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

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trying to keep smiling: quick trick, divide

home / quick trick / trying to keep smiling: quick trick, divide
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My husband taught me this Quick Trick, and he learned it first-hand way back when he and his brother were little. His dad had them use it when they had to cut the grass, and I think it’s a simple but ingenious way of having two little people do things in a fair way. I’ve used it a million times already with Maddy and Owen. Be forewarned: it’s tough at first, and there were many tears here, but it’s catching on. . .

  • Divide & Choose: If I only have one of something that two people want (granola bar, big pretzel stick, banana, cookie, etc.), and I am not in a position to divide it, I’ll hand it to either Maddy or Owen (depending on whose day it is) and say, You break it in half and let Owen (or Maddy) choose which half he (or she) wants.

That person then chooses which part he or she wants. If the “divider” breaks one half smaller, then the “chooser” gets to choose a bigger piece (and usually the “divider” has a fit). It takes a LOT of reminding at first, but it’s beginning to work.

My super-smart father-in-law often had one of his sons mow a line down the middle of the lawn, and the other one would then get to pick which side he wanted to mow. How great is that?!
It forces the “divider” to think hard before mowing that line or breaking that cookie–not an easy lesson to learn, but sometimes when I’m driving, cooking, or changing a diaper and cannot offer help, it does come in handy. . .

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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

Previous Post:fishing for colors | teach children colors with fun hands-on snacksjust fishin’ for colors
Next Post:colors with cora | using lids to sort and learn colorslearning and playing with colors for kids

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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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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! >>

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and then there were six
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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. 

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Missed you, jigofjoy ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

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Today marks the 4th time in 3 weeks that I have had to hang new Kindness Reminders Tear-off Sheets! 

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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