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YouTube dances for kids: fun indoor moving and grooving to get the wiggles out
We just got another boatload of snow, so on Sunday morning, when we were snowed in and couldn't even get out of our house to make it to mass, we got our dance on. Because why not? Turns out that Cora and Owen's awesome teachers for the past few years had often put on short little YouTube dances for them when they need to get the wiggles out. We found most of Cora and Owen's faves, and we found some more. Not only does moving mid-day help increase concentration and focus (for … Read More...
neighborhood spirit month: let’s be together, but apart in April
How about we join forces with the people in our neighborhood for a Spirit Month? Let's get everyone together--but apart--this month for some spirit-filled fun! Neighborhood Spirit Week? YOU BET! We don't have to be together to have fun. We can show our unity from the comfort of our homes. Here's the skinny. . . Neighborhood Spirit Week -- Let's Be Together, but Apart, in April It's simple: all you have to do is share this flier with neighbors, and the party's already … Read More...
neighborhood i-spy
Let's play a neighborhood I-Spy game! We're all hanging out at home, so why not make a little game out of it? Let's get those kiddos out and moving, biking, walking, skipping, or scooting. Everyone else (who is up for it!) can display a few easy-to-find or easy-to-make items on their windows, door, driveway, whatever. Here's the skinny. . . Neighborhood I-Spy It's all about being together, but apart right now, right? Right. There are a ton of ways to do just that. And … Read More...
how our first week of homeschooling REALLY went
Week One of School at Home is officially in the books. Kids have been here, all up in my "office", every day this week. They saw friends up until Tuesday, so we're really pretty new at this. Last week, I shared my ingenious Homeschooling During Coronavirus Schedule. Did you see it? It was pretty awesome. Let me remind you: It was perfect for elementary, middle, or high schoolers!You could adjust it for your needs! It was colorful! It was adaptable! There was choice! Did I say it … Read More...
everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home: classes, crafts, virtual tours and more
Here's everything free and awesome online to to while kids are home from school thanks to the Coronavirus Outbreak. I'm talking FREE online classes, crafts, virtual tours, free broadway shows, musicals, and meditation. Free yoga and exercise. Free learning resources, games, and more. We're all home from work, school, sports, and extra-curricular activities, so what are we doing? Trying. To. Stay. Sane. Friends--thank you to each and every one of you who have sent me links to cool … Read More...
get kids to cook: weekly meal plan sheet
Kids are all home from school for who knows how long, so let's get kids to cook this week, friends. It's a perfect time to get kids in the kitchen, planning and preparing meals, and helping with household chores. Think about it: three meals a day, seven days a week, times [how many people in your family] = a lot of meal prep. So let's get kids cooking. Here's the skinny. . . Get Kids to Cook -- Weekly Meal Plan Sheet This is super-simple, friends, but if kids have a little … Read More...
homeschooling schedule during coronavirus school closings
Here is our official homeschooling schedule during the current Coronavirus school closings. School at home. Here we go! Since we are in an official state of emergency now, in order to contain and control the spread of CoVid-19, we have to keep our kids at home. That means that a whole lot of children in the US will need to be "homeschooled" for a while. And though it may be super difficult for many families, the most important thing is that we keep our kids on a schedule so that we all … Read More...
free hand washing posters: coronavirus 2020
We may have three 'big kids' in our house, but we all still need reminders to wash our hands, especially during the 2020 Coronavirus Outbreak. So I scoured the internet, found a ton of free posters, and printed some out for our family. Here's the skinny. . . Free Hand Washing Posters -- Coronavirus 2020 It's a basic thing, I know--but many times, especially when we're running late (which our family usually is!), sometimes hand washing is forgotten. Or maybe it's not forgotten … Read More...
building relationships with students and colleagues: 6 secrets to success
I'm thrilled to be partnering with Advancement Courses, a leader in K-12 professional development with over 240 online courses in 20 different subject areas. Relationship-building in schools may be the most important thing that teachers do. If teachers aren’t connecting with students and colleagues on a personal level, how do we do our best work? After years in the classroom, and many, many conversations with fellow educators, here's what I found to be true. . . Building … Read More...
lent for christian families: pray, fast, serve cards
I've wanted to create these Lent Cards for Thoughtful Christian Families for a while now. SO here they are! I'm thrilled--and so are many of my Christian friends! Finally, I've modified our Lent Cards for Modern Catholic Families, and I've made them more Bible-based. Still keeping with the idea of Pray, Fast, and Serve, which are important tenants of Lent, these Lent for Christian Families Cards are exactly what my family needs. Here's the skinny. . . Lent for Christian Families: … Read More...
