A thankful heart IS a happy heart! Thankfulness really changes our heart and outlook on life. A few years ago I attended a small group study on Philippians 4:8. The group leader challenged us to write down three things we were thankful for at the end of every day. She wanted us to really commit to doing this for a week straight.
Have you ever noticed that when you’re having “one of those days” everything seems to pile up and go wrong, and of course all of your students seem to jump on board? Have you equally been aware of a day that is going great, and recognized that even when minor problems come up you are able to solve them and move on with your “great day”?
Turning a bad day around is not easy! We tell our children that if they want to accomplish a new or difficult feat they have to “put their mind to it”. Guess what? We do too!
As Educators, there can be a huge disconnect between what we do and the heart of teaching. In my first year of teaching, I remember being observed by my principal and I remember she told me that I had the heart of a teacher, and now I could continue to work on the art. She explained how the art of educating could be taught, but the heart was much more difficult.
Over the years to follow, I grew in the art of teaching, became a great lesson planner, filled out forms (and on time!), became better familiar with standards and implementing them, caught up with the latest behavior management practices etc. …but I felt like in the middle of all that, I lost some of the heart.
Maybe this rings a bell with some of you. Perhaps you’re at the beginning of your teaching journey and want to keep the love you have for education at the forefront, maybe you are at home now, like me, and want to inspire your child towards excellence… or possibly you’re one step from walking away from it all.
Over the next 31 days I want to explore with all of you, small little ways that we can get back to that love that inspired us to teach in the first place. Check back in every day this month for “31 Ways to Heart Edu”.
Day 4: Where Does my Worth Come From?
Day 5: How do you Treat Your Students?
Day 6: Work Together as a Team.
Day 7: To Have a Good Co-Worker, You Have to be One.
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Everyday Heroes {Craftivities for September 11, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day}
This is a throwback post from last year, but thought it would be helpful to post it again.
It’s always been tough for me to teach my students about September 11 and what happened that day. Knowing that most of the students at school weren’t even born yet, makes it even more difficult.
I do however feel like it’s such an important date to remember and to help our kids relate to on an age appropriate level.
Have you ever considered the power of a single thought? I just love the quote by Henry Ford that says, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right!”
I remember as a young girl hearing my mom say, “Change your attitude Michaela” (not that I ever had a poor attitude growing up…HA). I remember thinking, How can I just go and change my attitude? This is how I’m feeling, and this is how it is.
Hey Everyone! I’m SO excited that the biggest sale of the year is finally here!!! I know that I have my wish list FULL and ready to shop. 🙂 Feel free to head on over to My TpT Store and see if there’s anything you’d like to use for the upcoming school year.
I thought it would be fun to link-up with Collaboration Cuties for a fun way to highlight some of the most wish-listed items in my TpT store, as well as my personal top wish-listed item (that’s about to move over to my shopping cart!). Continue reading
Hey Friends!
I’m linking up with BlogHoppin‘ to have a little Meet the Teacher Monday…but it’s Tuesday! Ooops! Better late than never?
I had a really hard time narrowing it down to 10, so you may see a few that are really 2-in-1’s.
Ok, here goes…
The cool ocean breeze, the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin…I just LOVE the ocean. I had the opportunity to teach Kindergarten on an island in the South Pacific for a year. While it was an incredibly challenging year for me, I was blessed to be in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The scuba diving was rated one of the top 10 most beautiful dives in the world! I had always loved the ocean before that, but now that I’ve been able to swim with dolphins, sharks, colorful fish and amazing corral…I’m hooked!
I couldn’t help but create an Ocean/Beach Theme that I hope will help you and your students really “dive” into learning this next year! This ocean theme is jam packed with everything you need to set up your classroom from calendar time to your job chart. The best part??? It has EDITABLE pages in Adobe Reader! So you can type what you’d like, using the same fonts and backgrounds that are in the unit!
