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helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

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    • word consciousness
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    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
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    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
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    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
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      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
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      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
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      • teacher appreciation
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new for us friday–amusement park

home / family life / travel / new for us friday–amusement park
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After last week’s touchy New For Us Friday which was immediately followed by the somewhat unexpected passing of my husband’s amazing, loving, charming, and incredible grandmother, we needed to see life on the upswing.

So, on the way back to Maryland from Pennsylvania, my husband and I took the kids on a necessary-for-us detour and a surefire NFUF hit: their very first
amusement park.

  • Dutch Wonderland: This place really is a “Kingdom for kids” because it’s a park made especially for little ones. There are over 30 “kid-friendly” rides there, a train that runs through the whole park, great shows and entertainment, nursing stations for moms, and snack bars and restrooms around every corner.

Maddy and Owen rode their first roller coaster.

We all rode the Sky Ride together that spanned the park.

The Sky Ride totally rocked.
(So what if I couldn’t stop praying to God
that none of us would fall through the bars.)

We tried the swings, the Turtle Whirl, the fun slide, the log ride, and the carousel.

We saw ponies, listened to music, and watched the dancers.

You can’t miss them–Brent and Maddy are on this coaster!
(Owen wasn’t tall enough for the really big one.)

We laughed, screamed, hooted & hollered, sweated our pants off, and enjoyed every second of it.

I would totally recommend that anyone with kiddos here in the DC Metro area hit Dutch Wonderland while their little ones are small. I know we’re already planning our return trip–next time possibly with some support-staff aunts, uncles, or grandparents–and as far as NFUF’s go, this one was a winner.

It was new; it took us all out of our comfort zones, and it was a little bit of a challenge (on top of a lot of fun). And it especially helped to lift our spirits after an emotionally-exhausting and doleful week.

Talk about a super way of watching our summer wind down before school, activities, and tutoring will pack our calendar.

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

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UMD Womenโ€™s Basketball ROCKS!! โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ€

We absolutely love watching you play, @terpswbb !

We love watching you perform, @marylandcheer !

And @mightysoundofmd we love your music and your hilarious signs! ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜ณ

See you in Greenville! 

#terpsbasketball #terpswbb #umd #familyfun #marylandcheer #umdfamily
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Are you ready? 

https://shop.teachmama.com/

#saintpatricksfun #stpaddysforkids #familyfun #classroomactivities #teachmamashop
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This is how we use the St. Patrickโ€™s Day Brain Teaser Scavenger Hunt! ๐Ÿ€

Super easyโ€”and makes kids work a little for their golden chocolates! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Grab them here: https://shop.teachmama.com/product/st-patricks-day-scavenger-hunt-4-pack/

<< Tag a pal who needs to know about this and would LOVE to use it with kids or students! >>

#stpatricksdayfun #saintpaddysday #stpaddysforkids #stpatsfun #linkinbio
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and then there were six
๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸฆŠ๐Ÿฆ„๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฐ

thank you @thewoobles for giving my mind, heart, and hands something fun to do during a really challenging few months. 

#crochet #thewoobles #brainbreak #teachersanitysaver #shescrafty
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With great sadness, I'm writing to share that my brother-in-law, Jeff Mascott passed away from pancreatic cancer earlier this week--at home, surrounded by family and friends. 

The family is very grateful for the community's immeasurable help, encouragement, and prayers over the past several months since Jeff's diagnosis. 

Jeff's obituary will run this weekend in the Post: 
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jeff-Mascott?obId=27420280&fbclid=IwAR2YTRooCyaLTikfjLeqF4gM-GaB1amZI2OmVl1VtKLUOjWj3Wo4URD8lC8#/obituaryInfo
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Flowers and a basket of @traderjoes faves are salve for a tired and weepy soul. ๐ŸŒท

Thankful for great, longtime friends ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

#itshardtobeahuman #thankfulheart #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs
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Almost 30 years of friendship!! I love these smart, beautiful, strong and creative women who walked with me through my early days of teaching. 

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

Thank you, Wilde Lake High School, for bringing us together way back when. 

๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

Missed you, jigofjoy ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

#weareteachers #andoneprincipal #wildelake #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs #wildelakehs #teachersofinstagram #celebratewewill
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Makes my heart ๐Ÿฅฐ!! 

Some kids come by every day and give one to a new person. Others take a bunch for the week. One 2nd grade girl comes by evey morning to tell me who she gave hers to the day before. 

Every little bit helps, friend. And every interaction matters!

#kindnessrocks #adoormadeforme #teachersofinstagram #makeadifference
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Best crew for one of the best @terpswbb games weโ€™ve seen all season! 

And of course super job by @marylandcheer and @mightysoundofmd too! 

#terpswbb #terpsbasketball #familyfun #marylandcheer

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