Meet Maria

Hi and welcome to Kinder Craze! I’m Maria. I’m a kindergarten teacher turned work-from-home blogging mom. I love all things tidy and organized, bright colors, natural lighting, and I think quiet time by myself for a mani and pedi is the ultimate treat.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, then went on to complete my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Teaching from MSU a few years later. I spent 13 years teaching First Grade and Kindergarten (both full-day and half-day) at a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Each program came with its own exciting and challenging moments, but I especially loved teaching half-day kindergarten. Kinder Craze started as a space to share my passion and love for early childhood education.

I love having the opportunity to stay at home with my two beautiful, sweet, and joyfully energetic children while they are young and often think about returning to the classroom once they are at school full-time.

I don’t want to rush a single moment of our time together because I know that they are only little once and I want to enjoy as much of this sweet, exciting, exhausting, challenging season in our lives as I can. And right now, It’s pretty fun just being a regular mom who takes her kids to school.

Even though I’m enjoying my time at home with two little ones, my heart always fills with joy and nostalgia each time I look back at photos of my classroom. School has always been my happy place and I made every effort to nurture that love of learning for my students by creating a warm, cozy, welcoming classroom environment.

I often spend my summers helping my former colleagues decorate and organize their own classrooms for the coming school year. Classroom setup is decidedly more chatoic with two kids in tow, but I love returning to the classroom and I feel like my children earn the title of “honorary teacher’s kid” every time they come to lend a hand.

The Kinder Craze blog is still loaded with ideas and inspiration for classroom teachers, and now also features content and crafts for toddlers and preschoolers. You’ll also find printable classroom activities and instructional decor in my store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I’m so glad you’re here and that you find helpful ideas and resources for your classroom or family. I hope you’ll stay awhile and introduce yourself. In the meantime, you’ll find me working on the blog, chasing kids around the house in a desperate attempt to keep up, or running errands while listening to the Daniel Tiger soundtrack on repeat.

Maria Gavin

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