back to school inspiration

Yes, I am totally on the "back to school" bandwagon, well maybe I'm more of a "tag along" this year.   (I will be staying at home with our baby, which I am very grateful for!)  Since I won't be teaching this year, I made a  Pinterest board  about it because it's one of my favorite times of year,  and I am having some trouble letting it go. To bring us all back down to reality, I thought I would label each of my pins as either "do-able" or "NOT."  Feel free to play along with me!

 

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NOT.  Of course, I am in LOVE with this outfit.  Probably isn't very realistic though.  Kids are picky about what they wear, and you want  them to be happy and comfortable on the first day of school!

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NOT.  This is a well intentioned idea.  However, the probability of this "lunch cabinet" system lasting longer than a week is debatable.  Although, I do love how it allows your kids to be independent and make their own lunch, while filtering what they can put in there.  Maybe I would give it a try.

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DO-ABLE.  I am sure parents feel this way, and I KNOW teachers do.  Just remember to give each other GRACE.

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DO-ABLE.  I would consider myself a more organized person, especially when it comes to loose papers.  I always had my students stick to a very specific binder system.  I did feel a little bad sending home a bazillion papers to get signed by parents on top of what the school already was sending home.  Unfortunately, the madness is somewhat inevitable.  Might as well be a little proactive.  You can find some cheap filing bins at Walmart.  Use one bin for each kid and label the files.  You could use labels like "signed papers, need to sign, sports, graded papers, artwork" or "bring to school, forms to sign, math, science, L.A., etc."  Create  a  system that works for you!

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NOT.  First off, who has a doorway entry this big?!  I love this idea, but we need to be realistic.  Maybe, cubbies would be a little more practical.  Or, a chest where all the kids could plop their backpacks.  Bottom line...find a good place for backpacks so they don't end up all over your living room and kitchen ;)

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DO-ABLE!  While you are at it, buy some pop and chocolate for yourself and stick it in the glove compartment of your car for emergencies!

end of the school year gifts

School is almost out! It's a little strange that I am not with my fellow teachers this year getting pumped about the last day of school. So, I thought I might help some of the moms out there that might be scurrying to find a last minute gift for their kiddos to give their much appreciated teacher ;) There are tons of crafty and creative gift ideas out there, but the end of the school year can be a little busy with summer quickly approaching, so here are some simple gift ideas that I know a teacher would LOVE!



1-Most teachers are a little obsessed with organization. This Day PLANNER by Erin Condren Petal Motif Weekly Life Planner is super cute and practical.

2-Pretty much any GIFT CARD is a great gift (especially for male teachers). Starbucks is always one of my favorites, but really anything will do!

3-A nice CANDLE makes for a lovely gift too. I like this one because of the apple theme :)

4-Don't fret if you don't have the time or money to get the teacher a gift. A thoughtful THANK YOU NOTE can mean the world to a teacher. I still have a thank you note from my first teaching job that one of my student's gave me on the last day. Nothing means more to a teacher than to know that they were appreciated!

Check out my teaching Pinterest board for more crafty/creative ideas!

 

 

No Pain, No Gain

So, I just got home from small group and I am exhausted from a crazy day at school (alka selzer tablet from my science lab was placed in some kid's milk at lunch, and I had to help diffuse hallway a mob in the/girl fight....it wasn't pretty).....BUT, I just had to sit down and write about all that God is teaching me right now!

Our lesson for small group this week was about bowing down our pain to God. Personally, I don't like talking about pain because I have a very negative attitude about it. Who doesn't? But, I was challenged this week when I read about how we should expect pain in our lives. Life isn't suppose to be breeze (dang it! kinda hoping it was :) The Bible says, "...but we also glorify in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame..." Romans 5:3-5

I was reading an article this week about Derek Taatjes' last sermon (http://www.mlive.com/news/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/04/hundreds_embrace_family_for_de.html#cmpid=

v2mode_be_smoref_face). He was talking about the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" His wife, Charity, said that "to Derek, the question was flawed since it held the individual's supremacy before God when it is supposed to be the other way around." That hit me hard. Who says that we are "good" and that what is happening to us is "bad?"

I am learning from past mistakes to not run away from pain and to accept it. Running away from it causes severe anxiety. Accepting it allows for growth and peace. I am learning to trust that God uses pain to refine me and to bring me closer to him by bringing me to my knees. God loves me and is worthy of my trust. I often fear that God will withhold the desires of my heart from me and only bring on pain. But, after reading Psalm 37 I realized that maybe God was the one who put those desires in my heart. And, He will be faithful with those desires, but I need to submit them to him first.

"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads to evil." Psalm 37:4-8

I often "fret." I am learning to praise God the second I feel like fretting about my circumstances. I don't often feel like it, but its the first blow to the enemy to keep him from filling my mind with negativity. So, praise God that he will use even the most difficult times for his glory and to bring me closer to Him. :) Thanks for reading!

Snow Day

This post is a little delayed, but I forgot that I took pictures on our snow days! So, here they are!

Weekend!

Today was a LONG day. We went on a field trip this morning at school to see a play, then we came back to school for the afternoon, then I had to get in "mean teacher" mode to monitor the 3 rascals in In-School-Suspension, and then I had lots of grading/lesson planning to catch up on after school. Looking forward to the weekend! I'll keep you posted on my exciting plans!