Last year I published a unit on the fantastic novel, Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. September 11th is a monumental piece of modern history, one I think is important to teach. In this post I wanted to share a few more books that you can use in your classroom or at home to touch on the subject of 9/11 with your kiddos. Though many are picture books, don't let that deter you from checking them out. Some of these picture books will captivate your youngest readers all the way up to your … [Read more...]
Scavenger Hunts: How to Take Your Nature Walk to a Whole New Level
This is it y'all! The last and final post for the Nature Walk Series. In this post, I wanted to talk about the benefits of using Scavenger Hunts while you walk. I briefly talked about Nature Scavenger Hunts last year, but in this post I really wanted to show the MANY, MANY different ways they can be used. So far in this series, we talked about ways to incorporate letters and numbers into your nature walks, how to explore your senses, and ways to get more out of your nature walks. I hope that … [Read more...]
Exploring Your Senses while Enjoying Your Nature Walk: Nature Walk Series
If you've read lately you know that we are most of the way through our Nature Walk Series. So far we have discussed tools that can help keep kids engaged, finding shapes and letters, and how to get more from your walks. In this post I want to share ways that you can explore your senses while walking. The purpose of this series is to encourage you to not only take walks with your kids, but to also interact with nature and use it to learn many different things. My hope is that you will find … [Read more...]
Inner Struggle Mom versus Teacher: Ways to Combat Spring Fever
OK so here's my problem... I am two completely different and separate people. Part of me is mom, mom who has three kids, a dog, house and no life. The other half of me is a teacher, a teacher who taught middle school for 6 years and likes things very structured. It's a constant inner struggle and sometimes those two don't mesh well (see my personal growth mission about Perfectionism1 and 2). Inner Struggle As a mom when it's rainy, cold, and yucky I want to play games, watch movies, and … [Read more...]
Nature Walk Series: How Can you Get More Out of your Walks
If you remember back to last Spring, I spent a good amount of time discussing with you the benefits and joys that can come from going on a nature walk. Since then, through our own nature walks and by reading about the adventures of my good friend Becca at The Bucket, I've come up with a list of super simple and fun things you can do while you walk. In this new Nature Walk Series, I will share one activity every few weeks for you to try. Nature Walk Series Each post in this series will … [Read more...]
Wordless Wednesday: What We Do #3
Welcome back to another week of What We Do! As always I hope that this post will inspire you to try new adventures and get outdoors as well as give you ideas of new activities for your kiddos. These past few days have been busy between a trip to the zoo and travelling to see family in Pennsylvania but we love every minute of it! I love the days where we go, go, go because the kids are able to get so much energy out. However, I've also come to love our lazy days of snuggles. I … [Read more...]
Parenting Fun Fact #99
So in all actuality, the #99 doesn't mean anything other than that as parents we have a ton of things to learn. Some we learn through trial and error, some through reflection, and others we don't learn until it is too late. Parenting is a tough gig and no matter how many children you have or how many books you read, you are guaranteed to still learn a thing or two along the way. The fun fact that I want to share with you today, I actually heard from a wise mama when my oldest, B, was about … [Read more...]
A Character Lesson from Backyard Chicks
I grew up on a farm, a small farm, but when I was little we had just about every normal farm animal, some in larger quantities than others. Granted I was little and moved from that farm before my teenage years fully kicked in, but I have fond memories of what it was like to "live on a farm." I don't own a farm now, but I plan to use our less than an acre lot to show my kids what it's like to raise and take care of animals, responsibility, and hard work. I guess you can say that I hope to teach … [Read more...]
