Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to grow a successful Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store while teaching full-time and juggling family life? Today’s post will inspire you! I sat down with Ashlee, a fourth grade ELA teacher, mentor, and single mom, who has built a thriving TPT store – Ms Gamification – all while balancing her busy classroom and home life.
Ashlee is not only a dedicated teacher, but also a member of The Resource Academy, my step-by-step program for teacher-authors. She shares how she overcame her fears, invested in herself, and turned her creativity into a profitable online business.
Let’s dive into her TPT success story!
Finding Her Niche
Ashlee has been teaching for 10 years and has always believed in making learning fun. When her students arrived in fourth grade saying they “hated reading,” she decided to change that by creating engaging, gamified learning resources.
Her store, Ms Gamification, focuses on exactly that: standards-based, fun activities that keep all students engaged, including gifted students.
By identifying a specific need in the market, Ashlee built her TPT store around resources other teachers were also searching for.
Putting in the Work
Like many teacher-authors, Ashlee initially felt stuck. She tried starting her TPT store in 2017 but quickly got overwhelmed by copyright rules and technical jargon.
This fear is common for new sellers. The turning point came when Ashlee joined The Resource Academy after one of my free challenges. She realized she didn’t have to figure everything out alone.
Ashlee committed to her business – even when it wasn’t easy. As a single mom, her work time usually starts at 8 PM after her daughter goes to bed. She spends 2–3 hours most nights creating resources, updating listings, and building bundles.
Ashlee also credits the monthly challenges inside The Resource Academy with pushing her to create new product lines like choice boards and holiday bundles – now some of her bestsellers
Keys to Ashlee’s Success
Here are a few takeaways from Ashlee’s journey that every teacher-author can apply:
1. Protect your time. Ashlee works late at night, but she treats that time like an appointment with her business..
2. Find the gaps in the market. Look for specific needs your students (and other teachers’ students) have that aren’t being met.
3. Invest in yourself. Having step-by-step guidance saves time, stress, and prevents costly mistakes.
4. Stay consistent. Uploading regularly and batching similar products can accelerate your growth.
5. Bundle products. Teachers love value and convenience—bundles increase cart size and customer loyalty.
Learn More + Connect with Ashlee
If Ashlee’s story inspired you, be sure to:
- Visit her store: Ms Gamification on TPT
- Follow her on Instagram: @msgamification
And if you’re ready to start or grow your own TPT store, join my Free Teacher Resource Training where I’ll show you how to create, market, and sell teacher resources step by step.
For more tips and daily encouragement, make sure you’re following me on Instagram.
