Welcome! I’m Shelly, a retired elementary teacher with 38 years of classroom experience and the creator of Smiling and Shining in Second Grade.
Teaching has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I earned my degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead and spent my career teaching young learners, including 18 years in kindergarten and 18 years in second grade, along with two years as a substitute teacher.
During my years in the classroom, I saw firsthand how much time teachers spend planning lessons, creating activities, and finding resources that meet the needs of their students. That experience inspired me to create practical, engaging, and easy-to-use resources that help teachers save time while giving students meaningful practice.
Today, I share those resources, classroom-tested teaching ideas, free printables, and activities here on Smiling and Shining in Second Grade. Although second grade is at the heart of my site, you’ll also find resources and ideas for first grade and other primary classrooms.
A Little More About Me
I grew up in Minnesota, where I spent countless hours on the lakes in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. In 1988, I moved to California for a teaching job. My original plan was to gain some teaching experience and eventually move back to Minnesota, where much of my family still lives.
That plan changed once I discovered how much I loved California’s warm weather! Snow may be beautiful, but I’ll take California sunshine and beaches any day.
When I’m not creating educational resources, I enjoy traveling, cooking, hiking, and spending time with my family. One of my greatest joys is being a grandma, and I love spending time with my grandchildren.
I’m also a proud dog mom to Hunter and Lexi, pictured below. They are very loved—and definitely spoiled!
About Smiling and Shining in Second Grade
I created Smiling and Shining in Second Grade to make teachers’ lives a little easier. My goal is to share resources and teaching ideas that are practical, purposeful, and easy to use in a busy elementary classroom.
Whether you’re looking for a free worksheet, a new way to teach a challenging skill, seasonal classroom activities, or ideas to make your lessons more engaging, I hope you find something here that saves you time and helps your students succeed.
Thank you for visiting Smiling and Shining in Second Grade. I’m so glad you’re here