About Us

My name is Derek Smith, and I have been teaching technology education since 2005. Throughout my career, I have taught Construction Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Technological Design, Small Engines, and Automotive Service. While I wasn't always the strongest student in traditional academic classes, I found my place in the shop. The automotive classroom gave me confidence and sparked my curiosity. Later in my automotive service career, I realized I wanted to become the kind of teacher who made the same difference in students' lives that my teachers made in mine.

Over the years, I have learned that there is never just one way to teach a lesson. Every group of students is different, and finding creative ways to engage learners has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. The best classes I've taught felt more like communities than classrooms, where students worked together, learned from one another, and took pride in what they accomplished.

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Why I Started Homeroom Trades

After spending several years teaching Cooperative Education, I returned to the shop and quickly realized that many of the resources I had relied on were outdated, missing, or difficult to replace. Restocking the program and finding quality teaching materials was often more challenging than it should have been.

I also noticed that many educational products arrived with little or no supporting lesson material. Teachers were expected to create their own worksheets, activities, assessments, and instructional resources in order to get the most educational value from the equipment.

Homeroom Trades was created to solve that problem.

My goal is to provide teachers with both the physical resources and the supporting instructional materials needed to create meaningful hands-on learning experiences. Every product and resource is developed from real classroom experience and designed with the realities of today's technology classrooms in mind.

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Built by a Teacher, for Teachers

Everything offered through Homeroom Trades has been tested in the classroom. Many of the lessons, worksheets, and activities available on this site have been developed, refined, and used with students over many years.

One of my favourite units to teach has always been the small engine unit. It consistently engaged students of all skill levels and provided a strong foundation for understanding mechanical systems, measurement, troubleshooting, and problem solving. Experiences like these have helped shape the resources and products available through Homeroom Trades.

What makes our initial resources different is that they don't stop at the product itself. We believe teachers should spend less time creating supporting materials and more time teaching. That's why our products are accompanied by lessons, worksheets, and instructional resources designed to maximize learning while reducing preparation time.

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Our Philosophy

Hands-on learning provides experiences that technology alone cannot replace. When students successfully complete a task, repair a component, or solve a problem with their own hands, they develop confidence, fine motor skills, perseverance, and a sense of accomplishment.

We believe that curiosity and a strong work ethic are among the most important skills students can develop as they prepare for careers in the skilled trades.

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Looking Forward

The vision for Homeroom Trades is simple: support teachers and strengthen skilled trades education.

I hope to work alongside educators to develop high-quality resources, classroom equipment, and instructional materials that save teachers time while creating valuable learning experiences for students. I also want to ensure that teachers can easily access replacement parts, consumables, and support materials without having to search through multiple suppliers.

Homeroom Trades is not about becoming the biggest educational supplier. It is about building something valuable for the teaching community and creating resources that help educators and students succeed for years to come.

Thank you for visiting Homeroom Trades. I invite you to explore our free resources, classroom materials, and products designed to support hands-on learning in skilled trades education.