So... A little about me.

When I started college, I thought I wanted to be a biology major. I loved biology-still do, really! But I got to a point where I realized that I didn't really know what I wanted to DO with biology, and I found myself thinking back to the cadet teaching I had done in high school.

Just after switching majors, I got the idea to go talk to an instructor I had met during high school. He led biology camps (like the one I'd attended in high school), so I stopped in to see if he needed any help. Turns out he did need help... and I've worked for him every summer since. I mostly teach high schoolers in the summer (biology, math, and my most hated subject, chemistry), but my heart lies with younger kids. So much less attitude, less repetition to my day, and I get to teach ALL of the subjects.

Anyway- I was an interventionist for my first 2 years out of college. I was at a great school, in the classroom with a more experienced teacher all day. I learned so much (especially about interventions and RTI), but I still wanted my own room. When I was RIFed last year, another school thankfully gave me that chance.

So, technically, I'm in my third year of teaching, but it's the first time I have my own room. And yeah, it's overwhelming. But I also LOVE it. I have incredibly creative, collaborative co-workers, a terrific class, and an amazingly supportive principal. I am excited to finally feel like a 'real' teacher... even though I'm not an organized one!

Outside of school, I'm recently married to super great guy who is nerdy in all the right ways and makes me laugh all the time. No kids except my class, and hopefully a dog before too long! I also love football (go Pack go!), Zumba, reading, amateur photography, nature, and watching too much TV with my guy. Oh, and of course, spending a gazillion hours on the Internet keeping up with Pinterest ()and blogs.

So... that's me. Can't wait to get to know some of you!

Welcome!

Whew. Here I go again.

I have started the blogging train many times, and even dabbled into teacher blogging, but I really haven't done much with it.

Time to try again. I get way too many good ideas and materials from other teachers to not contribute any myself!

Blogging Goals (more for me than you, I promise!):

• I'll try to stick to mostly teaching topics, but still let you get to know me, because some of my favorite teaching blogs are the ones where I feel like I know that person. 
• While I would love to eventually start a TpT or Teacher's Notebook store, I want to make sure I always offer plenty of freebies. I'm in (essentially) my first year of teaching, which isn't the most lucrative profession, and my husband is still in college, so I love finding terrific freebies from other teachers, and I want to be a part of that!
• I don't ever want to spend a lot of posts JUST on promoting my own products or giveaways. It's okay occasionally, but bloggers who do that constantly just drive me crazy.
• I want to blog at least once a week- hopefully more!

I'll post soon telling you a little more about me, and move over the teaching ideas that I have posted previously on my personal blog. Hopefully, you can find something useful!