My under grad is in business & I worked 12 yrs in finance field, doing really good as a bank. I just felt like I needed more. I wanted to really make an impact. I longed for a real sense of purpose. After a really bad day, full in tears, my mom asked what I'd do if time/money didn't matter & without hesitation I said be a teacher...but I'm too old. I was 30 at the time. She laughed & helped me get signed up for grad school the very next day. That "bad" day ended up being the best day of my life.

My 1st yr, I had no idea what to expect, but I was hopeful that I was going to make learning fun. In the morning a student told me he hated school. I told him that's only because he hadn't been in my classroom yet & that I would help him love school. At the end of our 1st day, I handed the boy a sign to hold for a picture that said 3rd grade is the best grade. The boy looked at the sign then at me & said, "I think this sign might actually be true." Then he gave me the biggest smile!

I love doing experience rewards for my kids, like making it snow in the classroom, exploding Mentos & Coke bottles, making ice cream in a bag during our heat lesson. Problem is, I've built a reputation & the kids have an idea of what experiences to expect. I LOVE the element of surprise, so I'd like to add more to my repertoire, so I can rotate my BIG experiences for those kids who've had siblings with me, so I preserve the magic and give unique experiences each year.