Welcome to my little slice of heaven, right here on the Internet.

The first thing I wonder each time I stumble upon a new education blog is “how did they get their name?” Well, I’m lucky enough to spend my days with a beautiful mountain view in colorful Colorado, and so, Teaching With a Mountain View was born. My name was coined two years ago, as I started out on my Teachers Pay Teachers journey. I originally began with my name and a photo as the face of my store. I felt funny about having my real name out there (Mary) for everyone to see—deep down, I know I was self conscious about posting my work…I feared rejection! What if people didn’t like what I had to offer (you will come to find that I am a rather sensitive soul)? So, I looked out the window in search of inspiration for a name, and it hit me! Mountain views are what get me through! And so, I began to hide behind an alias, but now that alias has become a part of my identity, and I am so proud of Teaching With a Mountain View.

Although I currently have a somewhat successful TpT store for which I am grateful every day, I have found myself spending my teaching days thinking “I NEED a blog so that I can share this with other teachers!” When I talk to people about Teachers Pay Teachers, that little self-consciousness creeps back up on me, because while most people just think it’s extra money, it is so much more than that to me. It is the best means of collaborations that I have ever found. It is the sharing of ideas among a group of amazing educators. It is me becoming a better teacher with every single item I create and test in my classroom. It is the place I go when I am teaching a new topic and need inspiration and resources.

Since I value collaboration so very highly (with strangers here as well as within the school where I work), there is no better idea for me than creating a blog. I hope you come back again and again—for inspiration, for collaboration, for sharing…to help yourself be the best teacher you can be. I can’t wait to share with you the wonderful ideas I have found from other teachers, and to share with you some of the things that happen in Room 310…the room with a view!