home is where my story begins...

Instagram Love

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Sometimes I feel like I post more on Instagram than my blog.  I’ve noticed a trend in blogging lately, and I’m seeing more and more bloggers going JUST to Instragram and leaving their blogs completely.  I’m not ready for that yet.  I enjoy the writing process almost as much as photography.  I do, however, love the fact that I can post pictures and do a tiny bit of writing all from my phone.  I also love the hashtags that I can add, to help find other people with similar interests.
The picture, above, is one of those “small world” kind of things.  My sister and I were driving through Snohomish and saw this beautiful sight.  She pulled over to the side of the road so I could take a picture.  Little did I know, that two of those balloons were filled with families that we know!  So cool!

On International Dot Day (that’s a special day created by author Peter Reynolds) we posted some of our creations.

Since it’s apple season, we made applesauce in Kindergarten.  I made a quick collage to show what we had been up to that day.

I couldn’t resist this photo.  I had gotten to work early and snapped a picture with my new boots and my cool mug.  I never have time to relax with my feet up, but it was still very early and I just had to share with my Instagram friends.
As you can see, many of my posts are school related.  Here is a recent picture showing our sunflowers drying and ready for observation.  I have found lots of great hashtags that other teachers and Reggio Emilia enthusiasts use.
I’d love to find more friends on Instagram.  Are you on it?  Who do you follow?  My username is homeiswheremystorybegins.  I hope you’ll come find me!
Happy photo taking!

Teacher Life

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Yay! School is out and it’s the first full week of Summer Break!  What do you  think I’m doing with my time?
I’m spending a couple of days with a thousand-plus of my closest teacher-friends, learning about the research questions listed above. You might think I am dreading spending the sunshiny days inside a cold convention center, but I couldn’t be more excited!
The following names will probably mean nothing to you, unless you are in the field of education, but they are BIG names in education.  Richard Allington spoke at the conference!  I’ve read many of his books, but have never heard him speak before.  He has some very strong opinions about literacy education and what teachers should and shouldn’t be doing in the classroom.
Matt Glover and Katie Wood Ray changed my teaching life!  I began an entirely new approach to writing because of their books and Katie Wood Ray’s workshop.  Teaching children to write is a huge challenge and there are so many different aspects that you just don’t think about, until you are actually tasked with breaking them down into manageable steps for young authors.  Matt Glover shared some great writing samples and took his books to a new a level, in my mind.
At every teacher conference, there is always a book table.  Sometimes you’ll find children’s books and other times there will be professional development books.  It doesn’t really matter which type of books. If there are teachers at the conference, the books will be purchased!  This time there were professional development books.  I purchased my fair share.  (This is where my husband usually reminds me that there is something called a public library and that I should check them out instead.  But, public libraries don’t carry the most recent teacher-books!  It’s my duty to stay up to date on current trends and best practices in education!)  I bought a few books and put a few others on my wish list.

I didn’t purchase this one because I think I KNOW why I teach, but I think it sounds like a good read.

The conference room was so big that I couldn’t get a picture with the whole room in the shot.  This was well before the conference began and hadn’t really even started filling up.  I’m just floored with the realization that most of the people in this room paid $400 out of their own pockets to learn more about best practices in literacy education.  Sometimes, the school districts are able to pay but most of the people I chatted with had to pay their own fee to attend and many were from several states away, having to pay their own travel and hotel fees.  

Overall, it was a fabulous two day conference.  I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend and learn so much about research and trends in literacy education. I wish our legislature would realize the importance of professional development like this and FULLY FUND EDUCATION so more teachers could have the opportunity to learn and become the best possible teachers for their students!

Happy Summer Break!

Playful Learning – The Art Of Teaching Online Workshop

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Hey, teacher friends!  I’ve signed up to take an online class.  
Playful Learning is one of my favorite websites, books, and blogs.  I first took Mariah’s Playful Learning Spaces class several years ago and I was hooked!  I couldn’t wait for Wednesdays, each week, when Mariah would send out new videos and lessons. I was inspired and have made changes in my home and classroom that have stuck with me for years.  It was money and time well spent!
Well, there is a great offer right now!  If you sign up for The Art of Teaching workshop, you get the Playful Learning Spaces workshop for FREE!!!  The Art of Teaching workshop costs $48 and you get the $78 Playful Learning Spaces for $0!  Use the code ADDSPACES at checkout to apply the discount.
The Art of Teaching workshop will focus on theory, building community, and creating engaging lessons and I CAN’T WAIT to get started. The class starts on MONDAY, so you only have a few days left to register.  I’d love to have a few teacher friends do this with me!  It’s a great opportunity to connect with one another through the online forum and assignments.  I’m not sure if this one will be Reggio Inspired, but most of Mariah’s work tends to be inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education.  If you know me, you know I can’t stop talking, reading, and learning about this.  Here’s your chance to jump on board with me!
Click on the picture at the top of this post, or the button below to learn more about this online class or sign up!  I’m so passionate about this, that I’ve become an affiliate!
Happy learning!

A Teacher’s Secret to Surviving the Last Full Week of School

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We’re in the home stretch, Friends!  These last few days before Summer are filled with report cards, field trips, computer training, packing up the classroom, and still coming to school with undying energy and excitement.  Top that off with a handful of health problems, and it’s a recipe for one exhausted Mom at the end of the day.
Do you want to know my secret for staying sane and getting dinner on the table?
It’s called the Crock-Pot!
This morning, before I left for work, I put four chicken breasts in the Crock-Pot with a bunch of BBQ sauce.  When I came home from work, (after dealing with a natural gas leak, a gazillion kids who couldn’t get home, making phone calls to families, and then getting stuck behind a big accident on my alternate route home) dinner was almost ready.  I took a frozen pizza crust out of the freezer, topped it with the cooked chicken and a bit of the sauce it was cooking in, added some chopped onion and cilantro (fresh from my garden), and a little mozzarella cheese.  I baked it up for a few minutes and dinner was finished!
I’m telling you… that Crock-Pot is my BFF.  Want to know my other secret?  There’s a lot of paper-plate-eating these days.  Ooh, I can’t forget to tell you, I also called, “Family Clean Up!” when dinner was just about over.  I sat myself down to fold laundry and my kids and hubby emptied the dish washer and threw away our paper plates.  

With my trusty Crock-Pot, paper plates, and help from my family, I think I’m going to make it…
just maybe!