Growing up, my dream was to be a scientist. In second grade, I told my teacher, Mrs. Gahn, that I wanted to become a biologist. I pursued this passion all the way to college, earning my Bachelor’s degree in Biology with plans to attend medical school. However, once I received my acceptance, I realized that it wasn’t the right path for me.

After graduating, I worked as a tortoise biologist and had the incredible opportunity to help build a tortoise habitat at the elementary school where Mrs. Gahn was now the principal! During this time, my coworker and I started a science club for kindergarten and first-grade students. Teaching those young minds sparked a realization: I loved working with kids, and I wanted to become a teacher.

While pregnant with my first child, I enrolled in a Master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction. I landed a position at a wonderful school with supportive administration and an engaged community. It felt like a dream come true.

One day, I shared my ambitious vision with my principal: I wanted to implement project-based learning across nine thematic units. To my delight, she not only embraced the idea but helped turn my vision into a reality.

The following school year, I was just three weeks postpartum, filled with excitement for our project-based learning initiative. However, life took unexpected turns, and I found myself without childcare for my three kids, including my newborn. With a heavy heart, I made the decision to leave my dream job and work for an online charter school.

This new role opened my eyes to the challenges in the public school system. While teaching middle school English, I encountered students reading at a kindergarten level. Instead of helping them, the administration’s solution was simply to promote them to the next grade. This disheartening experience deeply affected my love for teaching.

In my second year, I was pregnant with my fourth child . My oldest child was preparing to start kindergarten the following year. Living in the fifth-largest school district in the country, I quickly learned that “bigger isn’t always better.” Only 25% of students in my district are proficient in math, and we consistently rank among the worst states for education. Our zoned school was not a good fit. I looked into charter and magnet schools, but the competitive enrollment left me anxious about securing quality education for all my kids while managing work and family life.

These challenges—combined with the time spent with my children, the failures of our district, and the pressure of standardized testing—led me to the decision to homeschool. After my fourth child was born, I finished the school year and chose to focus on homeschooling.

Our Personalized Curriculum

In my search for the perfect curriculum, I found a lack of hands-on, engaging options that fostered a love of learning. So, I decided to create my own. I started Teaching with Toddlers, crafting a personalized plan based on what my kids were excited about—sharks, cars, helicopters, snakes, spiders, and more. With four kids of varying ages, I designed activities that could be easily differentiated for different grade levels.

We kicked off our school year in July with some friends joining us in our homeschooling adventure. Now, my kids eagerly await school each day, treating learning as playtime. They engage in art projects, explore science, and enjoy the freedom to be kids—all while I cherish the opportunity to be with them every step of the way. Watching them grow and learn together has been a rewarding experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

If you’re interested in my curriculum or want to learn more about our homeschooling journey, you can view my curriculum here!