Conversations with Hilary Statum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Statum.

Hi Hilary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been teaching for sixteen years and have always believed every single learning standard can be taught in a fun and engaging way. I want my students to enjoy being children and find our lessons so interesting, that they don’t even realize how much they are learning. I began making resources for classrooms in 2017 and those resources are now used all over the world!

It is so fun to hear how many math and reading skills students in Ireland practiced while having a Teddy Bear Picnic and Sleepover using a resource I created to make teachers’ lives easier. I created the Pencils to Pigtails blog to reach parents and educators. I still work in the elementary school that I attended as a young child and enjoy teaching a free weekly Parent English class that is open to community members.

I present at conferences all over the United States and really enjoy working with teachers in that capacity too. Parents and educators can use my website and Instagram to find teaching and parenting hacks, research-based instructional tips, engaging resources, and more!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I love what I do. When I first started, I had a two-year-old and a newborn and was still teaching full-time. The only time I could devote to my business was after bedtime each night. I made just pennies per hour in the beginning. Reading reviews of how my resources or presentations have helped teachers brings me so much happiness. I think one of the biggest struggles has been time management.

I am a Christian and my faith is important to me. My most important role is as a wife and mother so finding time to devote to my business can be challenging, especially while still working in the classroom. I work hard to be present in every aspect of my life but it is a struggle sometimes!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I present at educational conferences around the country. This summer I’ll be in Nashville, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Phoenix, and Honolulu! I really value the relationships that have come from that work. I am known for delivering research-based presentations full of practical teacher tips that can be used immediately. I also create engaging materials for students and teachers for a website called TPT.

On TPT, a teacher can download the Teddy Bear Picnic and Sleepover resource to have a week’s worth of math, language arts, and science activities plus fun crafts and more! I am especially fascinated by the Science of Reading and creating materials to help students implement those research-based strategies.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
When the pandemic first started, my sales plummeted. I had to redirect and create digital versions of my resources. I started making digital fairy tales so the teachers and students could move the characters around like puppets, listen to an audio version, retell the story, and answer questions at the end.

It was important for me to stay true to my mission of making learning exciting and engaging for students while meeting the needs of the teachers who were working with students virtually during that time!

Pricing:

• Some resources are free! (You can get free decodable readers shown in the photo or the sound wall checklists by joining my newsletter!)
• I have a huge variety of resources for around $3.
• My most expensive bundles sell for $49.
• Please use the contact form on my website to discuss coaching, custom professional development, and conference presentation pricing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pencilstopigtails.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pencilstopigtails/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pencilstopigtails/

Image Credits
Mandy Liz Photography