Behind the Scenes of a Teacher-Creator: How I Turn an Idea into a Resource You Can Use in Your Classroom Tomorrow

Peek behind the scenes! Discover how I turn sparks of inspiration into engaging classroom resources.

A Writing Assessment I made for the Greek hero Perseus

Have you ever wondered how educational resources get made — the ones you find on Teachers Pay Teachers, Made by Teachers, or my blog Stones of Erasmus? Whether it's a freebie you love or a bundle you buy, there's a whole ecosystem behind the scenes. And while every teacher-author works a bit differently, I thought I'd lift the curtain on my creative process — from random idea to clickable download.

Let me take you through the ride. Buckle in.

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Step 1: The Idea Vault (a.k.a. my Google Doc on Steroids)

It all starts with an idea — usually when I’m on the Q train or in between classes, or in line for coffee. I keep a living Google Doc titled “Content Creation Ideas” that I add to constantly. It’s a messy but magical place filled with sparks: “Ooh, this could be a cool writing prompt,” or “I need a better way to teach allegory!” Let’s just say … I have no shortage of ideas.

Step 2: The Sandbox – Where Ideas Become Real Resources

I call it “the sandbox.” This is where I play, build, and iterate. Here, I:

• Build out slides, PDFs, or Google Forms.
• Make crisp, clean illustrations with Illustrator.
• Clean up and make pretty public-domain images with Photoshop.
• Draft assessments and answer keys.
• Design for print and digital use.
• Differentiate content for different learning needs.
• Add enrichment features like further reading guides or vocabulary extensions.

This stage can take anywhere from two days to two weeks — or more if I’m creating something big (like my recent multi-day unit on the Iliad and the Odyssey).

Step 3: Securing the Files — PDF Magic & Editable Slides

Once the sandbox closes, I move into the technical zone. I use tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro to flatten and secure my PDFs. For digital resources, I lock down Google Slides so the parts I want to stay put stay put — and the parts you can edit stay editable.

Step 4: Listing It Online — Making the Storefront Shine

Writing the product listing means:

• Crafting an SEO-friendly title.
• Writing a clear, helpful description.
• Choosing keywords so other teachers can find it.
• Adding engaging thumbnails and previews.

This is where your resource enters the world.

Step 5: Marketing It — Without Feeling Like a Car Salesman

Once listed, it’s time to let people know! Sometimes, I write a blog post about the myth or topic I covered. I might email my followers or make a short video explaining how to use it in the classroom.

Marketing is about connecting: “Here’s something I made. I think it’ll help. Let me show you how.”

Step 6: Linking It All Together

This final step is about integration. I connect blog posts to store listings, products to related products — helping teachers find exactly what they need and improving visibility.

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Final Thoughts

Making educational resources is part pedagogy, part creativity, part tech wizardry — and a lot of coffee. Every resource I share has gone through this journey. I hope knowing what happens behind the scenes helps you appreciate the labor of love in every clickable download.

If you're a fellow teacher-author: keep sandboxing, keep linking, keep creating. We’re building something meaningful.

Homer, Blind Poet

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without sharing one of my polished, ready-to-use resources. Click to download a two-day lesson introducing Homer, Blind Poet, with extension activities.

Download for free from TpT, Made By Teachers, and here on my Blog.

If you enjoy using my resources, drop a positive comment below about how you used it.

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Greig Roselli
Educator, Writer, Mythology Nerd, and the Heart Behind Stones of Erasmus