So- what is ‘Teachers Pay Teachers,’ anyway?!

If you’re a homeschool mom, and have never heard of the website Teachers Pay Teachers, you’re not alone! I thought I would write a little post today explaining what the site is, and why it’s relevant to YOU!

Teachers Pay Teachers is actually the largest online marketplace for original teaching materials, created by teachers, for teachers! I used it frequently back when I was teaching Spanish Immersion Kindergarten.

When I started homeschooling in 2023, I was already familiar with the website. I loved searching for exactly what I was looking for, because often I could find a high-quality resource for free, or very minimal price. Because a lot of my searches were hyper-specific and meeting a small need, my price range was typically free to about $3! There are, quite literally, millions of products listed on TPT!

What can I find on TPT?

Here is a summary of the resources available on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT):

• Worksheets
• Games
• Projects
• Writing Prompts
• Graphic Organizers
• Unit Plans
• Digital Resources
• Assessments
• Rubrics
• Syllabi

Off the top of my head, here are a few of my favorite things I’ve either purchased or gotten for free, on TPT in the past few years:

-This awesome measurement freebie for my Mini Mathematicians class at Co-Op

-This mammal zoology clip art set to make flashcards and other activities when we study Apologia Zoology, this fall in our homeschool!

-This year-long writing prompts bundle, which is leveled, meaning it includes several versions! I am currently using it with my preschooler AND my second grader. Incredible.

-This cute board game template that I used to create a Story Elements Game! I’m big on creative-board-game-creation, and even made a Family Trivia Game customized to my family! (You can read more about board game invention, here!)

–These amazing 2D/3D shape posters, that I printed in color and laminated for my Mini Mathematicians Co-Op Class!

–This packet of Entrepreneurship For Kids worksheets: my daughter set up a mini-business selling chunky knit blankets this past winter, and we used these worksheets to go over some basic concepts of business!

–Spanish “Todo Sobre Mi” poster, for when I taught Spanish to 1st-2nd graders at Co-Op, last year!

And the list goes on! As you can see, there is a massive variety of resources available, both free and paid! I can consistently find resources of every single subject, on Teachers Pay Teachers. It is an incredible resource.

Using Teachers Pay Teachers In Your Homeschool

So Teachers Pay Teachers has millions of resources. How do you even get started?! I would start simple. Truly, what I typically do is just search on the site when I have a need. Here are a few needs that have prompted my own searches this year:

• Daily Plan Visual Cards for my preschooler – found those free, here!
• Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, Pies Song in Spanish, for my toddler & preschooler- I found a set here, with visuals and words!
• Telling Time Worksheets, extra practice for my 2nd grader (she has gotten a little rusty :)) Found those, here!
• Creative Writing Prompts for my 4th grade son. We’ve been doing an intensive Creative Writing Experiment this year, but on the off-days, I just wanted something simple! Found prompts, here.

You get the idea. I have also used TPT to search for games or other out-of-the-box activities when I myself am burnt out! Maybe your kiddo is board with some material, or you need a new way to present it–search for a game on TPT! I love this set of editable game boards, because you can type in your own content! You could print off a blank one, laminate it, and use a whiteboard marker to change the content as your kiddo advances. OR, you could type in your own text on Powerpoint (they come as editable slides), print it off, and laminate it that way! The sky’s the limit!

I hope this post was helpful, and gave you some good inspiration for resources! Teachers Pay Teachers has been a lifesaver for me, and this year I have started to offer some of my own content on there as well! You can browse my free resources on this page, and paid resources here!

Happy teaching!

Cait