• “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz ——————————————————————— It’s been one of THOSE school years for me. 😕 If you’ve been teaching for more than a couple of years, you may have had one of these too! There’s been a lot of unusual circumstances which can lead to a myriad of feelings. 🤭 ——————————————————————— Pretty early on in the school year, I began feeling frustrated with work. 😫 I got out my Bible and guess where the Holy Spirit led me.... straight to Jesus. {Yeah, I know... I shouldn’t be shocked.} 😉 Jesus served his disciplines by setting an example. If He wanted them to wash feet, pull off your shoes because He’s goin’ wash yours! Service through example. 🛎 ——————————————————————— Duh, Laura?! Lead by example! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I went back in there the following week, pulled up a chair at the table being used for small group instruction and started modeling positive and productive language when instructing students. It was one the best days that I have had on the road! 🙌🏻 ——————————————————————— My circumstances have not drastically changed. There hasn’t been a miracle or even a breakthrough. There has been a mindset shift though. I can CHOOSE joy. I can CHOOSE to not let frustration consume me. ❤️ ——————————————————————— 🗣 Tell me: What do you do when your frustrated and uninspired? ⤵️
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    “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz ——————————————————————— It’s been one of THOSE school years for me. 😕 If you’ve been teaching for more than a couple of years, you may have had one of these too! There’s been a lot of unusual circumstances which can lead to a myriad of feelings. 🤭 ——————————————————————— Pretty early on in the school year, I began feeling frustrated with work. 😫 I got out my Bible and guess where the Holy Spirit led me.... straight to Jesus. {Yeah, I know... I shouldn’t be shocked.} 😉 Jesus served his disciplines by setting an example. If He wanted them to wash feet, pull off your shoes because He’s goin’ wash yours! Service through example. 🛎 ——————————————————————— Duh, Laura?! Lead by example! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I went back in there the following week, pulled up a chair at the table being used for small group instruction and started modeling positive and productive language when instructing students. It was one the best days that I have had on the road! 🙌🏻 ——————————————————————— My circumstances have not drastically changed. There hasn’t been a miracle or even a breakthrough. There has been a mindset shift though. I can CHOOSE joy. I can CHOOSE to not let frustration consume me. ❤️ ——————————————————————— 🗣 Tell me: What do you do when your frustrated and uninspired? ⤵️
  • 100th Day of School // We are using small objects from our counting collections to count to 100. Bright paper clips + mini erasers are my go-to objects for these counting mats. Students practice one-to-one correspondence, counting within 100, and making groups of 10. That’s a lot of math skills for one activity! {This is from my 100th Day Worries Book Bud.} 🗣 Tell me: What activities are you planning for your special day?
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    100th Day of School // We are using small objects from our counting collections to count to 100. Bright paper clips + mini erasers are my go-to objects for these counting mats. Students practice one-to-one correspondence, counting within 100, and making groups of 10. That’s a lot of math skills for one activity! {This is from my 100th Day Worries Book Bud.} 🗣 Tell me: What activities are you planning for your special day?
  • Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it. —Diane von Furstenberg ———————————————————————— As a traveling instructional coach, I have found my essential pieces that achieve my goals for comfortable fashion in the past two years! 👗 ———————————————————————— I leave VERY early in the morning work days. Being warm on cold winter mornings is essential! Adding some sleek leggings or riding boots are ways that I achieve warmth. 🧥 ———————————————————————— I go between classes and campuses so I use cute AND comfy shoes. These heels are from the Naturalizer brand. I’ve been rockin’ them this year and get many compliments. {I’ve only been wearing heels since I’ve been an instructional coach- it’s was ballet flats for years!} I go between my heels and riding boots this time of year. 👠 ———————————————————————— My work bag has handles or a strap. It has a nice large compartment on the side for my phone and keys. {My most frequently sought after items! 🤣} It is large enough for my laptop and materials that I need to support my teachers. My bag is from Steve Madden. 👜 ———————————————————————— My culminating piece is my newest necklace from Kendra Scott. I usually wear dainty pieces that are high on the neck. Since I’m pretty petite, I’ve been wearing a longer necklace when I wear long blouses or shift dresses. This is just a long blouse {maybe a tunic... I’m not a fashionista so I don’t want this post to give you the wrong idea 😉} is from Savers, a charity discount shop. It’s new to me so this was my first time wearing it! 🙌🏻 I’m really happy with my $3.99 purchase. ———————————————————————— 🗣 Tell me: What are your style essentials? ⤵️
