What I Carry Into The Classroom I am not a morning person, but every morning, I get up and go to work anyway, not just because it's my job, but because I actually look forward to it. I look forward to my students, my colleagues, the rhythm of the day, and the version of me that shows up when I walk through those doors. Work has always been a place where I feel capable, purposeful, and grounded. HOWEVER, these last few years … getting to 7:30 am (the start of first period) has

Before I Get into It Mother's Day has come and gone, and I've been sitting with something I want to say: There is no wrong way to spend Mother's Day when you are the mother, not a single wrong way — and I'll tell you why I feel that so deeply this year. Before I get started, let me say that if you're one of the moms who didn't really get your day, who spent it taking care of everyone else, didn't get what you needed, or just didn't feel seen, I want you to hear this: Don't le

Happy Mother's Day to Mrs. Sandy (Anderson) Alexander, the OG I am a great teacher because my mother was (and still is) a great teacher. That's not me being sentimental; it’s just the truth. My mom, Sandra (Anderson) Alexander, has been teaching — and reaching — for almost half a century. From the elementary school classroom before 1979 all the way through her retirement in 2013 — and even then, she wasn't done. Retirement didn't slow her down; it just changed her zip code. S

Whew! 2026 is starting off as 2025 on steroids! I have a reputation. Ask anyone who knows me (at work, at home, in my community), and they'll tell you I handle things. I figure things out, and I deliver. I've built an entire identity around being the person who doesn't fall apart. For a long time, I’ve viewed that as something to be proud of, and while it is, it isn't. Most people don’t know who I am when nobody's watching. I don’t mean the English teacher, editor, author, pu

Don’t forget to always do what you love to do! My earliest memory of loving to write is from third grade in Ms. Cherry’s class at St. Augustine. We always had competitions, whether it was for writing or coloring. The first story I remember writing and winning in a competition was from the perspective of a pencil. I didn’t think the story was a big deal, but Ms. Cherry did. I don’t know if she sympathized with the pencil’s constant headache from constantly being sharpened

Actual Footage of Me Knowing My Worth When you really realize your worth, it really is a great feeling! I don’t even know if “great” is the right word to use. You see, it’s one thing to be skilled in whatever you do, but it’s another to be confident about your skills. I always knew that I was a natural at establishing and maintaining relationships with my students, stakeholders, etc. I always knew that I was a “grammar guru” and an all-around good writer. I knew that I

I never thought I’d talk about my experiences with #rejection, in which I’ve had A LOT. This post is about professional rejection, but it seems to have been a theme (among others) throughout other areas of my life. I’ve read that when certain situations repeatedly play out differently throughout periods of your life, there’s a lesson to be learned. I’m a great teacher; no one can tell me differently, especially because colleagues, administrators, students, and parents have

Introduction Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you want to take control of your finances and secure a better future for...

Introduction: In addition to #writing, I love #gardening! Gardening is not just a hobby for me; it's a passion that brings me immense joy and #peace. As a #teacher (and now a business owner), I find solace and inspiration in tending to my #vegetable and #fruit #garden during the spring and summer months. In this blog post, I will delve into the various aspects of my gardening journey, highlighting the unique experiences and lessons I've learned along the way. Section 1: Gard

(Warning! Graphic images below!) I think my story starts before I had cancer, or maybe I should say it started before I knew I had cancer for I don't know how long it was there. I think this journey started in conversations and in watching other people go through it, especially within the last two years before I was diagnosed. I remember having conversations with one of my sister-friends (Tiffany), who is a registered nurse and a realtor, about how if she was ever diagnosed

Introduction : There is a time and place for everything, and this includes certain types of writing, specifically academic writing (formal writing) and writing for a broader audience (informal writing). Both types of writing have their own characteristics, but one common thread that binds them together is the importance of effective editing. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between academic writing and writing for a broader audience and the crucial role tha

When I decided to go into teaching, I had no idea of the impact that teaching and the students would have on my life. As a 22-year-old first-year teacher fresh out of Ohio University, teaching quickly became more than just teaching for me. My first group of students were 7th-graders at an inner city school district and a Title I school in Ohio. I learned so much with and from them. Being a first-year teacher is like being a first-time mother; you’re going to learn a lot t