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...]
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 is a Kendama and why do your kids need one?
My son, Owen, has been pretty much obsessed with the Kendama for the past year. And though I do stress that moderation is key for just about anything my kids do, I'm totally cool with him overdoing it with the Kendama. Why? A few reasons. The Kendama has helped Owen increase his hand-eye coordination. The Kendama has given Owen--and his buddies--a ton to do the past year. The Kendama has boosted Owen's confidence. The Kendama has allowed Owen and his Maryland Kendama Club to … [Read more...]
Wonder the movie discussion guide for families #wonderthemovie
We had the amazing opportunity to catch a screening of Wonder the movie last week, and it totally lived up to all of our expectations. Maddy, Owen, Cora and I loved it. We talked about it for days after we saw it, and all three kids declared that it's one movie "we must buy when it comes out on DVD". At this point in time, friends, there aren't many movies that we want to watch over and over and over, but this is indeed one of them. I thought, since it is a movie--and book--rich … [Read more...]
Highlights State of the Kid Report 2017 #WorldKindnessDay
Have you heard of the Highlights State of the Kid Report? You can find the 2017 State of the Kid Report on the Highlights for Children website. The report was released today, on World Kindness Day! Each year, Highlights interviews thousands of children ages 6-12, and each year, parents and educators learn exactly what children think and feel about important topics. In the 2017 SOTK report, the findings centered on kindness, caring, and empathy. These are totally hot topics right … [Read more...]
rick riordan: 5 fun facts about the author we love
We have long been fans of Rick Riordan, ever since we fell hard for Percy Jackson way back when. So when my friends from Disney books asked if we wanted to join the #ShipoftheDead Book Tour, you better believe we jumped at the chance. The Ship of the Dead is the latest book--and the last book--in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. The coolest thing about this event, though, was that Maddy, Owen, and I had 10 minutes with Mr. Riordan--10 minutes to talk to him, chat with … [Read more...]
25 days of kindness, 25 ways to be kind to others
With school back in session, emotions are high over here. While many students are super excited to meet the new teacher, to see old classmates, and to get acquainted with a new schedule, other students may not be quite as thrilled about going back. There can be a lot of stress and anxiety that comes with the new year, and often we, as parents and teachers, tend to forget that. This year, with the release of the Born This Way Foundation's study on Kind Communities and with the launch of … [Read more...]
eclipse 2017: free resources for families (even if you’re last minute)
Oh, how I envisioned creating this post three, four, even five weeks ago. But life got in the way. So here it is: eclipse 2017 resources for families--even if you're last-minute, like me. Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that on August 21, we'll experience a total solar eclipse. I am going to hit you quickly with everything we're doing on the big day so that you can do it, too. Grab a friend or two, a few other neighbors or families, or your students if you're back in … [Read more...]
say NO to teen smoking: Right Decisions, Right Now
When I was asked by the good people at Right Decisions, Right Now and We Are Teachers to share information about teens and smoking with my readers, I shook my head in disbelief. Kids are really still smoking? Is cigarette smoking still a thing in 2017? Which kid are really pressuring others to try smoking? My kids better not ever try smoking. Heck, my kids' friends better not pressure them into anything. But really--smoking is indeed still a thing, and young people between the ages of … [Read more...]
top 5 must-read books for kids: babies through teens
Over the years, many readers and friends have asked me the about the must-read books for kids. Every few weeks, I get asked the million dollar questions: What books should my kids read? What are the best books for 5-year-olds? Which books will my 12-year-old love to read? Please tell me how to spend my book money--which are the must-have books for kids? We're heading to the library. Which books should I pick up? I've had the conversation over and over and over again. So … [Read more...]
talking to tweens about drugs: it’s time to start now
Sometimes when I actually stop to think about the fact that we have a 12, 11, and 9 year old in the house, I cannot even believe it. I absolutely cannot wrap my head around it. I can't believe that in two years,we'll no longer have a child in elementary school. I can't believe that in four years, we'll have a middle schooler and two high schoolers. I can't believe that in less than ten years, we'll have three kids in college. I honestly can't believe that all of those 'big' … [Read more...]
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