Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the role of kindness in the classroom. And when I was approached by the good people at Staples about the partnership between Staples and Lady Gaga and all of the awesome that they're creating with Staples for Students, you better believe I was game to share. Do you ever wonder: What role does kindness have in the classroom today? What is the correlation between kindness and overall well-being among students? How can we empower … [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...]
family volunteering on martin luther king, jr day
Four years ago was the very first year we volunteered as a family to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. But it will not be the last. Already, we're looking for other ways we can give back to our community this year to celebrate the life of this great man. Family volunteering on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is easy, thanks to a handful of really awesome organizations designed to make finding volunteer opportunities the easy part. Not even kidding. It takes five … [Read more...]
advent activity calendar for kids and family: 2016
We do this every advent season. And the kids love it. I actually contemplated switching things this year--finding another advent activity calendar that would get our family into the holiday spirit, but I decided against it. Because in this quickly-changing world, sometimes I think it's nice to keep things consistent. Here's the skinny. . . Advent Activity Calendar for Kids and Family--2016: I print out a copy of the calendar to keep on hand for myself, and then I cut each of … [Read more...]
must have tech gift for families–HP Sprocket || 12 days of smart gifts for kids & family
I love the idea of printing photos, but sometimes it's hard. It's hard to sit down and print the photos that are stuck on your computer or phone. It's almost impossible to find time to head to TargetPhoto.com or Tiny Prints to order photos. I get it. So when I saw the HP Sprocket, I literally danced. But first? I must admit that I was a little confused. I had no idea what the HP Sprocket was. And then I brought it to Thanksgiving with my little familia, and I … [Read more...]
gifts that teach kids the power of giving: animal gifts from heifer international
The more ways that we can teach our kids that holiday time should be a time for giving, the better. I mean, when it comes down to it, don't our kids have a lot already? I know mine do. They have a pretty good life. They're in school. They have the clothes they need. They have a warm bed and food to eat. They enjoy hobbies and play sports and bang on the iPad and rock their musical instruments. They travel and celebrate holidays and read and play and learn. They have it … [Read more...]
top secret ‘happy day’ notes for the whole ‘hood
Originally published September 1, 2010, but republished today because, well, friends, everyone could use a lift. Last week, we ran into a verrrry blue Thursday morning. Everyone was cranky, everyone was bickering, and everyone was down in the dumps. Maybe our summertime later-night schedule was finally taking a toll on us; maybe we were anxious about the upcoming change of schedule. Whatever it was, we needed a lift. I remembered my pal Jessica's recent post about 'Doing Good … [Read more...]
save money and time this school year: 7 classroom hacks for teachers
Back-to-school season isn’t just for students, my friends. As thousands of schools have been opening their doors, teachers have been working tirelessly setting up classrooms, preparing lesson plans and printing materials for their students. In a school spending survey, almost 80% of teachers say they use their own money on material supplies in what amounts to a $1 billion annual spend for their classrooms. That is a LOT of money. And many teachers don’t have the extra to … [Read more...]
I’ve had enough of gun violence, so this is what I’m doing
You guys. It's pretty much time that we do something. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican. An Independent or whatever. I honestly don't care. What I care about is that you, as a human being here, living on God's green earth, take a stand on gun violence. It's time. Do something to put an end to the gun violence. Because if we don't start doing, my friends, things are just going to get worse. And I'm not saying that I think guns should be banned. I'm not … [Read more...]
quick and easy flower wish boxes
This post was written as part of a partnership with Disney-Hyperion. It's amazing how easily you can create sweet and easy gifts sometimes when you have a bit of inspiration. Sometimes it's a walk in the craft store. Sometimes it's a stroll through the park. Sometimes it's a glance through a photo album. Sometimes it's a movie, tv program, or book. These quick and easy flower wish boxes were inspired by a book series that we've recently discovered. It's a book series that Maddy … [Read more...]
teacher appreciation–finger print note cards
Originally posted on May 6, 2010, this post has been getting so much traction on Pinterest lately, I thought it was worth re-sharing! Enjoy! As a Teacher Appreciation Week gift for Maddy and Owen's teachers this year, I wanted to do something that would be easy (okay, and quick) for us to create, useful for them, but that wouldn't break the bank. Note cards, note cards, note cards. Note cards! Embellished with thumbprint animals, a shiny bow, and a … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 10
- Next Page »
