Hello friends! My name is Ashley from Tacky the Teacher, and I’m super excited that you’ve stumbled over to my blog! I started this to share my passion for creating a warm, welcoming classroom, and teaching resources that speak to my heart.
I spent my first few years trying to battle the chaos of clutter in my classroom and finally decided it was time to invest some time and energy at the beginning of each school year to get myself organized.
Below, you can find a little more about me and visit my featured posts to learn what I share here.
From Ms. Frazzled to a Tidy Teacher
I teach because it’s something I love to do, and if you’re here, I know you do too. But, I also like to feel organized, plan ahead, and anticipate what is coming next so I can focus on dealing with the unexpected (changes in schedule and student behaviors). I was spending so much time looking for things because they got shoved in a pile in a drawer, filing cabinet, or a cupboard. I was frazzled, stressed out, had difficulty remembering things, and was constantly asking my students, does anyone know where this is?
Getting organized has allowed me the peace of mind to be a better teacher, enjoy my classroom and the time I have with my students every day, and to focus on the reason we’re there, the learning! It also allows me to spend more time with my family, to be a better wife and mom!
I love teaching other teachers, just like you, and sharing teaching resources I use in my classroom. One thing you should know about me is that I’m short and to the point. I value your time and understand you don’t have time to waste reading through a long blog post. So, I try to keep them short, organized (like my classroom) and provide you with ideas and resources you can actually use! I want to get you to where you need to be, and I don’t want a bunch of fluff to get in the way.
I also like resources that I can adapt and use for many different things, like blank templates for spelling words and vocabulary maps or recording sheets to use with more than one math or literacy activity. If this is you too, you’ve come to the right place! And do know that I value the time you spend here, as well as the time you put into your classroom. That’s why the resources I create are simple to prep and implement for effective teaching. Here is a little more about what has defined my life to create the person I am today.
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS <3
My husband and I met in high school through a computer class we had to take as a requirement to graduate. The first time I met him, I thought he was cocky, arrogant, and a show off. Before you think to yourself, why would you say that about your husband, he knows what I thought of him. To this day we still laugh it off! 🙂 I decided to give him a chance to change my mind and the rest is history.
After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education with a focus in Early Childhood, we moved south so I could pursue my teaching career. A year later, we got married in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, moved from North Carolina back to Michigan, and to our home town. I interviewed for a teaching position with the school I graduated from, beginning my teaching career in 2nd grade. Throughout this time, I have taught in every grade PreK-2 and currently teach Specials (K-5) for our school.
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE A BOY MOM, BUT I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY
Growing up, I was the oldest of 3 girls. Out of all of my 15 cousins, there were only 4 boys. When I got pregnant, the people I knew had daughters. My husband wanted to have a daddy’s girl, so we thought that’s what we were going to get. When our boys, Noah and Casey were born, we were just happy to have healthy babies. Noah, our oldest, has special needs, which I will talk about later. But he loves Jesus, more than anyone else I know. He also loves music, and blesses us with a song, or kicking his feet on the wall in an awesome beat every day. Casey is our little monkey. He runs, jumps, climbs, throws, and lives life with all of his might. Literally! Both of our boys are full of happiness and laughter. I love seeing and experiencing life through their eyes.
EVERY DAY HAS ITS CHALLENGES
Noah teaches us so much about life. Every morning he wakes up with a smile on his face, and is excited to see what the day is going to bring. When he was born, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Prader Willi Syndrome. However, we were lucky the pediatrician diagnosed him at birth, so we were able to seek treatment right away. The doctors at U of M Mott Children’s Hospital have given him such amazing care through all of his appointments, hospital visits, and surgeries.
Noah now goes to a special school that teaches only children with special needs and he has grown so much this year. Though I often worry about what is to come in his future, he continues to smile through it all, and we are grateful for our little superhero!
I’M A BIT TACKY!
I’m a bit quirky, to say the least. I talk with my hands, am very expressive, and I talk really fast when I get passionate about something. Oh, and sometimes I do crazy things, like dye my hair lavender! Though the color was very fun, I found it didn’t match a lot of what was in my closet. And, being a teacher, I felt uncomfortable wearing it like that in the classroom. I feel more “me” as a brunette, with hints of red and burgundy. My sister’s and I got matching tattoos last summer, so there is that. <3
WHAT NOW?
So now that you’ve gotten to know me a little better, where do we go from here? That depends on what you’ve come here to find!
TAKE A CLASSROOM TOUR
Looking for some inspiration of some bulletin boards you can incorporate into your own classroom? I share in my Eric Carle classroom theme how I created my bulletin boards and where I got all of my bright and colorful signs and posters from.
DIY CLASSROOM DECOR
Want to take it up a notch and try some simple and easy do-it-yourself decor to brighten up your classroom? I am currently inspired by these Shabby Chic and Farmhouse Inspired ideas!
MATH & LITERACY ACTIVITIES
Or you might have found me because you were looking for resources you could use during your math and literacy blocks.
Thank you for taking a few moments to step into my little corner of the world. My hope is that you find some inspiration here to brighten your day! If you have any struggles or inspiration you would like to share with me, feel free to send me a message.
