About Me

I had always wanted to be one of two things: a teacher or a singer, and I woke up from the latter real fast. I pursued teaching in college and applied to the College of Education my junior year at my university and was accepted, and thus began on my journey to becoming a teacher. I enjoyed some classes, others not so much, but passed it all the same and graduated two years later. The summer following my graduation, I landed a job on the south side of Chicago and started by teaching third grade to a class of 32.

It was, to say the least, a challenge. I had been well trained my two years in the elementary education program, but to put it all into play was different and jarring, especially when I was fighting a dark battle with a reoccurring depression. It had nearly wiped me out on multiple occasions in college, but I was determined not to let it ruin my first year of teaching. And boy, there wasn't a day where it wasn't a struggle. I loved my kids ferociously, knew the dangers of not caring enough and doing enough, and so very nearly burned myself out worrying and planning and then planning some more (somehow always a step behind) for my babies (I call them my babies, rarely my students, because that's what they became). It was exhausting, but my students grew. At the end of the year, I was proud, but worn out.

I was notified that I was reassigned to first grade, and I spent the following summer in training. I returned my second year refreshed and ready to teach, and I'm happy to say that things got better. First grade was the right fit. I quickly grew to love teaching the foundational skills of reading and bonded with my firsties. I started seeing a therapist and psychiatrist and things just kept getting better. I was calmer, more sure of my teaching, and my students grew. Now in my fourth year teaching and third year in first grade, I am finally in my element. I feel good, I work well, and I'm often ahead of the game. I started up this blog as a celebration and a promise to myself to do better and better each day and then I opened up my TPT store and started to create. Each day it gets better, and each day it's a reminder that we have to fight for what we want. It won't always, and usually won't, come easy. So to all my fellow teachers out there who are struggling, who are taking it day by day because you don't know what the next day will bring, take a deep breath. Breathe. You are special, and you're right for this job. You can do it. You will overcome this. Keep breathing, keep fighting, and don't give up. It gets better.

Love,
Hannah