About As Told by Alma
Real life, useful ideas, and things that actually work
I’m Alma, a Texas educator in my 13th year working in elementary education.
Over the years, I’ve taught kindergarten, first, fifth, and sixth grade. I’ve worked in public and private schools, taught in the United States and overseas, served as an assistant principal, led grade-level teams for most of my career, earned NISE STEM certification, and presented professional development at the district level.
That experience has taught me a lot.
But one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that the “perfect” version of life people show online usually does not look anything like real life.
I’m not starting my day at 8 a.m. with a leisurely breakfast and a color-coded schedule. Most mornings, I’m already moving by 5 a.m. so I can take care of myself, get ready, pack what I need, and be at work before a room full of five-year-olds arrives.
I like things to look nice. I like things to be organized. But I organize because it helps me function, not because I’m trying to create a Pinterest-perfect life.
That difference is a big reason I created As Told by Alma.
Why I created this site
I’ve tried building websites before, but the timing was never right.
Now, my life feels more settled. I have more stability, a stronger support system, routines that actually work for me, and a better sense of what I want this space to become.
I also wanted to create something that could grow with me.
Teaching is a huge part of my life, but it is not my entire identity. I wanted a place where I could share the things I know from the classroom while also talking about the systems, products, routines, meals, ideas, and everyday decisions that make life easier outside of school too.
I’ve also spent years looking for creators I could genuinely relate to and thinking:
That’s helpful, but that is not my life.
So I decided to create the kind of space I kept looking for.
What you’ll find here
At As Told by Alma, you’ll find practical ideas for real life.
That includes:
- teacher resources and classroom systems
- freebies that are actually useful
- things I’m testing and tweaking
- honest reviews of products and tools
- practical ways to save time and money
- routines and systems that help life run better
- personal reflections on what is working, what is not, and what I’m learning along the way
You’ll also see this site grow over time.
Some seasons may be more classroom-focused. Others may include more home, food, organization, wellness, or everyday life.
That’s intentional.
This is a space built to grow as life changes.
What you can expect from me
I’m resourceful by nature.
I’m usually the person people come to when they need help thinking something through, finding a workaround, or figuring out how to make something fit real life.
I’m also frugal. I do not mind spending money when something is worth it, but I care about value.
If I recommend something, it is because I have actually used it and found it helpful for me at that time.
I am not interested in recommending things just because there is money attached to them.
And if something is free here, I want it to actually be free and useful.
I know how frustrating it is to click on a promising resource only to realize the useful part is locked behind another purchase.
I do not want this site to work that way.
Why “As Told by Alma”?
Because that is exactly what this is.
Life, teaching, home, routines, ideas, mistakes, improvements, and the things I think are worth sharing — as told by me.
Not as an expert in every category.
Not as someone with everything figured out.
Just as someone who is willing to test things, adjust them, and tell you what I learned.
Stick around
If you keep coming back to As Told by Alma, you’ll find new teacher resources, honest reviews, practical systems, freebies, things I’m trying, personal reflections, and ideas for making everyday life work a little better.
My goal is simple:
I want you to leave with something useful.
And if you happen to stay for everything else too, even better.