Students Can SHINE and Smile

I say, "Your turn to SHINE!" when a student gets to go test or work with an adult (including me). One day I was assessing a very emotional boy who would cry with transitions. As another student walked by, this boy beamed and exclaimed, "I'm SHINING!" This warmed my heart, My TpT store used to be "Screams Bring Smiles" creating Teacher products to Scream about. I had a habit of SCREAMing with excitement until I scared my new grandchild a few times. So, I've changed my screaming habit, my store name and email, HaHa! I create products to help Students Shine and Smile... Since 2013 I have been teaching Kindergarten in a public school. Currently, we have 5 full-day Kindergarten Classes. Previously, I taught 2nd grade for 6 years. Then we were able to adopt a child! During the next few years, our family grew to 4 children, so I volunteered and taught part-time (phonics specialist, community college workshops, PreK, and more).

Keep smiling and keep learning! I "embrace the struggles" as I adjust teaching material to fit the unique situations and needs in my class each year, especially SEL delays from Covid impacts on Kindergarteners. I enjoy creating products to enrich my required K-Curriculums (Journeys ELA, Heggerty PA, Step Up To Writing, Various Math-mostly DMTI) using S.T.E.M. tasks, Class-made books, Teacher-made booklets, and Parent Communication. I appreciate all the collaboration and opportunities on TpT! FEEDBACK appreciated: I THRIVE on reading about what worked well from my products or how it was "tweaked" to better fit needs.

Shining Teaching Moments: Students "rushing" for turns to read our class-made books!

*Certified in Reading Recovery (Trained by the "Larger than Life" Janice Sullivan, RIP whose gathering call was "Cock-a-Doodle-Do") *Choral Counting Training *Counting Collections Training *Math Their Way Training *S.T.E.M. Training with Discovery Center *Bachelors in Elementary Education

I had both traumatic AND wonderful experiences living in a third world country for about a year. So, I really appreciate all the military service and sacrifices of those protecting our freedoms AND those warrior missionaries spreading kindness. Teaching school is like "being in the trenches" and a mission field. To all you colleagues: SHINE and SMILE with firm KINDNESS. We got this, and we are changing the world!