Are you sitting on great classroom resources but barely seeing any sales on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)? Or maybe you’re wondering if there’s even room for you in a “saturated” lower elementary market.
In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Teacher Resource Academy member Kama, a third grade teacher, new mom, and now Top 1% Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) seller. What started as a small side hustle to help pay for her wedding has grown into consistent four figure months, enough to cover her child’s daycare and even open the door to staying home in the future.
Kama shares what changed after joining TRA, how she identified profitable gaps in the market, and how she created nearly 150 resources in a single summer while on maternity leave. If you’ve ever doubted whether Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) could truly make an impact on your finances, this episode will challenge that belief.
Key Discussion Points:
[00:00:41] From Side Hustle to Serious Income
Kama shares how she opened her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store in January 2023 to help fund her wedding, but initially struggled to gain traction in the crowded preschool market.
[00:02:08] Why Great Resources Alone Are Not Enough
The shift that happened when she realized listing, marketing, and positioning matter just as much as the quality of the resource itself.
[00:03:47] Navigating a “Saturated” Lower Elementary Market
Why competition in grades Pre-K through third is real, but opportunity still exists if you know how to stand out.
[00:04:47] Treating Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Like an Investment
How joining Teacher Resource Academy helped her move from guessing to executing with clarity and confidence.
[00:05:36] Finding a Gap in the Market During Maternity Leave
How creating resources she personally needed led her to discover unmet demand, and why that strategy continues to pay off.
[00:06:40] Hitting Top 1% Status
What it felt like to see her November sales place her in the Top 1% of sellers, and how quickly her store scaled.
[00:07:14] Building a 350 Resource Store
How she doubled her store from 150 to 300 resources in one summer while caring for a newborn.
[00:08:36] Creating Resources in Bulk
The systems and tools she used to streamline production, including template based creation and bulk workflows.
[00:09:28] Four Figure Months and Real Bills
How her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) income now covers daycare costs and is creating options for her family’s future.
[00:10:26] Using Data to Find Profitable Keywords
How she uses keyword research tools to identify high popularity, low competition ideas in her niche.
[00:13:07] Balancing Teaching, Motherhood, and Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)
Why intentional work blocks, clear to do lists, and focused time make all the difference.
[00:14:18] Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
The mindset shift that helped her keep showing up, even when success felt surreal.
[00:15:08] Why Getting Help Speeds Up Results
How investing in guidance helped her earn back her program cost quickly and avoid years of trial and error.
Kama's TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/extraordinary-enrichment
Bulk Creator: https://www.bearwoodlabs.com/products/bulkcreator/
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