Frequently Asked Questions
(Just kidding, no one frequently asks me anything [except students who always want to go to the bathroom] but just in case you were curious…)
What made you want to make lessons and units available to other teachers?
My first year teaching had a huge learning curve; I think most teachers’ do, but yikes—with three preps and two high needs ESE classes, I was barely keeping my head above water. When I started, there was a very noticeable lack of support for new teachers, and everything I did was very piecemeal. And rushed. And stressed. Very survival of the fittest, or perhaps most determined. I had to attend “new teacher meetings,” which were only about procedures, and nothing of actual substance. Quite largely, those new teacher meetings were a waste of time when I was just trying not to drown. I mean, throw me a life preserver, don’t just go by in a boat and yell directions about how to do a butterfly stroke.
At the start of that first year, I went to my mentor and flat out told her that I did not know where to begin with my seniors; I was lost. Her profoundly wise reply was, “Just open the textbook and start at the beginning.” I think I visibly twitched. I remember looking at her and just saying “Thanks,” and walking out with great frustration and irritation. But I did what she said because that’s all I had to go on.
So, I would get lessons and units together as best I could, which is not saying much, and then implement them as best I could. The handouts were ugly. The handouts had typos from rushed fingers just trying to click print before the bell rang. The handouts lacked images. But, the handouts got the job done.
I did not know about TpT during my first couple of years of teaching. I wish I had because it would have saved me a ton of time and stress, however, not knowing left me with an abundance of resources—resources that were messy and just needed some aesthetics. So, I began organizing and formatting everything in order to make teacher life easier for anyone who would purchase a resource from me.
I strive to make my lessons and units as organized and clear as possible so a first-year teacher can teach a thorough unit even if they’re unfamiliar with the text.
I make these products because I enjoy this creative process, and I want to try to save others from the hassle and stress I went through that year.
How long have you been teaching?
I began teaching in 2011 and have taught English for grades 8-12, though 10th and 11th are my favorites grades to work with.
What has been most memorable from your teaching years?
This is difficult to answer. I have had many amazing students over the years. And definitely many not amazing ones. Many wonderful success stories, and unfortunately, just very sad stories of damaged children. So here is just a light, funny thing that happened several years back in an eighth grade classroom.
I can look back on my entire K-12 career and never once recall seeing a roach. Never. Snacking in class also wasn’t a thing. We ate at lunch and that was that. Roaches…I don’t want to go so far as to say that they abound in schools, but in the four schools I have worked in, they have made their presence known. Anyway, I had a group of four students working on I cannot remember what, but a large roach (these FL roaches can get huge) fell from the ceiling and landed in the middle of their desks and they all flipped out. It was absolutely hilarious. And I was very glad class was almost over when it happened and I didn’t have to worry about regaining their attention!
What initially piqued your interest in teaching.
This is a rather anticlimactic answer, but I wanted to not have to wake up early every day; I wanted summers off. I know, I know, no grand tale of wanting to change the world. No, I just wanted to sleep in, because I used to sleep till 9. Which is ironic because now I wake up at 530 almost every day. If I sleep till 9 I wake up very frazzled because of how late it is!
If you were on a desert island and could only have five books, which would they be?
- The ESE Study Bible
- A solid Bible commentary
- A Bible dictionary
- A survival guide that would let me know about poisonous and edible plants
- Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
If you could meet anyone and have lunch with them, who would it be?
Jordan B. Peterson. Not even any competition there!
What made you want to write a YA novel?
I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I wrote several small “books” when I was growing up, and I was an English major with a focus in creative writing because I thought it would be fun to write stories and poems, and to just learn more about honing my talent in general. I was notorious for starting and stopping longer works. Then one evening with the youth at church a girl mentioned something about a man who takes children living on her street. I didn’t interject, I just thought how funny, it’s probably some old and enigmatic guy like in Home Alone. I went home and wrote the preface. Which is all Starbreather stayed for several years until I finally buckled down to complete it (a 2020 New Year’s resolution—the first I managed to keep).
Who’s your favorite author, or author inspiration?
I don’t think I have a favorite author. For me an author is much harder to narrow down than a favorite book. I really like Bradbury and Orwell, all the Potter books and Narnia novels, but no one really stands out above anyone else. However, when it comes to books, Seabiscuit easily takes the Derby. I love how Hillenbrand did such an amount of research to weave together the history of all those broken people and a broken horse. It’s such a redemptive story. I’ve read it several times and it never gets old. I also really enjoyed how she recounted Louis Zamperini’s journey in Unbroken, but it was, as war is, brutal and even though it was beautifully written…I will probably never re-read it. Though as I type this, since I enjoyed both her books so much, I suppose she could be a contender for favorite author.
Any other questions? Shoot me a line via the Contact Me tab above!