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    Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it. —Diane von Furstenberg ———————————————————————— As a traveling instructional coach, I have found my essential pieces that achieve my goals for comfortable fashion in the past two years! 👗 ———————————————————————— I leave VERY early in the morning work days. Being warm on cold winter mornings is essential! Adding some sleek leggings or riding boots are ways that I achieve warmth. 🧥 ———————————————————————— I go between classes and campuses so I use cute AND comfy shoes. These heels are from the Naturalizer brand. I’ve been rockin’ them this year and get many compliments. {I’ve only been wearing heels since I’ve been an instructional coach- it’s was ballet flats for years!} I go between my heels and riding boots this time of year. 👠 ———————————————————————— My work bag has handles or a strap. It has a nice large compartment on the side for my phone and keys. {My most frequently sought after items! 🤣} It is large enough for my laptop and materials that I need to support my teachers. My bag is from Steve Madden. 👜 ———————————————————————— My culminating piece is my newest necklace from Kendra Scott. I usually wear dainty pieces that are high on the neck. Since I’m pretty petite, I’ve been wearing a longer necklace when I wear long blouses or shift dresses. This is just a long blouse {maybe a tunic... I’m not a fashionista so I don’t want this post to give you the wrong idea 😉} is from Savers, a charity discount shop. It’s new to me so this was my first time wearing it! 🙌🏻 I’m really happy with my $3.99 purchase. ———————————————————————— 🗣 Tell me: What are your style essentials? ⤵️
  • Are you ready for the 100th day of school? I’ve got over a dozen math + literacy centers in my latest Book Bud ready for you {grades K-2}! You can use these centers and activities on the day, throughout the week, or all month long! See more @downriveredu or bit.ly/100bookbud
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    Are you ready for the 100th day of school? I’ve got over a dozen math + literacy centers in my latest Book Bud ready for you {grades K-2}! You can use these centers and activities on the day, throughout the week, or all month long! See more @downriveredu or bit.ly/100bookbud
  • INDOOR RECESS SURVIVOR // Indoor recess is usually unexpected AND you can keep afloat by having pre-made activities ready for your class! Simple and low-cost! 🙌🏻 ———————————————————————— My favorite go-to activity is this fun tic-tac-toe board! ———————————————————————— ✂️ MAKE IT- You will need: two-compartment containers with lids from Dollar Tree, strips of vinyl or tape, and game markers (mini erasers, table scatter, beads, coins, etc.) ———————————————————————— 👭 USE IT- Partners use a container and play together! ———————————————————————— 🗃 STORE IT- Simply keep game markers in the same compartment and put a lid on it! 🗣 Let’s talk: ⤵️ What do you use for indoor recess? Will you be making these? . . . . . #downriverresources #indoorrecess #teachingideas #teachersfollowteachers #tftpickme #iteachk #iteachfirst #iteachsecond #teachersofinstagram #teacherspayteachers #iteachtoo #teacherspayteachers #targetteachers #dollartreeteacher
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    INDOOR RECESS SURVIVOR // Indoor recess is usually unexpected AND you can keep afloat by having pre-made activities ready for your class! Simple and low-cost! 🙌🏻 ———————————————————————— My favorite go-to activity is this fun tic-tac-toe board! ———————————————————————— ✂️ MAKE IT- You will need: two-compartment containers with lids from Dollar Tree, strips of vinyl or tape, and game markers (mini erasers, table scatter, beads, coins, etc.) ———————————————————————— 👭 USE IT- Partners use a container and play together! ———————————————————————— 🗃 STORE IT- Simply keep game markers in the same compartment and put a lid on it! 🗣 Let’s talk: ⤵️ What do you use for indoor recess? Will you be making these? . . . . . #downriverresources #indoorrecess #teachingideas #teachersfollowteachers #tftpickme #iteachk #iteachfirst #iteachsecond #teachersofinstagram #teacherspayteachers #iteachtoo #teacherspayteachers #targetteachers #dollartreeteacher
  • Spiral or composition? 🤔 It doesn’t matter! 💁🏻‍♀️ There’s three BIG reasons that you need to try interactive notebooks! ———————————————————— 1️⃣ Interactive notebooks teach students to think! 🙌🏻 Students organize their thinking within the pages of their notebooks! 2️⃣ Interactive notebooks create a portfolio of learning! 🙌🏻 Teachers {and parents} can track growth over time. Students have a record of their learning that they can go back and reference {this is great when spiraling, or reviewing, past content!} 3️⃣ Interactive notebooks accommodate multiple learning styles all at one time! 🙌🏻 Students engage with all of the modalities when using notebooks: kinesthetic, visual, and auditory preferences. This increases the likelihood of meeting a particular student’s learning preference! ———————————————————— 😟 If you’re struggling to use interactive notebooks or are confused and have no idea where to begin, I’m here to keep you afloat. 📓 All of my interactive notebook bundles {grades K-5 available} come with a guide with all of my tips and tricks and pre-made templates for ALL of the math TEKS! ———————————————————— ➡️ Download your grade level bundle here: link @downriveredu or bit.ly/notebookbundles
