free products

You get what you pay for.

Have you ever received something for free or it is super cheap and you’ve been all excited about it until you got home and found out it wasn’t as neat as you thought it was?

Yeah, me too.

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to choose the most popular silver cutlery.  I guess they wanted feedback from college women since they were probably going to advertise for them specifically in their future campaigns.

I felt so special at the time.  I was going to pick out the nicest cutlery set for millions of women around the country (hahahaha…)

At the end of the survey, I was given a place setting of the one I liked.

Oh…..

Then I understood. They hoped I’d purchase more of that place setting.

Unfortunately for them, I didn’t. I selected one closer in style to my family’s heirloom silverware.  I kept that one place setting, though.  It’s a great conversation starter.

You Get What You Pay For

It is easy to become frazzled as a teacher and sometimes we resent others who are doing something we wish we were doing instead of the grind of teaching.  I think that’s a normal feeling.

Whenever I see teachers complaining about having to pay another teacher for a teaching product, I think of this silverware moment.

I suppose it occurs everywhere.  In my case, I sell drama education lessons on Teacherspayteachers.com.

I don’t know why folks think they should get something for free when the person who created the product spent countless hours creating it.  In theater we say “there is no such thing as a ‘little play'” and it’s the same with TpT products. 

Even a one page worksheet takes time to create.

If you really want to do a good job and help other teachers, you spend an inordinate amount of time tweaking the lesson and/or unit so just about anyone can have success with it.

Those of us in theater know Neil Simon plays are guaranteed winners because his talent, knowledge and expertise exude from every script page. 

All the jokes work, every scenario sizzles no matter who is portraying the role or directing.

TeacherspayTeachers

 The same can be said for teaching products.  The more experience a teacher has in the classroom trenches, the more valuable they are to other teachers and students.  Personally, I wouldn’t purchase a product from someone who didn’t have at least five years of teaching under their belt.

Without it the chance of their products being superior is slim.  I’m not trying to be a snob here.  It’s just logical if you think about it. 

I have thirty-eight years of teaching drama and directing experience.  It was rare for me to use a textbook, pre-made worksheets and lessons because we simply didn’t have them.  Thirty-eight years is a LONG time to craft something.  They say it takes a person ten years to become an expert at something–I’d agree with that.

If you’d like to see my teaching resume, check it out here:  Teaching Resume

A good teacher will continue to tweak a lesson nearly every time she uses it.  Our students have changed and certain teaching methods from the past simply won’t work on them or be appreciated.

You gotta think outside of the box, you know? And the box keeps changing.

A veteran teacher has to stay current and be aware of whatever is the trend at the time.  Currently, games are a popular teaching method.  So is student-centered learning.

I’m a big fan of both, but I also think learning styles are important and arts integration is super, too.

I got serious about my Tpt store in June of 2018 and since then I’ve created nearly 250 drama education products. These products span the K-12 grade level and cover every subject in theater from creative dramatics to technical theater.

Some are very unusual–my radio theater units and biographies, for example. Some are thematic–Halloween, holiday, etc.  I’m pleased to report there are more to come.

It’s easy to take a free product or one from a lending group and use it.  I get that, but those are not necessarily as sound and well built as those you purchase. Those of us putting our products out there in the world want to share our expertise and our skill should receive compensation. 

Most TpT sellers have several free products. Usually, these products are a way to introduce the buyer to the seller.  Take the time to see the other products the teacher has developed–there are amazing lessons out there just waiting to be purchased for a nominal amount. Remember:  you get what you pay for so pick well.  

My store is Dramamommaspeaks

I hope you’ll check it out and purchase something.  I guarantee you my products are time tested and created by an award winning teacher……me!

Here is one for you. Poster Cynthia Erivo

I’d love to hear from you, especially your thoughts about my teaching products.  Contact me at dhbaldwin@gmail.com