becoming a full-time teacher seller: a december check-in from my teachers pay teachers journey

Happy Monday friends! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! 

I am so excited to share the December check-in from my teachers pay teachers journey! Last month I received so much feedback that it is exciting to share -and definitely a bit vulnerable for this also! 

If you missed last month's post I shared that for years, since I started my teachers pay teachers shop in 2021 (click HERE to go directly to the shop), I’ve quietly built quality, engaging and educational resources, uploaded them very early in the morning or very late at night, working on the weekends, attending webinars, attending in person events, refined listings, worked on the brand of the shop, and celebrated some small wins in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. Occasionally, I’ve shared best-seller roundups (like this one), but lately I’ve felt a nudge to invite you into the journey itself—not just the highlights, but the faithful, behind-the-scenes work of becoming. 

This process for me has had some starts and stops along the way due to life and a variety of seasons. In the late winter of 2025 I decided to really start investing time into the shop and it has truly been an amazing experience. There were a couple of "life things" that took place that didn't allow me to fully focus on the shop for various reasons all the time as much as I would have liked, but it is okay. That is something I have definitely learned this year. It is slow going but that is okay- this again is not about highlights but about the faithful, behind-the-scenes work of becoming and building this in a full-time income. I am sure that many people, like myself, are wanting to develop a TPT store as one of your 3-7 income streams that is recommended for a healthy "wealth" lifestyle. 

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to grow a Teachers Pay Teachers store toward a full-time income—with a full-time job plus other life responsibilities- so slowly, imperfectly, and with intention—this is for you. 

For me ... If November felt like laying groundwork, December felt like watching seeds quietly take root.

As a brief look back from November: 

Store ranking: 17,229 (85th percentile)

New followers gained: 1 🎉

Total earnings: $79.04

Shop views: 292

Resources sold: 32 units

Reviews: 0

Compared to December....

December by the Numbers (The Honest Version)

Overall- november felt steady and grounding. Not flashy—but deeply encouraging, while December felt like it built on the foundation of November- and the growth felt very tangible.

Store ranking: 9,520 (91st percentile)

New followers gained: 2

Total earnings: $156.14 (almost double from November!)

Shop views: 1046!

Resources sold: 75 units!!

Reviews: 0

Seeing those numbers side-by-side with November was genuinely exciting—not because they represent “arrival,” but because they represent movement.

This wasn’t accidental growth. It came from intention.

Like I mentioned in November- none of these numbers shout “overnight success.” But put together, they tell a story of forward motion and if you are working full-time like I am and balancing multiple responsibilities (and the holidays and several other items in December) plus trying to grow a TPT store than you completely understand how wonderful this success felt.

A Quiet Global Reach I Didn’t Expect

One of the most meaningful surprises this month was where my resources traveled.

In December, sales came from: the United States (31 states), Canada, and the Australia. There is something profoundly humbling about realizing that lessons created in my home are finding their way into classrooms around the world. It reminded me that this work—no matter how small it feels—has reach far beyond my own screen.

December’s Top 5 Best-Selling Resources

Seasonal resources clearly carried the shop this month, reinforcing the value of timely, classroom-ready materials.

Top-selling resource:

1. Holiday Scams Detective Activity (5 STARS!!)

In December, the 5 STAR Holiday Scams Detective Activity rose to the top of my shop—and it’s no surprise why! This resource taps into something real that students actually encounter during the holiday season: deceptive offers, misleading deals, and money traps that pop up as spending ramps up. Instead of treating financial literacy as abstract numbers on a page, this activity brings learning into students’ lived experiences with engaging scenarios, critical thinking prompts, and classroom discussion opportunities. It’s perfect for December because it meets teachers where they are—balancing holiday excitement with meaningful instruction that builds wisdom, not just content knowledge. The fact that this resource resonated with so many educators this month tells me two things: students need practical, real-world money lessons, and teachers are actively searching for materials that help make those lessons memorable and relevant.

Following close behind:

2. Christmas and January Holiday Unit Bundle

3. Holiday Scams Powerpoint

4. Personal Finance Holiday Unit Bundle (Thanksgiving + Christmas)

My #1 product in November— continued to be purchased in December and ended up in the #4 best seller spot!

5. Finding and Renting an Apartment Powerpoint and Activity

This was interesting to me- it is definitely not a holiday option but it remains one of the most popular resources in the shop consistently month after month! This year- I just updated it again, included additional guided notes, and also added a matching activity!! For only $2.25 a weeks worth of activities around this subject is definitely a teacher favorite!

Seeing these resources resonate affirmed something important for me: practical financial literacy, especially when connected to real-life seasons and decisions, and created uniquely truly matters to teachers and students alike.

One of the most important things I did in December was something no one could see from the outside:

I went back through every note from my November coaching meeting and worked—slowly and carefully—through the goals I set afterward.

That meant:

* refining listings instead of rushing new uploads

* paying attention to previews and clarity

* leaning into what was already resonating instead of reinventing everything

* trusting that small, thoughtful changes compound

December reminded me that growth doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from doing what you’re already doing—but better.

What December Taught Me

This month reminded me that:

* Over 1,000 shop views felt like visibility—like more teachers were finding their way in

* 75 resources sold meant real classrooms, real students, real impact

* Gaining followers reminded me that people don’t just buy resources—they follow journeys

* The improvement from November to December reinforced that clarity matters

This season isn’t about chasing viral success or hustling for a short period of time. It’s about building something thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with both my life and my values.

Why I’m Sharing This Journey More Openly

I’m sharing this journey not because I have it figured out—but because I don’t.

So many teachers quietly wonder:

* Is slow growth normal?

* Does effort ever compound?

* Can this realistically become a meaningful income stream over time?

I’m still walking those questions myself. But December gave me something invaluable: evidence that steady, thoughtful work can move the needle.

I’m still walking this road—but I believe there’s value in walking it together.

Going forward, I’ll be sharing:

* monthly shop check-ins (numbers + reflections)

* lessons learned from coaching and experimentation

* small pivots that create long-term impact

* encouragement for teachers starting from zero—or starting again

If you’re building a TpT shop, dreaming of one, or simply curious about what’s possible beyond the classroom, I hope this space feels like an invitation—not pressure—to keep going. Leave a comment below- share your TPT shop and let's all follow along to support each other! 

As I have stepped into January, my focus isn’t on chasing numbers—it’s on:

* continuing to refine what works

* staying rooted in classroom-ready, practical resources

* building one quiet income stream with care and integrity

If you’re building a TpT shop, thinking about starting one, or simply curious about what this process actually looks like month-by-month, I’m grateful you’re here.

This isn’t about overnight success.

It’s about becoming—one quality resource, one revision, one month at a time. 

Happy Monday friends- here’s to small steps, faithful work, and becoming.

Go directly to the shop HERE!