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    Spiral or composition? 🤔 It doesn’t matter! 💁🏻‍♀️ There’s three BIG reasons that you need to try interactive notebooks! ———————————————————— 1️⃣ Interactive notebooks teach students to think! 🙌🏻 Students organize their thinking within the pages of their notebooks! 2️⃣ Interactive notebooks create a portfolio of learning! 🙌🏻 Teachers {and parents} can track growth over time. Students have a record of their learning that they can go back and reference {this is great when spiraling, or reviewing, past content!} 3️⃣ Interactive notebooks accommodate multiple learning styles all at one time! 🙌🏻 Students engage with all of the modalities when using notebooks: kinesthetic, visual, and auditory preferences. This increases the likelihood of meeting a particular student’s learning preference! ———————————————————— 😟 If you’re struggling to use interactive notebooks or are confused and have no idea where to begin, I’m here to keep you afloat. 📓 All of my interactive notebook bundles {grades K-5 available} come with a guide with all of my tips and tricks and pre-made templates for ALL of the math TEKS! ———————————————————— ➡️ Download your grade level bundle here: link @downriveredu or bit.ly/notebookbundles
  • JOY ••• Being an educator for over a decade, I found such joy in teaching children. Nothing prepared me for the overwhelming joy of motherhood though! 👩‍👧 ———————————————————————— Being able to do all of the things I have done for hundreds of other kids for my own flesh and blood is THE best. {I could probably do without the diapering part but we are over that!} ❤️ ———————————————————————— Everyday is a new adventure. I am to credit {and blame} for all of her new vocabulary words. 🤣 We laughed the other day when I checked the mail to find nothing in the box. The kiddo in the backseat said loudly, “That’s a bum.” Welp, it is a “bummer,” when we’ve had weeks of Christmas photos and packages in the mail! 😉 {Yep, that’s all me.} ———————————————————————— Lately, it’s more like, “I don’t want to cooperate, Mommy!” 😫 {Well, I don’t know about her being disagreeable, but I can take credit for the multisyllabic word!} 🤣 See, pure joy! ❤️ ———————————————————————— Being a traveling teacher is fun, but being a mama is the best gig I’ve got! 🙏🏻———————————————————————— ⤵️ What can we credit {or blame} you? Drop it below! Kids do say the darnedest things! 🤷🏻‍♀️
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    JOY ••• Being an educator for over a decade, I found such joy in teaching children. Nothing prepared me for the overwhelming joy of motherhood though! 👩‍👧 ———————————————————————— Being able to do all of the things I have done for hundreds of other kids for my own flesh and blood is THE best. {I could probably do without the diapering part but we are over that!} ❤️ ———————————————————————— Everyday is a new adventure. I am to credit {and blame} for all of her new vocabulary words. 🤣 We laughed the other day when I checked the mail to find nothing in the box. The kiddo in the backseat said loudly, “That’s a bum.” Welp, it is a “bummer,” when we’ve had weeks of Christmas photos and packages in the mail! 😉 {Yep, that’s all me.} ———————————————————————— Lately, it’s more like, “I don’t want to cooperate, Mommy!” 😫 {Well, I don’t know about her being disagreeable, but I can take credit for the multisyllabic word!} 🤣 See, pure joy! ❤️ ———————————————————————— Being a traveling teacher is fun, but being a mama is the best gig I’ve got! 🙏🏻———————————————————————— ⤵️ What can we credit {or blame} you? Drop it below! Kids do say the darnedest things! 🤷🏻‍♀️
  • Double tap if your agree- Diverse and rigorous resources don’t have to be boring and ugly! ———————————————————————— 🎉 Whew! I knew you were on that team! After all, we believe in standards-based activities that are fun and engaging! ———————————————————————— If you happen to be a Last Minute Lucy and are squeezing the last hours of Winter Break in, let me help you plan your day back! ———————————————————————— ▶️ Talk about having a growth mindset and setting goals. ▶️ Brainstorm some possible goals your students might have in the new year. ▶️ Have students talk to their partner or table team about their goals. ▶️ Students create their New Year’s Writing recording their personal goals. ▶️ Students share their goals with the class. ▶️ Teacher has an instant bulletin board! ▶️ Have a weekly check-in so students can revisit their goals and see if they’re making progress! ✅ Celebrate a productive first day back to school! ————————————————————— 👀 @downriveredu for more on this craft or go to: bit.ly/2019craft
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    Double tap if your agree- Diverse and rigorous resources don’t have to be boring and ugly! ———————————————————————— 🎉 Whew! I knew you were on that team! After all, we believe in standards-based activities that are fun and engaging! ———————————————————————— If you happen to be a Last Minute Lucy and are squeezing the last hours of Winter Break in, let me help you plan your day back! ———————————————————————— ▶️ Talk about having a growth mindset and setting goals. ▶️ Brainstorm some possible goals your students might have in the new year. ▶️ Have students talk to their partner or table team about their goals. ▶️ Students create their New Year’s Writing recording their personal goals. ▶️ Students share their goals with the class. ▶️ Teacher has an instant bulletin board! ▶️ Have a weekly check-in so students can revisit their goals and see if they’re making progress! ✅ Celebrate a productive first day back to school! ————————————————————— 👀 @downriveredu for more on this craft or go to: bit.ly/2019craft