Meeting Marie!

Hello! I am Marie from Once Upon a Classroom: The Tales of Two Teachers. I am so excited to be a part of this amazing team of teacher bloggers and know this is just the beginning of all the exciting connections that will be made.

I will get started by sharing some background about the story of the “two teachers” behind Once Upon a Classroom: The Tales of Two Teachers. My blogging partner, Crystal, is a 1^st grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools. I am a second grade teacher in Naperville, IL, a suburb of Chicago. We taught for two years at the same school and both went on to explore other opportunities. Since we shared such a strong passion for teaching, learning, and growing, we set out to blog together as a team. We have loved every minute of our journey as teacher bloggers and have been enriched by the connections we have made.

As for me, I am in love with children and teaching. I am currently enjoying my third year teaching but my first year as a second grade teacher. I previously taught third grade. I studied elementary, special education, and reading education at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am still a Butler Bulldogs basketball fan! I love researching and teaching literacy. It is my absolute favorite. I also have my own tutoring business out of a classroom I created in my home, Summer Strides Tutoring. I have enjoyed tutoring preschool- 8^th grade students and adults with special needs.

As you can tell by my pictures of my classroom, I love colors!!!

In addition to teaching, I am always growing in my relationship with Christ. I go to an amazing church, Harvest Bible Chapel. God’s provision and His strength is what has led me to teaching and is what helps me be the best version of me for my students each day.

I am in such an exciting season of my life right now—I’m engaged! I will marry my best friend in 126 days. Brian and I have been dating for 6 ½ years so we are so ready to be married! 

  

I love spending time with my family. I have a sister (her husband to her right) and a brother. He’s a teenager right now, and his sense of humor adds so much spice to my life.

Some of my other favorite things are golden retrievers, decorating, zumba, and being organized!

I can’t wait to share the joys of teaching, learning, and life with you!

Please visit me over at our blog, our facebook page, my Instagram, or my TPT store.

Stay tuned to our post next month on March 15^th to learn more about Crystal! She’s amazing, and you won’t want to miss it.