Here’s a preview of what’s inside:
Here’s a description of the pages you’ll find inside this ocean themed classroom set:
-Word Wall Title and ABC Word Wall cards (vowels in red, blank labels included)
-OCEAN (Organized Communication Every Achiever Needs) Newsletter Template
-Blank Ocean Bordered pages for letters and printables
-Ocean Name Tag with Skills
(Alphabet w/ pictures, numbers to 20, colors, left & right)
-Ocean Name Tags no skills (2 additional designs)
-“WHALE-come Back” Ocean Bunting (blank bunting included)
-Ocean Themed Months of the Year (2 blank labels included)
-Ocean Themed Calendar numbers 1-31
( No School, Happy Birthday, Field Trip, Holiday, 6 themeless cards included)
-Yesterday was… Today is… Tomorrow will be… Posters
-Days of the week with Polka dot border (5 blank matching labels included)
-Schedule/Subject Cards with clock and time slot
(Math, Spelling, Science, Language Arts, Reading, Reading Workshop, Writing, Writing Workshop, Recess, Social Studies, Spanish, Outside, Handwriting, Clean-Up, Dismissal, Assembly, Special, Bible, Lunch, P.E. Centers, Workstations, 2 blanks with clock and time slots)
-Octopus Clock/Digital Slot
-WHALE Binders Poster
-WHALE Binders cover for student binders
-Teacher Binder cover and Weekly Schedule page and Planner
-Table Numbers (Large and Small Sizes)
-Numbers 1-20 Posters
-Centers Posters (Math, Reading, Writing, Listening, Science, Computer, Word Work)plus blanks
-“Ready for the Hall” Poem
-“WHALE-Come to ____Grade!” with whales to put students names on (Includes Grades Pre-k through 4)
-Boy’s and Girl’s Pass
-Behavior Bay Clip Chart
-Our School of Helpers Job Chart (Floor Patrol, Trash Patrol, Teacher’s Helper, Line Leader, Door Holder, Board Cleaner, Pencils, Gardener, Class Pet, Table Washer, Sink/Mirrors, Hall Monitor, Librarian, Lunch Helper, Bathroom Monitor, Substitute, Week Off, 3 blank branches)
BONUS!! Target has all of this great ocean accessories right now that would go FABULOUSLY with this theme.
I hope you have “Oceans of Fun” with this unit! Find this unit HERE.
The end of the year is almost here!! (and for some it’s already come). To end out my Owl Theme CRAZE! I thought I would do a few Owl Themed end of the year printables. “OWL” really miss this theme, but I’m excited about the new themes I have in mind next year (be on the lookout).
First up is my “OWL Always Remember this Year!” (Owl Themed End of the Year Memory Book). Your students will have a HOOT as they write.
“Owl” always remember:
-My Teacher
-My School
-My Friends
-My Principal
-Our Field Trips
-My Subjects
-Lunchtime
-My Funniest Memory
-My Books
-What I Learned
-Recess
-All About Me
-“Owl”tographs
Next up are my “Owl Themed End of the year Award Certificates”. The COOLEST thing about this packet is that you have the option to EDIT the student name, your name and date to personalize these awards for your class!! This is a great way to celebrate your students accomplishments and let them know how “OWL-some” you think they are!
Not only are these editable, I have also included a set that has less color so you can choose to print them off in color or grayscale and copy onto colored card stock.
I hope you have all had an OWL-standing school year!!!
Click the photo for the PDF download!
Teachers, I hope you feel more than appreciated this week! As a gift and a personal thank-you for all that you do day in and day out for our children, I made this teacher chalkboard printable for you to enjoy (if you aren’t a teacher and would like to print it off for one feel free!). This would be perfect in a frame for another teacher friend as well.
Don’t forget! Today is the last day of the Teacher Appreciation Sale on TpT. I’ve loaded up on so many fun things and I hope you can too. We Appreciate YOU!!!
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