about the belles

Hello! My name is Sherri, I am in my 12th year of teaching (wow! really??) and have taught everything from preschool through fourth grade. I started my career as a first grade teacher at a small Catholic school. I quickly learned that my favorite students were the ones that struggled. I loved finding different ways to reach them. At the time, Ohio had a requirement that all teachers had to get their master's degrees and I knew that I wanted to go back and learn about how to reach these special learners. So I started a program to get licensed as an intervention specialist. It was always my intention to remain a general education teacher but have special education students working within my classroom.   

While working on my degree, I was presented with the opportunity to teach preschool at the University demonstration school. It was while working there that I met Trisha, we co-taught in a 3 - 5 year old room. I knew from the moment that I met her that she had "it." You know that "it" that you can't really define but that all good teachers have? Yea, that! We instantly became friends. We had so much fun teaching together because we both had a similar passion for what we were doing. 

After working in the preschool for 2 years, my husband got a new job and we moved three hours away. I applied for many jobs and eventually was hired as an intervention specialist and there I stayed for 5 years. I loved being the one to break things down for my students and to help them find success but that goal of being a general education teacher with an inclusion classroom was never far off in my thoughts. Finally, a third grade position opened up in my building! This is my third year back as a general education teacher, I have 18 students (8 on IEPs), a wonderful intervention specialist, and an aide that never leave my side! You may all think I'm crazy...but this is my dream job! 

On a personal note, I have a supportive husband, one beautiful two year old son, two crazy dogs, and one snotty cat that keep me busy! I enjoy doing anything active with my family, photography (although I am not very good), Pinterest, drinking coffee and DIY projects for our home. I have read many times over that blogging is one of the best forms of professional development and I am excited to be part of it!

Hey! My name is Trisha, I am in my 6th year of being a stay at home Momma (I’ll get back to this, stay with me)! Before I started this journey of parenthood, I taught preschool. My first teaching position was in a multi-age classroom (ages 3-5) at an Early Childhood Learning Center on a military base. I liked being in the classroom, but I’ll never forget the moment when a mother who was preparing to deploy said to me “I need you to give my baby the love she’ll be missing when I’m gone.” It was that day that I realized that I LOVED being an Early Childhood teacher.

From the military base I moved on to a University demonstration school where I co-taught with Sherri. We clicked right from the start. We have very similar personalities, but Sherri pushed me to the next level of teaching and we became great friends. We both moved on and I became a full time momma which has been the most rewarding adventure I have ever been on. I loved teaching and continue to search for ways to encourage learning whether I am working with my 6 year old (who just started Kindergarten – I can’t believe Sydney is already 6!), my 4 year old (Carson), or Sunday school. Sherri has become a mother too and we love sharing ideas, Pins, and encouragement for how to help our little ones be smart, kind, and important (Love The Help)! 

Sherri and I along with our families, have been hanging out a lot over the summer and we decided to team up again and blog from the heart about all things from motherhood and teaching our little ones, how to deal with the daily work of balancing being a mom, wife, organizer, coordinator, coach, teacher, friend, … you get it. I am so excited to share and hope you have as much fun with us as we do together.