core Checklist (Math)
As we all strive to find ways to collect data and document our use of the Common Core Standards, I developed a checklist to help me keep track of what I have taught, when I taught it, and concerns for specific students that I have. This will also help me discuss with parents the need to go over specific skills at home.
5th
Math
Mid-year Parent Survey
In the midst of the new semester and reflecting on what works, I have decided to give my parents the option of a midyear survey. It has given me great feedback on their perspective of what we are doing in the classroom. Posted as a word doc, so you can easily edit for your own classroom!
Not Specific
For All Subjects
While You were Out Notes
It is definitely difficult to keep up with all of the paperwork when you have an absent kiddo. During flu season, it's even worse, because you may have 3-4 kids out at a time to keep track of. One of my classroom jobs is Absence Coordinator - usually the students that apply are organized and like to be the teacher's helper anyway, so it makes it easier for all of us involved. They use this sheet to write down the assignments from the morning board. I make many copies at the beginning of the yea
Not Specific
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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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