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how we are saving for our kids’ college and how you can, too
When Maddy was born, we received a lot of parenting advice. She needs to sleep with you. . . . and She definitely shouldn't sleep with you. Babies must be nursed exclusively for the first year. . . . . and Babies must have rice cereal by six months. She needs to cry it out on her own so that she doesn't become a spoiled child. . . . . and Babies must be picked up every, single time they cry so that they know they're loved. Some advice was appreciated, and, well. . . some was … Read More...
yoga brain breaks: use fitflow to teach kids yoga moves from fit4Schools
I am a longtime fan of keeping our kids moving and grooving so that they feel better and do better. And now that I'm back in the classroom, brain breaks are my fave. Add a little yoga to the brain break mix, and I'm the happiest teacher of 'em all. Yoga brain breaks? You got it. Thanks to fit4Schools fitFlow cards and their super-cool Slideshow of Yoga presentation, my students and I have been taking yoga brain breaks each day for the past few weeks, and I really think my first … Read More...
teacher appreciation gifts for all of your kids’ teachers
Friends. Teacher Appreciation gifts can sometimes break the bank, and I know that can be hard. But being a teacher myself, I can tell you that really, sometimes simple and heartfelt is a much better way to go. Teachers appreciate hearing 'thank you' any day of the week. Really and truly. Having three kids in school and about a million teachers to recognize, I know it can also get super expensive to give gifts to these important people in your children's lives. Here's a sweet and … Read More...
how to make poetry ROCK for kids (start now — it’s national poetry month!)
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? It is. What does that even mean? It means that this month is all about celebrating poetry! You know what, my friends? Poetry is different today than it once was. No longer are poems relegated to the boring topics of flowers or romance. No way. Now? Poems are about anything and everything. They rhyme or they're free verse. Anything goes. And so to honor National Poetry Month, I thought I'd share a few of our favorite … Read More...
two must-have freebies for families: books & more!
Books, a craft kit, and more--all bonus freebies for you! When I see a good deal, I want to share it, and this is one I must share. I'm thrilled to be a part of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle this year. The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle sounds a little intimidating, but it's not--it's simply a "bundle" of eBooks, eCourses, and printables that cover everything you need to run a household, eat healthy, make time for you, and stay sane. Here's the skinny. . . Two Must-Have Freebies … Read More...
st. patrick’s day BRAIN TEASER scavenger hunt
Even though our lives have changed quite a bit since I started this blog seven years ago, one thing has remained the same: we love to rock it out for holidays. Even big kids like to rock it out for the holidays. So this year, I decided to kick up our traditional St. Patty's Day Scavenger Hunt just a wee bit. My kids are quick, and they're smart. So our Scavenger Hunt needs to be tricky and engaging to keep them interested--or at least to stretch our hunt a bit past the usual two … Read More...
teach kids to give back: $250 volunteer grants for students
I am thrilled to be able to share with you some super ways to teach kids to give back to their communities. WeAreTeachers has asked me to help spread the word about $250 grants that teachers can earn thanks to the Allstate Foundation WE Volunteer Now. Friends, if ever there was a blog post to share with your child's school, this is the one! We all know that volunteering--or giving back to our great, big world--has profound effects on all parties involved. Now your child's school can … Read More...
what can you do about gun control? start here.
Friends, it's time to stop talking and start doing. No matter which political party you stand with, the gun violence in our country has gotten way out of hand. It's time to really, truly do something. But before I get all nuts about things, I must be clear: this is not about gun control; it's about gun sense. I am by no means trying to take away anyone's 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. That's not my jam. Rather, I'm advocating for better gun sense laws--laws designed to keep … Read More...
support your students’ learning differences: micro-credentials for teachers
For classroom teachers, understanding your students' learning differences is important and worthwhile. Think about it: if the adults in a child's life really, truly know how to reach that child--how that child learns best--would't we be able to move mountains? Thanks to Digital Promise's Micro-Credentials for learning differences, educators today can really learn about what makes their students tick. Educators can really learn about and understand their students' learning … Read More...
secret message valentines: homemade, candy-free, totally cool
Longtime fans of the ole homemade Valentine, I've had to get a little more clever and crafty as the kids get older. But I still want them writing, reading, and thinking (come on. . . at least a little!) while they're making them. So when I did some Valentine searching this year, I found a ton of cool ideas. A ton of cool ideas. There are about a million, trillion awesome homemade Valentines out there. But the Secret Message Valentines caught my eye. I knew Maddy, Owen, and Cora … Read More...
